Is The Main Purpose Of Religion To Control Behavior? (disciples, Mormon, atheist)

[Tzaphkiel]

No, the main purpose of religion is NOT to control behavior.

People left to their own devices will on their own create systems to live in harmony with one another. You don't need to be religious to see the need for things like traffic lights so we don't crash into each other, or punishment for things like stealing and murder. People on their own don't run around in chaos, but rather create a structure for their families and communties that seeks to maintain harmony. Those structures are more about LAWS and GOVERNMENT, than RELIGION.

your underlying assumptions seems to be without religion, humans would run wild. that is not the case at all.

Religion serves another purpose altogether, and that is relationship with spirit.

[Tzaphkiel]

Originally Posted by MaggieZ

yep, me too Roaminred. Like a weight was lifted. I remember being truly happy when I fully realized there was no god and all the stuff I had tried to believe was not true. I had struggled for years because when you're a kid, others mostly think for you but once I started to realize I had a freedom to chose and no one could take that away, I was great.

you can't get away from your essential nature which is divinity

the freedom comes not from "no god" but from the oppression of man-made structures and systems, like religion, that distort spirit

yes, it is great to have the freedom in life to see clearly
but a person can't disown or deny the existence of that which is every human's nature. It's like saying "I will live on planet Earth, but gravity does not apply to me, because I don't understand it or believe in it."

[Tzaphkiel]

Originally Posted by MaggieZ

A real god would never have needed to persuade or scare anyone to believe in it.

Your instincts are absolutely right. What you describe is not god at all, but a human distortion of spirit.

And you are right again. Creator does not ever persuade or scare anyone to believe or participate in relationship, but rather waits patiently and lovingly and with great delight in all we do.

So a god as you describe does NOT exist, i agree. The god that does exist is a god of love, kindness, comfort, happiness, joy, and rapture.

[crystal-sea]

hmmm, the bible a threating book?


the bible is to me a "note" from God that was written by his inspired "note-takers." ........ You know, a memo for those moments when nothing..... makes sense. it's a dispatch for me when I'm looking to serve.............. listen, it's God's "Thank You" letter to me for accepting him into my life. the last time I was under the weather, and very sick, it was a "get-well" card ! I know that it's a postcard from heaven to remind me of my destination, and goodness y'all, it's an invite when my time down here is done......

one thing I know for sure, and that's it'll never be a DEAR JOHN letter. now that I think about it, I suppose it could be the cannonball that the evil doer can never shake, but then, I mostly know the bible as the .....love letter God intended it to be, to me.




about Jesus!!!!

[HsvMike]

Originally Posted by b. frank

OK. I think it was a Christian who posed the question, though...

Oh I know. I can disagree with believers and non-believers alike.

[MontanaGuy]

ainulinale wrote:

There are much easier paths to money than ministry...clergy really don't make that much.
So who claims to have this direct link to God?

I'll agree with you that the typical small neighborhood church probably has a pastor who isn't driving a Mercedes but when you look at the Jimmy Swaggerts of the world it's a different story. And by the way, alot of these tv preachers do claim to have a direct link to God. Remember when Oral Roberts suggested that the Lord stopped by one day to go over the financial reports and told Oral if he didn't start bringing in more cash he was going to call him home? That's a classic.

[ainulinale]

Originally Posted by MontanaGuy

Remember when Oral Roberts suggested that the Lord stopped by one day to go over the financial reports and told Oral if he didn't start bringing in more cash he was going to call him home? That's a classic.

I personally don't follow any televangelists...they're probably all frauds. Any pastor or priest whose emphasis is on money, and not love for God and others is probably a fraud.

[ahteist2]

Any pastor or priest whose emphasis is on money, and not love for God and others is probably a fraud.

Love of god, I thought god was money hmmm

[ainulinale]

Originally Posted by ahteist2

Love of god, I thought god was money hmmm

You're obviously just trying to be difficult...who ever said God was money?

[ahteist2]

I was a pastor, the entire thing is about money.

Religion is big business, and that is a fact.

You are either sitting in the pews being dooped, or at the pulpit doing the dooping.

Sorry, but the god thing is all about controlling the masses for a fat check