What is a religion.....?

Question

That's just it!....tell me of 1 or more religions you know of...describe them (in a non-biased way) because I am not finding happiness in the luthran religion, I've thought about satanism, because it is not about satan....directly.....lol......but I don't know enough......i want to hear about allllll the religions that people know of......5 stars to whoever helps me most!....(don't be biased....coz that won't help me!!!!)

Answer 1

Well, I'm a witch, myself. The usual term is "Wicca" for the religion, although it is actually a very personal thing.

Witches generally believe in polytheism -- many gods and goddesses -- but some concentrate on a quasi-monotheistic Goddess. They tend to sound rather like Christians whose god has had a sex change operation; same songs, different lyrics.

But Satanism is sometimes about satan, in the sense of truly embracing the Dark Side, and that is very, very dangerous. Witches know that there really is dark magic, and they also know the Witches' Rede: Whatever you do returns to you three-fold. If you do good, that's just fine. But if you do harm, the multiplication by three may well be enough to kill or permanently maim you.

Some people take the Gods and Goddess very literally, and some recognize them as symbols, archetypes if you will, of a reality that is too abstract to grasp without the aid of such symbols and metaphors as are available to us. That's more my way. I have been reading Tarot cards for over 30 years, and find that a valid set of symbols to represent basic truths about the human experience.

I do not "worship" the cards, or in fact do anything which I would label "worship" anymore, since my High Priest died. I have a very specific use of the term worship in my life. I won't detail here, but let's just say that, like the Christians, I usually do it on my knees.

Answer 2

Religion is man made. It's mans futile attempt to reach up to God, in an overwhelmingly majority of cases.True Christianity is God made and is a relationship with God's Son, Jesus Christ, not a religion. This is the only way which God accepts and it is God's way of reaching down to us.
Satanism is the worship of Satan; it's that simple. Funny how Satanists deny Satan but Satan sure doesn't deny his slaves, Satanists.
There are religions within Christianity such as Baptist, Catholic-definitely not Roman Catholic-, Lutheran, Anglican etc.
All religions outside of true, Biblical Christianity are false prophets and are unable to help anyone receive salvation and eternal life. Many of those same religions are idolatrous, which is the same as worshipping demons -thus states the Word of God.
PS> To deny and oppose the writings of Paul is to deny and oppose the entire Bible. Paul was an apostle of Jesus Christ and was directly called by Jesus Christ to be an apostle to the Gentiles. He taught all the doctrines of the Bible; including -but not limited to- creation, Original Sin, salvation through Jesus Christ, the second coming of Christ, judgement for sin by God, the Prophets etc etc etc.

Answer 3

Paganism sees the earth and all of her inhabitants as divine beings

Wicca is an evolved form of paganism that focuses more on the god's than the earth

Satanism is the preservation of the self, that being doing what you think is best no matter what other people say

Deism is the worship of god, but not defined as all. Deists see god as a divine entity, but don't define it any more than this

Agnosticism is saying that there is a god, but that it can't be proven that one exists

Weak atheism is the disbelief in any god or gods

Strong atheism is the belief in no god.

Both of which operate with high standing intellectually.

Spiritualism is the understanding that everything has a soul, but a higher power is not necessarily required.

That's all that come to mind right now, but the best tip is to stay away from organized religions, mainly the abrahamic ones.

Answer 4

Religion:
"Do this, this, this, this, and that. More rules... more rules... more rules. Then, MAYBE I'll bring you to Heaven."

True Biblical Christianity
"Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. If you already did, I'll see you in Heaven. Just show your thanks to Me by living in Love. That's the whole of the Bible."

PS Don't go to Satanism. I've had some former-Satanist friends. Trust me. You don't want to go there. The stories they tell me are chilling... especially the stories of the former-high-ranking people.

PPS If you really want to amp-up your relationship with God, talk to Him more often. Instead of talking to yourself, just talk to God. No need to kneel and put your hands together. Just talk. Whether it be about TV shows, day-to-day life, controversial stuff, concerns, prayer requests, etc... Just be His friend. That's all He asks. Don't expect an audible response like when you're talking to humans. He responds by wierd or sudden stuff that happens in your life (usually the stuff that happens within the week). You'll probably find more prayer requests answered after some time. Keep a log of them. He'll respond. He IS God. Read 2 Bibles. Read the Bible in the Amplified Version (http://www.biblegateway.com/) and/or a Bible specifically made for your gender and age-group. They have many practical life applications on the small boxes of commentaries. Read Romans with them and talk to God about it. Ask, "Yo, God. What do you think about this?" Meditate on it a while and expound on it. It's like chocolate. Keep it in your mouth and get all you can from that morsel from Heaven. It's a good way to kill time. I do it whenever I feel discouraged. It cheers me up.

Answer 5

Ideally, religion serves two purposes in our lives:

1. Provides a foundation and a system, or avenue, to God that gives us strength to help us through each day, each joy, each sorrow, and each trial.

2. Salvation.

I don't think satanism will provide those things, nor do I think I will help you if I list the attributes of my faith. I think it would be impossible to be objective about my faith, since that is a very subjective subject.

I was raised in the Church of Christ and the congregation I attended had a book titled, "Why I'm a Member of the Chruch of Christ." There's an online version here http://home.earthlink.net/~heartlandcoc/index.html and several other articles that may help explain the Church of Christ.

IMHO, Your answer is in the Bible.

Matthew 21:21
Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

If you're sincerely trying to find Him, he will come to you. That doesn't mean to sit at home and wait for the doorbell to ring. (Only Jehovah's Witness' make house calls. I'm joking.) Look up all the churches in your area either online or in your phone book and go to them. Ask questions. Most churches have pamphlets that explain their beliefs.

I'll pray for your success and peace.

Answer 6

First off Satan is not the way to go. Secondly Religions are man made, and that's all religions. In most cases You are better off reading the original word of the belief that you wish to follow. If your a Christian then follow the word of the Bible. In all religions the original book of the teachings are the truest. After that its just an interpretation of a man to make a man made belief system. Such as in Christian belief you have Lutherans, Catholics, Prodestants, and so on. Muslims Shiites, Sunnies. Jewish you have their various ways. So what it boils down to, IF YOU JUST BELIEVE IN GOD. Be kind and good to your fellow man, believe that we are all brothers and sisters in this world and that the world is a God given gift that we should take care of, your in pretty good shape. But don't go the Satan route he is a lier and a deceiver and only brings death to all that fallow him.

Answer 7

religion is mans way of reaching for God

Jesus Christ is God's way of reaching man

the Lutheran church is so caught up in tradition and ritual it is hard to find Jesus

You wish to have some joy in your life?

here is how

get off by yourself and say a this prayer

Dear God, I confess that I am a guilty sinner and that I need to be saved.
Jesus, I believe that you are the Son of God, that you died for all my sins and that you rose again from the dead according to the scriptures
Now I ask you to forgive my sins, have the Holy spirit enter my life
and cause me to be born again
I now receive you Lord Jesus as my Lord and Savior, thank you for saving me. Amen

now you must find a bible-believing (non-denominational is better) church and go to the pastor and tell him you are a new Child of God

if I may assist you more...

www.setfreebyjesus.org

Answer 8

Religion or a church doesn't always bring you in contact with God. Open you mind and honestly search out truth for yourself. If you can look at creation, nature, food chain, form & intelligence - everything we have on the planet and feel there is an intelligence behind it and seek to connect with that intelligence, you will know where you need to be. Be true to yourself - don't allow society or anything else (including me) to pressure you into trying to be something or believe in something you really can't see.

Answer 9

A religion is a fixation. Funk and Wagnal gives this sample sentence, "His job was a religion to him."

It sounds like you need not a religion, but a place to belong and feel good about God and eternal life.

For belonging, you might volunteer to help at the Salvation Army. For an assurance of eternal life, stay away from all those letters written by Paul. Instead simply read all the Verses quoting Jesus.

I am a Christian: meaning I agree with your description of yourself in your previous posting here.

Just add one thing and you are on your way to enlightenment.

Jesus said, "Forgive other people; if you do not forgive others, your father in Heaven will not forgive you"

Can you see how Jesus was telling us to find peace on this Earth, and at the same time telling us God's requirement for your entrance to Heaven, after your stay here on Earth.

Paul wrote a lot of mumbo jumbo things in his personal letters that later became books of our Bible. Be careful reading them, they were written to extend Paul's empire. All the organized churches like Paul, because he outlines things to tell people in order to build and grow empires.

If you love Jesus, stick with his messages and verses, stay away from other people who say that Paul's words are the word of God. Paul didn't even know Jesus. Paul might have made up that story about Jesus meeting him on the road to damascus. Paul never intended for his personal letters to be put in a holy book.

Stick with Jesus, only he was the son of God, his words and the holy spirit prove such.

Answer 10

Religion is a justice towards God. I will apologies in advance for being bias. Catholicism as been around for 2000 years and all Christians sects are a manifestation of man in its selfishness to separate from the one true faith.

Through the study of Scripture and the Church Fathers, we see that, not only is the Catholic faith biblical, Catholicism is Bible Christianity par excellence.

Because the Old and New Testament Scriptures are the divinely-revealed, written Word of God, Catholics venerate the Scriptures as they venerate the Lord's body. But Catholics do not believe that God has given us His divine Revelation in Christ exclusively through Scripture. Catholics also believe that God's Revelation comes to us through the Apostolic Tradition and teaching authority of the Church.

What Church? Scripture reveals this Church to be the one Jesus Christ built upon the rock of Saint Peter (Matt. 16:18). By giving Peter the keys of authority (Matt. 16:19), Jesus appointed Peter as the chief steward over His earthly kingdom (cf. Isaiah. 22:19-22). Jesus also charged Peter to be the source of strength for the rest of the apostles (Luke 22:32) and the earthly shepherd of Jesus' flock (John 21:15-17). Jesus further gave Peter, and the apostles and elders in union with him, the power to bind and loose in heaven what they bound and loosed on earth. (Matt. 16:19; 18:18). This teaching authority did not die with Peter and the apostles, but was transferred to future bishops through the laying on of hands (e.g., Acts 1:20; 6:6; 13:3; 8:18; 9:17; 1 Tim. 4:14; 5:22; 2 Tim. 1:6).

By virtue of this divinely-appointed authority, the Catholic Church determined the canon of Scripture (what books belong in the Bible) at the end of the fourth century. We therefore believe in the Scriptures on the authority of the Catholic Church. After all, nothing in Scripture tells us what Scriptures are inspired, what books belong in the Bible, or that Scripture is the final authority on questions concerning the Christian faith. Instead, the Bible says that the Church, not the Scriptures, is the pinnacle and foundation of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15) and the final arbiter on questions of the Christian faith (Matt. 18:17). It is through the teaching authority and Apostolic Tradition (2 Thess. 2:15; 3:6; 1 Cor. 11:2) of this Church, who is guided by the Holy Spirit (John 14:16,26; 16:13), that we know of the divine inspiration of the Scriptures, and the manifold wisdom of God. (cf. Ephesians 3:10).