1. Faith is not the same as being religious, or belonging to an organized religion. It might help, but is not necessary, nor even demanded. Nothing about religion is simple. Some leaders of organized religions freely admit their own lack of faith, a periodic or permanent loss of faith. But they don’t give up the money or the perks of their positions. 2. Organized religion provides a comfortable man-made structure. It provides reason and purpose for both life and the universe we perceive around us. It provides soft, easy, comfortable answers. And why not? Leaders of organized religion have been practicing their craft for at least six thousand years, and perhaps twice that long. You would expect them to get it right with that much time devoted to skimming the cream. From this basis of comfortable answers we have a starting point from which we deal, measure, compare, and contrast for meaning with the universe. A formalized, organized, hierarchal religion is usually dominated by some inner circle. This group can be compared to the Greenwich meridian which is a beginning place for measuring time. It is also a baseline meridian for surveyors to find the location of real property. The inner circle is important and useful. The current system costs too much. 3. Organized religion is a pipeline. A pipeline between generations in families and communities. It is also a formalization of conservatism designed to resist change. We humans find changes upsetting. The leaders may have poor clay, but they’ve learned to throw the pots. 4. Organized religion is also a connection. A connection of common behavioral practices, a unity for understanding among societal groups. Groups like families, clans, tribes, and communities. Their designs and plans encompass a time span vastly longer than an individual’s single life span. How else can you take three hundred years to plan and build a cathedral? 5. Organized religion provides a structure for an individual. A starting point from which to define their place in nature, society, and the universe, i.e., a comfort zone. A baby blanket for adults. In how many cultures around the world is religion largely the purview of women, and largely rejected by men? 6. The last century has been full of graphic examples of the failure of organized religion. Failure to work with people. Failure to change as people have changed. Failure to continue to meet the needs of people. Failure to allow people to question. Failure to help them find the answers for their souls. We know this to be true because of the constant stream of religious controversy and wars around the globe. Hatred inspired by, or approved of, by religion is the greatest of failures of organized religion. World War II alone encompassed as many as 60 million deaths. The killing has not stopped. The killing has not even slowed down. The ability of war to destroy, maim, and kill has never been greater than it is today. Training is better. Weapons are better. Military organization and skills are better. The killing of men, women, children, and infants is the most efficient it has ever been. Organized religion has failed to teach compassion for others. It has not remained “on message”. Organized religion has been cast into dissension, schism, and turmoil by essentially meaningless peripheral problems and issues. 7. Organized religion does much ‘good work’, i. e., helping the poor, and easing disturbed minds. It helps to hold down the crime rate. It acts as a buffer between the less aggressive members of the flock and the wolves in the forest. The problem is the large number of wolves that have learned how to wear “sheep’s clothing”, to prey upon the flock while out of sight. An example is the scandals swirling around the “celibate” priesthood in recent years. It is obvious that this is an iceberg situation. It is also the prime example of why any priesthood clique should not be allowed to be celibate. Celibacy, not choice of partner, should be a sound reason to deny admittance to a religious leadership role. Celibacy can’t work because of the innate nature of the beings we say God has created. He created them male and female for a very good, a God-like reason. Learning to know, love, and care for another human being is hard enough with the deep bonding that sexual attraction and sexual union provides. Without that basis, with and from which to compare, to assist others to learn compassion and concern, is, I believe, almost impossible. “Bindeth not the mouths of the cattle that thresh the grain,” is a good lesson to keep in mind. (Deut. 25:4), (1 Cor. 9:9), (1 Tim.5:18). Subverting God’s will is not a good idea for anyone. It defies reason for religious leaders to defy God, unless they don’t believe in Him. 8. Organized religion has used, and continues to practice “missionary work”. That is using religion as a weapon of mass destruction. Using religion to wipe out entire cultures around the world. Save their “souls”, but destroy their every facet of life, including the will to live. Such gall, such arrogance. One could almost wish for an active, lightning bolt throwing, vengeful God. There would be craters in New England, because of their “work” in Hawaii. 9. When society, for any reason, is in turmoil. When the economy is disrupted, the more human beings desire a return to security. People want simple absolute answers to their immediate problems. Organized religious leaders have always taken advantage of social upheavals. They promise their flock of mindless followers that they do not have to have discipline. They do not have to work hard. They do not have to think. They do not have to question to solve the existing problems. All the flock has to do is believe. All the flock has to do is follow the directions of the shepherd, and his dogs. All the flock has to do is keep those yearly tithes and weekly donations coming. All will be wonderful for the flock. Until shearing time.
(c) Copyright 2006: George Wallace recently published a book on religion which lashes out at nearly all of the comfortable ideas about God, the trappings of organized religion, and the priesthood. His pithy comments and suggestions for a return to a God-centered personal religion will interest everyone. This article may be freely reprinted so long as all copyright attributions, and the full content of this resource box are included. www.OhGodIsThatYou.com
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