Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr Angry
I take what you are saying Russ (I think) but is your defining yourself as a pentecostal christian not pigeon holing yourself?
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On the surface maybe but without wanting to come across as patronising, I'm simply 'putting the sweets on the lowest shelf'.
(in any case, the 'pigeon-holing' comment was referring to how the 3 options in the poll are not, funnily enough, encompassing enough for me to take part).
If I was a Catholic then yes I would consider myself religious. I'm no fan of Catholicism (note to the armchair experts: Catholicism and Christianity are not the same thing and their Pope does not speak for all Christians) but I'll use it as an example. It is an organised group which has rules, rituals and people can be removed from it. If people wish to follow it and become a Catholic then that's their right and all the power to them.
I do not belong to a denomination. I am a Christian, that's about as far as it goes. I only go under the banner of pentecostal as that's the closest church to me which has views, beliefs and thoughts which are agreeable to me. There is no structure like Catholicism, nobody tells anyone they must believe in this or have to undertake that ritual/rite of passage. Nobody is threatened with expulsion/eternal damnation.
Just come along and offer worship if you feel like it, join in with the songs (always very cheery and yes, happy-clappy) or not, listen to what the pastor has to say, leave when you want.
No pressure, no hate.
The way I see it is religion is man's attempt to reach God, Christianity is God's attempt to reach man. I don't have rules or regulations I have to follow, I do things because I want to and because it feels right to me. Prayer/worship/faith/beliefs are (IMO) personal between the individual and God, no need for any 'middle-man' or intercession by an organisation.