Some of my writings on Religion and Christianity.

Some thoughts of mine on why Christianity is not actually a Religion. Feel free to challenge it.
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Christianity vs Religion
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Christianity, unlike religion, is based on an actual moment of spiritual "quickening". An actual earth shattering "rebirth". In other words, Religion was and is the painting of the thing, Christianity is the actual thing.


Judaism
was the Religion, Christianity is the point of that religion. (Some
people will always believe that the point of anything and everything
leads us to Religion, when in fact, they've got it backwards. ) It
(Christianity) takes man and his reach for God to a higher level than what mere Religion can contain or offer.

This doesn't mean that Religion is bad, it's just less than Christianity.


In place of law, Christianity brings us "advice" and "letters too the brethren".

In place of submission to priest hierarchy, Christianity brings us to the very Spirit of God, the holy spirit.

In place of Servitude, Christianity brings Friendship and to the very Son of God Himself.

In place of a "belief system", Christianity brings Knowing.


If you are comfortable with religion, the old way, then by all means be
comforted in it. But I say that Christianity is no religion at all, it
will take you too close to God for that . Religion is the "painting of
the place", Christianity is the "actual place".

Some people, I believe, will always be savoring the "painting" , even though the real
thing is right beside them.. if they dare jump into it.

Keeping in mind, I have nothing against "religious institution", it is
necessary for those who have have not and may never progress from
beyond a "belief system" and into the Knowing that is available in
Christianity.

Religion points to something that is beyond religion and that is out of it's grasp...

Just as the "words' of scripture point to something beyond "written scripture" and out of it's grasp... The Word, Himself.


Passing the "Point" of Dogma and Religion
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It seems to me that anyone who is willing to pick up their cross daily and follow Him, will eventually reach a point in their journey that they are challenged to leave their dogma on the
path behind them.. for they may find that they have long since passed
the need of it. Many will also , no doubt, never reach this point in
their "journey" upon the narrow path.

Religion and dogma are necessary and good, in my opinion. But only in that they are necessary
for spiritual "children". For those who, while still in fallen flesh,
reach a certain level of spiritual maturity, dogma may become, in fact,
a hindrance. To use another analogy, it ( religious dogma) is the
training wheels on the bicycle, you only need it until you suddenly
find that you can ride just find without it .. and actually much
better, at that.

And yet another way too put it would be...
Dogma and religion are like a compass. They show you which way to
travel, but once you have traveled far enough, you may reach a point in
which your compass no longer leaves your pocket, because the direction
in which you need to travel is now familiar and certain to you.

Christ is the perfect example of this. He was/is not bound to Dogma, nor
Religion, and at some point, we will be pulled clean out of it as well,
whether you like it or not. I believe it is safe to say that there will
be no no religion if heaven, it is too small to work there.

That being said, I consider it also quite possible that there are many
Christians who are able to "ride without their training wheels" but,
for one reason or another, may never decide it is time to take off them
off.

Try it, I challenge you, if you think you have are ready
for it. Take off your dogma and Become, take off your religion and
simply Know. Mature ever closer into what you are Becoming in Christ.

I am wholeheartedly in agreement.

Its very frustrating seeing how many people in Church are still, after all these years, putting God and putting Christ in a box; instead of learning and getting to know God more, they stay in a place where they feel their belief in God suits their needs. They're still trapped within comfortable confines of religion.

The closer to I get to God and the more I learn about Him, the more I realise that I know nothing about anything; whereas these religious zealots of Christianity I seem to encounter more and more nearly everyday feel that they are so holy and so knowledgeable about God that they can condemn everything that they personally do not approve of. I see stuff like this, and to me, its like their using their view of God as an excuse to treat others *including others who don't fit in their description of 'Christian'* like crap.

I'm really glad you wrote that, it really does reflect many things I have been feeling for a while now.

*Forgiveness for the very long sentences and possible run-ons; they happen when I speak on things I am passionate about.*

Thanks, and yea.. I am am a master of the long run on sentences too.... but that's ok, edgar allen poe did it, and he was cool.

Ash wrote: edgar allen poe did it, and he was cool.

Yes, yes he was.

Some comments (just posted them on the Endtime forum too):

scared by Ash wrote:Religion was and is the painting of the thing, Christianity is the actual thing.

With what certainty can you say this? How can you know that other religions and other dogma/liturgy etc isn't the "real deal"? Isn't this just "I believe, therefore I know"?

scared by Ash wrote:It (Christianity) takes man and his reach for God to a higher level than what mere Religion can contain or offer.

Christianity is a religion. Some branches of Christianity have less dogma, moral codes or liturgy than others, but does that have to do anything with people's search for God? Some people find God in a russian orthodox church, some in a pentecostal. Why is one better than the other?

scared by Ash wrote:In place of law, Christianity brings us "advice" and "letters too the brethren".

But still, every single church and congregation have their slightly different set of moral code. And the line between "advice" and law is very, very thin. Take for example the question of pre-marital sex. Or homosexuality.

scared by Ash wrote:In place of a "belief system", Christianity brings Knowing.
...
Keeping in mind, I have nothing against "religious institution", it is
necessary for those who have have not and may never progress from
beyond a "belief system" and into the Knowing that is available in
Christianity.

Now it get's really interesting. In what way would Christianity bring us knowledge instead of faith?

I'll post some responses in the not too distant future... I have many things on my mind that I'm dealing with.. so until then..

I'm only speaking for myself here, but what I think Christ was trying to share with the world/Christianity was basically that each individual person was responsible for their relationship with God; that relationship that choose to have with the Father should be of sincere and unwavering love, and in turn, we are to love our fellow people-folk the way He loves us, and by extending that love towards our fellow man, we are spreading the teachings of Christ.

What religion does is put God in a box and make rules as to what, how and who God shares His love and mercy upon, and therefore, what, how and who we share God's love with. With religion, if you are not doing it this way, then you're doing it wrong. This is why so many sects and branches and denominations spring off any religion, and no one branch is better than the other; they are too consumed by following the rules that they have forgotten the point.

It brings to mind the song from the Newsboys 'Lost the Plot', a great song, if you've not heard it. It drove my to tears the first time I heard it as it really touched on almost all my frustrations with the Christian church.

This is just my view on the whole 'Christianity' vs. 'religion' thing; I am very interested to see what Ash has to say.

I'd have to change one thing: What religion does => What some religions do

What I am trying to say is that there is a difference between a faith-based lifestyle and 'religion'.

A person can follow any religion they choose, they can do all the things their religious leaders/text/guru say is right. Just because someone goes through the motions of a certain religion, it doesn't mean they believe in or believe what they are doing. It could all be meaningless lip service and no one would be the wiser.

Faith, on the other hand, is a personal thing. No one can convince a person to have faith in something.

People can be forced to participate in religious activity, but they can't be forced to believe it.