| Or at least that is what some would conclude is | | | | at these events while saying that you really don't |
| the result of the route my religious experience | | | | have to attend, but you do. Ministers often |
| has taken me. But, of course, from my | | | | construct the Church in such a way as to create |
| perspective, the trip through the Christian, | | | | a full week of work for themselves. This work is |
| organized and corporate church has brought me a | | | | not necessarily real work, but it keeps him "busy". |
| freedom that those who speak of "freedom" and | | | | If you are in such a church, one that seems to |
| "grace" within the crazy world of disorganized | | | | invade not only your weekend, but most of your |
| religion could never know. Experience is the best | | | | week, just withdraw to a more simple life of just |
| teacher and may be only one that leave you with | | | | church attendance and I bet you get a visit or |
| any depth of conviction.Having been a devotee | | | | some sideways comment from the pulpit not to |
| from my youth through middle age to a literalist | | | | forsake the assembling of yourselves together as |
| view of Christianity as both a lay member and | | | | is the custom of some...namely YOU.A church can |
| then on into the ministry, and then, slapped | | | | make you feel really really guilty for not "serving |
| awake by reckless religious change, I have | | | | the brethren", but resist that and serve yourself |
| become an expert in what I don't believe | | | | first. Just say no. Then love the ones you can |
| anymore. I can explain well why inerrancy is a | | | | quiety behind the scenes to their good. What you'll |
| mistaken view of scripture. I can explain Christian | | | | find is others saying "brother, I wish I could do |
| origins and the violent history of the so called | | | | what you are doing, but..." The bottom line is they |
| Christ-like church. I can well explain the misery a | | | | are afraid of what others will think of them. Get |
| literalist view of Christianity can inflict upon a soul, | | | | over it.I no longer give my money to churches. A |
| a marriage or a family, and how well any system | | | | real God doesn't need my money. I gave them |
| of rigid, "we are the true people and we have the | | | | enough and they mispent it, plain and simple. |
| true perspectives" keeps one from one from | | | | Approximagely $75,000 worth of giving and I was |
| every being truly free to think.But being an | | | | the darn Pastor! Along with that, they wouldn't |
| expert in what I don't believe is not satisfying | | | | save social security because you don't have to |
| personally of course. A journey should lead | | | | with a pastor's income, and then broke a promise |
| somewhere and growing up should provide a | | | | for retirement pay. Spiritual bastards all...Most |
| positive result from past experiences. Throwing | | | | churches teach the Old Testament tithing as if |
| Jonah off the ship did indeed stop the storm, but | | | | Jesus himself set it up for the New Testament |
| being swallowed by a sea beasty is not the most | | | | Church to prosper under. Jesus could not care less |
| pleasant experience either. At least after being | | | | about tithing even in his own day. Of course he |
| puked up on shore, we can hope that we can | | | | wasn't anticipating all that would follow and be |
| draw a few conclusions from the whole ordeal. | | | | done in his name either. One prominent Church |
| It's those conclusions, for me, that I would like to | | | | Father went so far as to note "what profit this |
| share with the hope that those who experience a | | | | myth of Jesus has brought us." Yikes, yet |
| similiar awakening thru disillusionment with the | | | | true.Tithing is one of those convenient things that |
| organized Church, of any denomination, can | | | | doesn't come under the New Covenant, but is still |
| identify with.First of all, while many will say, "well | | | | God's will for our financial well being. Or so one is |
| you just had a bad experience with THAT | | | | told. Eat all the mice, snakes, dogs, pigs and |
| church," this is not really so. This is usally followed | | | | rabbits you want, but God loves a cheerful tither. |
| by my needing to come to their church and see | | | | In fact, it is how your prove God exists as the |
| the difference. While my personal experience was | | | | promise is to try it out and see if the windows of |
| a combination of sincere searching and wonderful | | | | heaven won't open for YOU. They won't no |
| friends, the end result has been a spiritual disaster | | | | matter what Malachi says in the Old Testament. |
| for many, of whom I am only one. I say | | | | If you complain, the minister will tell you |
| "disaster" but in the long run, it was a case of | | | | something like, "you have air don't you?" or "you |
| what's "bad" turning out for the good. The issue is | | | | have a job don't you, and wonderful children?" |
| no longer finding the "right" church or a nicer | | | | You can't win. Churches that rely on cheerful |
| group of really really spirit led people. The issue | | | | giving only will never be able to buid a church that |
| has become the cover up in Christian origins and | | | | can be mistaken for a mall with spires. Nope, it's |
| history that many pastors of many denominations | | | | tithing, of course from your heart, but it darn well |
| tell me, "well, I know that is so, but if I say that, | | | | better still be ten percent of your GROSS, not |
| I'll lose my job."The average person in the pews is | | | | NET income!I no longer abide the teachings of the |
| a follower and a conformer and not a reformer. | | | | lone Guru and Grand Poopa types in religion. The |
| They are way too trusting that the minister is | | | | ranters, healers, teachers and showman of Jesus |
| telling them everything he knows. They need to | | | | Land add precious little to a thinking person's |
| know that most only tell you what they think you | | | | spirituality. Too many are clowns in the area of |
| can handle. That is, of course if he has a valid | | | | religion and while entertaining, generally are |
| theological education. The self appointed types are | | | | consumed with securing their next fix of |
| never going to do enough study to put them out | | | | narcissistic supply and bucks. Many are sincere, |
| of the religious racket that rewards their efforts | | | | but not critical thinkers...no money in that.The |
| so well. The less informed the man, the louder he | | | | scary part is that they can spew utter stupidity |
| will yell and the more angry for God he will appear | | | | of both scripture and common human sense, and |
| to be in an effort to hold on to his turf. He will | | | | we are supppose to care what they think. I don't |
| also be generally sincere, but sincerely wrong. | | | | and you should think it through if you do. We let |
| Remember, sanctified ignorance is still ignorance.So | | | | these men get by with BS far too often. If we |
| what do I believe? What conclusions have I come | | | | keep it up, we will regret the day we let God's |
| to that work for me, albeit not for those who | | | | men of faith and power mix their religion with our |
| have yet to walk this path?I no longer need to | | | | government. We already are coming to regret |
| attend a corporate church or belong to a religious | | | | how some in government confuse their own |
| organization to feel safe and informed. My | | | | religious perspectives with governing. Any man |
| experience was neither one that provided safety | | | | that can lead one to believe obsurdities, as they |
| nor information anyway. I'll take a quiet seat next | | | | say, can lead you to commit atrocities.I don't |
| to the river anytime. Once you get into the | | | | need to find God in a glass, mahogany, teak, gold, |
| corporate church, you better get ready to kiss | | | | silver or platinum Cathedral, Church or Worship |
| your money, personal energy, time and freedom | | | | Center. I once attended a place where the building |
| of thought goodbye. In far too many places, you | | | | was dedicated as the "House for God." It cost |
| really do check your brain at the door.I don't need | | | | millions and most of the people who paid for it, |
| to listen to a man try, every week to convince | | | | never set foot in it...a TV ministry. But then the |
| me the Bible is the inerrant word of a never really | | | | place was sold and God was evicted. Good thing |
| here, ever present God. It is not. Most ministers I | | | | the Book says he wasn't living there anyhow. Any |
| know only tell the congregation what they can | | | | real God lives within the human anyhow, a place |
| handle, which is precious little and certainly nothing | | | | most humans would never think to look. No |
| new from what mommy and daddy taught them. | | | | literalist church wants you to discover you don't |
| Many people attend church out of fear of tribal | | | | need the church after all to be a content and |
| (family) retribution if they stopped. They don't | | | | grounded human being. They certainly don't want |
| want to attend. They don't get anything from it. | | | | you to think you were born right the FIRST |
| They disagree with it. It is boring. It is repetitive | | | | time.When people ask what church I attend, as |
| and manipulative. They'd rather stay home and | | | | they are wont to do here in the south because |
| rest, but...it's what I/we are expected to do and | | | | they can't fathom that you wouldn't, I tell them |
| darn it, what I want to do never counted for | | | | the "Non-Condemnational Church of God." They |
| much anyhow.I no longer need or want any | | | | look at me and just say "oh"....and then "I get it". |
| organization to plan my life's time to suit their | | | | But they don't.Life is experiences and experiences |
| needs or give them the illusion of work being | | | | are for learning. I haven't really gone from Pastor |
| accomplished. Ministers are notorious for making | | | | to Bastard. Well, ok for some I have. But I am |
| their own work. Some spend the sermon | | | | free, and while it's true the truth can set you free |
| offending and scaring everyone so they can | | | | after pissing you off, there is more deeply spiritual |
| spend all week visiting for damage control. Many | | | | truth to be learned outside of organized religion, |
| plan so many things to do for the members | | | | mall size churches and from men who are given |
| during the week, that they seem to forget that | | | | far too much attention as if they knew. It's within |
| most real people have a life of work and family. | | | | you.....It's within YOU. |
| Many judge your spirituality by your attendance | | | | |