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From: liz@umcp-cs.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: I Hate Religion
Message-ID: <312@umcp-cs.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 20-Jun-83 05:08:43 EDT
Article-I.D.: umcp-cs.312
Posted: Mon Jun 20 05:08:43 1983
Date-Received: Tue, 21-Jun-83 11:40:25 EDT
References: altos86.254, <469@dadla-b.UUCP>
Organization: Univ. of Maryland, Computer Science Dept.
Lines: 21

I think you are using slightly different definitions for the word
"religion".  It is true that as a Christian, it is necessary to do
things which are "religious" but only in the sense that it helps
you to grow in knowing God.  It is >not< necessary for salvation.
This is where Christianity differs from other religions.  There is
nothing you can do (such as attending church on Sundays) to gain
salvation, but when you have received the gift of salvation, your
response to God is love and thankfulness which shows in your life
as you desire to get to know God better.  Now, it turns out that
getting together with other people who believe like you do is a
big help in knowing God better.  So, you go to church on Sunday.
The danger is that after you've known God for a while and after
he's begun changing you into someone better, you might begin to
think this is because of what you're doing and how good it is that
you're always in church on Sunday and how you don't steal or kick
your dog (...) and how you're so much better than all the other
people out there...  This is the kind of religious hypocrisy that
Jesus hated in the Scribes and Pharisees, and it's the kind of
hypocrisy that has turned more people away from God...

				-Liz Allen