>===== Original Message From [EMAIL PROTECTED] =====
>In a message dated 12/16/2001 6:28:32 PM Eastern Standard Time,
>[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
>
>
>> >
>> > PHILOSOPHY 101
>> > 3. Going to church doesn't make you religious any more than going to a
>> > garage makes you a mechanic.
>>
>> Unfortunately that one is just not true!!!
>>
>> BoW
>>
>>
>Hey Brian,
>
>Please elaborate. ????
Well, seeing that I have been invited <g>. As Ed Christiansen has already
picked up, I mean that going to church can make you very religious. Firstly I
wish the word church was used correctly as I believe that this contributes
towards the problem. Church is people, it is not the building but by saying,
"going to church" the inference is that you are going to the building. Then,
all of a sudden, the building becomes important and putting in stained glass
windows, building fancy towers and having a marble entrance hall become things
we are doing for God. The pastor/minister/vicar/priest has to have fancy
clothing to show s/he is important. The "dignitaries" sit on the platform so
that they can be seen (it is a fine line between making yourself recognizable
and "look at me, I'm important"). The service becomes rigid, "But we always
take collection after communion!" Man is inherently religious and there are
pharasaic elements in *all* of us.
IMO it did not take long before religion crept in following Jesus' death. The
apostles gathered together and laid down rules as to how many apostles there
should be and who was eligible to be one. God did not feel bound by these
rules <g> and decided to pick the bloke who was going round doing his best to
wipe out the apostles - Saul of Tarsus.
Just my 2d's worth.
BoW
Here is a thought. Instead of using the word "Church" lets use "The people" in place of church. lets see what happens then.
God Bless,
Iron Mike
