@Ken Anderson See, to ME the "church" is not the "body of people", but rather the concentrated organization operated as a business aimed at congregating that body of people and "molding" their will and beliefs to suit the purposes of the organization. This is done ubiquitously in such convincing fashion as to dispell any doubts in the minds of the followers. They then become part of the "fold', a group of human beings, many far-set from one another in aspirations, ambitions, political beliefs, familial directions, but always glued to the "cause". Such mindless followers are robotic: controlled by the will of others. Religion could thus be easily compared to any number of other schemes aimed at subvertiveness. Like dictatorship. Only in subliminal ways not obvious to the participants. My paternal grandfather, a hard-headed Czech who fled Europe to escape Catholicism, aptly described the church as "bullshitters of the people" (once he learned English). He learned the needed words first....Frank
I see more mindless followers in politics than I have in any of the churches that I have participated in. I rarely agree fully with everything in any of the churches that I have attended. Not everything is worth arguing, largely because it's not important for people to agree on everything. However, in the church that I currently attend, it's not at all unusual for us to spend time arguing (discussing, if you prefer) something that the pastor had said in his sermon, and he doesn't always win the debate.
I don't go to any church, choosing which religion ideology is very confusing. I didn't have to do a Google search to know that there are a lot, but I Googled anyway. Over 310 Religions and Denominations in the United States. Being a skeptic to begin with & impressionable this got my attention early on. (November 18, 1978), mass murder-suicide of members of the California-based Peoples Temple. Jim Jones not so nice but a convincing leader. Which is right radical Islam or Buddhism? Do Catholics have an inside tract or do JW's? Different ways to get to where people that have a belief system think will work for them. But the really successful like Tammy Faye Baker & her husband who can fault them for wanting the bounty religion can provide. I always thought it a little ridiculous for the Pope to fly in a private jet to be transported thru poverty stricken areas in his Pope mobile wearing thousands of dollars in clothing & a crown to give hope to those suffering in deep poverty. All in all I think religion & belief in something is great for those that find peace of mind in their belief. I just find it to hard to believe that a sentient being at least 3 & 1/2 billion years old exists to pass final judgement once we die.
When I think of church as being a denominational building most of my memories are unpleasant...but when I think of Church as being a body of believers who meet together whenever and wherever to worship the God who created them and Jesus Christ who redeemed them from their sins...I have some wonderful memories that will last through all eternity. In my 68 years on this earth I have come to realize that a relationship with God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) is what is really important and when I can share that relationship with others who have that relationship too...it is a time to cherish. Worshiping our heavenly Father with other believers is what Church is to me. Here on earth church has become a religious, political, and denominational faction to be avoided at all costs. But for those who understand that church is the "body of Christ" coming together to worship God their Father and to share fellowship with other believers that worldly definition does not define us. There is a coming back to small groups like in the Old Testament times that I see happening in so many churches now days...and this is a very good thing to me. Jesus never meant the Church he started to become a religious, political, or denominational faction....He meant it to be a body of believers who worshiped their Creator and spread the Good News, love, and fruit of the Spirit among themselves and others.
As far as the Pope goes, he is also a head of state, albeit for a very tiny nation-state, so for him to be riding in the Pope-mobile is not much different from the President of the U.S. riding in a limousine. If you think all religions are complex bureaucracies, you should visit a Primitive Baptist Church sometime. As far as I know, they only exist in the South, and there aren't many of them, but the churches have no electricity or indoor plumbing, and they only meet once a month (generally), but the service lasts all day. There are no professional clergy, and the congregation makes it a party. After morning services on the designated Sunday, everyone who has brought a picnic lunch shares with everyone who needs, then they all go in for afternoon service and dismissal. Since there is no light, and seldom any heat,they cannot go into the evenings, and I don't know how they handle rainy gloomy Sundays. There is no bureaucracy at all involved, and I think the offering maintains the church and pays a small stipend to the pastor.
The Amish elect a pastor from a list of four members who were selected by a nominating committee. That man then serves as pastor for the church for the rest of his life, or until retirement. He is not paid. He is not allowed to prepare his messages in advance but is expected to speak from the heart, the idea being that God will give him the message. Most Amish churches meet together only every other Sunday, with families doing their own services in their homes on the Sundays that the church doesn't meet.
I usually not always on a Sunday, but do go at least to something weekly just to get out and can take my dog and not leave her, I do assist monthly in some of our small groups that are really not so small anymore and attend all of our training and matches I can, we are up to 2 all the time and sometimes 3 services on Sundays in the summer, weather permitting I always try to do the on horseback monthly service and campfire breakfasts. If I go on a Sunday it is mostly to the early time frame one, just a rural church for the same doing things and fellowship that we are used to doing and interested it our motto We Listen. All with a spiritual overtone. Something is going on there every week. Per member's request this Wed pm we had a knife sharpening class! We are very different and do what our members wish .
Today marks the 2nd week in a row that I've missed church. Last week I hit a poor-hole and blew a tire. I had to call AAA because when I went to change the tire there was no jack in the car which I'd bought last year. And today My wife woke me around 2 because she'd fallen. I tried to get her up but after an hour of trying I called 911. She hadn't wanted me to call 911 because she thought she'd be embarrassed. When the EMTs came they told her not to worry about it. Just call when you fall.