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writings which espouse subjection of women and paying homage to pastors and church leaders actually oppose the early teachings of Jesus.

The compassionate and tender principles contained in the early history of true Christianity, started to fade as the Orthodox Church of Rome continued to develop a doctrine that would enable political rulers to enslave citizens and force the congregation to materially support pastors and obey them without question. Arius was a major opponent of a new doctrine which taught that humans are sinners as a result of the fall of Adam and Eve. This doctrine of "original sin" has been carried over to neoconservative, ultra right-wing religions today who teach that people are destined to hell if they do not believe a certain way or become submit to their church leaders. These pastors, bishops and elders were said to be the only ones who could forgive sin and save people from hell. They required people to do service for the church, give a tithe to support the pastors and even take up arms against the enemies of the church.

Another ruling of the emerging Christian religion declared the human body sinful and prohibited a couple to have sexual relations without permission from the Church. This is where belief in the virgin birth (that Mary the mother of Jesus conceived and gave birth without losing her virginity) was manufactured. Children who were conceived and born without the Church's permission were not eligible for Baptism or forgiveness of sins-of course unless the parents paid penance or gave money to the bishop. This is also when the belief began that Jesus is the only son of God. And, that really doesn't make sense to me. The peace-loving Jesus himself stated that we are all sons and daughters of God; equal to Him-joint heirs with full rights and responsibilities as co-creators of our lives and our circumstances. The teaching of separateness from God is strange. How can anything exist if the Creative Source is not in it?

The idea of humans being depraved sinners has placed leaders of certain religious sects in a lofty place of superiority. Believing that one is exclusive and special to God for having believed the mandates of a certain religious doctrine isolates people from others who believe they are sparks of creative life force expressing in a variety of ways: human and animal form, plant life, elemental and nature spirits, and any number of deities or other manifestations of All That Is.

This altered version of Christianity is

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