Quote:
Originally Posted by Ohio
That's why I disagree that "God hates religion." I threw my book away.
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Right. "God hates religion" is just a hop away from "God hates religious people."
God doesn't hate religion so much as he hates it that people settle for less than the best. Sin, the flesh, the self, the world, and mistaken spiritual ideas can all hinder us from his best.
I remember once shopping with brother at Christmas time. We saw a small sculpture of Santa Claus kneeling before a manger with baby Jesus in it. The brother said ruefully, "Now I've seen everything." We laughed out loud at the stupidity of it. Now I wonder, what's really wrong with that? Not much I think. Nothing wrong with Jesus in a manger, and Santa Claus was a saint. A saint worshiping the newborn Jesus. What's wrong with that? The red suit? Come on.
It seems to me that the "God hates religion" crowd thinks they can discern what is true spirituality and what is not. Thus they employ a scorched earth policy, condemning everything in their path as "religion," from Christmas cards to Veggie Tales.
Nothing wrong with wanting the best for God's children. But let's not make the good the enemy of the best. Let's focus on things that actually keep people from God, and "religion" is usually not the culprit.
Besides, hatred of religion can be a religion itself. So it goes.