Who here can understand that God and religion are 2 different things??

Question

If someones say "I believe in God"
Do you wonder what it means to them?
or
Do you automatically think of the religion(s) you were raised in, practice, or know of, and its
God(s)?

- who can grasp the concept of talking about God without bringing any religion into it??

Answer 1

I can. "Religion" is man-made. Christianity is man-made with its' Apostolics, Protestants, Lutherans, Catholics, etc. It's the actual act of establishing a relationship with God that people seem to not understand over an individual who is seen as a "Christian." Christians don't go out and say "Join my religion," we try to introduce them to the Man himself.

...well, except for Jehovah's witnesses...

Answer 2

To Muslims and Jews, G-d and religion are not separate things. That idea is a Christian concept. Was it Jesus (or was it Paul?) who said, "Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's, and to G-d that which is G-d's." The result has produced a duality which has contributed to some of the world's worst disasters.

To Muslims and Jews, life and G-d are one. G-d's commandments provide the guidelines for living a successful, harmonious life, both spiritually and materially. Ever wonder why Muslims pray 5 times a day. Could it have to do with providing a constant reminder of the presence of G-d in every aspect of life. Ever wonder why the Jews have so many laws about what to eat? And what about all those historical holidays? Judaism's job is to make the mundane holy.
All that is by way of saying why the Muslims can't understand capitalism's (seeming) dominance of Western culture. And why Jews have always (almost always) been seen in the West as a marginal, sometimes destructive culture.
Don't get involved in the "debate" about G-d and relative values. You either believe, or you don't. If you need evidence, look around, study and appreciate. I recommend Kabalah. Look it up. You'll be challenged.

Answer 3

There is a difference. However, just because there's a difference doesn't necessarily mean you can seperate the two. God created a TRUE religion for us to follow. The question is, are we in the right one? Are we following ALL of God's commandments. etc.

Answer 4

{{{{{{AMEN}}}}}}

The Jesus most people know is fake. The Jesus most people know is religious: The Jesus of pews, liturgies, and stained-glass windows, of rituals, doxologies, holy days, and once-a-week services. That Jesus never existed.

The real Jesus was not religious. In fact, the biggest problem He had was with religious people: Those who saw holiness as a matter of tradition and ritual rather than of the heart. The real Jesus never asked his disciples to be religious, but instead to open their lives and hearts to the real power of the living God.

The real Jesus is still that way. The once-a-week Jesus is a counterfeit. Jesus was never once a week. Nor could His presence be confined to the four walls of a church or synagogue. He is either 24/7 a day, outside of church walls, in ones everyday daily life, He was always in communication with the Father, and never stop preaching the good news of God.

Answer 5

I understand that God and mans traditional religious practices are 2 different things....I don't serve traditions ..I serve the living God and my relationship is with Him and does not consist of mans laws...I go by the Word of God and I don't feel the pressure of mans traditions in things they say one must do to stay Holy......the Lord is my source and I follow His teachings only...God and His Word are one.....see John 1

Answer 6

I understand the difference quite well. Religion is a manmade institution using God as an excuse to fleece gullible desperate people of their money and free will. God doesn't have to have anything to do with it.

Answer 7

Most of us grew up in the western world where Christianity thrives. Therefore, when we picture a God, we immediately picture that darn Christian God. It's only natural, albeit annoying.

Answer 8

The amazing part is that most people can not understand it. The simplest of things are the hardest to see.

Answer 9

particularly than "interpretaions" i'd say they're diverse manifestations of a similar difficulty... that difficulty being a favor to understand the international round us and to go back to words with our mortality.

Answer 10

I can, and I do. I'm of the opinion that the views of God aren't necessarily reflected in the views of his priesthood.