Believe me, Susan. You never want to become religious. Religion is the system man sets up to appear that way. It has always managed to murder and eliminate the saints of history. And works hard now to figure out a way to do it again in the more civilized countries.
Religion actually, I do believe, is what satan sets in process to destroy the work of Jesus Christ.
And I just say that because it is true.
St. Francis lived only because Innocent the III issued a papal bull stating that no one could kill Francis while he was alive. But Innocent the III marched armies against the growing bands of Christians men like Francis were creating all over Europe.
Also, H. G. Wells history Vol. II says that immeditely after Francis' death poor Bernard, the rich socialite that started out with him was killed and many of the other brothers were imprisoned. The actual order itself continued now inside, very regulated and in nice black robes with daily hourly minutely rituals. I knew of the immediate change of the order upon Francis' death, but only H. G. Wells ever told me of the vengence upon the order members themselves that probably did not feel like going along with the new program. Whether or not this is true will take much digging. I will take Wells at his word--he is considered one of the greatest historians of our time, and also is a total and complete humanist and aetheist, so I'm sure it is true, and that he did not make it up for reasons unknown.
Even Teresa of Avila almost came under the Inquisition's hands in Spain--they just didn't like all of her personal experiences with the Lord in prayer. They began to think it must be satan, since they weren't having any experiences with the Lord at all, I'm quite sure.
Just ideas to keep in mind if you like the overview of things. |
