Among the many things Jesus of Nazareth told his followers was to care for the poor. It's too bad that religions which claim to follow their God, who died on the cross for them, do not believe what He taught.
To begin with, the Vatican is the smallest nation in the world, and one of the wealthiest. The truth is, no one knows its actual value. Many of its art treasures are locked in underground vaults.
The Church of Latter Day Saints, known to most as "the Mormons,' do not allow outsiders into the innermost section of their temples, and even members are not allowed inside the most sacred areas unless they hold a certain level of importance. They coat the statues at the top of their temples in 24 karat gold. Why? Did God tell them to?
Does anyone really think God, if you believe in Him or Her, considers any of this a form of worship? I think He would do the same thing he did when he physically evicted the "money changers' from the temples in a tale from the Bible. And, no matter what your income, if you attend their services, you are expected to "tithe.'
I live in a suburb of Reno, Nevada. Many people in the Northern Nevada area live in poverty, and that includes a large number of those who actually have jobs.
The Catholics have recently completed a huge new church, less than ten miles from my house at a cost of multi-millions of dollars. Several years ago, the Mormons built a Temple west of the city which cost at least as much.
The Lake Tahoe area is minutes away from the city. Its beauty is legendary, and worthy of all the praise it receives. The amazing fact about this breathtaking area is that it was not built by any religion; by any man at all. It was built by God. It is a fitting place to worship Him, and it's free.
I am not a religious person. I believe most people who go to church do not follow the teachings of the men who preach to them. I do not need another man to tell me how to live my life or explain to me what is right or wrong. What I do believe in, is something most Christians do not embrace. I respect all of nature. God created every living thing on earth, and every part of His creation should be treasured, protected, and respected. I believe that all people have the right to live as they choose, and no one should pass judgment on them with the exception of their Creator.
If the major Christian religions truly believed in the word of God, they would realize that churches are unnecessary. If the congregation needs a place to meet, there are a multitude of alternatives, and churches could be built at a fraction of the cost. The money spent to build these edifices, which honor only the hierarchy of their religion, could help the poor and needy in the community.
If you feel a sincere need to be part of a religion, I do not condemn you. But follow what that religion believes and do not "pick and choose' the parts that suit you. It's all or nothing, if you actually believe the words coming from the pulpit.
James Turnage
Op-ed
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