God a crutch for the weak? (ritual, experience, theist, spiritual)

[Fish-Hunter]

Originally Posted by Phasmid

I've heard it said that only the weak believe in a God. That may be true for some, but in my personal experience God is a challenge. Anyone who's ever tried living the Christian life knows that it's far from easy... in fact I can safely say it's the most difficult thing I've ever tried to do... come to think of it, I've never managed it.

So to anyone who considers the faithful to be weak, I say you should walk a mile in their shoes before comming to such a conclusion.

Christianity is for the spirituality dead sinner. Personal weakness is a good thing for the Christian who has been made alive in Christ.

2 Corinthians 12

I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell. I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say.

To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

[Azakel]

Originally Posted by Charity

God could never be a crutch for the weak, because the weak wouldn't last in this battle.....It takes a very strong person to endure all the persecution that is inflicted on us.... Christianity is not for the weak or faint hearted.


Charity

Same can be said for any other religion and the persecution that is inflicted on all of us. But I will say that while some might use religion and God(s) as a crutch weather the Christian, Pagan, Hindu, or even Shinto, it is not just for the weak. We are strong.

[logician]

Religion can certainly be a crutch, and more importantly it can lead you down the wrong path in life.

[texan1]

There are certain devout religious people in history that I greatly admire. For example, Mother Teresa. When you look at her life I would say that God was not a crutch. God gave her a clear purpose. She gave up all of the material comforts and vanity that most of us enjoy and gave her life to humanitarian work. That takes a lot of strength in my opinion.

I think that religion could maybe be considered a crutch for some people. People maybe who lack self esteem and need a reason to look down on others or justify their own prejudices for example ("I'm "saved" and you are scum" kind of thing). But as Starfish said I think the truly devout are humble.

But when I hear the words "crutch for the weak" I think of things like alcohol abuse, not religion. Some people believe in God and some do not; I don't think it is a measure of weakness in either case.

[Kcnorwood]

As an ex-Christian I was taught that without God you can't do anything without him.
Even the bible referes to people as sheep & God as a shepard, Sheep are billed as stupid creatures. I find that offensive but if your ok with that then go for it. No, religion is really easy unless your catholic at least with them you can pretty much do anything you want, as long as you ask God to forgive you sometimes before you die. I've said this before Christianty is the only religion which says you NEED God to make it though life.

[Quagmire]

Speaking on behalf of weak people everywhere, I'm going to say yeah. If you think about it, it's actually a pretty good argument for His/Her existence (if you lean on an imaginary crutch, you fall, right?)

[Guitar's Cry]

God is a challenge. Seeking a relationship with It can be a complex puzzle with some interesting patterns.

[Scuba Pete]

Originally Posted by logician

Religion can certainly be a crutch, and more importantly it can lead you down the wrong path in life.

The very same can be said about atheism. In fact, I have seen atheism used as a crutch many times.

[ThePhoenixSisters]

Originally Posted by Charity

God could never be a crutch for the weak, because the weak wouldn't last in this battle.....It takes a very strong person to endure all the persecution that is inflicted on us.... Christianity is not for the weak or faint hearted.

Charity

Oh come now Charity, WHO isn't persecuted by SOMEBODY? Plus if you view life as "this battle", you most certainly incline yourself towards seeing "the enemy" all around you. no? REAL "religious" persecution is christians in lion dens, and witches at the stake. Don't take it all so personally. LIFE is not for the weak or faint hearted. Know what I mean?

Nyx