I asked a question originally as to why Christians quote from the bible and not from the heart but the answers were a bit obscure from some. They seem to see the bible as some sort of workshop manual to which to refer people for the opinion of Jesus and not their own.
I see religion and belief systems as something from the heart, not something written by someone else and I have difficulty with people who cannot give their own answer to a question. If I wanted the opinion of Jesus to my question I would look at the Bible. When I want the opinion of a Christian, I am asking what is in their own hearts, not what the book says.
Or are they so brainwashed they are not allowed an opinion? Or are they so brainwashed that their opinion is word for word as that which is in the bible. Does the doctrine to which they adhere forbid creative thought?
Anonymous2008-03-31T07:12:47Z
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I'm a Christian and think what I like to think. Jesus wasn't bound by the influences of predujices and hatreds of other people or religious "leaders". He didn't wait for his pastor or preacher to tell him what to do, what to believe, or who to vote for. He knew his own path and he walked it.
I think that some groups of Christians - especially the right-wing/evangelical chaps in the US - tend to believe what they are told and do what they are told to do by whatever church authority they have been indoctrinated in to. Humans tend to do what they are told by human authority figures - that's a flaw of human conditioning in all walks of life. I think that Jesus, back in the day, was trying to break people out of that mould and look at the important picture - God, forgiveness, love etc. Sadly, when you are taught or exposed to a limited way of thinking or belief system, then you will use whatever tactics and tools you have at your disposal to defend it. This generally means using the same methods of repetition and selective bible thumping to get the message you have been taught.
Let me ask you this question- let us say that you are a doctor. And a patient comes in your office and has some disease- where do you get your info for helping cure that disease? From yourself of a medical book? Hopefully you will know your the information that is in medical books, or your 6-8 years of education would be for naught. However when it comes to the Bible- we as Christians go to it , because it is actually the WORD OF OUR GOD. Brainwashed, no. IS a doc brainwashed because they go to medical books- of course not. Religion is man's attempt to find God. A relationship is God's way to reach down to man through Christ- this is what the bible leads all too. A Christian cannot separate from what Jesus says, because a Christian is a, or should be, a devoted follower of Christ
I actually see the opposite, I see so many offshoots of Christianity, forcing their own doctrines that aren't even what the bible states.
Christians MUST agree on the central theme, Jesus is God, Jesus died for our sins, Rose on the 3rd day and by accepting Christ you are forgiven of those sins and will spend eternity with God.
That is Christianity.
Its when ppl's opinions get in the way, that we get some freaky religions going on, that are totally astray from God's Word.
Much of Christianity will say they have freedom in Christ. However, their thoughts and opinions are put in check by what they find in the Bible. Or rather, by someone else's interpretation of it. A lot of Christianity is merely the bandwagon approach. They want to feel they are a part of a new movement for God, and thus they let these new ideas become a part of themselves. Much akin to the way priests in Biblical times created their own laws, passing them off as God's laws. I once heard a preacher describe the situation as thus: God gave his laws. These are symbolized as pits in the ground. The priests were to teach the people not to fall into these pits (sins). So they came up with their own laws, building on God's laws, to build a fence around the pit. And then built fences around the fence. Now, surely, no one would fall into God's pits. But the priests considered crossing a fence as sin, and thus made God's laws a burden on the people. This is why Jesus was not pleased with the priesthood, because they made it so difficult to follow "God's laws" that people were disheartened.
I think this is what a lot of Christianity does these days. It says "I have this cutesy new catchphrase. You should use it too or you don't love God." Then when you don't use it, you are ostracized and to them "God doesnt mean a lot to him because he won't 'give this thought up' for God (for my view of God)".
Some churches, however, do encourage free thinking. I think notably of the United Methodist and the Community of Christ churches. It seems they allow you to figure out what a relationship with God means to you, instead of telling you "this is how you have to have a relationship with God."
What a kind of life...freedom in flesh, shackles on your mind...
Blessings in the Light of Christ! ~Embracing my Pangelism
I think you are trying to confuse religion with spirituality. Religion sets up the rules for life and prayer and worship within the religion in question. Personal spirituality is more individual, inner personal development within whatever religious path and the relationship between the individual and their chosen deity. Some never get past the following of the rules part and start working on the personal part. Sometimes I really do wonder if some people are so afraid to see and understand and accept what's inside that they really rather stick with the book.