If religion is addictive, could it be possible to find more drug , alcohol, or sex addicts in a church?
360019
YES and yes....\nAfter all...it is a hospital for Saints......that is where you go to get well.\nAt least she is putting an effort into trying to do right. No one knows she is wrong any more than she does.\nWe Christians are just "saved" (from eternal damnation) sinners trying to serve a Living Lord.\nPlease be patient with us, God is not finished with us yet.\n\nThis is not to say she is a Christian, but she certainly needs counseling.  Sexual sin is sin against your own body..
565738
hard question because heroin is an addiction than can be overcome.thinking about the pain that those babies go through when they are born then i would say yes,but only if it could be reversed if they ever kick the habit.
11959
Addiction to drugs and alcohol tends to run in families and may have to do with how the brain processes certain chemicals, particularly those of the "feel good" type, which may be lacking or dormant in the addict until they are activated by  drugs or alcohol.  \n\nAccording to Carl Jung, alcoholic drinking is seen as a reflection of the human need,gone wrong, for a spiritual life. In a famous letter to Bill Wilson, Jung wrote that the craving for alcohol is the equivalent, on a low level, of the spiritual thirst of our being for wholeness, or union with God. Jung\nnotes that in the word alcohol in Latin is spiritus, a word that describes the highest religious experience, as well as the most depraving poison. In solving the problem of alcoholism, Jung offered the formula spiritus contra spiritum. A figurative translation of this Latin formular is, "it takes the Spirit of God to overcome the harmful spirit of alcohol.”
116798
If the selling can be controlled in such a way that it will be consumed only as a beverage, then I guess that it is ok. But if the church groups don't care whether it will make one drunk or not, then I think that selling should not be done...They might become instruments to make one drunk. I once read a passage in the bible (but I forgot the verse now) that drunkards won't be saved. If Jesus cares for even one soul (from his parable of the sheep), then so with us.
608007
these people were probably saved tremendously from their addictions or faults. they don't have room to compromise. our jobs as a Christian is to surround ourselves with other believers. It makes us stronger and harder to break. But there are other Christians who have the ability to communicate the GOod News about Jesus Christ in a way that doesn't shut nonbelievers out. Don't lose hope!
963502
Not me, but I have known many. I have known physicians, including four surgeons, nurses, a lawyer. I have known many others, but I used these professions to say that drug addiction afflicts many people from all walks of life. Unfortunately, there is nothing that you can do. He/she must decide for themselves that they want  to try to beat the addiction. This mostly comes later than sooner.
333146
Yes, if you buy too many of them very often. People can become addicted to anything. It becomes an addiction when it starts interfering with your everyday life and with your personal relationships.
873343
Yes but I don't think its consciously done by most who are involved. Its memes - ideas which can hook in to people brains and pass on, do survive and pass on. Most people involved in the church have probably been hooked themselves. Even more insidious if you think about it.\n\nOh and don't forget the big one - the absolute glorification of blind faith in what they are told.
660415
You may well be correct about the church and child molester connection.\n\nThere seems to be a common thought that if you confess and say you're sorry and you won't do it again, you can get away with anything - just like all those who go to church on Sunday morning, confess, and walk outside and start over again. It is no coincidence that churches are often built opposite the bar.\n\nWhat a load of crap especially from the answer above this one - if you do wrong you should be punished - becoming a born-again christian (or whatever) should not be a "get out of jail free" card.
1087739
Well, as a social worker, yes it is very sad the amount of people addicted to "something".  Yes, in all fairness to addicts, our bodies have chemicals called dopamine & serotonin (which you may have heard of) that are our pleasure centers in our brain that relase "good" vibes when we have something we like, whether it be food, drugs, or porno's.   It is natural for ALL people to have a tendency (not addiction) to like something, some people like playing sports, or on the computer, but are not addicted per se, that is a tendancy.  What happens when someone forms an addiction, is the dopamine chemical in our brain is released & says "that is awesome" & people can become addicted on the first time, or build up a tolerance over time & needs more & more.  There are not current drugs to stop this process in the brain, therefore, we continue to have drug/alcohol/food/sex/internet addictions & so on.   We have evolved as humans, & that has changed us, but addictions have been around for thousands & thousands of years.   There are medinces like Antibuse, Suboxin, & Bupropen (not sure on spelling) that help curb these addictions, but NOT a cure yet.  There are many good sites to check out & talking to a substance abuse counselor or a psychiatrist is always helpful, especially if you're concerned about a friend.   Hope this helps.
439840
i use to be a meth addict. it is hard to quit but it can be done if the person wants it bad enough.  i am very thankful i had a loving husband to help me through it and not just leave me. any way the way i come to stop is because my husband and some of my other family got me into  church, and I'm not the type of person to be able to go to church if i know I'm sinning. now i have recently quit meth and crack cocaine, and Ive given my life to the Lord. but the devil is at me every day to go use but the Lord is stronger. it was only a month and a half ago i was using every day. try to get them to see what life they are throwing away, i know it will be hard and meth addicts are very temper mental. whatever  you do don't ever do the stuff yourself, and if you live with the person you may have to try living in a different place, but still let them know you love them, and want to help them.  don't let kids be around this person cause kids are smarter than we give them credit for, and they know whats going on. you don't want them growing up thinking it is ok.  pray for this person, and if you truly believe God will answer your prayers, but remember He doesn't always answer them right when we want He answers them when feels its the right time.  i will pray for you right now, and God Bless You!!!!!!
934086
not enough people in churches. to many people are greedy, full of hate for one reason or another. drugs and alcohol. some people don't know how to handle their anger in the right way. GOD BLESS YOU
215466
i think you have a point there... but i bet you already knew that... anyways, i think there are alot of people who claim the religion but hide it when they go to the bar or club, sad but true.. as a devote believer i think if you would weave through all the hipocrits there would be preshis few christians left in the world today.
1068777
Usually the person has a compulsive personality. Studies have shown that people with addictions generally are like the monkey who pushed the button too many times, in the end, he dies. So it is with addictive personalities, whether it is alcohol, drugs, food, relationships, etc...these people just don't know when to say NO.
1018892
Organized religion is the culprit.
561156
I don't think so because when people join a religion it is effectively only a club, which breeds predudice and exclusion. I think more people join a religion for security (life after death, reincarnation etc.) company of other believers or as a reaction to an event, so essetially religion is psycology.\n\nBut christianity has been used by hitler and bush as excuse for holy wars, looked down on those who are promiscious or have illegitimate children and has this idea of hell, so i think the idea of it as a wholly loving religion is false. \n\nThis is a generalisation and i'm sure there are lots and lots of loving christians but the two don't always go hand in hand and ANY religion can be used as an excuse or manipulated when it comes to non loving behavior.
497935
Not any more so than anything else in this life. My point is that you have good and bad people in everything. Some interpret the scriptures to fit their needs and have adjusted it to there satisfaction. On the other hand you have people who truly believe their religion and try their hardest to live it and practice it, not just preach it. I think that is when you have the biggest problems is when people preach their religion instead of just living it.\nChristians need to realize that they would reach more people by their examples and in the way they live their lives then anything they say. There needs to be more practicing what they're preaching than anything, and it should start within themselves.