lmao!!

This thread caught my attention immediately because this subject matter is a major part of my life right now. I used to be part of a particular religion in which the teachings include disfellowshipping yourself from your friends and even family members if they don't attend the same meetings you do. The belief behind this is that if they don't go to the church like you do, then they don't love God and communication with them should be limited if not cut off completely. The fact is that most Christian religions use the brainwashing technic of equating your relationship with the church and your relationship with God. 100% inaccuracy. Some faithful members of churches & relgions are the most judgemental people in the world preaching selective verses of the Bible to you but ignoring the scripture about not being in the position to judge any human. On top of that, come into the church wearing something they don't approve of and see if they don't gossip about you IN THE CHURCH with their Bibles open to the scripture about condemning gossipers and slanderers of others. I do agree with what was said earlier about being able to apply certain aspects of every religion to your life but keeping your life centered around spirituality not religion aka human intervention. I once asked a dear friend who is still apart of the religion I left and even more a whole hearted believer than he was when I was caught up in it, "Why do you need to attend mandatory meetings with others in order to praise God." His response actually made sense which was, "Well the same reason people attend classes to speak a different language. When some people are trying to learn and experience something in particular it helps when you have the support of those who have the same learning interest as you do." This to me made sense. My perspective, however, is that if these "interest" meetings require me to be brainwashed, judged, and afraid of being cast to hell because of not applying their human regulations to my life, I'd rather search for the Creator's guidance on my own terms. Another reason why I lack interest in the area of organized religion is the judgement that is rendered against other religions. These people stand up in your face and tell you that their is One Supreme Being, All Seeing, Merciful, Most High, Creator of all that is in existence then in the same breath say that the God another religion is praising doesn't exist. Explain to me how your contribution of praise is worth more than the guy right down the street who is in a similar building but reading a Bible published by a different company. Then on a more personal level, I tell my mom (who is innit2winnit) that I prayed on a matter that bothered me and she snickers at me as if to say, "Don't waste your time. God wants nothing to do with you." That's Christian-like alright. The basic fact that Christianity was used to mentally enslave the indiginous Afrikan troubles me enough. This isn't to say that my only issue is Christianity though. Don't get me wrong but this is the group of people who have affected me the most. I had a relationship (secretively) with a girl in high-school for 3 years and because I refused to go back to the religion I left, (although her mom had a good sales pitch) our relationship had to come to an end. I fought tooth and nail to keep the bond that we had but religion is a powerful force. Now, a few years later, I'm married to the person I believe to be my soul-mate and we practice spirituality and upliftment NOT religion. If you've read all of this, thank you for letting me vent on this subject. Peace, Power, & Life...

-espeynomortalmancantestme.ivc

"The same hypocrites screaming pro-life & marriages are using religion to justify their savageness. How bad is this? You and the Creator need a mediator. Your priest is human. Your relationship with God is greater..."-Talib Kweli