Organised Religion Sucks

Preachers abusing people’s faith (how do you think he bought that new BMW?), hapless congregations falling for fake exorcisms, denominations (literally) warring over who worships God best... I’m tired of it! I’m sick of the message getting clouded by too many conflicting voices. I’m sick of everybody thinking they’re better than everybody else. I’m sick of blood being spilled, souls getting confused, believers drifting, drifting away into confusion.

Don’t you wish religion was simple? Praise Him; worship Him; follow His rules. But you know what sucks – how complicated it gets when everything gets compartmentalised into organised religion. Yes, we need fellowship. Yes, we need guidance. But what happens when religion is in Man’s hands? Does God get pushed into the background?

I got in a fight with my dad over Catholics “worshipping” Mary, not knowing yet that he was raised a Catholic – we never talked about religion before. And yes, I’m guilty of the same thing I’m quarrelling about (Hahaha). I personally think the Hail Mary thing is borderline idolatry but who am I to judge? Is my Dad going to hell because of this? God, I hope not.

Another thing that sucks: why do we try to recruit people into the fold with fear? “Repent! Let Jesus into your heart or you’ll be eternally damned!” “Read the signs! The end is near! Change your life before it’s too late!” Jesus wasn’t just about fear. Our God is a jealous God (it says so in the great book; look it up: Exodus 20:4-5) but He is also love! Fearing God is part of the package – ’cause you better know your place and who in charge – but He also loves you!

Why does it have to be so complicated? I wish I could just stay home, read my bible, love God, praise God, thank God and follow his rules: pray, believe, receive.

But does following the bible strictly make things more perplexing? We are always breaking the rules. If I followed everything in the bible, I’d have to give up shrimp and lobster, have no premarital sex (duh), not work or shop on Sundays (or is it Saturday?), avoid painting portraits of people, and wear a hat to church every week, or risk going to hell.

I know plenty of Christians who break at least one of those laws on a regular basis but they do everything else “right”. Does this mean they’re still going to be damned? Maybe not, but we still can’t pick and choose and be faithful part-time, can we?

Ahh! Why does it have to be so difficult? Couldn’t we just have some simple rules to follow? So you mean if I worship, pray, give thanks and praise, and beg for forgiveness when I go astray, that still wouldn’t be enough, that I still could go to hell? That’s not fucking cool! (sorry for my language, Lord)

So what’s the answer? Wish I knew...