Is Organized Religion Inclusive or Divisive?

I'm going to say that in the big picture "organized religion" is very divisive...you only have to listen to the radio around here in the morning to see this. There are several different denominations (and some that claim to be the true church and not a denomination...funny) that get 5 minutes to help motivate you for your day. Unfortunately a good part of these 5 minute power talks are spent explaining why they happen to be the only church who has it all right..every one else is wrong and some go so far as to say the others are doomed.

I was baptized in a Southern Baptist church in a very small town, and I absolutely loved it. My preacher left about 20 years ago and the replacement was one of those people...if your not baptist then you are wrong. My dad, a Methodist, came to speak about mission trips they had been taking to Guatemala one Sunday. My dad was invited to speak and took them up on the offer....during the message that Sunday the preacher threw in.."I was once Methodist too, but then I became a Christian in the baptist church".. I was appalled, and never attended that church again. My old preacher is back now and I plan on attending very soon.

Now..during the time that I enjoyed church, my Grandmother was given all kinds of grief...about taking aerobic lessons at the Methodist church, and square dancing..both frowned upon by "Baptist". However my good preacher urged us all to attend our dances and his son is my best friend to this day. Those are examples of man's wants/desires for/of his flock blinding the Biblical truth. My Grandmother taught me that teachings and interpretations of man mean nothing...the Bible is God's word and it will teach you everything you need to know.

I live by that code to this day, and I teach my children the same lessons. Read God's word, read it often, pray constantly, and speak with God. You will be given the truth and knowledge that God wants you to have, and that you will need. We love to socialize with other "Christians" at church, and it is nice to have a church family, but not necessary by any means.

Long story short..sorry for the rambling... organized religion can be inclusive...if you choose to live strictly by Man's interpretations and legalisms that interfere with God's True Word.

I choose the narrow path.

"In every country and in every age, the priest has been hostile to liberty. He is always in alliance with the despot, abetting his abuses in return for protection to his own"
--Thomas Jefferson

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Ron Paul Supporter Since 1997
`Wise people, even though all laws were abolished, would still lead the same life'- Aristophanes -

representative of liberty.

Jesus broke the back of the church and told people to gather together in small numbers for deep meditation and prayer -- not to erect churchianity or long-run leadership.

In Ron Paul's Constitutional Minarchy and in an Anarcho-Capitalist society "unions" and "collectivism" are fine as long as they are short-lived and voluntary.

You can't establish a Church without a permit -- You can't start a Methodist Church without certification, or any other branch. This gov't intervention is "evil" and creates "monopolization" over religious study.

Until the later is dealth with dispassionately Jesus, Buddha, Krishna, Mohammad will always be in chains.

Octobox

If there is one God and one bible, why are there so many organized religious institutions? This alone makes them divisive.

And why are most of them wealthier then their followers?

They drive expensive cars, live in nice homes, wear expensive clothes, send theirs kids to the best school (the ones who are allowed to marry and have kids)

What's wrong with this picture?

Most organized religions are inclusive in the sense that potentially anyone can get in, but divisive in the sense that refusing to belong may have consequences.
For example the Catholic Church still regards Protestants as heretics, but those who repent I'm sure would be welcomed back.
Followers of Jesus, at their best, would say as Jesus did that those who reject the Gospel have their reward (death), and move on.

It is as divisive, or as inclusive as a bowling league. It depends on whether you are a bowler.

in an hour or so...you know how it goes .. ( divisive )

*****
"I truly wish that real life would no longer surpass the worst excesses of my nightmarish imaginings... Arthur Silber **

that all religions are a way to pull against and divide away people from following Jesus Christ and his Father, God. The divisions within Christianity polarize on a point of interest. Instead the point of interest could have stood alone, just as many points of interest necessarily will within each division because we are all individuals and understand with a twist.

I see a great parallel of this idea in "political parties" with the point to tug against being the individual. That is why I think third parties just serve to water down votes and that there should be NO parties and we should treat ALL candidates totally equal and vote on the individual.

is divisive and unnecessary.

That's my opinion.

Mt 10:34 Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

..........

—Cliff in Sioux City, Iowa

If you remember anything, remember the throw-away tools of war.