the church is a yoke for authoritarianism

Joshua 4 recounts the crossing of the Jordan River, where the Israelites, led by the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant, pass through the miraculously halted waters. The Ark, as the physical representation of God’s presence, is central to the event—it is the point of focus, the anchor of faith, and the means by which the people move forward.

Now, consider the idea that the church is a yoke for authoritarianism. A yoke is something that binds, that directs, that enforces a particular path. Historically, institutions that claim divine authority often impose structure, discipline, and control. But what is the difference between a structure that preserves faith and one that serves only to maintain power? The Ark of the Covenant was carried before the people, not as a tool of oppression, but as a guiding force—a reminder of something beyond human rule.

A mind-focused religion, a faith rooted in awareness and understanding, suggests that divine truth is not in submission to an institution but in direct engagement with something greater. The Ark represents this—an interface between humanity and God, not mediated by bureaucracy but by those who are willing to bear its weight. If God’s truth is about the liberation of the mind rather than its subjugation, then any structure that seeks to control thought rather than expand it may not be carrying the Ark—it may be building a golden calf.

Rumors by figures such as Timothy Hogan – a Templar in a long lineage of Templars – hold that the Templars have, currently and since hundreds of years ago since their founding, safeguarded several arks. Hogan says that the order he belongs to has passed down spiritual gnosis (knowledge) through the centuries. Ensuring its protection from the church who would defile or destroy such knowledge.

Perspectives in the church which claim such practices, which can lead to magic or mysticism things such as a kundalini awakening or manifestation [law of attraction type things], are dangerous concepts that invite the deceiver the devil into your very being. This is surely true, spiritual practices that raise consciousness are treated very carefully and reverently by those teaching the knowledge. They know just how powerful it is, how harmful it could be for a person who isn’t mentally prepared. Each of us can easily fall prey to materialism or missing some mark we set for ourselves.

So many of Us fall into these traps we’ve set for ourselves. We create these habits that serve our Ego perhaps by regulating emotions the Ego can’t deal with. Then when the habit makes us react instead of respond we’ve let ourselves down by letting go of our freewill. The wisdom it takes to see the harm you cause yourself takes dedication to achieve. This wisdom is what is likely necessary to achieve higher levels of consciousness safely. To astrally project and talk with unknown powerful entities. I’m not sure I would ever dare, it sounds scary. So my path clearly would require deeply exploring my fear and where it comes from within me and determining a way of responding to that fear in a safe manner that protects my wellest being.

I find myself believing the God of the Old Testament would not allow Satan to have such historically pervasive influence over his narrative in religion. What am I left to think of?

Well you know how the Quran is all about being incorruptible? Well, I think that says something about organized religion. Particularly the influence of the Roman Church, the people who propelled Christianity as we think of it today into the Now. Consider that Constantine the Great, who issued the Edict of Milan (313 AD) which legalized Christianity dreamed of the sign of the crucifix and a divine message proclaiming to him “In this sign, you will conquer”.

Do any of you consider the Roman empire to be particularly Good willed? Does conquest seem very Jesus says to love thy neighbour as thyself? No? Me neither.

It is a wonder then, that we don’t ever openly discuss the very real likelihood that the books of the bible were likely manipulated to some degree.

We don’t even need to guess at the ways they would manipulate it. We are talking about Men of Power and Control. They seek but few things: power, and glory. That was the belief system of the Roman Empire, British Empire, US Economic Empire; I’m not history buff, there may be others worth noting. As a western religion, we probably ought to keep focus to western empires.

So, we can consider any teaching that trickled down to us from Jesus through the church. Firstly, let us look at Acts 20:28 and 20:30.
“Take heed for yourselves, and for all the flock, over which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which he has purchased with his own blood.”
“And from among your own selves men shall arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them”

Now, can we consider the early church was [the past tense of] genocide. Thankfully all of the teachings have survived in spite of evil efforts to murder and destroy knowledge. Faith in God does not fear false knowledge.

The Roman Church narrative would be that the direct students needed to be murdered because they were following a false set of teachings. That is the most likely reason that they destroyed their lives and their understanding, perhaps they even believed their story.

Love thy neighbour as thyself. You would murder yourself? No thanks, I’m gonna live and let live. I trust God’s love will find everyone, if only we all would love God with all our hearts and each other as we do ourselves. The first step for many billions of people is to open their heart to God, and even more still their heart to themselves and all others. Even the rapists, murderers, liars, cheaters, or worse. They are all living reactively, they bring evil into the world because they don’t make many choices about any of it. It’s really just the first time and last time that matters at all. The rest of it is up to what love filled people talk about with repentance.

The Roman Church narrative is largely that we cannot do anything to save ourselves and it is through Christ alone that we receive salvation. In a perverse way, that is true. If it weren’t for his story, his teachings, the impact he left then none of it would have survived. If it weren’t for the religion created about him then the empires could have corrupted all spiritual walks of life around the world. Imagine an atheist empire, coupling conquest with atheist and you’re going to have a genocide of people and ideas the level of which no soul has ever witnessed.

The underlying thread here is authoritarianism. Consider that for an hour. Consider the implications on world powers [including the church]. Consider there was a Roman Imperial Cult. Consider which messages would need to be “distorted” as Jesus says in some translations. What have the wolves been doing amongst the sheep for nearly 2000 years?

The biggest question you may be facing is, is the Bible the infallible word of God? In a sense, but it’s not alone either. It is literally a curated library of books from among all the teachings of the followers of Jesus. Selected by an authoritarian government. What better yoke than a religion? What even is a religion? It isn’t a spiritual teaching. It is a set of beliefs.

You’re forced to believe what is written. They chose what was written to be able to justify conquest, murder, and slavery. That is a religion about Jesus in support of authoritarianism. No wonder Americans have followed it to its logical conclusion again.