God Centered: Religion vs. Ideology

 

Today we live in a world with more ideologies than religion. Many like to push certain ideologies on others as if they are a religion, but they are not. Religion as you can see from the definition below deals with God and having faith. Ideologies are often things of this world impacting society and this material world we live in affecting politics and society and cultures. Many today like to push many types of ideologies, things like: neoliberalism, monetarism, mercantilism, mixed economy, social Darwinism, communism, laissez-faire economics, free trade, conservatism, anti-abortionism, militarism, globalism, pacifism, liberalism, race issues, CRT, DEI, etc. There are many ideologies today pushed and discussed in the news and in society today. Many push them and expect society to jump on the bandwagon to be part of them. They are pushed almost like a religion, but are not religions. Even our governments today likes to push a lot and act like they are God, but it is not God either. Faith and religion are so much greater, so much more profound, much more than an ideology. An ideology speaks to the group, the nation, or the class, it tries often times to change society, governments, people or the world as a whole, but not in a way like Jesus does, it does not have a Bible or Maker like God who controls everything here on Earth, it comes from humans only.  Frail humans who often fall to become slaves for Satan and things of this broken world, doing many things that hurt themselves, others, and society as a whole. Today many do not take sin seriously, they make excuses for why it is okay to kill babies, or steal, have addictions, or do something bad toward another or society as a whole. Some believe that the rise of ideologies in U.S. foreign policy can only create big problems. Even some ideologies can have negative impacts and affects on society. Today is seems like there is a great deal of ideology, but not based in any faith or religion, it often can be hateful and destructive. We see a lot of hate today in our society.  Our own governments create a great deal of hate, division, and strife for its people. They move farther away from God and religion in society and government, they do a lot of greedy, corrupt, and fraudulent things, acting selfish, self-serving, and mediocre as powers that be. Today we have world leaders who promote and pay for wars that go on forever, without peace talks, as they know war is big business for them and they and the elected can make a lot of money with their investments in these markets, their is a lot of hypocrisy today, a lot of hate, and a lot of division. So few seem to model Jesus or try to act like Him instead of being greedy and corrupt. It is a sad time we live in to see all of this. Religion is needed to give people faith and peace. We need the hope God offers through Jesus Christ, people can push all their ideologies, but if they do not have love, it offers nothing for our society as a whole. Ideologies often come from insecurities people have and they create or push them as a way to help them cope with such insecurities. Ideologies today are a real quagmire for our society that often can hurt our society if they are not well grounded in religion and faith in God!  

Dictionary Definitions from Oxford Languages:

re·li·gion

/rəˈlij(ə)n/

noun

the belief in and worship of a superhuman power or powers, especially a God or gods.

"ideas about the relationship between science and religion"

Similar:

faith

belief

divinity

worship

creed

teaching

doctrine

theology

sect

cult

religious group

faith community

church

denomination

body

following

persuasion

affiliation

a particular system of faith and worship.

plural noun: religions

"the world's great religions"

a pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance.

"consumerism is the new religion"

Dictionary Definitions from Oxford Languages: 

i·de·ol·o·gy

/ˌidēˈäləjē,ˌīdēˈäləjē/

noun

1.

a system of ideas and ideals, especially one which forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy.

"the ideology of democracy"

Similar:

beliefs

ideas

ideals

principles

doctrine

creed

credo

teaching

dogma

theory

thesis

tenets

canon(s)

conviction(s)

persuasion

opinions

position

ethics

morals

2.

ARCHAIC

the science of ideas; the study of their origin and nature.