GOD HATES RELIGION
Religious people will not easily accept that God hates religion. See these links for articles that discuss his views on religion:

WHAT GOD DOES NOT WANT:
The ability to understand the written words of the Bible does not depend on the ability to hear God’s spoken voice. Anyone, even people who do not believe in God, can make some logical sense out of the written words. God calls people who read, interpret and preach/teach/write their interpretations of the literal Bible false prophets

God does not want his people to listen to false prophets who instruct them to follow religious laws based on literal, not symbolic interpretations of the Bible.

To communicate how strongly he feels about false prophets, God calls the practice of listening to them sin. Furthermore, since all religions have religious leaders who preach and promote faith traditions, God hates traditions, and considers the religions that practice them to be sin.

WHAT GOD DOES WANT:
God has filled the Bible with mystery and symbolism. Only people who can hear God’s spoken voice understand the spiritual meanings contained in these mysteries, symbols, signs and parables.

Because his written word and spoken word are not the same, and because the mysteries of God are very deep, God sends anointed prophets to translate/interpret the mystery and symbolism of his written word for people who refuse to listen to God’s voice.

The messengers God sends are mediators/intercessors between man and God. Biblical examples of mediator/intercessors include Abraham, Moses, David, Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Paul and Jesus. These are all models of true prophets, angels, messiahs, high priests, and warriors whom God has always sent, and still sends, to religious people who sin when they harden their hearts to hearing God’s voice by insisting on listening to false prophets (i.e. religious leaders).

God wants his people to listen to true prophets who instruct them to reject religion and listen to his spoken voice which teaches them to obey his spiritual laws which are written on clean, pure hearts that embody his name (i.e. his character). This activity of the heart is the essence of faith. This activity is God’s alternative to religion. It is pure religion which is very different from defiled religion.

STUDY TIP: See these links for more about what the Bible has to say about religion and listening to God’s spoken voice: