Do people need to be religious to be able to believe in god(s)?

Question

I believe there are gods, you may not but that's not the point right now. I'm wondering if my not having a religion is being hypocritical to the fact that I believe in gods. I never and will never say that there connot be such a thing since something had to make even one star that later imploded and such.

Answer 1

I believe in God.. I believe that Jesus is our savior and our chance to be forgiven.. I'm hardly religious... I don't go to church.. I sin as much as the next guy... I don't preach to people about the power of being good and getting to heaven because if I did, I would be a hypocrite... I (having a brain that can think for itself) don't think that I have to be "religious" in order to belive that there is a power somewhere bigger than me.. and that's the reason I'm here.

Going to church doesn't make me a christian any more than going to a garage would make me a car.

Answer 2

God, (the Ultimate Reality) is. Religion is a way that God reveals Godself to people. Since I believe that the plan of God is to gather all people to Godself, I'm certain that religion isn't necessary to believe in God. One of the more beautiful stories I've read is about a child from a non-religious home who asked about how the world was formed and wasn't satisfied by her father's answer. He told her some people believe in creation, and
she responded, "it's Him"

Answer 3

no u dont need to be religous to believe in god if u dont have a religon but do believe in god it just means that you dont understand any religon enough to say their god is the true god, u believe that there is a god but his teachings are unclear. I can understand where u are coming from to a certain extent I mean look at Islam Christianity and Judaism they are 3 completely different religons yet they all have certain things in common this just gives us reason to believe that there is ONE god but his teachings have been somewhat changed in each religon otherwise why would theese three religons have so much in common with their teachings. Not sure if that was clear or not but oh wel,,,,,,,,,,,

I follow the religon of Islam personally.

Answer 4

Salam (Peace)!
If you look up the definition for religion, it means the service and worship of God. Religion is like a belief. Something you believe in and try to achieve. Of course you can have a belief in God alone and leave everything alone. But then what is the purpose of your belief if you do not act upon it. Religion is not just suppose to be about believing but also acting upon your beliefs. Religion is a way of life. Like Islam. It is a way of life. Muslims follow Islam and implement it in their lives. Everything they do has to be in accordance of the Qur'an (Book of God) and the examples of Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah Be Upon Him).
I hope i made you understand.
Take care!

Answer 5

Man knows almost nothing.
He needs a Perfect Teacher to provide him knowledge through the divine education.
The Perfect Teacher is the Manifestation of God, and the divine education He provides is Religion.

Now, let us say what is good. Dictionaries and encyclopedias may give us thousands of pages of concept, definition and explanation, and still we don't know what it is. Two good men are still quarelling and killing each other!

Religion says: obedience to God is good.
But followers of religions are still quarelling about it. Why?
Because obedience to God in the time of Moses is love, but men in those days knew only their family members and neighbors.
Obedience to God in the time of Christ is also love, but men in those days knew only their families and people in the city state.
Obedience to God in the time of Muhammad is also love, but men in those days knew only their families and people in the nation.
Obedience to God in the time of Baha'u'llah is also love, but men know that we have the whole humanity with great diversity in cultures, beliefs, customs...and we are still confusing!
If we refuse to seek for a Perfect Teacher to guide us, we will continue quarelling and killing!
If we humbly turn to Baha'u'llah, the Perfect Teacher of our time, He will teach us why there is such diversity and how we can overcome all the misunderstandings of the past to practice perfectly the good lesson of love.
And still God allows us to use our free will to deny Baha'u'llah or to choose Him as our Teacher. Pray that you will make good choice.

Answer 6

I was born and raised a Catholic by very religious parents. I don't go to church and I'm not religious. For me that was just too stringent. I am, however, very spiritual and believe in God. I don't pray but I do talk to him like I talk to any of my friends and I know he listens to me as much as he listens to people who say prayers and go to church.

Answer 7

You are spiritual, and believe that you can find your own truth without belonging to a church. I respect you for that, and think more people should resolve to be spiritual without being religious. Religious just refers to belonging to a specific religion or faith.

Answer 8

Hey wow, your question is a great twin to one I asked an hour ago:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AnzEStyazJwX3FxAcOW1kHTsy6IX?qid=20060816050107AAdVgvZ

My answer to both your question and mine would be no. Religion and god-belief (though I have neither) are independent, but overlapping, things. One can exist without the other.

Answer 9

just be lively and treat life good. It's not called religion, but that's what people want to call it. In that case, does religion even exist if it's taken seriously?...i'm just playing

Answer 10

Nope