A Little Something About Organized Religion (hell, America, churches, bible)

[Melvin.George]

They build buildings. They have to maintain the buildings. They have to expand the buildings. They pay the preacher...in many cases they provide a home for him. They pay his travel expenses. They buy steeples and stained glass. They buy carpeting. They buy mahagony or oak pews. They buy office furniture. They buy musical instruments. They buy expensive sound systems. They send missionaries to other countries to attempt to change cultures. etc.

In the old testament there are specific instructions to Noah about building the ark. Exact dimensions are stated for the length, width and depth and expressed in cubits. Not one place in the new testament is any similar instruction given about building a church...it isn't even mentioned. Regardless of that the churches now own more real property than any other entity in the world except the governments.

Our predecessors have been scared to death and hoodwinked by the religious authorities since the beginning of civilization when primitive mankind used his developing imagination to convince people that some invisible judge lives in the sky and watches us from our first breath to the last and then determines whether or not we will rise up from the grave, float away on a cloud, enter pearly gates and walk streets paved with gold or...if we don't toe the mark burn in an everlasting lake of fire and brimstone. Quite a load of it don't you think?

I apologize for the length of that humongous sentence...sometimes I just get carried away...

[achickenchaser]

I know my mom's church spent a ton of money on a fancy new digital sign here recently. Also, every preacher that's ever preached there always gets put in the richest neighborhood. Last I heard, the church paid for nearly everything.

Matter of fact, I've never seen a preacher of any decent sized church around here that was poor or middle class. Makes you wonder where all that tithe money is going, and it reminds me of an old joke: How does a preacher determine what's God's money what belongs to him after they're done collecting? Well, he takes the collection plate, tosses all the money up in the air as high as he can, and, while the money is in the air, he screams "Lord take what's yours!!!" Anything that falls to the ground he keeps for himself

[Memphis1979]

Originally Posted by Melvin.George

They build buildings. They have to maintain the buildings. They have to expand the buildings. They pay the preacher...in many cases they provide a home for him. They pay his travel expenses. They buy steeples and stained glass. They buy carpeting. They buy mahagony or oak pews. They buy office furniture. They buy musical instruments. They buy expensive sound systems. They send missionaries to other countries to attempt to change cultures. etc.

In the old testament there are specific instructions to Noah about building the ark. Exact dimensions are stated for the length, width and depth and expressed in cubits. Not one place in the new testament is any similar instruction given about building a church...it isn't even mentioned. Regardless of that the churches now own more real property than any other entity in the world except the governments.

Our predecessors have been scared to death and hoodwinked by the religious authorities since the beginning of civilization when primitive mankind used his developing imagination to convince people that some invisible judge lives in the sky and watches us from our first breath to the last and then determines whether or not we will rise up from the grave, float away on a cloud, enter pearly gates and walk streets paved with gold or...if we don't toe the mark burn in an everlasting lake of fire and brimstone. Quite a load of it don't you think?

I apologize for the length of that humongous sentence...sometimes I just get carried away...

Jesus said, "Whenever two are gathered in my name, I will be there."

He didn't say in a church, he didn't say in a Cathedral, he didn't say with a preacher.

My problems with preachers, is they read and study the bible, and then tell you what it says. However, many of them didn't take a ancient hebrew class, most of them don't understand latin. Yet they are authorities on a 2000 year old religous belief. They cherry pick the bible for verses that match their sermon, and their message for the day. Ignoring many other verses that don't match, or out right contradict their sermon and message.

No one calls them out, because 80% of Christians haven't read the bible. Hell, 90% of those who have can't recall it from memory. I remember themes, but not verses myself. I often have to look it back up before I will bring it up.

Churchs are a business, nothing more, nothing less. They do donate to charity, but they pay no taxes on any of the other money they bring in. Thats complete BS.

[Melvin.George]

Originally Posted by achickenchaser

he takes the collection plate, tosses all the money up in the air as high as he can, and, while the money is in the air, he screams "Lord take what's yours!!!" Anything that falls to the ground he keeps for himself

LOL!!!

Good One!

[Melvin.George]

Originally Posted by Memphis1979

They cherry pick the bible for verses that match their sermon, and their message for the day. Ignoring many other verses that don't match, or out right contradict their sermon and message.

And that requires about 45 minutes a week. Before computers took about two hours. Most of them earn at least three times the median income when all facets of their pay is included. Not a bad deal.

[stillkit]

Hmmmm. If a church needs or wants a full-time preacher, how is he and his family to survive if he doesn't get paid? Should he preach on Sunday and spend the rest of the week sitting on the sidewalk with a tin cup crying, "Alms. Alms for the poor?"

[Melvin.George]

Originally Posted by stillkit

Hmmmm. If a church needs or wants a full-time preacher, how is he and his family to survive if he doesn't get paid? Should he preach on Sunday and spend the rest of the week sitting on the sidewalk with a tin cup crying, "Alms. Alms for the poor?"

You think it's worth three times the median income?

Any preacher worth his salt will start up a TV program and convince old folks who draw social security to send them 10% of it. I thought that was the American way.

[Gplex]

I watch some shameless preacher on tv claiming his sheep should donate $10000 dollars each.
I was hopping someone would get up and leave when he said that, but most people have no confidence....

[lilred0005]

Originally Posted by Memphis1979

Jesus said, "Whenever two are gathered in my name, I will be there."

He didn't say in a church, he didn't say in a Cathedral, he didn't say with a preacher.

My problems with preachers, is they read and study the bible, and then tell you what it says. However, many of them didn't take a ancient hebrew class, most of them don't understand latin. Yet they are authorities on a 2000 year old religous belief. They cherry pick the bible for verses that match their sermon, and their message for the day. Ignoring many other verses that don't match, or out right contradict their sermon and message.

No one calls them out, because 80% of Christians haven't read the bible. Hell, 90% of those who have can't recall it from memory. I remember themes, but not verses myself. I often have to look it back up before I will bring it up.

Churchs are a business, nothing more, nothing less. They do donate to charity, but they pay no taxes on any of the other money they bring in. Thats complete BS.

Amen! +1000

[Melvin.George]

Originally Posted by Gplex

I was hoping someone would get up and leave when he said that, but most people have no confidence....

That would be blasphemy...the only unforgivable sin.