Organized Religion

[ahabion]

whats the point of it? a sense of belonging?

isnt religion supposed to be your own beliefs and its between you and your god/lack there of a god?

lets discuss this


The thing that bothers me about organized religions is the herd mentality.

"Herd mentality describes how people are influenced by their peers to adopt certain behaviors, follow trends, and/or purchase items"

If that is the logic that you're using to describe organized religion, then it would be no different from anything else. Car enthusiasm, frats, colleges, philosophy, scientology,... everything. People, in general, require themselves to have social influences and community in order to maintain themselves as a civilized people. Tracing people all the way back into history, mankind has always followed the same communal patterns of socialized groups. Evolutionists would also agree, studying the behavioral patterns of primates.

So if you see organized religions as utilizing the herd mentality, then yes, you are correct but again, it's not different from all other things.

Quick question: What would be considered disorganized or unorganized religion?

[Hulud]

If that is the logic that you're using to describe organized religion, then it would be no different from anything else. Car enthusiasm, frats, colleges, philosophy, scientology,... everything. People, in general, require themselves to have social influences and community in order to maintain themselves as a civilized people. Tracing people all the way back into history, mankind has always followed the same communal patterns of socialized groups. Evolutionists would also agree, studying the behavioral patterns of primates.

So if you see organized religions as utilizing the herd mentality, then yes, you are correct but again, it's not different from all other things.

Quick question: What would be considered disorganized or unorganized religion?

i agree its not any different that a lot of things in life. but what you chose to ignore was the fact that i said "isnt religion between you and god"

its not that its disorganized but if you're religious you shouldnt feel like you have to goto church/temple/etc.. to serve your god. because these people who lead and are in the church tell you how you're supposed to praise your god.

[ahabion]

i agree its not any different that a lot of things in life. but what you chose to ignore was the fact that i said "isnt religion between you and god"

its not that its disorganized but if you're religious you shouldnt feel like you have to goto church/temple/etc.. to serve your god. because these people who lead and are in the church tell you how you're supposed to praise your god.

You are absolutely right about going to church. Depending of course on the religion, I can only speak of Christianity for my own defense, but no, I don't have to nor am I require nor obligated to go to church for a place to worship because within my faith, "the church" is not a structure of buildings. It's contained within the people. The people are the church, they don't need elaborate buildings nor fancy doo-hickees to worship.

Why then with all the huge buildings and elaborate technologies and the like??? That is what draws people who are looking and seeking for themselves the meaning of what a full life really is to them. It's not for everybody because everyone has their own convictions.

The people within some churches that lead, you're also correct, in that they do tell you how to worship and praise (which to me is sometimes wrong, based biblically) But there are those few that serve to add clarification to what values and standards "may" mean, as it "may" have intended it to be. Much like any teacher or professor must take into account the variables of that time along with cultural differences.

[ahabion]

its not that its disorganized but if you're religious you shouldnt feel like you have to goto church/temple/etc.. to serve your god. because these people who lead and are in the church tell you how you're supposed to praise your god.

about disorganized/unorganized religion

I was just asking really just to ask, not to try to make you answer it in anyway... but just out of curiosity how the term "organized" ever got associated with "religion".

Did a google search on it and found a lot on the Catholic and Episcopal churches. I don't agree with a lot of their values and beliefs anyway but I think that's one of the spear-heads leading the charge in negativity for church and religion as a whole. The other is just church fans, they do all the right things on Sunday but life is different for them 6 days out of the week.

[Ocelot]

If that is the logic that you're using to describe organized religion, then it would be no different from anything else. Car enthusiasm, frats, colleges, philosophy, scientology,... everything. People, in general, require themselves to have social influences and community in order to maintain themselves as a civilized people. Tracing people all the way back into history, mankind has always followed the same communal patterns of socialized groups. Evolutionists would also agree, studying the behavioral patterns of primates.

So if you see organized religions as utilizing the herd mentality, then yes, you are correct but again, it's not different from all other things.

Quick question: What would be considered disorganized or unorganized religion?

i can agree with this except the car enthusiast groups. some of you guys think the hondas and VW's with a rusted out hood and clean painted body is attractive. I say EFF that.

[trini_gsr]

If that is the logic that you're using to describe organized religion, then it would be no different from anything else. Car enthusiasm, frats, colleges, philosophy, scientology,... everything. People, in general, require themselves to have social influences and community in order to maintain themselves as a civilized people. Tracing people all the way back into history, mankind has always followed the same communal patterns of socialized groups. Evolutionists would also agree, studying the behavioral patterns of primates.

So if you see organized religions as utilizing the herd mentality, then yes, you are correct but again, it's not different from all other things.

i wouldn't say religion *utilizes* the herd mentality - bc that too is unfortunately human nature and one of the drawbacks up large socialized groups with centralized leadership. most ppl will find it easier to listen to the charismatic leader and leave the thinking to them.

i'd say instead that any organization taking advantage of this is abusing their power/influence. it's not unique to religion at all, i agree with you. but religion is what the OP is talking about in this topic. and SOME religions do abuse their authority, encourage the herd mentality, and discourage free-thinkers.

from a Christian standpoint...I'd say a good church would be one that teaches the basic bible concepts, encourages members to read the Bible for themselves and gives them guidance on how to approach advanced topics once they get the basics down by providing a good support system with experienced elders or whatever. the goal should be to help ppl develop that personal relationship with God and go wherever it takes them, even if it is away from that church, but always be there for support if ppl need it. there are churches like that out there...but they are in the minority.

Quick question: What would be considered disorganized or unorganized religion?

the term religion implies organization. religions are organizations that put a framework on spirituality by describing it via a fixed set of rules/regulations/observances/etc. there's really no such thing as an "unorganized" religion, the terms don't match