I agree we are all sheep, its part of our DNA, we like to group and imitate one another and we like to have acceptance from our peers, so we conform. But not all disbelievers are athiests, nor have any belief about a big bang, it may or may not have happened. But I'm 100% convinced the jewish version of god is just idolatory of a ficticious concept. It's definitely idolatory, just like christians idolize a fake risen jesus.
The slavery of humans to religious principles taught us, the sticking to traditions, church attendance, tithing, baptism, communion, praying, reading bible, all idolatory. If you push against those things, the church will call you out. Healing the sick (attempting) through prayer, no different from white magic. Calling on jesus name - white magic. The difference, gummint sanctioned and made acceptable by gummint. The community find it acceptable.
MATT 12: At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. 2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.” 3 He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. 5 Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent? 6 I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. 7 If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
In my naivety I used to think believe the Bible was wrong, thinking that people have some good in them. Nah, hypocrisy of men including Christians, showed we are all evil (including myself), thus proving again the Bible correct and increasing my faith. Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: It is very simple. Who is the final authority? The Catholics say the church and the Pope. Wrong. The Bible is the final authority, not tradition or the church, or the pastor. Research the Bible yourself. I laugh when people say Christianity is a cult. A cult requires a leader. A Christian follows no one, only the Bible. Without getting too deep here, you are onto something. Anything that is in the spiritual realm is either of God, or of the devil. So if you are praying to God, good. If you are trying to use some sort of repetitive chanting of Jesus name, to drum up some sort of spiritual power to perform a miracle, yes that is magic. And magic is a sin. Many Christians have fallen into magic without realizing it. You gave a good example.
I'm appreciating your points of view, thx. The bible is a great book, fantastic actually. Lots of wisdom, but its a book with failings as well, lots of gobbledegook, reminds me of Hershey nonsense RIP. For humans, billion humans will interpret the bible a billion different ways. Can you get a bible and tear it in half, burn it in the fireplace? If not, then its cultism.
I don't believe in the devil as such. Good and evil are imo are the same thing but like different sides of the same coin. If there is creation and god created everything, who created evil?
I actually did that to a book of mormon someone gave me. I knew he would not take it back. After about 15 pages I perceived it was written with similar words but the opposite spirit of the gospel of Jesus. Jesus Christ is judge and redeemer of all who believe and repent of their evil ways. If you are not aware of your sins, the first step is to examine yourself. If you are OK with being a sinner, carry on. The way is easy and the gate is wide!