"Churches are just buildings and organizations full of flawed people." comment on Facebook.
That comment is the typical conclusion of a discussion when sexual abuse comes up in a religious organization. They toss aside the beliefs and water it down to a building and flawed folks.
No religion here.
No belief here to discuss or debate.
The folks are flawed, and are no reflection of this religion.
Where did God and Jesus go?
How is it possible that a religion can just be a building and a bunch of flawed people?
Is this a way to deflect the direct attack on the religion they love, by removing the religion and just showing the building and its flawed people.
Yet, can you have a religion without the people?
Who invented religion?
Who we all be without religion?
Religion - I had to go and look up the definition."the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods." -
"a particular system of faith and worship."
"the service and worship of God or the supernatural." commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance."
"a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices."
Nowhere did it mention just a building with flawed folks.
The buildings contain folks who follow the institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs and practices.
They think alike.
Believe alike.
Within a particular system of faith and worship.
When wars can start because of religion, there is much more to it, than flawed people.
Religious people, those who worship the same in a systemic way, are understandably shaken, when one of their own sexually abuse children.
I get it.
There are many good people who are religiously following the attitudes, beliefs and practices of their religion. And, it has to shake them to the core to find out that not all in their group believe the same.
I know that there is much comfort to be part of a group of people who think and believe the same. Who have the same morals and values and sins.
It gives you a sense of control about the universe and living...and, even dying.
The forgiveness of sins can turn your world right.
I get it. I believed it too. Innocently and faithfully, until I experienced the flaw IN the religion.
Most, will not ever accept their religion is flawed.
I also get that.
We were taught to believe the rightness of each of our religions we were raised in. Many have stayed in the same religion. Those who leave, often struggle with this decision for years. We feel less than, when we are no longer part of the group. We are less than a good christian, when we no longer believe like the group.
I left abruptly, but like I said, I had been wondering how to leave. Wondering how my mother would take it, and the friends I had inside. How to then live without a religion.
I didn't miss the building.
It was never about the building.
Nor, would I have called the religion - flawed people.
I seriously believed, when I believed, that we were on the right path to God and dying saved.
It wasn't until I could step back and see how the religion had dealt with pedophiles and victims of sexual abuse, did I see the flawed religion.
The flawed leaders.
And followers.
How their very belief, enabled and allowed sexual abuse to flourish for years and continues to do so.
Is it possible that the religions are flawed?
Most will not be able to bring this thought in. I fully understand and empathize.
It would shatter your whole world to know this.
The once untouchable, pure religion is now in danger of being less than. And, that thought alone is not one anyone is willing to entertain.
It is much better to define, their religion as just a building and organization of flawed folks.
That way, the pristine image of their religion remains untouched.
It leaves the church and its people behind.
Separate.
What would religion be, without the building and folks?
Could it survive without people?
Is that why the people don't want to leave it behind, to take a break and walk away?
Where is religion located?
Would God be okay without religion?
Would we?
In my experience, when I left my church, I was okay.
God and I began a new relationship.
A spiritual one.
Without a middleman.
This is my church
