I want to add that I am not against religions. I think they provide a number of benefits, such as a sense of belonging to a spiritual community; a set of prefabricated transcendental concepts for those that do not have the time, the inclination or the desire to search on their own... But I think that it would be much more appropriate to have congregations of people that have similar believes so that they can interact with each other as equals and exchange their spiritual ideas.
"much more appropriate to have congregations of people that have similar believes so that they can interact with each other as equals and exchange their spiritual ideas."
That's what my church is. Like many congregational and nondenominational churches in the South, each congregation of Christians is an independent entity, no external heirachy. The congregation just organizes itself in whatever way it wants to. We do try to follow the Bible, but no one enforces anything on us.
Could you please give me an example of a religion that puts forward no rules of conduct? The closest denomination I can find to your example is the Unitarians, since they have no dogmas but in my visit to one of their service years ago, I found then talking about morality. (about rules). Perhaps I am ignorant of them...
So talking about morality equals rules of conduct? Maybe so in one sense, but the rules are voluntary. How are voluntary rules really rules? You are encouraged to be good and moral, but I hardly would call it a rule when there is no enforcement by the church.
Excellent explanation of the difference between religion and God.
Thank you.
robertenajemy 4 years ago
I want to add that I am not against religions. I think they provide a number of benefits, such as a sense of belonging to a spiritual community; a set of prefabricated transcendental concepts for those that do not have the time, the inclination or the desire to search on their own... But I think that it would be much more appropriate to have congregations of people that have similar believes so that they can interact with each other as equals and exchange their spiritual ideas.
CuanMarce2 4 years ago
"much more appropriate to have congregations of people that have similar believes so that they can interact with each other as equals and exchange their spiritual ideas."
That's what my church is. Like many congregational and nondenominational churches in the South, each congregation of Christians is an independent entity, no external heirachy. The congregation just organizes itself in whatever way it wants to. We do try to follow the Bible, but no one enforces anything on us.
BattleshipTx 4 years ago
Some religions have no heirarchy at all. And could care less about controlling you.
BattleshipTx 4 years ago
Could you please give me an example of a religion that puts forward no rules of conduct? The closest denomination I can find to your example is the Unitarians, since they have no dogmas but in my visit to one of their service years ago, I found then talking about morality. (about rules). Perhaps I am ignorant of them...
CuanMarce2 4 years ago
So talking about morality equals rules of conduct? Maybe so in one sense, but the rules are voluntary. How are voluntary rules really rules? You are encouraged to be good and moral, but I hardly would call it a rule when there is no enforcement by the church.
BattleshipTx 4 years ago