This is from a post at a blog called “stupid church people”
Here’s some passages from an introductory text entitled “The Sociology of Religion” that I found interesting.
“The role religion plays in maturation is highly problematic. While it is difficult to assess religious dysfunction in maturation, we can see that there is the possibility that religion institutionalizes immaturity by encouraging believers to be dependent upon the religious institution and its leaders.
Religion can provide the necessary elements of security and definition at certain stages of life, to enable the individual to meet crises successfully and to develop a mature personality. Paradoxically, even in its dysfunctional promotion of dependence and immaturity, it can become a focus for the development of independence and maturity by becoming the object of conflict and rejection. From this process the development of a more mature attitude and point of view, either religious or irreligious, can take place.”
emphasis added.
What do you think? Does religion foster dependence? Does religion develop independence and maturity when somebody finally breaks out of the cocoon?
I think that religion is a cultural substitute that distracts people from following Christ on their own. Marlow said something Sunday in his sermon that hit home. He said religion is evil and not of God. He is right. Here is one of my favorite Driscoll youtubes on the topic.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXKT8IPdvzA&hl=en&fs=1]