I am totally confused by religion, can someone explain it to me?

Question

Maybe I am being completely silly. But from a confused point of view - in Christianity, Christians say that God created everybody so why are there so many different religions? If people were created by God, does that mean they strayed from the path of Christianity and other religions are false and were created by these 'strayers'? Do other religions think this of Christianity? I really don't know what to believe, I seem to err on the side of Athiests at the moment because that seems so much more simple. Everywhere I look around the world, religion is the root of the problem and I just find it all totally confusing!!!!
Totally no offence meant, I wasn't brought up religiously, was Christened but to be honest have never even given God much of a thought in my day to day life. I have read the bible but that just confused me even more!

Answer 1

Personally I don't think any religion has it right. I grew up in Catholic household and realized something growing up, the Bible contradicts itself. So I ventured out and decided to learn about the other major monotheistic religions (Islam & Judiasim). You know what I learned? They contradict themselves as well. All religon is written by man and can't be trusted as absolute. For example. Do you believe that the Christain Bible is all that exisits? NO. It was chosen over a course of a hundred years which books will be compiled in the Bible. See http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061109014956AAcANMD

My best advice for you is choose something that is right and makes sense to you. Even if you are atheist, as long as you are a good person, it shouldn't matter. But I will tell you another thing; for a while I was considering to be an atheist but thought that creation in itself is far too complex to be an accident instead of some divine interference. For your curiousity, I chose Wicca, a pagen religion because a lot of religions seem to mirror the old religions.

Answer 2

Okay, here's the thing: Christianity DOES claim to be the "one, true religion" - but so do others. That's why the Christians and the Muslims have been fighting off and on for a thousand years. That's also why the Jews were targeted by the Nazis, because they wouldn't cave in and say that this Jewish carpenter was God.

There is no proof of one religion being "truer" than the others. In fact, there are certain things that are pretty much universal in all religions, like the existence of the Divine (in whatever forms), the Golden Rule (do unto others) and things like that.

My own religion (I'm pagan) says that there's many routes to the Divine, and that the reason that there are many roads is because we are all different and one Path doesn't suit all of us. This is why I don't say that Christians are evil or stupid - a Christian who follows the ways of Christ (as opposed to the ones who just hate anyone who doesn't agree with them) is on the Path just as surely as I am, and we can generally find a lot of common ground.

The problem at its root isn't really about religion at all. Religion is an excuse. The problem is xenophobia, the fear of those who are different. It's the same fear that drives the KKK, the terrorists who caused 9/11, and the communist-hunters of the McCarthy era. Religion is simply close to people's hearts, and therefore the easiest way to trigger that fear.

Answer 3

If something else, purely look on the technology in the back of the earth. The Earth's length is ideal. Any smaller, any more effective, and an surroundings might want to be completely unable to keep up existence. you will discover the extremes that even the curve of the Earths floor creates, deserts and frozen wastes. If we were any closer or any extra remote from the solar, by way of miles, the Earth might want to be inhabitable. The Fibonacci series ( i assume you've heard of it... a million, a million, 2, 3, 5, 8.... etc) take position again and again in nature... ratio's of male/ woman bumblebees, flower petals, the spikes on a pineapple all show off the series. in case you sum the squares of any series of Fibonacci numbers, they'll equivalent the most suitable Fibonacci decision used contained in the series cases the subsequent Fibonacci decision. This sources consequences contained in the Fibonacci spiral considered in each and every thing from sea shells to galaxies. Phi , the golden ratio, is likewise intertwined with Fibonacci and nature from DNA spirals to the image voltaic device. the straightforward shown truth that existence in the international has developed which incorporates to be able to appreciate that is outstanding. All of those information, medical and mathematical, aspect out as to the presence of a author, and if not a actual presence, we provide this secret a popularity, and a personage, and we call him God. hence, by reasoning, in case you do not count number on a real being, you should count number on common sense, and logically, there's a rigidity, no matter if danger or success, that has presented about creation, and that is in creation that the human recommendations famous God.

Answer 4

You are quite astute. That was one of the many early problems I had, not just with Christianity, but with all religions.

It is simpler and more elegant to see the universe without a god, isn't it? And it's more awesome (in the true sense of the word - it fills one with absolute awe) when you look into the sky and know this whole universe wasn't created just to teach us silly moral lessons about what we should and shouldn't eat, or who we can be naked with.

I've also found most atheists are more moral than most Christians I've known. When an atheist does something "good," it isn't because of some fear that he or she will be punished forever, or that he or she will get some sort of reward after death, but simply because it's the right thing to do. This is the only life you've got, so why go around being a dick to everyone?

You're obviously a very intelligent person and I hope you stay true to that, instead of turning off your mind to "find" god.

Answer 5

On a personal level, religion is what you believe happened way back when, what you believe in now and the rules your life follows. If you believe in God then great. If you believe that he created all human life and the world before us then good. If you believe that he will save us from our sins at the day of reckoning then pray hard when your time comes. I know I'm down on my knees already. I don't think anyone will ever fully understand religion until the day they die and they meet their creator and sit with him in heaven. I believe it is the biggest question/conundrum after the question where the answer is 42! I also believe that God looks down on us all the time and helps people where they need him. I also believe that he takes us into his care when he sees fit. I believe that to truly know everything about religion, the bible, other sects and divisions etc would mean you have died on earth and your soul has found enlightenment. There is too much for even the greatest theologian to digest let alone us mere mortals.
Good Luck in your quest for further enlightenment. God Bless, if that is what you believe.
C x

Answer 6

Dont be fooled by religous people who claim "their" religion is the one. They are all clutching at straws hoping they will have something more after their deaths, look at what you have in your life. Parents hopefully, friends hobbies, work. Have we actually got time to wonder and preach religion. We aint here long so get enjoying LIFE and when ya dead and buried, then you, and only you will know for sure whats next. And you still wont be able to tell us

Answer 7

Religion is not only a belief, but a way of life. I believe that Allah created us and the world around us and we must worship him for it, and that this short life is a test to see whether we obey him or not. Islam started at the time of mans creation - Adam and Eve - who were created to live a life of obedience by obeying Allah, so that he may reward them in the afterlife. Adam and Eve then invited their children to follow the teachings of islam for quite a long time.
Later, people were guided atray by the devil, and so people started to disobey Allah. Some began making up other Gods while others referred to themselves as God. This is how disbelief came about, and other religions.

The first step is to believe in God, and that you were created for a reason; to serve God so that he may reward you with a place in paradise. Something must have created the universe? Without God, I would see life as pointless, as there would be no reason for existence and no reason to be good people.

Answer 8

God created Man, well not man as we are now, but something that after many years turned in to human beings, religion is man made that is why there are so many of them, they all lead to the same place, but also have many bad paths that have been put in by man, so man can make a profit, so man can control others, and of kill in God's name. Forget religion as such first find faith, and then look for a true religion that covers your faith, try and find one that has not used God's words for man to gain in the Way he has, but look for one where man can gain love, knowledge, friendship, then you have found a true religion as God wanted it.
And remember the bible like all other holy books have been written by man, in what was supposed to be God's words, but man has put his own mark on the book
Love & Peace

Answer 9

since I was old enough to have my own thoughts I have believed that God exists and sends people to guide us but that sometimes people get confused and get in wrong (like some people in your class might understand what the teacher says and some others might not)

keep your mind open, be good to other people, speak only the truth, don't judge people, keep looking and learning. People like to fight and argue and will find any excuse be it religion or the lastest fashion - it is human nature and we should work against it.

Answer 10

Atheism is also a system of beliefs because atheists belive there is no God. It is one of the religions. They also try to convert people and belive they only know the truth. The choice is yours.