It is very ironic to use the term "sin" as a descriptive word for a religion. But are they really capable
of sinning? According to the church a sin is characteristic of any imperfect entity. Since only the
Supreme Deity is perfect than the church is capable of sinning.
What constitutes a sin of religion? From the list above we can discern several prominent themes.
First, there is a persecution of man, either physically or psychologically. How many wars can we
attribute to religious differences? The number is ridiculously high. For an institution that seeks union
with a creative being that is of pure love and goodness our darkest traits as human beings seem to be
brought out. How about the psychological constraints of religion? To question the inerrancy of any
Holy Book or its authority is to commit blasphemy since it is divinely inspired. Religion takes away
man's freedom of thought.
Secondly we have a philosophy or ideology that is self-refuting and contradictory. How can man be
free and God still remain omnipotent? God would have to yield a portion of his power to allow our
freedom. Also, if he is omniscient he cannot be omnipotent because that would give him power to
change history, which is supposedly already determined by his all-knowingness. Finally, if he is
omniscient and therefore determines the outcome of events throughout history, how can he be
omnibenenvolent? For then all the evil in the world is also attributable to him and he is not a being of
love and good will toward men. As you can see the most fundamental elements of God's traits are
contradictory.
Third are those sins dealing with denying man use of his faculty of reason. These attempt to
either make God seem distant and hence unknowable or make it a heinous offense to do anything
else than passively incorporate church doctrines into the person's belief system. These tactics
successfully religiously domesticate man and make him a docile beast. We lose our ability to question
things for ourselves and all ability to scrutinize is compromised.
Fourth and final is religion's ethical outlook on human living. Most religions see worship of the higher
power to be the reason for living. Because of this they instill practices that drain man's spiritual
batteries and make him easier to convert and brainwash. Additionally, these ethical approaches are
often self-serving for the church and conveniently provide for their continued existence. Consider the
offerings plate passes around, insistence on volunteering in the church community, and alms-giving.
So what do we do? Simply, we do not renounce our right to think to these religious dictators. Once
we do they can imprison us in their world of spiritual pipe dreams and religious platitudes using empty
threats. Man is truly the flock of sheep but how loving and benign is our Shepherd?
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