I disagree based on the available record of these religious organizations. They are, in America, 501c3 organizations. Most all governments of this world have a similar tax-exempt policy. It's a great tax shelter for wealthy men to contribute to and it allows the govt's of the world to monitor their religions.
A 501(c)(3) organization is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization recognized under the United States Internal Revenue Code. To qualify, it must be organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes such as charitable, religious, or educational activities, and none of its earnings may benefit any private individual or shareholder. Additionally, it cannot engage in substantial lobbying or political activities. This designation allows donors to make "tax-deductible" contributions to the organization. A popular way for wealthy men to reduce their taxable income.
https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=2ed3...1aXJlbWVudHMtNTAxYzMtb3JnYW5pemF0aW9ucw&ntb=1
The funds received by these "Non-profit" religious organizations are given as salaries to the promoters, managers, treasurers, employees, etc of the specific religious sect. Their purpose is to sell, or promote a theology designed to appeal to the masses for the purpose of increasing contributions necessary for the organization to exist. All of these religious 501c3's compete with each other for contributing members. They purchase with this tax-free money advertisement, maintain web sites, and in some cases build massive, extremely expensive shrines of worship, all for the purpose of enticing people to join their organization. They organize charities to help and feed random poor people as part of their appeal. The more members, the more money, the more shrines of worship created to seen of men for the purpose of attracting more people the organization, which brings more money to create more shrines of worship, and on and on and on. This is how the 501c3 grows.
This religious "tradition" of this world's religious system has been in practice for a long time. Imagine if the recourses allocated for just the construction of the thousands of competing manmade shrines of worship alone, was set aside for the homeless of this world. There would be no homeless people at all. For instance, the Baha's religious organization just completed construction of an enormous shrine of worship in Kenya. I can't even imagine what that incredible structure cost. Millions and millions of dollars no doubt. And for what purpose? To signal God? To be seen of God? I mean no disrespect, but it is what it is. This Temple was built to be seen of and entice men to join their organization. But the Temple of the God of the Bible, is in the mind of men, not the thousands of man-made shrines of worship created by religious organizations of this world competing with each other for contributing members.
According to the Bible, God doesn't even dwell in Temples made of wood and stone. And these massive shrines are built to be seen of men, not God who has made it known clearly that such man-made endeavors, although popular in the religious sects of the world God placed us in, are not desired by God at all. So clearly the organizations are not about the "widow or the fatherless", although their expensive advertisements and pamphlets and web sites promote that it is. They are about growing their specific religious organization, promoting their particular religious philosophy, and this to receive the praise of men.
In your case my friend, you are promoting the religious philosophy of universalism. A religious philosophy that promotes to all humans, "Thou shall surely not die". This is the foundational doctrine of all of this world's religious organizations "who profess to know God". In my understanding, this philosophy started in the Garden of Eden.
Since I am a believer in the Spiritual Book called "The bible", it is clear according to the Word's found therein that neither the God of Abraham, nor the Prophesied Messiah, the Christ Jesus, are Universalists. They do not promote that humans are all born immortal and all will inherit the Kingdom of God regardless of whom they "yield themselves" to. It seems perfectly understandable, in my view, why Jesus would instruct me to "Come out of her", the "her" being a religious system filled with thousands of competing religious businesses/organizations who all have ONE thing in common. They don't believe God's Word as shown in the Torah and the Prophets that Jesus said to live by.
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Matt. 6:
1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
My friend Pancho whom I love. I so must appreciate your perspectives and the questions you ask concerning popular religious philosophies of this world we were born into.
And I mean no disrespect and am not attempting to promote any religious organization or 501c3. I simply want to share with you the perspective of a man who has separated himself from this world's religious system for 30 years now, a system made up of hundreds of differing non-profit organizations that profess to know God. I think we agree that essentially, they are all the same, being no different one from another. Where we disagree, I think, is in the philosophy that implies God is telling them all, "Come as you are" I'm going to save you all anyway.
At any rate, according to Baha'i doctrine, my family and I are going to inherit the Kingdom of God whether I adopt the religious philosophies of this world's 501c3's or not. However, I have come to trust the Bible "
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness".
In closing, I would have you consider that without the Bible, certainly the Torah and the Prophets, there would be no Koran, no Islam. No Muhammed and therefore, no Baháʼu'lláh. The foundation of a "Christ" or "Messenger of the God of Abraham" is founded in the Torah as the Koran admits.
For this reason, the Bible is my trusted source for instruction in righteousness. Not the religious philosophies of a random 501c3.
Nevertheless, it's always good to hear from you and I hope you have a good day.
