{"id":906,"date":"2015-09-02T09:19:57","date_gmt":"2015-09-02T14:19:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/?page_id=906"},"modified":"2023-12-14T14:37:10","modified_gmt":"2023-12-14T20:37:10","slug":"religion-is-deception","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-deception","title":{"rendered":"Religion is Deception***"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>TRUTH AND LIES<\/strong><br \/>\nThe Bible is commonly called a book of truth. While this statement is true, it is incomplete because it ignores the fact that the Bible is also a book filled with deception and lies. Consider these few examples:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/genesis\/3.html\">Eve was deceived when she ate the forbidden fruit.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/exodus\/1.html\">Hebrew midwives deceived Pharaoh.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/genesis\/passage\/?q=genesis+27:1-29\">Jacob and Rebekah deceived Isaac.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/genesis\/passage\/?q=genesis+29:14-30\">Laban deceived Jacob.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/genesis\/passage\/?q=genesis+31:22-35\">Rachel deceived Laban.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+26:14-16;+matthew+26:20-25;+matthew+26:36-50;+mark+14:10-18;+luke+22:1-6;+luke+22:14-23;+john+6:59-71;+john+12:1-8;+john+13:1-33;+acts+1:15-20;+psalm+41:1-9\">Judas deceived Jesus and the other apostles<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>This is a very small sample of many stories of deception and lies that can be found in the Bible. While Jews and Christians have little trouble accepting that Biblical characters practiced deception and were deceived themselves, they cannot easily accept that they also practice deception and are themselves deceived. They do not apply the truth that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/2-timothy\/passage\/?q=2-timothy+3:16-17\">all scripture, including stories about deception, is useful for training in righteousness<\/a> to themselves.<\/p>\n<p>Reading the Bible carefully, we will be shocked to find that God also practiced deception when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=ezekiel+14:1-11;+1-kings+22:13-23;+2-chronicles+18:12-23\">he enticed lying spirits to deceive his people<\/a> and made it impossible for them to understand. Those lying spirits are false prophets still at work today in every religion. And even more surprisingly, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/2-thessalonians\/passage\/?q=2-thessalonians+2:1-12\">God will send a deluding influence that causes people to believe what is false. <\/a>That deluding influence is at work today in every religion, but religious people cannot easily accept that fact either.<\/p>\n<p>When we read these stories of deception by God and others, we are challenged to understand how they apply to us in these modern days. If we believe, however, that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/2-timothy\/passage\/?q=2-timothy+3:12-17\">all scripture is useful for training in righteousness<\/a>, and if we believe that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=malachi+3:6;+james+1:17;+numbers+23:19;+psalm+102:27;+1-samuel+15:29;+ezekiel+24:14\">God does not change<\/a>, we will <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/study\">study<\/a> hard to learn how we have been deceived and how we in turn have deceived others by practicing and promoting religion. We will also accept that God still sends deluding influences that cause us and others to believe what is false. And the things that are false, of course, are all the deceptive teachings and practices that make up religion. And, perhaps must shameful of all, we will accept that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/2-thessalonians\/passage\/?q=2-thessalonians+2:11-12\">we took pleasure in it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Knowing that God has allowed and even enabled deception to lead his people astray, we do well to learn how to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=1-kings+3:6-12;+hebrews+5:11-14;+ezekiel+44:15-23;+leviticus+10:1-11;+ezekiel+22:23-27;+isaiah+5:20;+matthew+12:35\">discern good from evil and the holy from the profane<\/a>. The challenge for ancient Israel and modern Jews and Christians is to understand that truth is concealed in false visions, lies and dreams fabricated by false prophets and shepherds.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+7:15-16;+2-corinthians+11:12-15;+ezekiel+22:24-29;+matthew+24:5-12;+matthew+24:23-26;+mark+13:19-22;+john+10:12;+2-timothy+3:1-5;+2-peter+2:1;+1-john+4:1;+2-corinthians+11:3\">False prophets are wolves in sheep clothing and angels disguised as angels of light. <\/a>They claim that they are called by God to teach, and they are very <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=2-timothy+4:2-4;+isaiah+5:20;+isaiah+30:1-10;+1-kings+22:1-8;+1-kings+22:13;+jeremiah+6:8-14;+jeremiah+23:9-40;+ezekiel+13;+micah+2:1-11;+romans+16:17-18;+2-samuel+15:1-6;+psalm+12:1-2;+colossians+2:1-4;+philippians+3:19;+colossians+2:4;+2-peter+2:3\">clever and convincing in their preaching<\/a>, but their claims and their teachings are lies. They spread lies and delusions through religion. These agents are the public faces of religion whom people wrongly <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\/religion-is-idolatry\/10\">idolize<\/a> and trust as spokesmen for God. In fact, in God&#8217;s eyes, these agents function as gods and idols whom the people worship. These agents receive payment for telling lies to people who do not know the difference between good and evil, or clean from unclean, and who do not realize that religion is the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/hosea\/passage\/?q=hosea+10:1-13\">fruit of lies<\/a> and deception. They are the people God has in mind when he says &#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=psalm+118:5-9;+isaiah+2:22;+psalm+146:3-4;+psalm+40:4;+psalm+108:12;+isaiah+31:1-3;+jeremiah+17:1-7;+2-chronicles+14:11;+psalm+60:11-12\">trust no man.&#8221;<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Jews and Christians tend to skip over scriptures about deception because they do not understand them and\/or do not think that they do not apply to them because they are so wise. Full of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/pride\/2\">spiritual pride<\/a>, they forget or ignore that all<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=2-timothy+3:16-17;+romans+4:23;+romans+15:4;+2-peter+1:20\"> scripture is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness<\/a>, they deceive themselves into thinking that Biblical stories about deception cannot possibly apply to them. And so they remain deceived about the evil of religion. They have stumbled over the stumbling block that God has put before them.<\/p>\n<p>The fact that Jews and Christians fail to apply scriptures about deception to themselves is clear evidence that they are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/forum-descriptions\/toxicity\">intoxicated with religion<\/a>. Being convinced of their wisdom and righteousness, it never occurs to them to check out what God says about religion (i.e. it is sin). Because what their false prophets tell them seems right and true, most never doubt any of it. Those who dare express any doubt are soon branded as heretics. Furthermore, the fact of religion&#8217;s historical lasting power seems to affirm that it has God&#8217;s blessing. And the fact that friends and relatives are invested in religion also makes it difficult for many to reject it. And so religion survives.<\/p>\n<p>If Jews or Christians had any questions or doubts about their religions, they would learn to read their Bibles to discover its symbolic references to religion. This can&#8217;t happen, of course, because their false prophets (e.g. pastors, priests, rabbis, etc.) have not equipped them to study for themselves. If they would teach people to study for themselves or <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=exodus+15:22-26;+exodus+23:21;+exodus+19:5;+jeremiah+7:23-26;+jeremiah+11:1-4;+matthew+4:1-4;+deuteronomy+8:1-3;+job+22:21-23;+psalm+119:9-13;+psalm+138:4;+isaiah+28:23;+jeremiah+11:1-7;+jeremiah+22:21;+psalm+106:25;+nehemiah+9:29;+jeremiah+11:10;+jeremiah+13:11;+zechariah+7:11;+isaiah+46:12;+matthew+13:15\">listen to God&#8217;s voice<\/a>, they would undermine their exalted positions in their personal, religious kingdoms.<\/p>\n<p>But, even if people had been trained to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice#howtoheargodsvoice\">listen to God&#8217;s voice<\/a>, there is little apparent incentive for them to study for themselves. And they will remain unmotivated because the false prophets to whom they listen consistently affirm that their rigid, literal interpretations explain that their religion is exactly what God wants. Thus they keep depending on\u00a0 religious professionals for instructions about truth and righteousness. And they remain deceived with no knowledge of the truth: God wants his people to worship in spirit and truth &#8212; not in fleshly religion in a physical place (i.e. mountain or temple.)<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong>BENEFITS OF RITUAL AND RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY\u00a0<\/strong><br \/>\nIt is instructive to compare the intoxicating effects of addictive substances (e.g alcohol, drugs, etc.) and behaviors (e.g. gambling, sex, etc.) with religion. Religion always includes rituals of many kinds that vary in form from one religion to another.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIP: Read more about the toxic, addictive effects of religion in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/forum-descriptions\/toxicity\">Toxicity.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Everyone understands that alcoholics and other addicts re-intoxicate themselves on a more or less regular schedule because the benefits of the intoxicating highs (physical, emotional and social) they experience do not last. No religious person would admit, however, that his\/her faithfulness to repeatedly participate in religious rituals\/worship (e.g. morning devotions, grace at meals, prayer at bed time, reading the Bible according to a schedule, public worship, communion, etc.) is inspired by any motive other than the sincere desire to intimately connect with their god and secure favor &#8212; whether short term or long term &#8212; from their god. They are deceived into believing that their religious activities are pure and effectual because their religious culture tells them that it is.<\/p>\n<p class=\"hx-Chapter-Head\">Always taking their cues about their religion from their religious leaders, they rarely, if ever stop to consider or evaluate the many other personal and social benefits of religion that may, or may not, float through their conscious minds from time to time. The following links isolate and elaborate on those many other benefits that are usually only perceived at the subconscious level:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"hx-Chapter-Head\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/pride\/2\">PRIDE IS THE REWARD FOR BEING RELIGIOUS<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Catherine_Bell_(religious_studies_scholar)#Ritual_Theory,_Ritual_Practice\">Ritual<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.sciencemeetsreligion.org\/blog\/2013\/04\/are-there-benefits-to-religious-belief-and-participation\/\">Are there benefits to religious belief and participation?<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"post-title\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biographyonline.net\/spiritual\/articles\/benefits-religion.html\">Benefits of Religion<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"post-title\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biographyonline.net\/spiritual\/articles\/benefits-religion.html\">Defending the Faith: Sociologist explains how religion benefits even atheists<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"story-headline\">\n<div data-canvas-width=\"488.9364000000002\"><a href=\"https:\/\/spirituality.ucla.edu\/docs\/newsletters\/4\/Idler_Final.pdf\">The Psychological and Physical Benefits of Spiritual\/Religious Practice<\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"story-headline\">\n<div data-canvas-width=\"217.8131464\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scientificamerican.com\/article\/why-rituals-work\/\">Why Rituals Work<\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"story-headline\">\n<div data-canvas-width=\"217.8131464\"><a href=\"http:\/\/people.duke.edu\/~dandan\/webfiles\/PapersOther\/Benefits%20from%20Religion.pdf\">Who Benefits from Religion?<\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Religious people do not need social scientists or psychologists to tell them that religion is <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/#spiritualfood\">food<\/a> for them. They know it to be true because they experience the benefits on a regular basis. They may not articulate in their conscious minds what those benefits are, but they intuitively know that they are real and they value those benefits &#8212; even though the religious food they eat only nourishes their souls and not their spirits. So, they ignorantly keep going back to church or synagogue for food that does not satisfy because they are deceived about the truth that the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/2#cleanuncleanfood\">food religion offers is unclean.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/pride\">Pride<\/a> for a deeper discussion about the benefits of religion.<\/p>\n<p>But religion is not the only place that offers soulish food. Atheists who attend godless churches have learned the value of a non-religious community in which they fellowship with others to replicate the benefits of religion in non-religious venues.<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li>Gathering together with people who think like they do.<\/li>\n<li>Listening to inspirational teachings.<\/li>\n<li>Singing songs.<\/li>\n<li>Helping others.<\/li>\n<li>Celebrating life together.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>People who attend these secular gatherings understand the value of community and ritual. Even though they have rejected Bible-based religious doctrines and teachings, they recreate and embrace the principles of ritual. What they do still fits the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\">definition of religion<\/a>, but it is religion without God. They have simply created new idols and rituals.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIP: See this link for an insightful essay on the <a href=\"http:\/\/theweek.com\/articles\/771874\/vast-emptiness-that-only-religion-fill\">value of belonging to a religious community<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>It can be said that one reason people drop out of religion is because they pay too high a price (e.g. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/forum-descriptions\/freedom\">freedom<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-commerce\">financially<\/a>, etc.) for the benefits they receive, and\/or, they learn that those benefits can be achieved\/acquired without selling their souls to religious institutions. That is what atheists who attend <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sunday_Assembly\">Sunday Assemblies<\/a> have discovered.<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"story-headline\">\n<div data-canvas-width=\"217.8131464\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2014\/10\/01\/sunday-assembly-atheist_n_5915830.html\">The Number Of Sunday Assemblies, Or \u2018Atheist Churches,\u2019 More Than Doubled Over One Weekend<\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"story-headline\">\n<div data-canvas-width=\"217.8131464\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sunday_Assembly\">The Sunday Assembly Story<\/a><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>We can&#8217;t be sure, why individuals drop out of religion, but it is reasonable to assume that for many it is because they learn that religion just cannot deliver on its promises of unconditional love and acceptance. They have seen too many examples of abuse, rejection and hypocrisy to be convinced that their religious community is really a safe place. They still believe that God is love, but they doubt that true love is available in religious communities. So they drop out hoping to find a safe, secure <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/study\/study-tips\/4\">alternative to religion.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong><a id=\"hangingontolife\"><\/a>HANGING ON FOR DEAR LIFE<\/strong><br \/>\nOne of the influences that keeps people in religion is the belief that they will be alone, unloved and socially adrift if they are not part of a religious community. Typically, religion provides the environment that affirms and validates us humans and as members in good standing of a community of like-minded people. The unspoken fear of religious people is that without a religious community, they will die socially and emotionally for lack of love and a sense of belonging that religious communities afford to them as members. The following kinds of questions keep them from leaving religion:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li>What will happen to me after I die?<\/li>\n<li>Religion, especially my relationships with other religious people, is very important to me. Who will my friends be if I should leave? Where else would I go to make new friends? Who will pray for me when I have troubles?<\/li>\n<li>Religious music is very important to me. How will I satisfy my desire to sing and worship with others if I leave religion?<\/li>\n<li>What will my family think about me if I should leave? Will my family still love and accept me if I stop practicing their religion?<\/li>\n<li>Who will hold a funeral for me and bury me after I die?<\/li>\n<li>Who will baptize my children and teach them about God if I am not part of a religious community?<\/li>\n<li>What will my friends think about my intellect, integrity and spirituality if I abandon the religion and beliefs that I have embraced for so many years?<\/li>\n<li>Will my religious friends and family be offended if I reject the religious beliefs and practices that they value so much? Will they shun me or reject me?<\/li>\n<li>How would I know that God is pleased with me if I am not religious?<\/li>\n<li>How could I be so stupid as to be <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-deception\">deceived<\/a> by religion?<\/li>\n<li>What do I do with the religious beliefs and practices that I learned from the Bible? Is everything I learned wrong, or can I salvage some of it?<\/li>\n<li>Who am I that I should reject the religious beliefs and practices that so many learned, wise religious people have studied so much?<\/li>\n<li>I have an identity as a religious person. What will my identity be if I leave religion?<\/li>\n<li>I have always believed that being religious is necessary to have a good relationship with God. If I stop practicing religion, does that mean I wasted all the time, money and effort I invested in religion?<\/li>\n<li>I put my trust in religious leaders and in my religious community. Who do I trust if I quit religion?<\/li>\n<li>If I stop being religious will I still go to heaven or will I go to hell?<\/li>\n<li>The Bible says that we are to pay tithes and offerings. If I stop being religious, and if religion is sin, how do I satisfy God&#8217;s commandments regarding tithes and offerings?<\/li>\n<li>Religious leaders who earn incomes through religious organizations and ministries will struggle with the extra burden of finding a new way to earn an income.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>In a very real sense, these are life and death issues. That is why the Bible uses the term &#8220;death&#8221; to describe internal struggles of the heart and external struggles in our relationships with religious people. The death, however, is not of the physical body but of the soul or heart that is worn down with weariness in trying to answer the questions that resolve the conflicts.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIP: See\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/forum-descriptions\/toxicity\/4#listofquestions\">ADDICTED TO RELIGION AND AFRAID TO QUIT<\/a> for more about the difficulty of quitting religion.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">Also see <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\" aria-haspopup=\"true\">Death, Resurrection, New Life, Salvation, Forgiveness, Heaven and Hell, <\/a>and\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\/two-deaths\">Two Deaths.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Staying faithful to religion protects us from the inner and outer conflicts we would encounter if we should decide to leave our religion. Staying faithful to religion means we don&#8217;t have to go through the process of being humiliated by leaving it. But, even if we do stay, there is always tension &#8212; sometimes low and sometimes high &#8212; when someone leaves the community or is expelled from it for religious reasons, or when internal conflicts and abuse are exposed.<\/p>\n<p>It does not matter if people leave voluntarily or involuntarily. There is always a sense of loss and separation that raises questions about how people would treat us if we left voluntarily or if we were expelled\/rejected for wrongdoing. After all, religion is where most of our friends and relatives are. The thought of being separated from them is unpleasant at best and frightening at worst. If we try to imagine separation, it would be, in a very real sense, like a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\">death<\/a>. And so, to avoid having to deal with the prospect of separation, we <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/search?q=toe+the+line+meaning&amp;ie=utf-8&amp;oe=utf-8&amp;safe=vss\">toe the religious line <\/a>and do only what our fellow religionists expect us to do. No more and no less. That is the safe thing to do.<\/p>\n<p>In summary, it could be said that people stay in religion because it satisfies most of the sixteen basic human desires catalogued by Steven Reiss in his book <em>Who Am I? The 16 Basic Desires That Motivate Our Behavior and Define Our Personality.<\/em> Here are the 16 basic desires. The order of presentation is without significance.<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <i><b>Power<\/b><\/i> is the desire to influence others.<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <i><b>Independence<\/b><\/i> is the desire for self-reliance.<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <i><b>Curiosity<\/b><\/i> is the desire for knowledge.<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <i><b>Acceptance<\/b><\/i> is the desire for inclusion.<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <i><b>Order<\/b><\/i> is the desire for organization.<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <i><b>Saving<\/b><\/i> is the desire to collect things.<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <i><b>Honor<\/b><\/i> is the desire to be loyal to one&#8217;s parents and heritage.<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <i><b>Idealism<\/b><\/i> is the desire for social justice.<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <i><b>Social Contact<\/b><\/i> is the desire for companionship.<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <i><b>Family<\/b><\/i> is the desire to raise one&#8217;s own children.<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <i><b>Status<\/b><\/i> is the desire for social standing.<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <i><b>Vengeance<\/b><\/i> is the desire to get even.<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <i><b>Romance<\/b><\/i> is the desire for sex and beauty.<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <i><b>Eating<\/b><\/i> is the desire to consume food.<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <i><b>Physical Activity<\/b><\/i> is the desire for exercise of muscles.<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <i><b>Tranquility<\/b><\/i> is the desire for emotional calm.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Looking at these needs in their broadest sense, we can easily see that religion satisfies most of them in the following ways:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li>Religion provides an organization in which people can gain power to influence others. This is especially true for religious leaders.<\/li>\n<li>Even though religion is generally highly structured in terms of its rituals and doctrines, it provides a certain amount of leeway, or independence for individuals to pick and choose the religious activities that fit their particular needs and desires &#8212; as long as they comply with the basic does and don&#8217;ts of the religion.<\/li>\n<li>Religion provides opportunities for people to exercise curiosity in their desire for Biblical knowledge.<\/li>\n<li>Religion provides a ready-made environment in which anyone can be accepted and included &#8212;\u00a0 as long as they comply with the basic does and don&#8217;ts of the religion.<\/li>\n<li>Religion functions like a business. It depends on order and organization and financing to keep the religious machine working smoothly and reliably.<\/li>\n<li>Religion provides an environment in which people can earn honor from others. It also provides a place where people can express their loyalty to their religious heritage and their friends by believing and practicing the same religion.<\/li>\n<li>Religion provides opportunities to express idealism regarding social justice issues and take initiatives that will ensure that other people will go to heaven and not to hell.<\/li>\n<li>Religion is basically a social contact between people who share religious beliefs. The religious organization agrees to provide a package of religious services (e.g. teaching, worship rituals, music, fellowship, sacraments, baptisms, marriage, burial, etc.) Members agree to support the organization with time, money and good public behaviors that will preserve the organization&#8217;s good reputation and make it attractive to new members.<\/li>\n<li>Religions affirm and teach family values that are consistent with the values of members.<i><b><br \/>\n<\/b><\/i><\/li>\n<li>Religion provides organizational structures in which members may earn social status within the organization and within the larger community by supporting it and advancing its goals.<\/li>\n<li>Religion provides a military kind of organization in which people use their standing with God to take vengeance on the devil and subdue godless religions.<\/li>\n<li>Religions satisfy the desire for beauty through architecture, clothing, music and pageantry.<\/li>\n<li>Religion acknowledges the desire to consume food through fellowship meals and sacraments.<\/li>\n<li>Religion subtly acknowledges the desire for physical activity through <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/music-singing-and-dancing\/6\">ritualistic worship behaviors (e.g. singing, dancing, standing, sitting down, waving arms, etc.)<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Religion always works to create a peaceful, tranquil environment in its architecture and worship activities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Religion, of course, never uses these terms to attract or retain adherents. Religion always puts a spiritual spin and uses scripture to justify why it is desirable, good and necessary.<\/p>\n<p>The benefits\/rewards of religion are so ingrained in people that they rarely stop to question if religion is what God wants or not. People who would publicly express any doubt about the legitimacy of religion would soon be expelled as\u00a0 heretics. They have broken the social contract that demands that they support, preserve and advance the religion.<\/p>\n<p>Religious people intuitively understand that expressing doubt and breaking from religion will sooner or later result in separation from religious friends and family. They may not articulate their fears, but they also subconsciously understand that when they break the contract they lose all the benefits\/rewards that automatically accrued to them while they were religious. They had a good life while religious, but if they should stop being religious, that life will end. In a very real sense, they will die. That is what God symbolically refers to when he talks about death. It is not physical death but it is the kind of anguish and pain that people suffer when they make the transition from being religious to no religion.<\/p>\n<p>The reality is that we are deceived into believing what religion always tells us: &#8220;Those who do not believe as we do are spiritually lost and going to hell.&#8221; Motivated by this statement, most people stay faithful to their religion and do their best to save others from spiritual destruction.<\/p>\n<p>Religious people like to say that they have faith and that they trust God for all things. The reality, however, is that they really put their faith and trust in their religious institutions, the people who share their religious beliefs, and the rituals and traditions practiced and promoted by the religion. They are deceived in what they believe and why they believe it.<\/p>\n<p>Being deceived and having good intentions, however, is not an excuse for staying religious when <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\">God calls religion sin<\/a>. He has given us the Bible and will teach those who are willing to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+40:1-3;+jeremiah+7:21-281;+1-kings+20:36;+2-kings+18:12;+psalm+81:11;+jeremiah+9:13;+jeremiah+32:23;+jeremiah+44:20-23;+daniel+9:14;+zephaniah+3:1-2;+psalm+106:25\">listen to his voice<\/a> so that they can <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=1-kings+3:6-12;+hebrews+5:11-14;+ezekiel+44:15-23;+leviticus+10:1-11;+ezekiel+22:23-27;+isaiah+5:20;+matthew+12:35\">sort out the holy from the profane<\/a>. But, preferring to listen to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\">false prophets<\/a>, religious <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=psalm+118:5-9;+isaiah+2:22;+psalm+146:3-4;+psalm+40:4;+psalm+108:12;+isaiah+31:1-3;+jeremiah+17:1-7;+2-chronicles+14:11;+psalm+60:11-12\">people trust men for teaching<\/a>. Thus they die full of worldly knowledge acquired from men, they lack <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=galatians+3:1-5;+romans+10:17\">faith that comes only by hearing God&#8217;s voice. <\/a>This is why God condemned religion when he said <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=isaiah+29:1-13;+matthew+15:1-9;+mark+7:1-13;+colossians+2:1-8;+ezekiel+33:30-33\">&#8220;this people worship me with their lips but their hearts are far from me.&#8221; <\/a><\/p>\n<p>And so everyone has a very real need to renew the good social and emotional fixes that religious habits &#8212; even those that do not embrace God &#8212; provide. And those who do not practice a formal religion create their own rituals and habits that satisfy these needs that are common to all humans.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">AUTHORS&#8217; NOTE: It could be said that those who have left religion learn to find satisfaction in other ways because religion no longer works for them. They have learned that religion does not deliver on the deception that religion connects people to God and are looking for new ways to make that connection. The Religion Detox Network exists for this purpose.<\/p>\n<p>Those who remain religious, however, remain deceived about religion&#8217;s claims that religious discipline and ritual are the exclusive way to connect to God and secure his favor in this life and in the afterlife. They do not realize that their religious behaviors are only cultural traditions that are actually offensive to God who looks at the heart and not the outer body or what the physical body does. If they knew their hearts like God knows them, religionists would know that they, like other addicts, use religion for the short-term satisfaction it delivers while participating in their various religious activities (i.e. rituals) &#8212; especially with coreligionists who share their addiction to a particular religious tradition.<\/p>\n<p>Like all other addicts, religionists must repeat (e.g. daily, weekly, monthly, annually) their rituals because the benefits\/rewards (e.g. emotions, spiritual highs, tears, joy, laughter, grief, satisfaction, sense of community with others, etc.) of a religious event don&#8217;t last. Being addicted to these feelings, religionists are compelled to repeat the religious activity again and again in order to recreate the intoxicating excitement aroused by participation in religious activity. And, if they do not recreate the event with some regularity, they will experience a kind of withdrawal that hungers for those feelings in their minds and bodies. These are the physiological origins of the toxic nature of religion. They are also evidence of human pride that craves to be validated often. They are common to all humans and all religions.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIP: See\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/pride\/2\">PRIDE HAS IT REWARDS<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-injustice-and-slavery\/2#typesofpride\">this link<\/a> for more about religious pride.<\/p>\n<p>Because the positive, affirmative feelings that religion arouses are greatly enhanced when they occur in the company of other, like-minded religionists, they organize themselves into religious groups that build structures and create governing bodies designed to ensure that the community environments in which religion functions will be preserved and advanced so that religionists will never lack for a place to practice their rituals.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/music-singing-and-dancing\/6\">FEELING GOOD IS NOT NECESSARILY SPIRITUAL<\/a> for more about the benefits of participation in religious rituals.<\/p>\n<p>Religionists are deceived into believing that all these good feelings are effected in their bodies (i.e. mind, emotions, physical senses) by God because he is pleased with their religious activity and rewards them by allowing them to experience all of these good feelings.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIP: See\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/study\/click-the-links\">HOPE FOR A BIG REWARD<\/a> for more about rewards.<\/p>\n<p>Putting a spiritual spin on it all, religionists believe that the good feelings they experience while worshiping are a kind of blessing in which God reaches down to touch his people with something tangible in their bodies. These feelings encourage repetition and provide incentives for including others to join the religion (i.e. evangelism). In their deception, Jews and Christians do not realize that all of these feelings are common to all religions &#8212; even those that do not recognize the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Conveniently ignoring that faith cannot be observed, they have been deceived into believing that it is all a matter of faith and do not realize that it is all a matter of religious flesh which can be observed.<\/p>\n<p>That the benefits of ritual do not last should not be surprising. God says clearly that rituals done in a certain place at a certain time, according to regulations (i.e. religious laws), are Old\/First Covenant religious sacrifices that are not able to cleanse the conscience. Because these regulations are based on\u00a0 Old\/First Covenant laws, they are not part of the New Covenant and not the priesthood of Melchizedek (the model for Jesus&#8217; priesthood and the priesthood of New Covenant disciples). We see this explained in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/hebrews\/passage\/?q=hebrews+9:1-14\">Hebrews 9:1-14<\/a>:<\/p>\n<p>Now even the first covenant had regulations of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: See Two Covenants and The Law for a review of the Biblical origins of Jewish and Christian rituals.Old\/First Covenant religionists who interpret the Bible literally, pride themselves on their sincere attempts to organize their religious doctrines and rituals according to the details of physical structures and fussy rituals found in the many Laws of Moses. Because they focus their efforts on the literal words of Old Testament scripture, however, they totally miss the symbolism that is explained in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/hebrews\/passage\/?q=hebrews+9:1-14\">Hebrews 9:1-14<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">1. For there was a tabernacle prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the sacred bread; this is called the holy place.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">COMMENTARY: The outer tabernacle symbolically represents the physical architecture, furnishings and religious artifacts that are common features of all religions. In a sense, the outer tabernacle also represents the physical human body that actively participates in religious worship based on literal scriptures.<\/p>\n<div class=\"verse font-helvetica\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\n<p>3. Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, <span class=\"verse-number\">4<\/span> <span class=\"verse-4\"> having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron&#8217;s rod which budded, and the tables of the covenant; <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"v-5\" class=\"verse font-helvetica\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY:<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"verse-number\">5<\/span> <span class=\"verse-5\"> and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; but of these things we cannot now speak in detail. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY:<\/p>\n<p>6. Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests are continually * entering the outer tabernacle performing the divine worship,<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY:<\/p>\n<p>7. but into the second, only the high priest enters once a year, not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY:<\/p>\n<p>8. The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the outer tabernacle is still standing,<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY:<\/p>\n<p>9. which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, <span class=\"verse-number\">10<\/span> <span class=\"verse-10\"> since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY:<\/p>\n<p>11. But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; <span class=\"verse-number\">12<\/span> <span class=\"verse-12\"> and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: Jesus is one example of a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\">messiah<\/a> and a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/the-high-priest\">high priest<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/blood\/2\">words (i.e. blood)<\/a> of messiahs and high priests do not just enter the mind. More importantly they enter the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/place-where-god-will-place-his-name\/4\">heart of man which is the perfect tabernacle (i.e. a clean, pure heart) where God makes his home.<\/a>\u00a0This tabernacle is a spiritual creation &#8212; not a physical creation (e.g. church, synagogue, etc.) made by the hands of man.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">God&#8217;s word does not enter the heart through religious rituals or the teaching of religious leaders. It enters the heart of man only through the words of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=john+3:34;+jeremiah+26:1-5;+ezekiel+2:1-7;+2-chronicles+36:15;+acts+3:26;+revelation+1:1;+deuteronomy+18:18;+isaiah+51:15-16;+john+17:1-8;+isaiah+59:21;+deuteronomy+32:1;+job+22:22;+psalm+19:14;+proverbs+12:6;+jeremiah+1:9;+jeremiah+5:14;+hosea+6:5;+daniel+9:9-11;+2-peter+1:19-21\">messiahs\/prophets who are sent by God<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=1-corinthians+2;+john+7:16;+john+12:49-50;+john+14:10;+john+14:24-31;+john+16:13;+1-corinthians+2:12-13;+psalm+143:10;+luke+12:11-12;+matthew+10:17-20;+mark+13:11;+1-thessalonians+2:13;+exodus+4:12;+deuteronomy+18:18;+john+5:19;+matthew+26:39;+john+5:30;+john+6:38;+john+6:68;+john+8:28;+acts+4:29-31\">speak his words into the heart.<\/a> People who have <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+29:1-4;+ezekiel+12:1-3;+ezekiel+40:1-4;+mark+8:14-20;+luke+10:21-24;+romans+11:1-10;+isaiah+6:1-10;+isaiah+43:1-8;+jeremiah+5:20-21;+matthew+13:13-18;+mark+4:8-18;+luke+8:1-10;+john+9:39-41;+john+12:37-40;+acts+28:17-28\">ears to hear<\/a> the words of God spoken through prophets\/messiahs obtain salvation (i.e. redemption, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/time-hours-days-weeks-and-ages\/eternity\">eternal life<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>13. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh,\u00a0<span class=\"verse-number\">14.<\/span> <span class=\"verse-14\"> how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"v-14\" class=\"verse font-helvetica\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">COMMENTARY: The blood of goats and bulls refers to religious rituals derived from the literal Bible. These rituals are dead works only sanctify the flesh, but do not cleanse the conscience and do not serve God.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 120px;\">The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/blood\/2\">blood<\/a> of Christ is God&#8217;s word spoken through a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/messiah\">messiah (i.e. true prophet)<\/a>. God&#8217;s word does cleanse the conscience and does serve God.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Hebrews 9:1-14 explains why rituals taught by men only have the appearance of wisdom and are only traditions created by religious leaders for others to follow. This is why Jesus had such harsh words for the Pharisees about their religious traditions.<\/p>\n<p>Ritualistic religious ceremonies practiced over and over again have the force of law within the religious community in which they are practiced. This fact, among others, indicates that religious ceremonies are Old Covenant religion because New Covenant disciples are not obligated to observe any religious law. Moreover, Old Covenant religionists who continually follow religious ceremonies which are conceived by and supervised by religious leaders are considered by God to be slaves to those religious leaders &#8212; a condition that leads to death.<\/p>\n<p>Jews and Christians will have a hard time accepting the fact that they are slaves to anything or anyone. Christians like to say that they are slaves to Christ, but ignore that Christ said that they could have only one master. If they could see their hearts as God sees them, they would understand that all of their religious leaders are their masters because they receive their teachings about God as interpreted from the literal words of the Bible from them and not from the voice of God.<\/p>\n<p>By consistently listening to their religious leaders, Jews and Christians prove that they are slaves to religion and those religious leaders by faithfully following religious practices (e.g. music, sermons, baptism, circumcision, communion, etc.) prescribed by governing religious authorities. These practices, written down in books, prayer guides, and orders of religious service (e.g. liturgical guides, Sunday church bulletins), and directed from high places at the front of a synagogue or church, are modern examples of written codes of law of sin and death. And because religious leaders carefully design and supervise these rituals &#8212; even in churches that claim to be non-liturgical &#8212; these leaders are, in effect, gods whom the people serve by following the rituals they design and supervise.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, religious people do not see their liturgies\/ceremonies\/rituals as laws or their religious leaders as gods. Nor do those who read their Bibles\u00a0 understand that God abhors all activities commonly associated with religion. Their error exists because of failure to wrongly interpret Old Testament references to cities, kingdoms and nations as\u00a0 geopolitical organizations instead of as religious organizations that exist to protect and advance their own unique brands of religion.<\/p>\n<p>Applying a correct symbolic interpretation of nations as religions, it is easy to understand why God warned his people against following their customs (i.e. religious ceremonies, rituals) and against associating with them in any way. It is also easy to understand why God directed Israel to utterly destroy the religious kingdoms (i.e. cities and nations) that occupied the Promised Land. And because following the customs of these religious nations always involved following their gods, it is easy to understand why God considered following the religious customs of these nations to be sin.<\/p>\n<p>New Covenant disciples do understand, however, whether intuitively or consciously, that all religious laws energize the sinful, religious nature for death and that they are no longer subject to those laws but are led by the spirit. They no longer need anyone to teach them anything, especially things about God and religious regulations, because they have the spirit to teach them all things &#8212; including the when, where and how of true spiritual worship. That is why New Covenant disciples have no need for religion and all of its rules and traditions created by and administered by religious leaders.<\/p>\n<p>What we observe in the current phenomenon of people leaving religion is\u00a0 people breaking free from slavery to the laws that religion imposes on them because they know, or at least suspect, that religion is full of deception and lies. If they were totally convinced that religion was all truth, they would not reject it.<\/p>\n<p>Religious people who continue practicing their rituals, on the other hand, still have a sense that all is right between them and God while they are performing their rituals, and maybe for a short time afterward. Unfortunately they do not know that rituals do not cleanse the conscience or to make anyone perfect in God&#8217;s sight. Thus,\u00a0for lack of a clean conscience, they\u00a0 are compelled\u00a0 to keep practicing their rituals and making sacrifices and offerings in an ongoing effort to remain in God&#8217;s favor. At least that is what they have been told.<\/p>\n<p>The reality is, of course, that it is the favor of other religionists that they are working so hard to retain. This is another deceptive lie that they have believed. Failing to understand that God actually hates all their ceremonial festivals, offerings, and religious posturing. Failing to understand what God means by worshiping in spirit and truth, religious people continue to put all their confidence in worship that they can do in and with their physical bodies (i.e. flesh).<\/p>\n<p>Religious people pursue righteousness through religious works as a matter of regulations (i.e. laws) prescribed in the doctrines of their religion. They are not motivated by the kind of faith that God wants. They have fallen for the deception that religious ceremonies, rituals, festivals and faith are identical. They claim to have faith, but they really put their trust in the efficacy of religious works (e.g. going to church, prayer, singing religious music, eating and drinking sacraments,\u00a0 baptism, reading the Bible according to a schedule, paying tithes, helping others, etc.) that they perform with their physical bodies, usually while manipulating a physical religious prop (e.g. building, music, books, incense, bells, candles, sacraments, water, clothing, money, etc.) that has been designed by and made by mortal men. Their trust is in religious activities and props that can be seen, touched, tasted and heard. They effectively put their trust in doctrines created by generations of religious leaders. Their faith is not in God.<\/p>\n<p>True spiritual faith is not associated with any religious work accomplished in or through the physical body. Nor is it associated with any physical prop to which some spiritual value (i.e. holiness, sacredness) has been assigned. The fruits of true spiritual faith are all unseen conditions of the heart. These are all exactly opposite to fleshly, soulish faith which can be observed by others who see or hear religionists acting out their faith or hear reports of their so-called faith in action. This is pure religion &#8212; not spiritual faith which cannot be seen. That they are imagined to be the same is a lie and deception.<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong>RELIGION BREAKS THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT<\/strong><br \/>\nReligious people are always busy doing religious work with their physical bodies. They are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/isaiah\/passage\/?q=isaiah+28:1-23\">doing a little religion here, doing a little religion there, following one regulation after another <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/2-timothy\/passage\/?q=2-timothy+3:1-7\">always displaying a form of godliness <\/a>but<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/2-timothy\/passage\/?q=2-timothy+3:1-7\"> never having any spiritual power. <\/a>It is because of all this religious activity that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+20:8-11;+exodus+23:12;exodus+34:21;+exodus+35:2-3;+leviticus+23:3;+deuteronomy+5:13;+luke+13:14\">God gave the fourth commandment. <\/a><\/p>\n<p>The deceptions of the literal words of the fourth commandment are that the seventh day is interpreted as a literal day and that rest is interpreted as physical rest. The truth is that the seventh day is a symbolic term God uses to describe the eternal, perfect, spiritual condition of New Covenant disciples who understand that religion is not <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/john\/passage\/?q=john+4:21-24\">true spiritual worship<\/a>. Since <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+29:1-4;+isaiah+6:9-10;+ezekiel+12:2;+matthew+13:14;+acts+28:26-27;+romans+11:8\">God opened their hearts<\/a> to this critical understanding, they are no longer busy doing religious works of any kind with their eyes, hands, ears, mouths, feet or minds. Nor do they seek or receive religious instruction from any human person because they believe that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+31:31-34;+1-john+2:27;+john+14:26;+1-corinthians+2:12;+1-thessalonians+4:9\">God&#8217;s law is written on their hearts and that they have no need for anyone to teach them anymore. <\/a>Nor do they feel compelled to engage in religious work anymore. They have entered into an eternal, never-ending, day of rest.<\/p>\n<p>But this is now how it is for religious people. Because they have <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=hebrews+3:7-19;+hebrews+4:1-5\">never entered into God&#8217;s rest<\/a>, they continue to follow the ways of pagan worship that Balaam taught to Balak who effectively cursed Israel by building altars where Israel came to worship. The deception about religion is still very much at work in them.<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong>GOD ALLOWS PEOPLE TO BE DECEIVED SO HE CAN SHOW THEM THE TRUTH<\/strong><br \/>\nGiven that religion is sin, it is hard to accept that <a style=\"outline: 1px dotted; outline-offset: 0px;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=2-thessalonians+2:1-12;+1-kings+22:20-23;+romans+1:18-28;+isaiah+28:1-13;+nehemiah+9:1-30;+ezekiel+14;+1-corinthians+5:1-5\">God has actually deceived people so that they would sin is a strategy that turns them from religion to listening to his voice instead of the voice of false prophets<\/a>. The strategy includes these steps:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ol>\n<li>People <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+6:1-7;+ezekiel+5:1-13;+ezekiel+6:1-13;+ezekiel+7:1-9;+ezekiel+15:1-7;+ezekiel+20:44;+ezekiel+36:36-38;+ezekiel+37:1-14;+ezekiel+28:20-27;+ezekiel+29;+ezekiel+30:20-26;+ezekiel+33:21-33;+ezekiel+34;+ezekiel+39:25-29;+jeremiah+16;+joel+3:1-17;+malachi+2:1-4\">stumble over deception (i.e. are exiled to religion).<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+3:1-8;+genesis+15:13-16;+genesis+46:4;+genesis+50:24-25;+exodus+6:6-8;+exodus+12:51\">God delivers them from religion<\/a> (i.e.<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/egypt-and-babylon\"> Egypt<\/a>).<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+6:1-7;+ezekiel+5:1-13;+ezekiel+6:1-13;+ezekiel+7:1-9;+ezekiel+15:1-7;+ezekiel+20:44;+ezekiel+36:36-38;+ezekiel+37:1-14;+ezekiel+28:20-27;+ezekiel+29;+ezekiel+30:20-26;+ezekiel+33:21-33;+ezekiel+34;+ezekiel+39:25-29;+jeremiah+16;+joel+3:1-17;+malachi+2:1-4\">Then they know that he is the Lord<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIP: See<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\"> The Law is a Stumbling Block.<\/a> Also see <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\/6\">this link<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/jesus\/14\">this link<\/a> about Jesus being a stumbling block.<\/p>\n<p>This pattern of stumbling, exile and deliverance explains why God sets the stumbling block of religion before his people: They must have the experience (i.e. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\/signs-wonders-and-miracles\">signs and wonders<\/a>) of being delivered from religion before they can appreciate that he is the Lord. We see it most clearly in the following stories:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/genesis\/passage\/?q=genesis+46:1-4\">God allows Israel to go down to Egypt<\/a> (i.e. religion) and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+12:42;+exodus+7:1-5;+exodus+12:41;+deuteronomy+25:17;+deuteronomy+16:1-3;+deuteronomy+5:15;+exodus+13:1-16;+exodus+18:1;+exodus+20:1-2;+exodus+29:46;+leviticus+11:45;+leviticus+19:36;+leviticus+22:32-33;+leviticus+25:38;+leviticus+25:55;+leviticus+26:13;+numbers+15:41;+deuteronomy+4:20;+deuteronomy+5:1-15;+deuteronomy+6:20-21;+deuteronomy+13:1-10;+deuteronomy+15:15;+deuteronomy+24:18;+judges+2:12;+judges+6:8;+1-samuel+10:18;+1-kings+8:53;+psalm+81:10;+jeremiah+34:13;+matthew+2:15;+hebrews+8:1-9;+jude+1:5\">later delivers Israel from Egypt<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>God exiles his people to Babylon and later <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/god-is-calling-people-out-of-religion\">calls them to come out of Babylon.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>These and all other stories symbolically communicate the theme of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/death-resurrection-life\">death, resurrection and new life<\/a>. The following are a few examples of the ways that New Covenant disciples understand the differences between death and life:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li>It is only <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+6:1-7;+ezekiel+5:1-13;+ezekiel+6:1-13;+ezekiel+7:1-9;+ezekiel+15:1-7;+ezekiel+20:44;+ezekiel+36:36-38;+ezekiel+37:1-14;+ezekiel+28:20-27;+ezekiel+29;+ezekiel+30:20-26;+ezekiel+33:21-33;+ezekiel+34;+ezekiel+39:25-29;+jeremiah+16;+joel+3:1-17;+malachi+2:1-4\">after spending time in religion (i.e. in exile) and then being delivered from religion that anyone will know that God is the Lord<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>It is only after someone has experienced the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\">life-giving power of God&#8217;s spoken word<\/a> that he\/she can understand that time spent in religion was the equivalent of death.<\/li>\n<li>It is only after people have been delivered from religion (i.e. Egypt) and lived in freedom that they will fully understand that they were <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-injustice-and-slavery\">slaves to religion<\/a>. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+12:42;+exodus+7:1-5;+exodus+12:41;+deuteronomy+25:17;+deuteronomy+16:1-3;+deuteronomy+5:15;+exodus+13:1-16;+exodus+18:1;+exodus+20:1-2;+exodus+29:46;+leviticus+11:45;+leviticus+19:36;+leviticus+22:32-33;+leviticus+25:38;+leviticus+25:55;+leviticus+26:13;+numbers+15:41;+deuteronomy+4:20;+deuteronomy+5:1-15;+deuteronomy+6:20-21;+deuteronomy+13:1-10;+deuteronomy+15:15;+deuteronomy+24:18;+judges+2:12;+judges+6:8;+1-samuel+10:18;+1-kings+8:53;+psalm+81:10;+jeremiah+34:13;+matthew+2:15;+hebrews+8:1-9;+jude+1:5\">\u00a0<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Old\/First Covenant religionists cannot relate to these experiences because they are still religious and have no <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+12:42;+exodus+7:1-5;+exodus+12:41;+deuteronomy+25:17;+deuteronomy+16:1-3;+deuteronomy+5:15;+exodus+13:1-16;+exodus+18:1;+exodus+20:1-2;+exodus+29:46;+leviticus+11:45;+leviticus+19:36;+leviticus+22:32-33;+leviticus+25:38;+leviticus+25:55;+leviticus+26:13;+numbers+15:41;+deuteronomy+4:20;+deuteronomy+5:1-15;+deuteronomy+6:20-21;+deuteronomy+13:1-10;+deuteronomy+15:15;+deuteronomy+24:18;+judges+2:12;+judges+6:8;+1-samuel+10:18;+1-kings+8:53;+psalm+81:10;+jeremiah+34:13;+matthew+2:15;+hebrews+8:1-9;+jude+1:5\">memory of the process by which they were delivered.<\/a>\u00a0They<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=revelation+3:1-3;+revelation+3:8;+revelation+3:15\"> think that they are spiritually alive but they are spiritually dead<\/a>. They think they have <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-1\/5\">spiritual knowledge but all they have is worldly knowledge<\/a>. They listen to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\">false prophets<\/a> but do not listen to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\">true prophets<\/a> or to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice#howtoheargodsvoice\">God&#8217;s spoken voice<\/a>. They look for physical miracles but have not experienced the spiritual miracle of having God <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=ezekiel+11:19;+ezekiel+36:26;+psalm+51:10;+ezekiel+18:31;+john+3:3;+john+3:5;+2-corinthians+5:17\">give them a new heart<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+29:1-4;+matthew+13:13;+acts+28:26-27;+romans+11:1-9;+isaiah+6:1-10;+ezekiel+12:1-2\">giving them spiritual eyes and ears.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Lacking these spiritual signs and wonders, Old\/First Covenant religionists comfort, excite and feed themselves with religion. The form and intensity of the religious experience may vary in intensity from time to time, from religion to religion and from individual to individual, but there is always something in the religious worship ritual that satisfies those who do it. This happens because God has hard-wired all humans to experience fleshly excitement of the mind and emotions while engaged in communal activities. We see evidence of this human condition in all kinds of human activity. Here are a few examples:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Sporting events.<\/li>\n<li>Music performances.<\/li>\n<li>Political rallies.<\/li>\n<li>Events in which people sing and dance together.<\/li>\n<li>Events in which people share stories.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Whether small or large, these community events have a way of binding people together.<\/p>\n<table class=\" aligncenter\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 90px;\"><a id=\"sociologyreligion\"><\/a>STUDY TIP: See the following links for research about the sociology and psychology of ritualistic religious activities:<\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li><span id=\"joh7-9\"><span id=\"mt24-23\"><span id=\"mt24-27\"><span id=\"mr13-23\"><span id=\"lu17-26\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Catherine_Bell_(religious_studies_scholar)#Ritual_Theory,_Ritual_Practice\">Interactive Ritual Theory <\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Catherine_Bell_(religious_studies_scholar)#Ritual_Theory,_Ritual_Practice\">Ritual<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/press.princeton.edu\/titles\/7769.html\">Interaction ritual chains \/ Randall Collins<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Catherine_Bell_(religious_studies_scholar)#Ritual_Theory,_Ritual_Practice\">Sub-Cultural Identity Theory<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Catherine_Bell_(religious_studies_scholar)#Ritual_Theory,_Ritual_Practice\">Religiosity<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Catherine_Bell_(religious_studies_scholar)#Ritual_Theory,_Ritual_Practice\">Religious Preferences<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Catherine_Bell_(religious_studies_scholar)#Ritual_Theory,_Ritual_Practice\">Religious Behavior<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Catherine_Bell_(religious_studies_scholar)#Ritual_Theory,_Ritual_Practice\">Attachment Theory <\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>The social-psychological benefits of gathering together have always existed and have always been at work in the formation of all religions. It is fair to say that, if these benefits did not exist, religions would not have evolved they way they have. But, as we see in the current phenomenon of<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/god-is-calling-people-out-of-religion\"> people leaving religion in large numbers<\/a>, the camaraderie of religion is not enough to keep some people involved in religion.They have become disaffected with religion for many reasons:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>They need more than the joy of meeting with others to keep them engaged.<\/li>\n<li>They are disappointed in the awareness that religion does not deliver on its promises for a good and prosperous life.<\/li>\n<li>They are angered by religious abuse.<\/li>\n<li>They are skeptical about religious leaders&#8217; incomes and lavish lifestyles.<\/li>\n<li>They are skeptical about tithes spent on big, fancy churches.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In the past, when one religion failed to deliver what people expected from it, they left that religion and replaced it with another one that promised to deliver what they thought they needed. It is like transitioning from one intoxicating drug to another more powerful drug. But what seems to be happening currently is that people are dropping out of religion altogether rather than just switching to another religion. It appears that the religious fix no longer works for these people they way it once did. They have discovered the cure for their addiction: Disengage from religious organizations and rest.<\/p>\n<p>It could be said of such people that they are done with religion. It could be said of some of these people that they are also done with God. In their view, God was once able to satisfy them through religious rituals, but now, it does not work. The thrill of old time religion is gone and many, but not all, are looking for an alternative.<\/p>\n<p>Religious people, not understanding that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/god-is-calling-people-out-of-religion\">God is actually calling people out of religion<\/a>, see this trend as a sign of evil at work, but it is really a good thing. It is good because God has chosen to reveal to those who are leaving a fact that he always knew: Religion is death. But for for those who leave religion, it is death that leads to life.<\/p>\n<p>For reasons no one will ever know, God has chosen these modern times to reveal this truth about religion to select people and called them out of religion by showing them how empty it really it. He is calling them out of Old\/First Covenant religion and inviting them to be <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#newcovenant\">New Covenant<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/#disciple\">disciples<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Whereas these people were once convinced that they were spiritual and enjoyed good standing with God because they were faithful to perform their religious rituals, they are on their way to understanding that these rituals were all <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/flesh\">flesh<\/a> and never truly spiritual. They are on their way to understanding that their need to repeat their rituals was rooted in their need for intellectual, social, relational, emotional and physical stimulation. These are all qualities that God calls fleshly food because they are all experienced in the physical body. They are the stuff of religion that can be seen, heard, and felt. They are not the substance of faith which cannot be seen.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 160px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\">Religion is not Faith.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Religious people are deceived about their wisdom and their righteousness. False prophets have taught for generations that religion is good and that the good soulish highs they experience by being part of a religious community is what God wants. And it all works very nicely because religion is a very effective at delivering<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Catherine_Bell_(religious_studies_scholar)#Ritual_Theory,_Ritual_Practice\"> what religious people need and want for emotional stimulation, spiritual security and human fellowship.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>This is true for Christianity, Judaism and\u00a0 the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Major_religious_groups#Maps_of_self-reported_adherence\">multitude of religions<\/a> which are generally accepted as legitimate, even desirable, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.heritage.org\/research\/reports\/2006\/12\/why-religion-matters-even-more-the-impact-of-religious-practice-on-social-stability\">institutions that benefit the entire community <\/a>&#8212; not just the religionists. The degree of acceptance of religion is so deep, in fact, that throughout history, <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Separation_of_church_and_state\">governments have adopted policies to clarify the relationship of government to religion<\/a>. The fact that religion enjoys acceptance and is even encouraged, supported and coddled by some governments should be our first clue that God is opposed to it. After all, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/isaiah\/passage\/?q=isaiah+55:6-11\">his ways are not man&#8217;s ways<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>With this pervasive acceptance of religion, hardly anyone dares to criticize any religion. Those who do criticize it are sure to be criticized themselves for being intolerant and\/or insensitive. And in certain fundamental religions, critics of one religion might even be targets for persecution by other religions. Nevertheless, religions of all kinds generally enjoy acceptance because they are all perceived to be basically moral and good.<\/p>\n<p>Given this generally favorable history, religious people will not be happy to hear that they have been deceived and intoxicated with pride over the righteousness of their religious habits. And indeed they have every right to be unhappy when they come to understand that they and all the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/passage\/?q=exodus+20:1-6;+exodus+34:1-7;+leviticus+26:14-45;+numbers+14:18;+nehemiah+9:2;+psalm+79:8;+isaiah+65:1-7;+jeremiah+32:17-18;+daniel+9:16#\">generations of their spiritual fathers and mothers have been deceived into practicing the sin<\/a> that has placed them in bondage to religion.<\/p>\n<p>They will ask of themselves, and on behalf of generations of others, &#8220;How is it possible that we could be deceived?&#8221; They will wonder, &#8220;How could so many wise, intelligent people, even Biblical scholars, even I, misinterpret the Bible so wrongly?&#8221; And until they know why, most will be angry with themselves and others for being so stupid as to believe all the lies that religion employs to suck gullible people into a life of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-injustice-and-slavery\">bondage to religion<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The short answer to these and other imponderable questions about the success of religion is this: God is responsible. We know this because God has made <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/the-law-is-a-stumbling-block\">the law a stumbling block <\/a>that has deceived people from the truth.<\/p>\n<p>This fact seems like bad news until we recognize that God always has a redemptive purpose in everything he does. We see this most clearly in scriptures about the two covenants that are found throughout the Bible. They are the ultimate examples of good and evil.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 160px;\">STUDY TIPS: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\">Two Covenants Part 1<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenants-part-2\">Two Covenants Part 2 .<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong>MAGIC, SORCERY, DIVINATION AND WITCHCRAFT ***<\/strong><br \/>\nMagic has always been associated with religion. That it is associated with Judaism and Christianity would be strongly argued by Jews and Christians, but the truth is that the magic arts are still very much present in religion. They are not recognized for what they are, however, because they have been so cleverly integrated into the religious culture for so many years that hardly anyone sees them for what they really are. The people that do see magic in religion are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2#newcovenant\">New Covenant<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/#disciple\">disciples,<\/a> and they are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/model-warriors\">on a mission to expose all religious deceptions and set people free from religion.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>To understand the presence of magic in Judaism and Christianity it is helpful to review the history of magic in religion in these scholarly articles:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ancient.eu\/article\/1019\/magic-in-ancient-egypt\/\">Magic in Egypt &#8212; Ancient History Encyclopedia<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"LC20lb DKV0Md\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ancient.eu\/article\/926\/magic-in-ancient-greece\/\">Magic in Ancient Greece &#8211; &#8211; Ancient History Encyclopedia<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"LC20lb DKV0Md\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.smithsonianmag.com\/smart-news\/guide-ancient-magic-180960129\/\">A Guide to Ancient Magic | Smart News | Smithsonian Magazine<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/eclass.uoa.gr\/modules\/document\/file.php\/ARCH310\/Readings%20for%2022%20Dec%20and%2012%20Jan\/Dickie%20Magic%20and%20Magicians%20in%20the%20Greco-Roman%20World.pdf\">MAGIC AND MAGICIANS IN THE GRECO-ROMAN WORLD &#8212; <\/a>Matthew W.Dickie<\/li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"h3\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/magic-supernatural-phenomenon\/Magic-and-religion\">Magic and religion<\/a> &#8212; Encyclop\u00e6dia Britannica, Inc.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>From these resources it is clear that magic was very much a part of pagan religions before, during and after Old Testament and New Testament times. It is not surprising, then, that God gave warnings about the practice of magic, sorcery, divination and witchcraft. These practices are among the religious activities about which <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+23:20-27;+deuteronomy+12:29-32;+deuteronomy+18:9;+leviticus+18:3;+leviticus+18:30;+leviticus+20:22-26;+2-kings+17:7-13;+2-kings+17:34;+2-kings+21:1-2;+ezra+9:10-15;+jeremiah+10:2;+jeremiah+44:2-8\">God warned that his people should not follow the customs of other nations. <\/a><\/p>\n<p>Religion exists because God&#8217;s warnings fell on deaf ears for both Jews and Christians. That is why magic and its associated supernatural arts (e.g. witchcraft, soothsaying, divination, etc.) have always been important features of Judaism, the early Christian church and contemporary Christianity.<\/p>\n<p>No religious people would admit that their religion, or their faith, involves magic. Their high opinions of their religion and the correctness of it because it is based on the words of the Bible prevents them from seeing any fault in it. This blindness to the truth as God sees it does not change the facts: Religion is deception and magic is part of the deception.<\/p>\n<p>How magic came to be integrated with religion is an interesting story. Knowing this history is helpful to understanding the ways in which the magic arts function in Judaism and Christianity.<\/p>\n<p>We being with the truth that God is the only one who can speak truth to the hearts of people. The Bible tells us, however, that almost <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=isaiah+6:1-5;+jeremiah+6:13;+psalm+58:3;+psalm+63:11;+isaiah+59:1-4;+jeremiah+9:1-8;+daniel+11:27;+hosea+7:13;+micah+6:12;+leviticus+6:1-5;+jeremiah+5:1-2\">everyone, especially religious leaders, speaks lies to God&#8217;s people<\/a>. These are all included in the category of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\">False Prophets<\/a>. The exceptions to this rule are the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\">True Prophets<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Because these human teachers (i.e. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/nas\/shav.html\">false<\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/hebrew\/nas\/nabiy.html\">prophets<\/a>) have such irresistible influence on his people, God calls them <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+28:15-41;+1-samuel+8\">Kings,\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=revelation+2:18-23;+1-kings+16:31;+1-kings+18:4;+1-kings+18:19;+1-kings+19:1-2;+1-kings+21:23;+1-kings+21:25;+2-kings+9:7;+2-kings+9:10;+2-kings+9:22\">Queens <\/a>and<a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=revelation+2:18-23;+1-kings+16:31;+1-kings+18:4;+1-kings+18:19;+1-kings+19:1-2;+1-kings+21:23;+1-kings+21:25;+2-kings+9:7;+2-kings+9:10;+2-kings+9:22\">\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=psalm+118:9;+psalm+119:23;+psalm+146:3;+proverbs+28:2;+isaiah+10:1-8;+isaiah+19:11-13;+jeremiah+2:22-29;+jeremiah+25:12-27;+jeremiah+44:21;+jeremiah+48:7;+jeremiah+49:3;+jeremiah+49:38;+jeremiah+51:57;+lamentations+5:1-16;+ezekiel+22:27;+ezekiel+26:1-16;+hosea+7;+hosea+8:1-10;+hosea+9:15;+hosea+13:10;+amos+1:15;+amos+2:3;+zephaniah+1:8;+zephaniah+3:1-3\">Princes.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\/kings-queens-and-princes\">Kings, Queens and Princes<\/a> for discussion about these kinds of false prophets. Also see <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\">Religion is the Kingdom of False Prophets<\/a> for an overview of all false prophets. Also see <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\/apostles\">Pastors, Priests, Rabbis, Apostles, Bishops, Elders, Deacons, Overseers, Rabbis, Popes, Missionaries and Evangelists.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>These religious leaders are the glue that holds religion together. Without them there would be no religion. They all represent the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/1-samuel\/8.html\">king that Israel demanded to have to fight their battles for them<\/a>. It is reasonable for God to call them kings, queens and princes because they <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/matthew\/passage\/?q=matthew+20:20-28\">&#8220;lord it over&#8221;<\/a> them with absolute authority regarding religious laws and traditions.<\/p>\n<p>When people choose to listen to or read the teachings of a religious leader, they have effectively chosen a king to rule their hearts and minds on religious matters. This is offensive to God who is the rightful king and lord of hearts and minds which are his kingdom.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 160px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/nations\/kingdom-of-heaven\">Kingdom of God\/Heaven<\/a> for understanding of God&#8217;s kingdom.<\/p>\n<p>We see a parable of the wrong choice that people make about who they listen to regarding religious matters in the story of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/egypt-and-babylon\/2#nakedness\">Adam and Eve in the garden<\/a>. Their decision to eat from the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/3#treeofknowledgeofgoodandevil\">Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil<\/a> is a parable that shows the consequence of choosing to listen to religious leaders symbolically represented as satan. In effect, Israel rejected God as the <a href=\" http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/3#treeoflife\">Tree of Life <\/a>in favor of a mortal person (i.e. Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil) who would presume to teach them about God and his ways.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/wood-gold-silver-stone\">Wood (trees)<\/a> for understanding of the symbolism of the two kinds of trees.<\/p>\n<p>Adam and Eve were not so much choosing a person as they were choosing to believe what that person said. It can also be said that they were choosing to listen to an <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\/religion-is-idolatry\/10\">idol<\/a> instead of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/rsv\/passage\/?q=exodus+15:22-26;+exodus+23:20-25;+exodus+19:1-5;+jeremiah+7:23-26;+jeremiah+11:1-4;+matthew+4:1-4;+deuteronomy+8:1-3;+job+22:21-23;+psalm+119:9-13;+psalm+138:4;+isaiah+28:23;+jeremiah+11:1-7;+jeremiah+22:21;+psalm+106:25;+nehemiah+9:29;+jeremiah+11:10;+jeremiah+13:11;+zechariah+7:11;+isaiah+46:12;+matthew+13:15\">listening to God&#8217;s voice<\/a>. This, of course, is sin.<\/p>\n<p>This was a bad choice that represents man&#8217;s strong tendency to choose religion instead of listening to God&#8217;s spoken voice. Old Testament stories about Israel show that it was often tempted to practice the kind of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/egypt-and-babylon\">religion that other religious nations practiced<\/a>. These religions always included a god-like king who exercised <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/lexicons\/greek\/nas\/exousia.html\">power and authority<\/a> over the religious laws of those nations. This choice is best summarized as choices to practice <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/two-covenantspart1\/2\">Old\/First Covenant religion instead of New Covenant discipleship.<\/a> It is also a choice to practice <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-sin\/religion-is-idolatry\">idolatry<\/a>. It was a bad choice because it directly contradicts God&#8217;s command that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=exodus+23:20-27;+deuteronomy+12:29-32;+deuteronomy+18:9;+leviticus+18:3;+leviticus+18:30;+leviticus+20:22-26;+2-kings+17:7-13;+2-kings+21:1-2;+ezra+9:10-15;+jeremiah+10:2;+jeremiah+44:2-8\">Israel should not follow the customs of other nations.<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/nations\">Cities, Kingdoms and Nations<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/egypt-and-babylon\">Egypt, Babylon and Canaan,<\/a> and\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-the-enemy\/gods-at-war\">Gods at War<\/a> for more about nations and kings.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to kings, queens and princes, God uses a variety of other kinds of characters to represent false prophets who have authority over his people. In the Old Testament, these characters include the following:<strong> \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<td><\/td>\n<td>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=genesis+41:8;+genesis+41:24;+exodus+7:11;+exodus+7:22;+exodus+8:7;+exodus+8:18-19;+exodus+9:11;+daniel+1:20;+daniel+2:2\">Magicians<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+18:10;+deuteronomy+18:14;+1-samuel+6:2;+1-samuel+28:8;+isaiah+3:2;+isaiah+44:25;+jeremiah+27:9;+jeremiah+29:8;+ezekiel+13:9;+ezekiel+13:23;+ezekiel+21:21;+ezekiel+21:23;+ezekiel+21:29;+ezekiel+22:28;+micah+3:6-7;+micah+3:11\">Diviners<\/a><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/search\/?s=bibles&amp;q=seers&amp;t=niv&amp;c=all#\">Seers<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/search\/?s=bibles&amp;q=enchanters&amp;t=niv&amp;c=all\">Enchanters<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/search\/?s=bibles&amp;q=sorcerers&amp;t=niv&amp;c=all\">Sorcerers<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Practitioners of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/search\/?s=bibles&amp;q=witchcraft&amp;t=nas&amp;c=all\">Witchcraft<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/search\/?s=bibles&amp;q=mediums&amp;t=niv&amp;c=all\">Mediums<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/search\/?s=bibles&amp;q=spiritists&amp;t=niv&amp;c=all\">Spiritists<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jude+1:8;+jeremiah+27:9\">Dreamers<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/search\/?s=bibles&amp;q=soothsayers&amp;t=kjv&amp;c=all\">Soothsayers<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=zechariah+11:15-17;+jeremiah+23:1;+zechariah+10:1-2\">Foolish, worthless shepherds<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>If we believe that all scripture is useful for training in righteousness, we also believe that there is something for us who live in these modern days to learn from scriptures that reference these characters. The following table gives examples of religious activities that can be compared to supernatural abilities that some\u00a0 people claim to possess:<\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 99.8462%; border-color: #000000; border-style: solid;\" border=\"1\" width=\"99.8462%\" align=\"center\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 331px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><strong>SUPERNATURAL ABILITIES PEOPLE CLAIM TO POSSESS<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 318px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><strong>How Modern Day Religious Leaders Practice their Magic Through Religion<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 331px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=genesis+41:8;+genesis+41:24;+exodus+7:11;+exodus+7:22;+exodus+8:7;+exodus+8:18-19;+exodus+9:11;+daniel+1:20;+daniel+2:2\"><strong>MAGICIANS<\/strong><\/a><br \/>\nMagicians use clever tricks to convince people that they have special, supernatural powers. They use these tricks to control (i.e. manipulate) physical objects (including people) in ways that are not predictable or possible according to the laws of nature.<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 318px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">In religion, religious leaders exercise this supposedly God-given, supernatural power in many ways:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Speaking a verbal blessing imparts spiritual power from God.<\/li>\n<li>Wave hands over people in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.merriam-webster.com\/dictionary\/benediction\">benediction<\/a> kind of gesture that imparts something spiritual from God.<\/li>\n<li>Teach that laying on of hands imparts spiritual power from God.<\/li>\n<li>Teach that baptism in water and circumcision have spiritual power.<\/li>\n<li>Teach that anointing with oil imparts spiritual power from God.<\/li>\n<li>Teach that eating communion bread and wine has spiritual power.<\/li>\n<li>Teach that repeating the name Jesus has spiritual power &#8212; especially in the context of prayer.<\/li>\n<li>Teach that a physical cross has spiritual power.<\/li>\n<li>Teach that singing songs with the name of God and Jesus in them is a way of connecting with God and demonstrating love for him.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 331px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+18:10;+deuteronomy+18:14;+1-samuel+6:2;+1-samuel+28:8;+isaiah+3:2;+isaiah+44:25;+jeremiah+27:9;+jeremiah+29:8;+ezekiel+13:9;+ezekiel+13:23;+ezekiel+21:21;+ezekiel+21:23;+ezekiel+21:29;+ezekiel+22:28;+micah+3:6-7;+micah+3:11\"><strong>DIVINERS<\/strong><\/a><br \/>\nDiviners practice <a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianity.com\/wiki\/christian-terms\/what-is-divination-meaning-and-bible-examples.html\">divination<\/a> in\u00a0 which people claim to understand biblical mysteries and to foresee the future. The problem with diviners is that they listen to other diviners and their own minds but do not listen to God&#8217;s voice.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/kjv\/deuteronomy\/18-10.html\">Deuteronomy 18:10<\/a> <span class=\"verse-10\"> There shall not be <a class=\"strongs\" title=\"Strong's Number: 04672\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/interlinear-bible\/strongs\/?t=kjv&amp;ll=h&amp;sn=04672\" data-strongs-number=\"04672\">found<\/a> among you any one that maketh his <a class=\"strongs\" title=\"Strong's Number: 01121\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/interlinear-bible\/strongs\/?t=kjv&amp;ll=h&amp;sn=01121\" data-strongs-number=\"01121\">son<\/a> or his <a class=\"strongs\" title=\"Strong's Number: 01323\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/interlinear-bible\/strongs\/?t=kjv&amp;ll=h&amp;sn=01323\" data-strongs-number=\"01323\">daughter<\/a> to <a class=\"strongs\" title=\"Strong's Number: 05674\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/interlinear-bible\/strongs\/?t=kjv&amp;ll=h&amp;sn=05674\" data-strongs-number=\"05674\">pass<\/a> through the <a class=\"strongs\" title=\"Strong's Number: 0784\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/interlinear-bible\/strongs\/?t=kjv&amp;ll=h&amp;sn=0784\" data-strongs-number=\"0784\">fire,<\/a> or that <a class=\"strongs\" title=\"Strong's Number: 07080\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/interlinear-bible\/strongs\/?t=kjv&amp;ll=h&amp;sn=07080\" data-strongs-number=\"07080\">useth<\/a> <a class=\"strongs\" title=\"Strong's Number: 07081\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/interlinear-bible\/strongs\/?t=kjv&amp;ll=h&amp;sn=07081\" data-strongs-number=\"07081\">divination,<\/a> or an observer of <a class=\"strongs\" title=\"Strong's Number: 06049\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/interlinear-bible\/strongs\/?t=kjv&amp;ll=h&amp;sn=06049\" data-strongs-number=\"06049\">times<\/a>, or an <a class=\"strongs\" title=\"Strong's Number: 05172\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/interlinear-bible\/strongs\/?t=kjv&amp;ll=h&amp;sn=05172\" data-strongs-number=\"05172\">enchanter<\/a>, or a <a class=\"strongs\" title=\"Strong's Number: 03784\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/interlinear-bible\/strongs\/?t=kjv&amp;ll=h&amp;sn=03784\" data-strongs-number=\"03784\">witch<\/a>, <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"spanH1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/kjv\/1-samuel\/15-23.html\">Samuel 15:23<\/a> <span class=\"verse-23\"> &#8220;For <a class=\"strongs\" title=\"Strong's Number: 04805\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/interlinear-bible\/strongs\/?t=nas&amp;ll=h&amp;sn=04805\" data-strongs-number=\"04805\">rebellion<\/a> is as the <a class=\"strongs\" title=\"Strong's Number: 02403\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/interlinear-bible\/strongs\/?t=nas&amp;ll=h&amp;sn=02403\" data-strongs-number=\"02403\">sin<\/a> of <a class=\"strongs\" title=\"Strong's Number: 07081\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/interlinear-bible\/strongs\/?t=nas&amp;ll=h&amp;sn=07081\" data-strongs-number=\"07081\">divination<\/a>, And <a class=\"strongs\" title=\"Strong's Number: 06484\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/interlinear-bible\/strongs\/?t=nas&amp;ll=h&amp;sn=06484\" data-strongs-number=\"06484\">insubordination<\/a> is as <a class=\"strongs\" title=\"Strong's Number: 0205\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/interlinear-bible\/strongs\/?t=nas&amp;ll=h&amp;sn=0205\" data-strongs-number=\"0205\">iniquity<\/a> and <a class=\"strongs\" title=\"Strong's Number: 08655\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/interlinear-bible\/strongs\/?t=nas&amp;ll=h&amp;sn=08655\" data-strongs-number=\"08655\">idolatry<\/a>. <a class=\"strongs\" title=\"Strong's Number: 03282\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/interlinear-bible\/strongs\/?t=nas&amp;ll=h&amp;sn=03282\" data-strongs-number=\"03282\">Because<\/a> you have <a class=\"strongs\" title=\"Strong's Number: 03988\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/interlinear-bible\/strongs\/?t=nas&amp;ll=h&amp;sn=03988\" data-strongs-number=\"03988\">rejected<\/a> the <a class=\"strongs\" title=\"Strong's Number: 01697\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/interlinear-bible\/strongs\/?t=nas&amp;ll=h&amp;sn=01697\" data-strongs-number=\"01697\">word<\/a> of the <a class=\"strongs\" title=\"Strong's Number: 03068\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/interlinear-bible\/strongs\/?t=nas&amp;ll=h&amp;sn=03068\" data-strongs-number=\"03068\">LORD<\/a>, He has also <a class=\"strongs\" title=\"Strong's Number: 03988\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/interlinear-bible\/strongs\/?t=nas&amp;ll=h&amp;sn=03988\" data-strongs-number=\"03988\">rejected<\/a> you from being <a class=\"strongs\" title=\"Strong's Number: 04428\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/interlinear-bible\/strongs\/?t=nas&amp;ll=h&amp;sn=04428\" data-strongs-number=\"04428\">king<\/a>.&#8221; <\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 318px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">Religious leaders explain the Bible with an attitude of authority that implies that the religious leader has received divine revelation from God and is empowered to report that revelation to others. They study scripture, memorize scripture, quote scripture, and interpret scripture with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=2-timothy+4:2-4;+isaiah+5:20;+isaiah+30:1-10;+1-kings+22:1-8;+1-kings+22:13;+jeremiah+6:8-14;+jeremiah+23:9-40;+ezekiel+13;+micah+2:1-11;+romans+16:17-18;+2-samuel+15:1-6;+psalm+12:1-2;+colossians+2:1-4;+philippians+3:19;+colossians+2:4;+2-peter+2:3\">convincing language that tickles the ears of religious people<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Religious leaders build on the literal words of the Bible to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=genesis+6:5;+genesis+8:21;+jeremiah+16:12;+jeremiah+7:24;+jeremiah+11:8;+jeremiah+14:14;+jeremiah+18:12;+jeremiah+3:17;+jeremiah+13:10;+luke+1:51;+colossians+2:18;+jeremiah+27:9-17;+jeremiah+23:16;+jeremiah+28:15;+jeremiah+29:8;+1-john+4:1;+matthew+7:15;+2-corinthians+11:13-15;+galatians+1:8-9;+ezekiel+13:1-6;+ezekiel+13:23;+ezekiel+21:29;+ezekiel+22:28;+proverbs+12:6;+proverbs+1:11;+proverbs+1:16;+ecclesiastes+10:12;+ezekiel+33:31;+revelation+13:1-5\">create ideas and opinions about the deep meanings of scripture out of their own imaginations.<\/a> When they preach these ideas they are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/breadfood-and-wine\/3#treeofknowledgeofgoodandevil\">Trees of Knowledge of Good and Evil<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Religious leaders function like diviners because they expand of the teachings of other diviners to create their own ideas. Unlike Jesus and other true prophets, they are not <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=hebrews+1:1-2;+john+3:34;+jeremiah+26:1-5;+ezekiel+2:1-7;+ezekiel+3wi:4-11;+2-chronicles+36:15;+acts+3:26;+revelation+1:1;+deuteronomy+18:18;+isaiah+51:15-16;+john+17:1-8;+isaiah+59:21;+deuteronomy+32:1;+job+22:22;+psalm+19:14;+proverbs+12:6;+jeremiah+1:9;+jeremiah+5:14;+hosea+6:5;+daniel+9:9-11;+2-peter+1:19-21\">sent by God<\/a> and they do not <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/true-prophets\/jesus\/5\">speak God&#8217;s words<\/a>. They speak their own words.<\/p>\n<p>They are <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\/3\">false prophets<\/a> who lead people away from listening to God&#8217;s voice.<\/p>\n<p>Diviners use their knowledge of the literal bible to predict the future. They say that if people follow certain religious rules, life on earth will be good and they will go to heaven after they die. They also say that if people do not follow certain religious rules, life on earth will be bad and they will go to hell after they die. They also create visions of what life will be like in both heaven and hell.<\/p>\n<p>The truth is, however, that the wisdom\/knowledge that religious leaders have is human &#8212; not Godly. See <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=1-corinthians+1:18-27;+1-corinthians+3:18-21;+2-corinthians+1:12;+james+3:13-18;+1-corinthians+2:1-15;+jeremiah+4:19-22;+isaiah+5:20-21;+isaiah+29:14;+isaiah+47:10;+jeremiah+8:9;+proverbs+3:1-7;+romans+1:18-25\">this link<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/6\">this link<\/a>, and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/literal-or-symbolic-interpretation-part-1\/5\">this link <\/a>for understanding of two kinds of wisdom and knowledge.<\/p>\n<p class=\"spanH1\">\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 331px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/search\/?s=bibles&amp;q=seers&amp;t=nas\"><strong>SEERS<\/strong><\/a><br \/>\nSeers are like diviners. They are religious leaders who think they see truth in the literal words of the Bible and they preach what they think they see.Seers also observe natural events and make predictions about what God is doing or will do in the natural environment or in the affairs of men.<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 318px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\">***<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 331px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><strong>WITCHCRAFT<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Spells<\/p>\n<p>Curses<\/p>\n<p>Potions<\/p>\n<p>Incantations<\/p>\n<p>Binding and loosing<\/p>\n<p>Good luck formulas<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 318px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 331px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><strong>AMULETS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Earrings<\/p>\n<p>Jewelry<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 318px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 331px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><strong>MEDIUMS\/SPIRITISTS<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 318px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 331px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><strong>SOOTHSAYERS<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 318px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 331px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><strong>SORCERERS<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 318px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 331px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><strong>ENCHANTERS<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 318px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 331px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><strong>INCANTATIONS<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 318px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 331px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 318px; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000;\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Religious people believe that a spiritual transformation of some kind occurs when religious leaders do these things . They believe that they gain knowledge, wisdom, forgiveness, physical healing and spiritual healing from God. In religious cultures, these characters are called pastors, priests, prophets, evangelists, musicians and apostles.\u00a0No matter what they are called, they all employ a kind of magical deception that causes their followers to believe that something spiritual happens when they practice their magical arts.<\/p>\n<p>From the fact that God uses so many different kinds of characters to identify false prophets, we may correctly assume that he is trying to communicate something very important to Israel and to us. We would do well, therefore, to take scriptures about these characters seriously instead of dismissing them as archaic concepts with no relevance to us who live in these modern times.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to these characters found in the Old Testament, the following characters found in the New Testament are also False Prophets:<\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 301.417px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 179px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 277.417px;\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=deuteronomy+13:5;+deuteronomy+18:20;+2-chronicles+18:12-22;+lamentations+2:14;+jeremiah+28:11-17;+jeremiah+23:16-17;+jeremiah+23:21-32;+jeremiah+20:6;+jeremiah+29:31-32;+jeremiah+23:36;+jeremiah+14:14-15;+isaiah+9:15;+micah+2:11;+nehemiah+6:12-13;+micah+3:11;+zechariah+13:3;+ezekiel+13:6;+ezekiel+13:17;+matthew+24:4;+matthew+7:15-23;+matthew+16:1-4;+matthew+24:11;+matthew+24:23-36;+mark+13:22;+luke+6:26;+acts+13:6;+galatians+1:6-13;+2-corinthians+11:13-15;+2-peter+2:1;+2-peter+2:18;+philippians+3:18-19;+colossians+2:8;+john+15:19;+acts+20:29-32;+romans+16:17-18;+2-peter+2:1-3;+1-timothy+4:1;+titus+1:11-16;+revelation+2:20;+revelation+16:13;+revelation+19:20;+revelation+20:10\">False Prophets<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+24:15-27;+mark+13:11-22\">False Christs<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/search\/?s=bibles&amp;q=antichrist&amp;t=nas&amp;c=all\">Antichrist<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=matthew+7:15;+matthew+10:16;+luke+10:3;+acts+20:29;+ezekiel+22:27#\">Wolves<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/2-corinthians\/11-13.html\">False apostles<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/2-corinthians\/11-13.html\">Deceitful workers<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/2-corinthians\/11-14.html\">Angel of light<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/2-corinthians\/11-15.html\">Servants of righteousness<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>If we believe that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/2-timothy\/passage\/?q=2-timothy+3:16-17\">all scripture is God-breathed and useful for training in righteousness<\/a>, we take seriously the stories of false prophets by a variety of names <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=zechariah+11:15-17;+ezekiel+13;+jeremiah+28:15-17;+jeremiah+6:14;+jeremiah+8:11;+ezekiel+13:10;+isaiah+57:21;+jeremiah+29:8;+ezekiel+22:28;+jeremiah+23:1;+jeremiah+23:28-32;+zechariah+10:2;+lamentations+2:14;+hosea+9:7\">who <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=zechariah+11:15-17;+ezekiel+13;+jeremiah+28:15-17;+jeremiah+6:14;+jeremiah+8:11;+ezekiel+13:10;+isaiah+57:21;+jeremiah+29:8;+ezekiel+22:28;+jeremiah+23:1;+jeremiah+23:28-32;+zechariah+10:2;+lamentations+2:14;+hosea+9:7\">report to God&#8217;s people<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=zechariah+11:15-17;+ezekiel+13;+jeremiah+28:15-17;+jeremiah+6:14;+jeremiah+8:11;+ezekiel+13:10;+isaiah+57:21;+jeremiah+29:8;+ezekiel+22:28;+jeremiah+23:1;+jeremiah+23:28-32;+zechariah+10:2;+lamentations+2:14;+hosea+9:7\"> false visions that they have created out of their own imaginations.<\/a> If we do not apply these scriptures to our own lives, we in are deceived in our proud confidence that these warnings do not, and could not apply our own pastors, prophets and rabbis. When we invest such weight and authority in their teachings, we effectively put them ahead of God and they become idols for us.<\/p>\n<p>There is great pride and arrogance at work in us when we put our own judgment about the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thesaurus.com\/browse\/veracity\">veracity<\/a> of our religious leaders ahead of God&#8217;s warnings. When we trust our own judgment about such things we effectively <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=genesis+3:1-5;+isaiah+14:1-14;+ezekiel+28:1-19\">elevate ourselves above God and become devils<\/a>. If we are convinced in our hearts that we would not be so stupid as to fall for the deception that Israel of the Bible did, we are no better off than the Israelites of the Bible. It is totally wrong thinking that we are immunized from deception because we have been baptized, said the sinners prayer, can quote the Bible and are faithful to observe <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/gods-written-word-and-gods-spoken-voice\/the-law\/6#religiouslaws\">religious laws and traditions<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>If we can give God credit for being right in these matters, we might wonder how it was that Israel was deceived and how we can be so deceived as to listen to false prophets. God has the answer for that also: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+5:31;+2-thessalonians+2:11-12;+ezekiel+13:6;+micah+2:11;+isaiah+30:9-12;+psalm+12:1-2;+romans+1:21-32;+1-kings+22:1-13;+jeremiah+6:14;+jeremiah+23:9-40;+romans+16:17-18;+numbers+14:1-12;+nehemiah+9:17;+judges+17:7-13\">People love the peaceful messages that they hear in the smooth talk of false prophets.<\/a> They love these messages so much that they are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblestudytools.com\/nas\/passage\/?q=jeremiah+5:31;+2-thessalonians+2:11-12;+ezekiel+13:6;+micah+2:11;+isaiah+30:9-12;+psalm+12:1-2;+romans+1:21-32;+1-kings+22:1-13;+jeremiah+6:14;+jeremiah+23:9-40;+romans+16:17-18;+numbers+14:1-12;+nehemiah+9:17;+judges+17:7-13\">willing to hire priests to tell them lies<\/a>. They love to be entertained and excited by the pseudo-spiritual activity that religion offers to them. They love it so much, in fact, that many of them are willing to return to the religious show every week and pay good money to be entertained by it. Moreover, they are so deceived in their belief that what they experience is really God at work in a religious setting, that they will invite their friends, neighbors and relatives to come and participate.<\/p>\n<p>Typically these religious events include inspiring music that contributes to the feeling that God is actually working in the event. This too is a deception that is discussed in detail in\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/music-singing-and-dancing\">Music, Singing and Dancing.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 150px;\">STUDY TIP: See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/mystery\/symbols-signs-types-copies-shadows-and-patterns\/people\/religion-is-the-kingdom-of-false-prophets\/shepherds-sheep-priests\">Shepherds, Priests and Sheep<\/a> for more about religious leaders telling lies to God&#8217;s people.<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<p><strong>MAGIC AND THE AFTERLIFE ***<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>TRUTH AND LIES The Bible is commonly called a book of truth. While this statement is true, it is incomplete because it ignores the fact that the Bible is also a book filled with deception and lies. Consider these few <span class=\"excerpt-dots\">&hellip;<\/span> <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/religion\/religion-is-not-faith\/religion-is-deception\"><span class=\"more-msg\">Continue reading &rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":637,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-906","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/906","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=906"}],"version-history":[{"count":72,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/906\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3591,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/906\/revisions\/3591"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/637"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewaywesee.com\/religiondetoxnetwork\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=906"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}