Opium of the People

"Die Religion ... ist das Opium des Volkes". “The religion, It is the opium of the people”
Thus said Karl Marx in his critique of religion. You might be surprised to find out that I do not disagree with him!

1. The current meaning of religion has evolved to `belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.'
2. However, that specific meaning is not found in the etymological history of the word religion. The root of the word is thought to be Latin religare, which means `to tie fast,' From that came Latin religio which originally meant `obligation, bond.'

Anyone who has been addicted to opium will recognise having been tied fast and bound up with the substance. The results are not pleasant.

Equally, the results of being bound up and tied fast by a religion are not pleasant either. Atheism however is not the answer, for by the above (2) definition it is just another religion. It’s adherents are just as bound up and miserable as those gripped by other religions.

Do you know what the first religious act was? Here it is..
“Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.” Genesis 3:7

Before they were disobedient, Adam and Eve’s nakedness was not an issue. Afterwards however they felt so guilty that they sought to cover themselves with a leaf! Sin had perverted their view of their reproductive organs, they felt ashamed to be exposed, and tried to cover up. However their covering did not cut it with God , He had another solution,

“Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.” Vs 21.
For them to be effectively covered, an animal had to die, so that it’s covering could be theirs. In this provision God pointed the way to the sacrifice of the perfect Lamb of God to atone for the sin of the world.

“For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Hebrews 9:13-14.

Ever since then mankind has invented various ways to get right with God. They are called Religions. God is not impressed, and has no time for them. To Him they are just another manifestation of disobedience. To get round this Devine displeasure men invent gods to construct religions around. If you invent your own god / goddess, you can also invent your own rules for getting on his/ her good side, (or getting him/her on your side)

“For the idols speak delusion; the diviners envision lies, and tell false dreams; they comfort in vain. Therefore the people wend their way like sheep; they are in trouble because there is no shepherd.” Zechariah 10:2
`These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honour Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me, And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' '' Matthew 15:8-9

This is a form of delusion on a grand scale which Marx recognised. Unfortunately Marx was also deluded. His delusion was to get rid of God. You can’t get rid of God in the psyche of man, because we are created in His image. Communism substituted the worship of the creator with that of the creature with disastrous consequences!

“who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions.” Romans 1:25-26

When I was about 13 I became an atheist. Previously I had believed in God. Not just believed in Him, as in He exists, but as in I really want to know Him. Consequently I paid great attention to people who were supposed to be Christians. I listened to what they had to say, and observed what they did, especially ministers. I was not impressed. These people did not seem to believe the Bible, and did not seem to have any integrity. Perhaps I was misjudging them, but that was the impression they left with me at 13. So I became an atheist. What I did in fact, although I did not realise it at the time, was to cast myself morally ethically and spiritually adrift on a sea of relativism. It’s too long a story to tell here, but at the age of 17 God caught hold of my drifting life and with my permission anchored me firmly to Jesus Christ

What I have now is a relationship, not a religion. Jesus said…

“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.'' John 4:23-24 and…
"No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 15:15

A relationship is characterised by love and trust and respect. Religion is characterised by fear and domination. Which would you rather have?

Religion may change it’s cloak from time to time, but never it’s spots. Underneath the spots are always there. The purpose is always to bring men and women into bondage to a lie through a delusion that convinces them that they have the truth.

Where a religion is dominant in a society it shows it’s spots. These are intolerance, persecution, ignorance, deprivation, control, subjugation of women, and concentration of power and wealth in an elite priesthood.

That is a pretty accurate description of Islam in the Middle East and Africa today, and also of Hinduism in India today. It was also an accurate description of Catholicism in Europe during the 1000 years from it’s inception to the Reformation. It is still an accurate description of Catholicism in Central and South America. It is also an accurate description of Communism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe until 1989, Cambodia in 1976-79, and currently of North Korea and to a lesser extent China and Cuba.
Now I am going to say something else that may shock you. I agree with the separation of Church and State. (but only until Jesus Christ returns to set up His kingdom on earth). I also agree with freedom of Religion in a secular state, protected by Law. If you want to be deluded, feel free. By the same token I am free to point out your delusion, and to present to you the truth. I am not free to force it on you, neither would I want to!

However; I believe that the best foundation for the Laws of that state are to be found in the Jewish and Christian Scriptures. It is no accident that the societies that enjoy the greatest degree of personal freedom and liberty for their citizens have their Judicial systems rooted it the Judeo / Christian ethic.

Compare that with Saudi Arabia, Iran, India, Sudan, North Korea etc.

It’s a sad and ominous day when we like Esau (Genesis 25:29-34) trade our birthright of tolerance and freedom for a mess of stew disguised as multiculturalism. A sad day when we deny an elected European Parliamentarian the right to enter our country to express his views. http://www.ccfon.org/view.php?id=687 (If Geert Wilders offended anyone, they have recourse under the libel laws of our country, only they have to prove he is not being truthful!) A sad day when a nurse is dismissed for offering to pray for one of her patients. A sad day when schoolgirl is reprimanded for praying for her friend in school. http://www.ccfon.org/view.php?id=689 A sad day when a mob of violent Muslims are allowed to march on our streets shouting abuse and hatred at their fellow citizens who do not agree with them,. A sad day when a radical Muslim cleric is invited to our capital by the Mayor, and is allowed to seed his hateful perversions, a sad day when Muslim women will be subjected to Shania law contrary to English Law in the worlds oldest Democracy. See http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/543869.aspx

A sad day for us, and for them

You won’t find this or anything like it in the Koran….

"You have heard that it was said, `You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:43-45

I pray for them, but the state should lock them up or kick them out! That is it’s obligation to the rest of us, of whatever religion. Instead it sanctions those who do the praying, and kicks out those who tell the truth!

Unless the government wakes up, this nation is heading for serious trouble. Spain under the Inquisition will seem mild by comparison!