False Religion . . .
MEDDLES IN WAR AND POLITICS: “Across Asia and beyond,” says the journal Asiaweek, “power-hungry leaders are cynically manipulating people’s religious sentiments for their own needs.” As a result, the journal warns: “The world threatens to sink into madness.” A prominent religious leader in the United States declared: “You’ve got to kill the terrorists before the killing stops.” His solution? “Blow them all away in the name of the Lord.” By contrast, the Bible says: “If anyone makes the statement: ‘I love God,’ and yet is hating his brother, he is a liar.” (1 John 4:20) Jesus even said: “Continue to love your enemies.” (Matthew 5:44) How many religions can you think of whose members engage in war?
SPREADS FALSE DOCTRINE: Most religions teach that the soul or spirit is some invisible part of a human that survives the death of the physical body. By means of this teaching, many of these religions exploit their members, charging money to pray for departed souls. However, the Bible teaches a different doctrine. “The soul that is sinning—it itself will die.” (Ezekiel 18:4) “The living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all.” (Ecclesiastes 9:5) Jesus taught that the dead will be resurrected—an unnecessary action if humans had an immortal soul. (John 11:11-25) Does your religion teach that the soul does not die?
TOLERATES IMMORAL SEX: In Western lands, church groups ordain gay and lesbian members of the clergy and urge governments to recognize same-sex marriages. Even churches that condemn immorality have tolerated religious leaders who have sexually abused children. What, though, does the Bible teach? It plainly states: “Do not be misled. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men kept for unnatural purposes, nor men who lie with men . . . will inherit God’s kingdom.” (1 Corinthians 6:9, 10) Do you know of religions that condone immoral sex?
What does the future hold for religions that produce rotten fruit? Jesus warned: “Every tree not producing fine fruit gets cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Matthew 7:19) Yes, false religion will be chopped down and destroyed! But how and when will this happen? A prophetic vision recorded in the Bible book of Revelation, chapters 17 and 18, provides the answer.
False religion exerts influence “over the kings of the earth”
“Get out of her, my people”
How will false religion end?
Picture the scene. A harlot is sitting on the back of a fearsome beast. The beast has seven heads and ten horns. (Revelation 17:1-4) Whom does the harlot represent? She exerts influence “over the kings of the earth.” She dresses in purple, uses incense, and is exceedingly wealthy. In addition, by means of her spiritistic practice, ‘all the nations are misled.’ (Revelation 17:18; 18:12, 13, 23) The Bible helps us to see that this harlot is a worldwide religious entity. She depicts, not any one religion, but all religions that produce rotten fruit.
The beast that the harlot rides pictures the world’s political powers.* (Revelation 17:10-13) False religion straddles the back of this political beast, attempting to influence its decisions and to control its direction.
Soon, though, an amazing event will take place. “The ten horns that you saw, and the wild beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her devastated and naked, and will eat up her fleshy parts and will completely burn her with fire.” (Revelation 17:16) In a sudden, shocking move, the world’s political powers will turn on false religion and completely destroy her! What will prompt this action? The Bible book of Revelation answers: “God put it into their hearts to carry out his thought.” (Revelation 17:17) Yes, God will call false religion to account for all the despicable acts she has committed in his name. In a stroke of perfect justice, he will use her political paramours as his instrument of execution.
What must you do if you do not want to share the fate of false religion? “Get out of her, my people,” urges God’s messenger. (Revelation 18:4) Indeed, now is the time to flee from false religion! But to where can you flee? Not into atheism, since its future is also bleak. (2 Thessalonians 1:6-9) The only haven is within true religion. How can you identify true religion?
How to identify true religion
What good fruit should true religion produce?—Matthew 7:17.
True Religion . . .
PRACTICES LOVE: True worshippers are “no part of the world,” are not divided by race or culture, and display ‘love among themselves.’ (John 13:35; 17:16; Acts 10:34, 35) Rather than killing one another, they are willing to die for one another.—1 John 3:16.
TRUSTS GOD’S WORD: Instead of teaching “tradition” and “commands of men as doctrines,” true religion bases its doctrine on God’s Word, the Bible. (Matthew 15:6-9) Why? Because “all Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight.”—2 Timothy 3:16.
STRENGTHENS FAMILIES AND UPHOLDS HIGH MORAL STANDARDS: True religion trains husbands to ‘love their wives as their own bodies,’ helps wives to develop ‘deep respect for their husbands,’ and teaches children to ‘be obedient to their parents.’ (Ephesians 5:28, 33; 6:1) In addition, those entrusted with positions of authority must have exemplary morals.—1 Timothy 3:1-10
2006-11-16 16:37:03
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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Race has to do with location and climate. People followed the herds, those that found sustaining ecosystems stayed there. Over time they adapted to their environment.
Culture has to do with the traditions that follow long periods of doing the same things in the same ways.
Religion came about as people found the need to get others to conform to their way of seeing the spirit world and the Gods.
Tower of Babel from the Christian and Jewish Holy books is a myth, a way to explain why people ended up with different languages, cultures and appearances.
2006-11-16 17:18:25
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answer #2
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answered by Black Dragon 5
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well mormons think that blacks came from cain and able because God marked cain. but i think race came from adaptation. where it was hot all the time the body did not like getting burned so it got darker. where it was cold all the time it got more hairy. where it was dark it got lighter. there is a story about 2 sibling squirrels that were seperated by a canyon. the one squirrel was in the desert and became leaner and meaner and lost its bushy tail where the other squirrel was in a lushious forest and got larger and bushier with every nut being provided from every tree in the forest. one day both squirrels stared across the canyon and thought about a time that they came from the same family. race is simply adaptation of the one true race....human! cultures is most likly because somebody didnt like something about other people so they started thier own group. religion is the same way. one person often finds something in a church "offensive" and splits a church because of it, as opposed to taking the Biblical standard for solving a problem. cultures and religions are totally personal decisions whereas race is not.
2006-11-16 16:56:17
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answer #3
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answered by army_redneck_daddy 2
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I actually like the differences in us all. There is a verse in the Quran that explains why God made us different.
O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things). 49:13
So that we may know each other. Like we are different so we can use that to meet and learn about each other. If we were all the same how many people would stand out to get your attention. Things in common help people see each other like themselves, but opposites attract.
2006-11-16 20:19:39
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answer #4
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answered by Umm Ali 6
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Because we come from different races, cultures and religions. If you are seeking world unity and peace, go to a large family reunion, ain't gonna happen. We are all different, think differently, have different goals and values.
2006-11-16 18:04:54
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answer #5
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answered by Anonymous
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to learn, nothing more. you have to live in all conditions at one time or another to progress from ignorance to truth. the only method available is experience. the choices you make determines what you learn and how fast you progress to the next level.
2006-11-16 16:39:29
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answer #6
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answered by de bossy one 6
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People are wired differently. Some people believe that a deity exists and other people see them as crazy for believing that any god would have to kill his own creations.
2006-11-16 16:43:30
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answer #7
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answered by Anonymous
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Variety is the spice of life.
2006-11-16 16:35:09
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answer #8
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answered by Nora Explora 6
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We don't
2006-11-16 16:41:21
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answer #9
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answered by =_= 5
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