Is it possible to be too religious?

I have known people who are way to into the church not the God they talk about but the church they go to and they are really far into looking good for the other people in the church it was like a game of who could act the best. they claimed to be doing it for God but to me they where doing it for other people in the church. I left the church a long time ago and I have a way better love and understanding for God now then I ever did going to church. I found that by going to church I had everyone judging me by what length my skirt was, how much make up I wore, if I wore make up I was called names behind my back, if I missed a sunday in church I was surely sinning so people from the church would call me and ask if I was ok and to make sure I sent my money in for tithing. It was like a soap opera after while there was so much gossip in church it would put any "wordly" gossiper to shame. I am muchhappier being gone from the church I see things alot differantly and I don't judge anyone like I used to, satan is not the center of my fear in fact I hardly have any fear now. I enjoy talking and getting to know more people of every walk of life then I did when going to church. I see God in a much better light now. I think I may have gotten off course here but I haven't had my coffee yet. LOL. Take care -Amber

I agree with you some people take their religon way too much and when they prout the scriptures all the time it drives me crazy. Had a land lady once tha ll she did was sout the scriptures but wasnt living up to them . When I find these kind of people I get away from them as fast as I can. She even wanted my kids to get baptisted into her church when they had never gone to it. Now that is way out of line!

What do you mean by being religious? Is it observing religious rituals or reading religious texts? Is it going to church regularly? All religions are a route to realise the Lord not to just please HIM. Realising HIM alone is religious.Any process that does not lead us to this Goal is mere exercise. It cannot take you any where.

I think people become to religious when they lose sight of what their religion is supposed to be about. I can only speak from my experience within the Christian church but I have seen many different examples of it.... The man who refuses to use birth control despite his wife's wishes to only have one or two children...they now have 5 children in a two bedroom house and she suffers from post partum depression more seriously after each birth. He also believes that prayer will "cure" her so she does not recieve any medication or counseling to help her through it. ...the ones who judge others who are struggling or have a different idea (most likely a better idea) of what church means. ...the ones who think weekly attendance to church (a man made building) actually proves a strong faith rather than worshipping God in your own way everyday of the week. I'm sure I could go on and on. I quit going when I realized my attendance had more social meaning than religious meaning. If I wasn't there I was judged, the phone calls and drop in visits started. People would think I was "slipping" in my faith. No one seemed to care that I felt very strongly that God DIDN'T want me going every week just for appearance sake. I could say so much about this topic but it is late and s/o needs the computer. Thanks for starting this discussion!

Hi blueunicorn, I don't like the word religious, in fact it scares me. I would never want to be considered religious. I consider myself to a spiritual person. I don't really know what too religious might be, maybe a good example would be the pharisee in the Biblical story found in Luke.18: 10-12. Blessings.

yes it is. and it can be so addictive, like any game you've ever played. you will lose friends, and relatives, and might even kill people for your religion.

Yes, there are over-religious people out there and they are the kind we call fundamentalists. they repeat their relgious holy books very strictly and they tend to be inclined to forced conversion. Fundamentalist ae very dangerous people to society!

Religious rites and rituals must be upto certain limits and time frame. If that exceeds the limits or overdosing it will be oing towards cheating as present global scenario. In southindia most much accustomed religious leaders are in hit list by indian police due to their cheating and other crime levels. Beware of much religious leaders.

I think it is possible to take anything to the extreme, including relgion. Your article is well-written and thought-provoking; nice job. :-)

I don't think people can be too religous. I think it is how dedicated someone is to their faith and how they live it in their daily lives. Some people just go to church and go through the motions, but do not apply the faith or beliefs in their daily actions. People that do apply it, are seen as too religous to others.