Is it better to believe in God your own way than to follow any organized religion (without forming a cult)?

No. The church exists to GUIDE men to truth. How can you know whether you are doing right or not if you have no guidance? Worshipping God in your own way consists at LEAST partly in following your own erring human instincts. Churches, on the other hand, claim that they receive guidance from God, who cannot err.

Also, I suppose when you target the Inquisition and the Crusades as examples of religious hate, you target the Catholic Church. The Cusades as a matter of fact were triggered by the advancing Moslem conquerors, who if they succeeded in conquering Europe, would have FORCED everyone to convert. The Inquisition used no more torture in its methods than was normal AT THAT TIME IN HISTORY and was in fact more lenient than some courts. (Check out -note that this is a SECULAR network- BBC's documentary on the Inquisition.)

Yes, Relgion and of course Christianity is a personal thing. Jesus came to bring divsion...

But, you do need to socialize with other similar believers. It keeps you strong to be part of a Temple or Church or group of some sort. Sometimes we all need friends... As long as you have friends with strong foundations.. It is ok to go it without a church.. Someday when you have children you may want them to be part of a church so they can be baptised or Confirmed and also go to Sunday School... But you could teach them on your own and make sure they also have friends will similar beliefs to keep them strong and give them a shoulder to lien on in hard times... It isn't important to go if you choose not too.. Jesus went to the temple to preach and teach.. others went to learn... But is wasn't a church... It was a Jewish Synigog... A place to exchange ideas and to learn and teach... to retell old relgious stories... Keep your eyes open for youth groups or try a different church now and then.. or start a Bible study in your place... The most important thing is that you maintaine a strong relationship with the Lord and READ, READ, READ the word.... At first you may have scales on your eyes and not understand.. the Bible tells you over and over again that you must pray to be able to have eyes to see and ears to hear and that to an unbeliver or milk fed beginner it will sound like another language all together and they will not have understanding... But keep reading and praying and seeking... Get on those knees... people forget to do that these days.. seek him and he'll reveal himself to you, I can garentee that!!! And no you do not have to give money to anyone unless you feel led to... Jesus said to give to Cesar what is Cesar's and to God what is God and what God wants from you is good fruit.. "Works"... Feed the poor, give drink to the thirsty... Help the Widows, be a parent to the fatherless... clothe the poor, visit the sick... visit the imprisoned, help the down and out... also save souls. Cherity...

In Christ's Love,

Hell no one cares how you worship to God. If you want to make an altar in your basement go for it. People start caring about what you do when you try and put your beliefs on them, and saying your way is the only way and the RIGHT way, and all other ways are wrong. Thats when things start drifting away from the good side, which unfortunately is the basis of many religions today.

Some find it better to worship as a group, others by yourself. Just do your own thing and hey whatever floats your boat.

God does not live in a church, a television set, your computer or a book. God lives in your heart. He is available to you in your home, at work or on a bus. He already has all the riches in the universe so your contribution would be meaningless.

On the other hand, there are people in your community who could use your help, your money and your time. Find those who visit the elderly, comfort the sick, house abused women and otherwise do the work of our Father. You are God's tool here on earth. He needs your hands, your voice, your time and maybe even some money to accomplish His purpose.

Joel and the rest of the fund-raising corporations can get along without you.

Best always

Brother Ron

God is not in some building-he is not represented by some organization. His spirit dwells within us and where it leads us that is where we should go. If it is to a particular church-so be it. If it is in the wilderness alone so be that too. If I put my money in a collection plate it is the spirit within me that leads me to do so. If I take in a friend who has fallen on hard times I count that as an offering as well.

Yes....People are getting brainwashed more than ever by Christianity.....If u was to look in the bible Christianity does not exist. They only want you to go by what they think is right .So many things have been misinterpret by them. There are people helping the bishop live in a mansion and while they live in the hood or the trailer park....

I believe each person should have a relationship with God. Get to know Him for yourself. I believe in the Bible and Jesus, but I don't believe in following a man(meaning a preacher) I love to get together with other Christians, but I don't believe in shoving the conclusions I have come to down the throats of others. I think it is up to them to seek and find. When people come to me asking questions and sincerely wanting to know my idea of how to become saved I am happy to share it with them, but they have to ask me. I think the way I live should give them an idea of what I believe. Jesus says "His people will know His voice" and this I believe is true. I do believe in tythe, though I do not think that means giving it to a huge church whose pastors live in 3 million dollars houses and drive expensive cars. My opinion is they can give it to the poor and homeless, but I do believe in giving a 10th. If pastors want those expensive things they should get out and work another job for them. The Bible does say we are to take good care of our pastors, in other words it would be a shame on us if they had no food or decent house, that is asking too much of a person and when they have to work another job they can not focus on the church as well. I do have trouble with pastors who are constantly asking for large sums of money. Honestly, what does it matter where you start meeting to talk? You can talk in a field or in a barn.. I don't go for churches who have to have millions to build, I think their mind is in the wrong place. That's just my opinion though...and how I see it. I don't expect anyone else to see things my way. I expect them to see things their way. To me it is a walk and till the day we die we are still learning.

Follow your heart. What is good for some may not be good for you. When I was in Middle School, I visited a "Non-Denominational" church a couple of times with a friend whose family participated in this church. One Sunday, the Minister said during his sermon: "You go to church to charge your battery". I never forgot it. He was right! It is uplifting to worship with a group of friends that you have in common with.

Well i think to believe in god your own way, you can still choose direction with your church but you dont have to follow the church all the time, thats what i do and it works perfectly

i agree with you completely. i am a Christian, however i don't go to churh and i don't follow anyone else. i believe what makes sense to me. i have very different views on what most Christains believe. we are all entitled to believe whatever we want. and i choose to just believe what makes sense to me, for years i followed the Catholic teachings but i was not happy because there were just too many things that did not make sense to me. and i felt like i wasn't being true to myself. well now i believe only what makes sense to me and i couldn't be happier. religions make up all these rules to control people, i don't like to feel like i'm being controlled. and i believe that God loves me just the same as anyone else. it's how you live your life that counts, not following ridiculous rules. Jesus even tells us in the bible, it's not what you say but how you live. God knows whats in our hearts and no one can take that away.