religion is a tool created by people to instill order into a community of people and answer unexplained questions they have. all people have done this, i.e. why we have so many religions. Its all bullshit and when people stop being afraid to question it, I think this world is going to be so much more intelligent. If everything is even real right now and this isnt just a dream. or something i cant even comprehend.

A SPIRITUAL AIDED JOURNEY TO REALITY

Religion eg Christianity is a spiritual aided journey to reality. There is nothing brain washing about this spiritual aided journey to reality,which gives christians natural success that is observable.Apart from the teachings from pastors,Christianity encourages everyone to read the bible and If anyone for any reason doesn't get satisfied , they are allowed to do as they wish.Christians live under the same conditions that anyone else live except that, they get spiritual aid to overcome the effects of the limited ability of this natural world.They are on a journey and they will get to their destination when the time comes.Everything about Chistianity is in the bible.Christian life is a life of miracles. Miracles are experienced all the time.

A lot of people use control in various forms. Its a consequence of mass social education and the nature of the transmission of knowledge. All religions aren't the same, nor are all forms of government. One must get beyond the simple disjunctives with inadequate premises.

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If one considers just the minor issue of the five points of Arminianists taken up at the National Synod of 1618 in holland and the five counter-points of Calvinism one can see that organizational efforts to get at the truth of things sometimes miss the operational point of it... The Calvinists had it theologically correct while the Arminianists had it right from the applied missilogical point of view. After all, who can say with any knowledge of God's omniscience who and how anyone can be saved? One must go through the motions of evangelism (the good news) to reach those who are the elect, and only God knows who they are.

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With all the evidence available, one must ultimately decide to trust for-oneself. Who ever talked like Jesus back then in the first century?

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John 14: 23"Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."

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24"He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me."

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25"These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you."

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26"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

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27"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

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28"Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I."

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29"And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe."

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30"Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me."

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31"But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence."

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Here is a url for an early Indian religion and culture page... http://www.fsmitha.com/h1/ch05.htm

Allright... religions are simply paths to 'god'. if you dont believe in 'god' or any form of a celestial spirit or anything of that sort... then just dont believe it. theres absolutely no sense in saying that religion is a form of brain washing. what if having NO religion was a form of brain washing? to different people it can go either way.

If someone wants to be a christian let them be christian and go to chruch and what-not... same with judism, hinduism, buddhism, taoism, paganism, etc.

religions are beliefs. like i said prevoiusly, they are simply different paths to 'god'. and to most people in these said religions, it is not brain washing at all if you actually believe in it. it is quite the contrary, in fact.

so in my opinoin... maybe those of you who decide to bash other people's beliefs should think twice.

no one has the right to tell someone else what they believe is 'a form of brain washing' or 'bullshit' or anything like that.

thats all i have to say

*peace*