Then you disagree with Jesus, who said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.”
That’s all the word “religion” means—being “bound” to obey God.
You also disagree with Jesus about having a “personal” relationship with him. He told the apostles, “Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them. Whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.”
In other words, Jesus gave the apostles the power to JUDGE, and then to forgive or refuse forgiveness.
Now, it would clearly be preposterous for Jesus to give this power to the apostles unless the faithful were going to TELL their sins to the apostles.
So, in John’s gospel, Jesus clearly says that our relationship with him here on earth is not absolutely direct, but is mediated by certain men.
“He who hears you hears me, and he who hears me hears the one who sent me.”
“As I was sent, so I send you.”
In many places in the gospel, Jesus makes clear that he is appointing men to transmit his teaching, and to sanctify and to govern in his name.
In other words, Jesus describes a religion, an institution, in which he appoints men to mediate the teaching and the sanctifying activity of Jesus.
It’s right there in the gospels, in black and white. (In “red letter” Bibles, in red and white.)
Dream on.
Congratulations --- that is truly the dumbest thing I have *ever* read on the internet.
Religion may not be a prerequisite to Heaven, but it has surely saved a soul or two...