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TOPIC: A Cheerful Giver

A Cheerful Giver 5 years 8 months ago #3095

Mark
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Mike, their logic is strip away self-worth, make us believe the Most High values money and that it is a gift from God, and this trickles down from clergy to all those placed in a position of authority. It is the money that makes one valued. If one has money they gain power, and remember the money is the gift, the blessing. If you don’t have it, you are not pleasing to God. Jay, this leads to looking down on entire ethnicities who are born at a economic disadvantage. They just decide the whole group is unworthy. If God has not seen fit to bless them than why should anyone else. This starts the belief of superiority, it was necessary in order to control a society. Religion is a control mechanism used to control mass groups of people, and it works.

So many things about this article reach inside me and made me smile and nod. So many things. I remember dad saying how little he cared for church and I was glad he didn’t force us to go like our mother tried to do. I just felt like, and I still do, the church is more supportive of people who are mean and who do mean things. All the women in church were horribly mean to their husbands and their children. I also wondered why they didn’t do more for people who were suffering. Like most of you I just didn’t feel I belonged. I didn’t fit in.

I also want to say you all think I’m a good leader, Mason has a way of explaining things in a way that even I am enlightened. I love you sis that’s why I let you boss me around so much.

Me too wife.

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A Cheerful Giver 5 years 8 months ago #3096

Justine
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I spent a lot of time with my grandparents and the only use religion when it benefits them. So, that is the way it goes. Church supports the haves, and takes away from the have nots. It teaches us to hold those who have money in high regard and recognize their authority because they have money. Where is God in all of that? Mason, you’re right, their God is money and that’s why everything they teach is centered around that.

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A Cheerful Giver 5 years 8 months ago #3097

Deb
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Oh man mom was so manipulative and she learned it very well in church I can see it now. So many people’s mental stability is compromised by this kind of stuff. It is really sad but they’re stealing from us Point Blank that’s what you’re saying Mason it because that’s what it is. They try to make us feel okay with robbing Us blind it’s a slave like Behavior all of it Mason. I know I I hate it that offering bowl that came around two or three times during services. Oh yes there’s always the building fund but nothing ever gets built. I also remember giving money for the visiting pastors that came to our church to show her appreciation for them coming to speak to us. I remember being called out when ties were not paid on time or paid it all. I remember how ashamed it made people feel. I read this article and just shook my head all of it is true. We are trying to not care about Who We Are will train to believe the people with money are better than us. That’s why people strive to have it they’ll kill for it and they’ll still it. Basically this is creating criminals this emphasis on money and its importance it is literally creating criminals.

Last Edit: 5 years 8 months ago by Deb.

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A Cheerful Giver 5 years 8 months ago #3098

Jess

Like my colleague above said, religion has a great impact on people psychologically. It can be so confusing, like Adam shared, that it can cause you to turn away from God, as Mason talks about in this article. I have so many people come to see me who are experiencing this problem. I have even had a few join our faith and they are finally content and at peace. It is the biggest and best gift I could have given and it had nothing to do with money. Typically, religion does give the idea that the wealthy are the favored and they deserve to be exulted. This was a fantastic Article Mason, and I have printed it and will offer copies to my patients if they would like to have one. Normally they do like to pick up copies of the articles written by members of our Gnostic family.

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A Cheerful Giver 5 years 8 months ago #3099

Vicki
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I remember hearing many of these phrases growing up, and I remember being discouraged from asking to many questions. Not always from the father, but from my parents. Obviously they were discouraged so they knew to stop me. I didn’t or couldn’t get comfortable with how things were and we were among the well off in the church. Dad gave so much money to them and did special favors as well. This is why it is encouraged to show respect for those in better financial and positions of authority. The world is a crazy place and it is beyond clear that many of those in these positions clearly don’t have the best interest of average citizens at heart. No, there are not humanitarian at all. I’m grateful I found the right path and learned that the Most High is and does not encourage any of us to be this way. I’m glad.

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A Cheerful Giver 5 years 8 months ago #3100

Karen
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When I was young I hated going to church and I though something was wrong with me for hating it. It was boring, and I watched my father sigh every time the collection tray came down our row. I asked him one day, why the pastor needed so much money all the time. He smiled at me and told me he was wondering the same thing. My mother hit him but she smiled. The first thing our of her mouth was to tell me we might not under stand God’s will but it was not for us to understand. I asked her why we didn’t understand and she told me because the ways of the lord were as high as the heavens are from the earth compared to ours. I didn’t know what to say after that but none of it made e feel better about church.

As a young adult I went as little as possible and I always felt bad because I didn’t want to go. Jim laughed at me because he would ask and I’d start ducking my head and backing away. He would tease me and call me a sinner and I would smile and then sigh. I just hated it. He gasped because on time I told him I wanted some new shoes and if we went to church they would take all our extra money. He gasped and then he burst into laughter. Of course he called me a sinner again and I shrugged and made my way to the shoe store. Yes was smiling the whole way. That’s how it was for me. If I didn’t want to give the church extra money, especially when I really wanted something for me or my family, I really avoided attending. So, reading this article made how I felt most of my life crystal clear and I don’t feel bad about it anymore. I’m not a sinner.

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