Freedom

Freedom. I can remember hearing MANY sermons about Freedom in churches. "It was for freedom that Christ set us free" (Gal. 5:1a). Ponder freedom. What does freedom mean? Freedom from what? From Satan? From eternal damnation? From pain? Freedom from fear? Or is it Freedom TO? Freedom to... what? I have searched for freedom in my life and I don't see the type of freedom that I am looking for in most churches in the U.S.

Break it down:
PAIN. Obviously we are not free from pain. My sister just gave a kidney to my cousin. She chose pain so that he could live a longer life. His life has been full of pain having been born with only one kidney, an unhealthy one. Both my sister and cousin are Christian and moral people, yet they experience pain.
SATAN. ETERNAL DAMNATION. Ok, there may be some argument for saying Christian's are free from eternal damnation. I just don't believe in an after life, and especially not in hell.
FEAR. The Christians that I have met have way more fear than the atheists I know. They fear hell and judgment. They fear corruption by other sinners. They fear not being good enough. And they may argue with me that by following all their rules that they aren't exhibiting fear, but I think that strict adhering to rules that make no sense can only be birthed out of fear.

Freedom. What about freedom to act on sexual orientation? What about freedom to say "no" to authority? What about freedom for women to take care of their own bodies without men's rules governing them? What about women's freedoms in general? There is very little room for women to have freedom within Christianity (and many other religions as well). I argue that religion is constricting, restricting, creates fear and does not create freedom.

70th Birthday Party

Yesterday was my dad's 70th birthday party. Attendees: Shane, I & our kids, my sister Sara & her family, my mom & dad (obviously), and my mom's sister & her husband (my aunt & uncle). Last night after the kids finally were in bed Shane and I talked a little about the interactions. My aunt, mother and sister are all what I would classify as evangelical Christians. EVERYTHING they talked about revolved around God, church, and prayer. This is the way I grew up. Nothing was ever separate from religion, and God was the master planner of everything that happened. The answer to every question: "Pray about it." The more experience that I have, the more I see that not all Christians center everything around religion and prayer. I would consider most of the people I meet to believe in Christianity, yet I don't hear them talking constantly about their religion like I did in my childhood or around the circles from churches that I once attended. Is it good to let religion permeate everything we say and do? Or can there be a balance?

What is attributed to religion?

What can we attribute to religion and what do we not attribute to religion?

There is no doubt that many evil things have been done and are done in the name of religion. I would argue that there are also good things that have been done in the name of religion. If a person is mean and hateful and religious is religion blamed for the faults of the individual? If a person is selfless and caring and religious is religion the cause of the compassion? Shane and I had a conversation a few days ago about Mother Teresa. I don't know a lot about her, but I know that she did a lot to help people and she did it in the name of religion (or God). Was it 'religion' that inspired her, or a heart for people? Could a non-religious person or a person ascribing to another religion be just as dedicated to helping others? Is it wrong to help others with the intent to convert?