if there's only one god, why are there so many religions?

Answer 1

There is only one "true" God, and yet many religions are false, and they worship 'false' gods.

That's the way it's been for millennium, that's the way it is.

Answer 2

I am reminded of a parable from Hinduism about a group of blind men in a room with an elephant. Each can feel only certain parts of the elephant, which will be different for each man. I can imagine heated theological debates over how Pachydermism should be regarded, with them splintering into Big Hose Faith, Floppy Earism, and Swatting Taillity. :-)

Religion is indeed mankind's attempt to comprehend the nature of the Universe. Some religions teach that the gods do not even bother to exist and that the Universe is merely a collection of energy and associated particles, which everyone being some kind of pre-programmed mechanical device. Others teach that there exists a far-distant planet ruled by some bearded super-genius that opens a wormhole for people who get a certain kind of bath. Since others teach that we are in but one dimension of several, where people that have visited some designated city will teleport into a dimension with servants of various kinds. Still even more religions teach that we are caught in some kind of loop where we will keep coming back to answer interesting questions like this. :-)

The truth is that mankind trying to understand the Universe is like an ant trying to figure out the Sears Tower. It's not like any other anthill that they can easily understand. Religion differs as time progresses due to some making discoveries about something that they hadn't thought of before while other choose to cling to older beliefs thinking that it always worked for them before. Culture also plays a role because some ants will be instead looking at the CN Tower, which is a different type of building.

I think that most of us tend to agree that there is one overarching Universe that we all happen to exist in, but there is something of a natural solipsism that we all have as each of us can only really know what each of think and feel. That we are all different as a result of genetics and environment implies that we all have a different view of the Universe. Like the elephant, some of us are near the trunk, others near the ears, and others near the tail. Perhaps it is easiest to agree that we just might be feeling the same thing but in a different way.

Answer 3

If there's NO God why are there so many religions? I'll tell you. It's because man cannot accept that death is the end of your existence so he invents a superior being that will promise us a wonderful eternal existence after death. We've also created gods to explain the unexplainable such as the rotation of the seasons, storms etc (Remember Zeus and his lot). In ancient times there was a 'god' for everything, the sea, the sky, war, sickness, even one for fun.

Another reason for the invention of religion is to control the masses by becoming spiritual leaders. Just look at the influence the pope has over the catholics and the way Muslims are brainwashed.

Have you never noticed that 'God' comes from 'Good' and 'Devil' comes from 'Evil'?

Answer 4

This is an excellent question.

First of all I will put this in a nutshell that is likely to confuse you and then explain the nature of Divinity as I best understand it.

"Of all the beliefs about God that exists; That God is one, a Trinity, a Multitude, Male, Female, Both Male and Female, Genderless, omnipotent, local, personal, and Impersonal, and yes even disbelief; all of them are right."

God is beyond human comprehension. Yet God has filled the world with simple patterns hidden within nature that we may better understand the Divine presence and draw closer to Divinity.

There is a reason God is associated with light, beyond the facts of how important light is to the existence of life God reveals how the Divine Presence unfolds that our meager consciousness may comprehend what little of Divinity we can. It is by this same pattern God has created us and the Universe of which we are but the smallest part. God dose not need a book to talk to us, neither temples, nor organizations, for God cannot be worshiped by the things made by man. For even the Bible tells us that if we ask the beasts of the field and the mountains, and the trees “who made” them they would proclaim God in joyous song and praise. And so it is that God speaks to us everyday and reveals to us everyday the mystery of Divinity and the Divine will. All you have to do to know this is pay attention.

All perceptions of Divinity are to God what the Rainbow is to Light. If you take light and shine it through a prism then you will see a rainbow of colors. With our lack of comprehension each of us sees the world through a filter: therefore each perception of Divinity is to man’s perception of God what the many colors of the rainbow are to the Prism.

I was going to explain further but I think this is enough for now. Frankly I could write a book on this subject. For now I recommend that you go into the wilderness and fast, and pray, and meditate on these things. Go ask God.

Answer 5

There is ınly one God, no son, no helper, no other.. And this one God sens His messages via Prophets He sends always the same message But people around prophet either did not accept to follow his message or they manuplated the message after the prophet therefore new religions came out On the other hand some other people wanted to have big stupport like religion but no reponsibility and they make up a God that has attributes as they like this is another way of forming a new religion and the last but the last type of religion is people who accepted the message that was revealed almost 124000 times until now and they still continue to hold this message All the best : )

Answer 6

Different religions arise from different interpretations of the Word of God. In some cases, a new religion arises because of other factors such as money.

Having many religions is a ploy of the devil so that we may not know what the TRUTH really is about God and His love for us.

Answer 7

Many religions don't accept there is only one god first of all but second, religions are man-made and therefore to the advantage of those who thought them up. It's like asking why are there so many types of boats to sail the oceans. You pick the one that suits you.

Answer 8

You need to understand what religion is. Religion is a projection that we place on God. This projection is the product of of our fears and misperceptions, so it closely mirrors our world view. Essentially religion is a lie that that people tell about God to make Him/Her seem to agree with their ideas about the world. The problems start because they all want their particular brand of the lie to be right and everyone else to be wrong.

Makes you wonder how they expect to convince others that this is the truth if they can't even agree among themselves.

Love and blessings
don

Answer 9

There is only one God...God said"Do not build temples in my honour"..yet there are many temples all over the world.He also said, "do not worship false idols"..yet people kneel before stone statues all around the globe,day by day.Have you ever seen a statue hand out bread to the starving masses, or speak words of wisdom?Religion was created by man to control the masses through fear and guilt and there are control freaks all over the world..Waco was a good example and there are many more....
The Holy wars are the best example of why there are so many religions...It's about power, global dominance...God doesn't abuse his power, man does. There is only one God and he does not advocate religion. "Love thy neighbor"..how do his words fit into all this if religion is about non-tolerance, violence and hatred.
Rest easy that there is only one God...Hope that religion becomes a thing of the past..."there is strength in unity"(quote)

Answer 10

The third commandments says;" Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods Before Me" Proving that there are, were and always have been other gods. There were many religions way before the bible was written. The ones that we have now are offshoots of the old ways and the old religions.

Answer 11

Jesus says there are many gods, he himself is called a Mighty God. Even Satan is referred to as a god, but there is only one Almighty God, who created everything else, and from whom mighty gods receive their power.

As for why there are so many religions, that is in the nature of man. There are certain things they don't like about a belief, so they create their own. This was happening even in the time of the Apostles, when Paul said that he thought he had toiled for nothing, because many Christians were returning to the observances and celebrations created by men. Also remember, Jesus said there would be many "claiming" to speak in his name. I would assume that meant he knew that Christians would drifts off in many directions, not in keeping with his teachings.