Religion! Is it a means of control??

Religion isn't any more a means of control than education, cultural norms or laws.

If I study the Bible, the Koran, the Torah or even the Necronomicon it is education. If I go to church and listen to someone else preaching the Bible, Koran, Torah or Necronomicon, it is still education. If I go to college, and listen to a professor trash the Bible, Koran, Torah or Necronomicon, it is still education.

It is most entertaining to me when a professor (whose job it is to fill minds with his or her philosophies of a given subject) point their booger stained fingers at "preachers" for doing the same thing. ;~D

the idea of religion is control. you are to act a specific way, talk a specific way or speak a speciic way.

But the idea of faith is different. Faith allows more flezability and different ideas and open discussion about life, afterlife and other faith vs visual realities.

Which God are we talking about Preacherman, the barbaric and blood-thirsty God of the Old Testament or the blood-sacrifice needing God of the New Testament. I find both equally revolting.

You also say that the Bible is God-breathed. Wow! Maybe if God had not plagarized the Babylonian and earlier stories, got the creation story right, etc., it may be more believable.

the idea of religion is control. you are to act a specific way, talk a specific way or speak a speciic way.

I've noticed this can apply to anything. In fact, any type of organization, from unions to schools to churches to governments to clubs, seems to be quite susceptible to corruption. My feeling is that the corruption of individuals simply accumulates and is more apparent in large groups.

Which God are we talking about Preacherman, the barbaric and blood-thirsty God of the Old Testament or the blood-sacrifice needing God of the New Testament. I find both equally revolting.

What's funny is that I used to think that there was a difference between God in the OT and God in the NT, but I don't see that difference anymore.

preacherman oh you are clever but you fail to realise that I do not attack the teachings of the bible I am talking about religon and how it tends to control the masses I would never pretend to say that religion controls your life as you are far too inteligent to submit to that way of thinking so If you want to be constructive please reply you will not be censored nor deleated I write what I think and am open to yours and any ones comments

also a point that I would like to make clear is that I am saying what I think not quoting any thing I am influenced mostly by the teachings from the word of god and that is open to interpretation.
Is the word of god the bible or is it actually your personal relationship with god

It is important to realize that the teachings from these books are interpretations of those books by whoever is reading them/preaching from them.

preacherman writes: The statement is not quite true, but only applies to the Bible not the koran....

"No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation, for the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost".
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Why that is not true??? It is called reading comprehension. Everyone has a different degree of this.

It is the very SAME as to why there are different churches with different rules, different ideas, different additudes and different perspectives.

When the Bible says 'private interpatation' it means it, but that doesn't mean that people will not have different ideas about the same faith.

In the 20 years you have been in the faith, have your opinions changed about things? yet you still read the same Bible don't you?

Faith is growth of the mind and spirit. Stop pretenting that YOU personally have the answers to everything when YOU don't. You grow in God, it is not something you just get and now everything is fine so you can relax.



I am not exaclty sure how scripture can be a defence and at the same time be an entrapment on ones own faith. Don't just follow the WORDS, follow you faith; learn and grow and second guess because while God is perfect, you are not.

Enigmatic Jester:
What's funny is that I used to think that there was a difference between God in the OT and God in the NT, but I don't see that difference anymore.
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Why?

Why?

Because I started paying attention to what humans were doing, and how they were messing with God's plan for the coming messiah.

The Messiah? Isaiah 61:1-2 coincides with Luke 4:18, however one big difference, Jesus stops halfway through the reading in Isaiah 6:2, and announces that this reading is sealed in your ears. Then he went about and did everything according to that Prophecy. So if I hear you correctly you are either Jewish and therefore waiting for the Messiah to do the first part or you are a follower of Jesus and waiting for the fulfilment of the second part. 'The Day of Vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn...' ?

In reply to you Pier38. Oh yes, it is the means of control.....ever watch search for the Holy Grail, or Saved! - religion plain and simply is the opiate. However, one important fact and I think you have got, by George you have, it is that the Spirit is what is important, not the human interpretation of what is read. Good play black old son.

I have just surfaced from a baptism of fire and well, it is good to be out in the Sonshine again. How have you been?

"There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning.." ( Jimmy Buffett, "Fruitcakes" )

ORGANIZED Religion is certainly a means of control, and it's a growing business as well. The various denominations, sects, and theocracies, are nothing more than service organizations marketing to targeted demographics.

King James had the Bible translated once the masses began to read, hmmm, think that could have been a control issue?

Mohhamed "channeled" the word of Allah verbatim..just as a power vaccum developed in the Middle East....hmmm

Moses received the 10 commandments, just as the wandering tribe began to revolt...hmm

"organized religion is for the weak minded" ( Gov. Jesse Ventura, infamous Playboy interview )

I wittness "preachers" driving Bentley's, living in million dollar homes, and teaching their congregations how to access government "assistance"...Churches operating check cashing services to facilitate tithing....

Adult participation in church functions is little more than the replacement of the social functions of a lost youth;
Used to be Monday night Football parties - now it's Wensday night pray meetings.
Used to be The Saturday night Dance - now it's Sunday morning Sunday school
Used to be football in the park - now it's Church league softball

Granted, many churches provide a moral compass for the confused, a safe harbor for the "lost soul", a social community for the lonely, BUT, make no mistake, it all comes with the price of indoctrination and conformity.

That's control, just think, how many people ask " What church do you BELONG to? "

So it goes.....

Are you perhaps a minister, for you most certainly sound like one I used to know?

Are you perhaps a minister, for you most certainly sound like one I used to know?

"If" he is, I thank God that I don't *go* to hi church.

Who me, a preacher ?

No.

Not that it was a path my family hasn't taken for the last 4 centuries ( seems you either went military or seminary ) but I rebelled, striking out a path of my own.

My faith is still intact, just not an allegiance to a particular denomination....

What isn't a means of control? Government, schools, corporations, charities, clubs, etc. all seek to control their members in some way.

I no longer gather at the Barn, either. Whenever money is involved eventually the system changes to favour the money. God in the religions of the world has one face, as Jesus said, render unto Caesar what is Ceasar's and unto God what is God's. The whole system has gone to far. In that unhealthy state they are kissing too many rings and shaking way to many living and dead presidents.

The money system is upon us and the vice grip is tightening. I have seen it getting stronger each year. My biggest shock was when I discovered the link between Total Quality Managment, Outcome Based Education and the Church Growth Movement. It struck very hard and when I discovered that it was linked to a dumbing down of the Scriptures, I started to look for where the rot had set in. I am a litle wiser I think, now.

I recall looking at a picture on one of these Hare Krishna books and they had the puppets and the puppet master, and it got me too thinking. Control is a really big thing in terms of everyone's position. We like to be in control of our lives, and as a result of this we often exclude the very one that can grant us salvation from this world. Just a thought, where are you piers38?

So to clarify my position here I am not questioning the current motivation of the teachings of the bible I am questioning the ORIGINAL MOTIVATION of all bible type books that are taught to the general populations of the world.
After all the bible is nothing more than a collection of historical document(s) that report the recollections,letters,poems etc of a few people that were living in that time.

That's control, just think, how many people ask " What church do you BELONG to? "

Same as "Where do you drink" this is (I feel)clearly a result of social "conditioning" Each religious group needs the flock to recruit more members so the mix wont go stale (people grow weary of one another over time) therefore the a lot of time is spent teaching the flock or conditioning them to recruit. This is done in all sorts of subtle ways (I call it the money shot)(more members ensure the groups survival both financially and spiritually There are masters of this on the TV screen every day/night 24/7 ever watched the 700 club (they dont have any secret agenda they show professional mini documentary style testimonials of people who when they gave there last $10.00 to the 700 club and a few days later suddenly they were financially secure (gods will) These sort of programs are blatantly aimed at the idiots of the world that are not enlightened enough to see the wolf in Shepard's clothing.
Looks like I am rambling again oh well there you have it.
I may start my own religion as it seems to be a winning formula nah there's enough nutters in the world without resorting to religion.

Here's a thought to ponder though when you are sitting among a group of people all thinking the same way,believing the same thing there is power in that a euphoric feeling is experienced especially if you participate in the group.
This is true ever experienced it?
I was sitting in a group of about 2000 people in a church(barn)in Brisbane and it was euphoric I felt great afterward until the influence wore off I reckon that if you were sitting in a Benny Hinn show the power there would be incredible (whats going on on stage is irrelevant)
the point is that there is power in groups of people believing the same thing at the same time at the same place and I feel that the people who say that the large Evangelists are doing it for financial gains have got it wrong,I can say that the financial side of their business is only a small part of it its the power they crave and succeed in getting as the influence they have is mind boggling they have control over how people think and act and vote etc etc etc etc