Research for my book - do religious leaders believe in god?

Question

I want to write a book on modern religions and why I believe they have no place in our societies.
I believe in science
I believe that mankind must evolve and abandon religions in order to achieve an integrated and peaceful world wide community
I have always asked myself the (above) question - are they just fooling us?

PLEASE
- no bible quotations
- keep to the subject
- be happy

Answer 1

That's almost like saying do Political Leaders believe they are serving their country? Some might believe they do. Some might have started with that conviction and lost their "faith" along the way. Some might have seen politics as a tool to gain power, wealth, prominence.
One question. Modern religions? Do you mean religions in modern society or religions that have only come into being recently? Or do you mean those religions that have adapted with the times and have a "modern" outlook?
I think there are as many religious leaders with genuine belief as there are those who believe they are serving their country poitically. The problems start when the religious get political and the politicans start quoting religion.
It's like a football player saying that football is better than rugby and vice-versa. Each should stick to their area of expertise and stop meddling in areas that don't really concern them.

Answer 2

My friend have you defined that word you used "religion"? I see you did restrict it as modern, but I am not sure where you draw the line between modern and other than modern. Likewise I must ask you. "What do you mean by the word god you used? Since it is god and not God or GOD I must assume it can be almost anything. Thus I must say I do suspect they do in some way, shape or form.

I personally see a god as something that can have an influence in your life and God as something one turns to for guidance. I don't use the word GOD unless to prove a point or to discuss an issue.

I sure hope as a "NO" you do better define some points in your book when you do write it.

Have a good day and do smile

Answer 3

Some of them definitely seem more into the power and money than they are into the religion. But, without getting them to open up what's in their mind, we really can't know if they really believe in a god or not.

As someone else pointed out...yahoo answers is a terrible place to find research on a subject like this...all you're going to get is opinion. You'll have to study the lives of various religious leaders and compare their actions to the religious beliefs they promote..then you can form an argument for or against their having belief based on that research (still wouldn't be proof, but would be closer to the truth than people guessing)

Answer 4

A good point.

Why would a religious person want to be a leader? Is it for the power and the glory? I suspect it is in many (but not all) cases.

GREED is the evil in this world and LOVE is the only answer.

Unfortunately, greed finds its way into everyones hearts. Even religious leaders.

Answer 5

The more mankind evolves the more spiritual it will become . Religion is the lower form of spirituality. When mankind has evolved fully it will abandon conventional religion and science as well!!

Answer 6

i would find it quite alarming if they didn't .. what i will say is that perhaps their idea of what god is has changed rather than the belief of a god being there at all
i personally do believe in a creator and know that my religion works with scientific support and evidence of such , and works hand in hand with it .. i feel this may be the way forward rather than abandoning religion fully

Answer 7

The job of being a religious leader requires years of hardship and hard work. It's very cinical to suggest that they don't believe in god when only the very few manage to elevate themselves to a high position (eg pope)

Answer 8

your timing of this book and theory is perfect.
we are entering the age of aquarius where people will realise exactly what you have written.

religious leaders do believe in god, but because of power,dogma and financial gain they have manipulated the perception of what he want's from us and how we should worship him to gain a place in heaven.

since the victorian implementation of education the common man has become able to read and question, as a result of this many religious orders have become weakened. for 2,000 yrs the only people who could read and write were priests or noble people. in order to maintain power over common people it was necessary to keep them ignorant and in fear.

Answer 9

I strongly suspect that many of them don't - They maintain the religious mythology in order to preserve their power, wealth and prestige.

I also suspect that even fewer politicians, who profess a belief, actually believe. It's simply a matter of expediency.

Answer 10

I believe they don't. They only believe in the power of tithing, in the gullibility of the faithful and the power to believe that all those wealth were gift from God they don't believe.