Does your religion ever conflict with your personal beliefs?

Question

I am a Christian, but sometimes I find that what I feel in my heart is so different to what it says in the Bible. For example, I can't help but believe that gay people are born that way, and can't help it, and we should accept them (with the same sexual standards as Christians), but the Bible says alot against gay people. I also just can't believe that so many trillions of people are going to hell - just for being born. If that were true, then abortionists would be the biggest evangelists! I have heard of stories of missionaries that have allowed terrorists to rape and kill their families, instead of denying God. Well, I think a loving God should understand that you should protect your family first.

Does anyone feel this way about certain issues? If so, what are they? Thanks.

Answer 1

Yes. I always look at it from the perspective that man made religion. God made my brain. I will go with God has given me over what man has created.

Good luck with your dilemmas.

Answer 2

There comes a time in everyone's spiritual journey where they wont agree with a certain something. That's when its a good idea to talk to God about it. Let him know, 'hey I just don't get it, how could this be?' Pray and read your devotionals. It will help you to understand things more clearly.
I don't agree with not eating bacon, or shrimp. I'd hope that 'good' people would not go to hell. I think gay people are born with a different putuitary gland than hetros. It dosn't mean that God still wants things a certain way. This is the 'test.'

Answer 3

I believe that there are 3 main answers for your question.

First - General answer:

I believe that true religion will not be in conflict with our pure heart. The teachings of a true religion may be in conflict with negative desire such as lust but it will never be in conflict with human being inner self (the pure heart).

The reason is this: the laws or teachings of a true religion come from God (the Supreme Creator). The Supreme Creator is also the creator of all living things (including human beings) and all death things (things without soul or mind such as rocks etc). God (among other attributes) is the Most Wise and the Most Caring. Hence, God will not make laws that are impossible for human being to follow.

Second answer - Clarification

Sometimes when we do not study and fully understand the teachings of a religion, we may feel that the teachings are unfair or against our inner heart. May be the teachings are correct and good but we have not fully understood the teachings. If this is the case, then we need to seek answer or clarification from the religious cleric or knowledgeable follower of the religion.

Third answer - Specific answer

Try studying Islam. It is my personal opinion that Islam is a religion that makes sense. It's teachings can clarify all our questions regarding life and other matters.

Don't judge a book by its cover. Don't just assume Islam is a bad religion just because we see programme in TV that relates Islam with terrorism or other negative things. Study the true teachings of Islam and you will see the beauty of Islam.

For example: Islamic teaching does not condemn people who are born gay. What Islam teaches is to control the desire so that people whether gay or non-gay do not indulge in negative activities. According to the Islamic religion, all babies are born pure and will go to heaven. It is their parents or environment that make them to continue becoming pure or to become bad people.

Answer 4

For the most part, my understanding of theology and the Bible is the core of what I call my "personal beliefs." Yet there are times when they are challenged by issues such as those you mentioned. The issue of homosexuality being hereditary or predetermined is a good one. In those cases, I try to use my theology to make sense of the situation, while also paying attention to all the facts and experiences I know. If a satisfactory explanation does not come, I am willing to wait in a gray area before saying with certainty how I believe. Yet I've never needed to change my theology in order to make sense of other issues. Usually it refines it or leads me to new truths.

This however is natural for any world view. No matter how one views the world, there will always be anomolies and strange matters to reconcile.

Answer 5

Yes!
That is why you need a relationship with God-- NOT a religion. These conflicts arise constantly. But if you truly walk with God, you will know the truth. What you feel in your heart is not so different from what it says in the Bible. Read and understand the Bible while praying constantly for discernment of God's truth in the words. You are definitely on the right track.

Answer 6

I think there is always more to life than meets the eye. It's important to be kind to everyone, but there are still certain standards that God has which we must do our best to live up to. I believe that you are allowed to defend yourself and your family. One of the few issues I have ever had with my religion is that I believe there is someone for everyone, and it's not just plain old choose someone out of the crowd. I believe there is a lot more order to everything than we realize, and even when it seems like everything is disrupted and chaotic, there is still an order which arises out of it, hidden and detailed.

Answer 7

I am also a Christian. The difference between us now is that I do not see my relationship with God and His son Jesus as 'religion'. I see it as a way of life, in fact, the way of life!
Though I also do not understand everything in His Word, I do not doubt or question Him. Remember that he gave Adam and Eve a fair warning on the consequences of sin? They CHOSE to disobey and God, because he cannot lie, had to let them suffer the fruit of their sinful labour.
God has two sides - He is a God of love and a God of wrath.[read the Bible for more info on this] and YES, he will let trilions to hell, for He HAS and IS and WIL BE warning them through His written Word. I just had it with people wanting to blame God for sending people to hell - people are sending themselves to hell by not obeying Him. He is after the Creator and owner of this universe and if we do not do what he says, does not He have the right to judge us accordingly?
What happens when you use your electrical appliance in a bathtub? You will be dead, for the two does not go togehter.
You carefully follow the manufacturer's orders in the manual. So why not God's?
Yes, we do sacrfiice life and family for Him, for He has sacrificed His only son for us. you can only understand this when you truly learn to love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind.
Faith is not about seeing, but believing. Blessed, Jesus said, are those who believe even if they did not see... [paraphrased]

Answer 8

It sounds like you really don't believe in your faith then. Gay people might very well be born that way, however, the homosexual act, not the homosexuals themselves, is an abomination. I might be born with a tendancy to steal and lie but that dosen't make it okay for me to do it in God's eyes. We aren't perfect, but as Christians, we accepted the teachings of our faiths and promised God that we would try to live up to those religious standards.
I am having a hard time trying to understand what you are saying about abortionists, but REST ASSURED that ABORTION IS A SIN, no matter what the reason. God wants us to put other people ahead of our needs ( I know, such a hard thing to ask for in our greedy day and age) not our needs above a helpless, defenceless baby's needs, like so many women do.
In the instance that you speak about lastly, what you are talking about is Martyrdom, I know it is hard for you to wrap your mind around why someone would die for their beliefs especially when you are conflicted about your own, but I think that God in his infinate wisdom would understand why you denounced him if you had a knife to your throat, but I really think that it would hurt his feelings and you might have to do some time in purgatory. (I'm a Catholic, so I believe in it. I realize that you might not though, so I am sure that you believe that you would go to Heaven anyways.)
It sounds like you need to talk to someone who has a strong handle on your faith. Don't be on here asking questions to people that will ultimatley talk you out of it.

Answer 9

You can only follow your own heart, no matter where it takes you, even if that is away from where you think you want to go. To follow anything or anyone besides yourself or your own personal feelings would be to live a lie, which I believe is an absolutely vile thing to have to do. Do you really want to live a life only for the purpose of the acceptance of others, one that you think will pleasing to other people or to a god that you appear to be questioning, with no consideration for what you actually think and feel? You only get one life and its too short, even when its long - live it your way and don't apologize to anyone for what you believe. Read the poem "Invictus" by William Ernest Henley for inspiration on this one

Answer 10

I understand your heart my sister....personally I dont believe in the born gay thing but you are entitled to your beliefs. I will not violate your rights or preach at you.

I feel that we dont all understand salvation or the fullness of His grace....because If so many go to hell, God comes up second fiddle to Satan. And thats not the God I know.

We are (thankfully) not to judge others, including their salvation. Loving others and the message that carries is so under rated because its not convenient for people. They would rather justify why they shove an agenda down anothers throat, fogetting Jesus final words....he said "Love one another" like 10 times just before he was arrested....think he was trying to tell us anything???

I think if we just read the Bible and dont tear it apart, we will know what sin is, how to talk to others and not judge, etc. I think we need more reading and less interpreting. The actual Bible does never conflict with what I believe, but other people do.

Bless you sister
David

Answer 11

No one is going to go to hell because they are gay. The Bible clearly says that those who reject Jesus Christ as their savior are going to hell. God takes everyone and accepts them just as they are. He will guide them into all truth when they are walking with Him. There is a scripture that says that if you deny Jesus before man, that He will Deny you at judgement before the Father . Anything that does not line up with God's word is wrong. God's word is the final word. Although some interpret scripture to serve their own purpose. If you want the truth, read it for yourself. Don't take someone elses words for truth. All men are fallable. When you read it for yourself, you will see that he is a loving God and there are more "Do's" than "Don'ts". He did send His only son to save us from our own sin to be reunited with Him in eternity. How much more could He show His love for us?