shadowsworn

stuff like this is why I don't associate myself with any single organized religion. Too much close-mindedness, by their very nature. In my opinion the ritualization is the problem. It is the "organization" in organized religion, and it strips faith of the ability for true, individual expression.

I believe for instance that the only true Christianity is one based, like someone said already, on taking the bible not as absolute truth, but as guidelines, disregarding most of the unnecessary rules and rituals and history, and taking the core messages only. Then you disregard everything any church says, and pray on your own, or if you want to do it with a group, it should be in a spontaneous manner. None of this stand up sit down, kneel, eat, then go out and act like you did before nonsense.

Ritual by it's very nature encourages people to take part in faith not because they believe, but because of other factors ie. peer-pressure. Also it leads to brainwashing of a sort, because you're basically blindly accepting the views of some old men because they have some robes and good oratory skills.

In my opinion blind acceptance of things is not what true faith means. Every person is supposed to be different right? therefore it stands to reason that faith for every person should be different, based on individual thought and experience (not that you can't confer with others, that would be close-mindedness too, but you shouldn't allow any one person, group or source to shape your views entirely)

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