shadowmaster

Personally I would consider anything you have organized gathers, standards for they way you live your life, and a so call organization structure is a organized religion.

I would ask, what makes a religion not organized?

michaeljohn

Not to hijack this thread,I will attempt to answer your question but let's look at the beginings of organized religion. It is mostly political. I may be a bit innacurate here, but here are some facts.

Take the Catholic Church, for example. The Roman Empire was falling apart, the reign of the Caesar's was ending. Emporer Constantine, a sun-god worshipper passed an edict of toleration of Christianity and declared himself the first Pope. Now, he could stay in power. Exchange the title of Caeser for Pope. The premise of Rome for the site of the church is based on scripture where Jesus said to Peter "you are the rock on which I shall build my church". The Catholic church claimed Peter came to Rome justifying this. There is no evidence he ever did other than Rome saying so! Gee, that's where the Roman empire was based, how convenient. The name Peter comes from the Greek word Petra or Rock. Rome adopted all the Pagan holidays, adapting them to Christian beliefs. Easter itself comes from Ashtar, an ancient pagan fertitlity holiday. Look at the pagan symbols used in Easter today: Eggs and Rabbits! Both represent fertitlity!

The Orthodox split from the Catholic Church was a political move as well. Why be controlled by Rome?

King Henry the 8th started the Anglican Church when Rome wouldn't legalize his divorce. Who was Rome to battle England's armies and bring him back.

The Mormon faith was founded by the son of an insane treasure hunter. Joseph Smith hunted too and claimed to dig up evidence that before Christ ascended to heaven he came to America to tutor one of the lost tribes of Israel! There is direct evidence that the Book of Mormon was not only plagarized from the New Testament, but from another writing, The Pearl of Great Price (author I don't remember) Now it is a multi-billion dollar business, the biblical 10% tithe is required to belong.

I could go on and on.....

Organized religion wants your money and for you to stay in line. I prefer to worship privately. So a small offbeat religion may not be organized. All for the better, I suppose.

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Stumpy

In February I had an opportunity to see a Vatican exihibit in Cincinnasty ... and you raise a compelling point. Even my devoutly Catholic mother - btw, find the irony in "catholic" meaning universal yet the "catholic" church doing all in its power to exclude - even she came away from the exihibit with way more questions than answers. Almost brought tears to her eyes when she asked me why a pope could have golden slippers but the church lets people starve ....

to me the bottom line on organized religion is this: If it helps you get through the day and be a better person, great. if it doesn't, fuck it, leave it behind, and find what does.

Provided its not grossly immoral, like kicking puppies or dealing crack to kindergartners.