Religious, yes or no.

Early years believed the stories in the bible even had a bible given to me for perfect attendance to church.

But then as I grew older & began to question what I was taught to believe, the more I questioned the less I believed to the point of where I am now as an atheist. I don't knock the faith others have, it works for them.
 
Yes I am religious and I am a Christian and I am a Minister of the Universal Life Church. This church in is contraversial with the public because all you have to do is apply and pay money to get the crudentials to become a minister. The only reason I wanted to do this is to keep evil beings away from me and my family and to help other people to keep evil away from them.
 
I attended church most of my growing up years. However, as I got older I began to recognize that the most important part of the service is the passing of the "collection plate".

I firmly believe that the universe is guided by a power far superior to anything we know, and I hope that trying to be a good person will have its rewards. However, I am of the opinion that virtually All organized "man made" religion is based upon power over others, and money.
 
Lawrence said:
Yes I am religious and I am a Christian and I am a Minister of the Universal Life Church. This church is controversial with the public because all you have to do is apply and pay money to get the credentials to become a minister. The only reason I wanted to do this is to keep evil beings away from me and my family and to help other people to keep evil away from them.
Click to expand...

I'm not in any religion, but signed up for that in my thirties and got the certificate.
The reason might have had something to do with taxes, but I don't recall, and completely lost track of it.
 
John cycling said:
I'm not in any religion, but signed up for that in my thirties and got the certificate.
The reason might have had something to do with taxes, but I don't recall, and completely lost track of it.
Click to expand...
Yes, I got that certificate in my 20's or 30's. Hahaha! So I could preach and not pay taxes! Forgot all about it!

There is an incredible difference between religion and spirituality!
God and Angels (God's messengers) exist! Because one gives religion no credence doesn't
mean one should give up on an intelligence higher than oneself. IMO!
But, Everyone has to grow and evolve in their own way. (not my business)
 
Lawrence said:
Yes I am religious and I am a Christian and I am a Minister of the Universal Life Church. This church in is contraversial with the public because all you have to do is apply and pay money to get the crudentials to become a minister. The only reason I wanted to do this is to keep evil beings away from me and my family and to help other people to keep evil away from them.
Click to expand...
Do you preach to a congregation or do any ministerial stuff?

I would guess if you knew the tax laws well enough, you could pretty much avoid paying any taxes.
 
hillsong.jpg

The thing that bothers me about churches is the tax free side of it. Hillsong is just up the road from where I live and I was invited to come along to a service years ago and was amazed at how many $50 notes went into the deep tins (not plates) being passed around. It reminded me of a rock concert, music, lights, electric excitement, lots of hands in the air. You had to see it to believe it.
 
I was a good little Catholic kid, until my First Communion. The nuns told me The Holy Spirit would fill my soul. When I got the Host, all it did was stick to the roof of my mouth. And somehow, I never felt my soul being filled. I had twelve years of Catholic religious training, but all that did was expose contradictions, and confirm my atheism.
 
mellowyellow said:
View attachment 199284

The thing that bothers me about churches is the tax free side of it. Hillsong is just up the road from where I live and I was invited to come along to a service years ago and was amazed at how many $50 notes went into the deep tins (not plates) being passed around. It reminded me of a rock concert, music, lights, electric excitement, lots of hands in the air. You had to see it to believe it.
Click to expand...
That's a slightly funny thing to be bothered about IMHO, as many try to limit their tax liabilities (legally)! :)
 
I was raised in a main-line church but truthfully there were a lot of mixed signals. The church seemed to preach works, that is, if one's good works outweighed the bad, then you went to heaven. I remember my father, who was a problem drinker, bee-lining for the liquor cabinet as soon as we got home from church. It was as if attending church not only negated the sins of the previous week, it allowed for a shot and a beer or two free of charge on the "sin tab".

My mom, however, had a genuine faith and she also was a regular church attendee. I followed in my father's drinking footsteps, becoming a problem drinker and wild man in general. I attended church for a while as an adult, but then gave up, knowing that simple church attendance could not atone for the boat-load of sins I was racking up. But then at about age 27 I lost my job and was in sort of a pickle financially. The walls started closing in. That is when I turned to Christ as payment for my sins without any works of my own.

It was a whole new world for me. I then started re-attending various churches, gravitating toward non-denominational. Through the 36 years as a Born Again Christian I have attended a variety of churches but now have settled into a very traditional Baptist church for the last 7 years. My current view on church, which I think is a better view, is "What can I do for the church and within the church" as opposed to "What can this church do for me". I was in jail ministry with a fellow church member until Covid hit and now I help with AWANA, helping little kids memorize and understand bible verses.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top