Dear God,
Every feast of the Nazarene in a place here called Quiapo, thousands of people trample each other just to touch the statue of you being paraded outside the church thinking it will bring them luck or cure their ailments. Many do die in this event. During holy week they flagellate and crucify themselves to atone for their sins. People flock to masses when the lottery hits the high marks, praying for signs of what the winning combination will be. In this country where most people live below the poverty line, most people turn to you during their suffering. So much so that they do nothing for themselves and solely depend on you.I don’t blame you God. But I wonder why you created religion when it just serves as an opium of the people and as a vehicle for violence?
Karen, PhilippinesShare:
April 16th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
God isn’t in a statue, he isn’t in a church. He’s everywhere, and he can be inside you (Your body is your temple). God didn’t create religion, man did. The preacher on the television, and the religiousness is not God. You don’t find God by going to church, you invite Jesus into your life. You can talk to Jesus, and have a personal relationship with him. 99% of the Churches out there have it wrong, but that doesn’t mean He is wrong. You can be spiritual with the Lord, and not be religious. Religion is of the flesh, it is a form and ritual, it lacks spirit. I’m h ere for you, and so is the Lord, you just have to call him.
April 16th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
The Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines condemns these events every year they happen. The problem is that people want to pay for their own sins by punishing themselves. All they have to do is ask God for mercy and forgiveness and He will give it to them. Unfortunately, many Catholics don’t know their faith and rely on superstition and misconceptions to guide them. Education is the key. Learn your faith, and you won’t do things like that.
April 16th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
the cross was the sign of God’s love for us when he sacrificed His only son for us, all of us, however, Jesus is not still hanging on that cross, he rose again and is seated on the right side of the father in heaven and He left us with the Holy Spirit who is our counselor, you really do not get blessings by touching the statue or anything, you pray to God faithfully. I PRAY THAT GOD MAY SHED HIS LIGHT TO ALL WHO ARE STILL LOST BECAUSE OF LACK OF KNOWLEDGE!
April 16th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
God didn’t create religion. We did.
April 16th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Jesus came to bring about a revolution, not a religion. Love will set us free…
April 18th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
I always tell people that God is God, he works where and with whom he wants to work. Doesn’t matter if you’re Christian, Muslim, athiest, whatever…no set of beliefs or rituals can stop God. If he wants you…you’re his.
April 28th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
ummm, people are mental.