Have you noticed that many religions appear to be more focused on making money than on providing spiritual guidance? 

• An investigation revealed that one Catholic bishop over a period of 13 years used church funds to pay for nearly 150 trips on private jets and some 200 limousine rides. He also spent well over four million dollars on renovations to his church residence.
• A preacher in one African country regularly holds religious services with tens of thousands of attendees. His large church complex sells all kinds of merchandise—from “miracle oil” to branded towels and T-shirts. While most who attend are poor, he is extremely wealthy.
• Two of China’s four sacred Buddhist mountains are publicly-listed companies. And the famous Shaolin Temple is involved in many commercial projects—its abbot is popularly known as the “CEO monk.”
• Divinity consultants are beginning to appear in corporate America. According to one report, they borrow from religious tradition to design sacred rituals and provide other spiritual services for their clients.

Religion soon to be Destroyed! Jesus told his followers never to seek financial profit from their religious activities. He said: “You received free, give free.” (Matthew 10:8) 

One would be surprised to know that many doctrines espoused by denominations, religious movements, and churches are not biblical in the name of Christ or Christianity. Reading a little more on the Reformation was a real eye-opener.

Religion is when a group of people coalesce around beliefs (biblical, myths, traditions, superstitions, etc.). Unfortunately, too many non-biblical ideas have embedded themselves into religious bodies and have taken center stage. Please help me to explore them. Consider first:

1. What are doctrines?
2. Are they beneficial or necessary in today's religion?
3. What is heresy?
4. Are there heresies in the Bible?
5. Can you list and explain some non-biblical teachings or doctrines masking themselves as God-ordained truth?

In short, getting back-to-the Bible, what are some of the modern-day heresies? CM

A new study shows how poorly we understand the beliefs of people who identify as atheist, agnostic, or nothing in particular.

Americans are deeply religious people—and atheists are no exception. Western Europeans are deeply secular people—and Christians are no exception.

These twin statements are generalizations, but they capture the essence of a fascinating finding in a new study about Christian identity in Western Europe. By surveying almost 25,000 people in 15 countries in the region, and comparing the results with data previously gathered in the U.S., the Pew Research Center discovered three things.

First, researchers confirmed the widely known fact that, overall, Americans are much more religious than Western Europeans. They gauged religious commitment using standard questions, including “Do you believe in God with absolute certainty?” and “Do you pray daily?”

Second, the researchers found that American “nones”—those who identify as atheist, agnostic, or nothing in particular—are more religious than European nones. The notion that religiously unaffiliated people can be religious at all may seem contradictory, but if you disaffiliate from organized religion it does not necessarily mean you’ve sworn off belief in God, say, or prayer...

See also: Being Christian in Western Europe

Full text: http://www.pewforum.org/2018/05/29/being-christian-in-western-europe/?utm_source=AdaptiveMailer&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=18-05-29 Western Europe ENG&org=982&lvl=100&ite=2635&lea=593443&ctr=0&par=1&trk=

The majority of Europe’s Christians are non-practicing, but they differ from religiously unaffiliated people in their views on God, attitudes toward Muslims and immigrants, and opinions about religion’s role in society

"Atheists Are Sometimes More Religious Than Christians". Are you inclined to believe this? Is it possible? If so, how? CM