Where should I turn for religion?

Question

I am 17 years old, I have been very concerned about religion, and whether I should find faith in a religion. Im always faced with, "what should i do"

I have been very interested in the following religions:
Wicca
Christianity
Judaism

and a few others...but thats just to let you know the range of things I have thought about.

The problem comes into play, when I want to believe what I am being told. I mean, a PERSON has written all religious exerpts...so I dont know who is the "right" one...I want to know that if i die, I will believing something true.

My parents aren't religious at all, and I haven't been taught about religion...so believing in a "god" is so wierd to me, I cant possibly imagine what "he/she" looks like...or whatever it is...what it looks like

Answer 1

Learn as much as you can about ALL religions, and find the similarities between them. You'll start realizing why people believe what they believe and why various religions are structured the way they are.

Finding the truth is not a decision-making process. If you end up following a particular religion, it should be because the teachings of that religion seem true. Beware of believing what you WANT to believe, rather than what is.

Answer 2

I would suggest studying each and every one of them that you feel are viable. I chose Christianity because the BIBLE was written over a 1500 year period by more than 40 writers the we are told were "inspired of GOD". The BIBLE has no contradictions in it. The early writers spoke of a MESSIAH to come thru the linage of Abraham. HE came in the form oif man yet HE was the SON of GOD. He lived, taught, preached, was cruelly murdered, arose from the grave, walked among men (seen by many people), and arose into heaven there to remain at the RIGHT HAND of GOD. There are a number of non-denominational churches around that would be glad to set up a study with you if you are interested. I could get an address if you are unable to locate one of them. No matter who you study with DO NOT allow them to push you into anything. You are the one that should believe and choose. I hope that you have a number of good answers to this question! Have a great day.
Eds

Answer 3

You're a wise girl in many ways. It's SOOOO good that you are investigating Truth through your own eyes and not through the eyes of others.

As far as humans writing all the Scripture from every religion, this is true with one exception - The Baha'i Holy Writings. The original Scripts from the most recent Messenger from God are preserved on Mt. Carmel in Haifa, Israel at the Baha'i World Center. Baha'is are not allowed to interpret the Holy Writings and we have no clergy to corrupt the original teachings.

The other thing you might like about The Baha'i Faith is that we believe that all the major religions come from the one true God and comprise The Religion of God. They are not in conflict with each other.

Don't worry about what God looks like - you'll never know. A painting can never know its Painter. Some other principles of the Baha'i Faith are:

The oneness of the world of humanity
The protection and guidance of the Holy Spirit
The foundation of all religion is one
Religion must be the cause of unity
Religion must accord with science and reason
Independent investigation of truth
Equality between men and women
The abandoning of all prejudices among mankind
Universal peace
Universal education
A universal language
Solution of the economic problem
An international tribunal

If this sounds like a religion you'd like to investigate for yourself, perhaps start at www.bahai.org and read a bit more. If you find you REALLY like it, there are contacts on that site for anywhere in the world.

Happy searching and may God guide you.

Answer 4

Start by reading the book of John in the New Testament, asking the question, "Who are you, Jesus?". Reflect on the questions about who you are, and who you might be in relation to God.

Then, continue exploring truth (life long process)... whether along the lines of the Judeo-Christian arena, or some other religious system.

As a Christian myself, I have found the system of faith/reason that best answers the questions of my soul are in Jesus.

May the Spirit guide your journey.

Answer 5

hi there
I would suggest that one of the things that you might want to look for is a spirituality that makes "you" feel comfortable. I knew when I was about your age that I was interested in wicca and earth magik. Now, this is not for everyone, but.......this spirituality is non-judgemental, you basically take what you "need" from it, no one is "forcing" you to become molded into anything else, or to worship anything. I do not worship anything. I celebrate. I grew up a christian (scary, devil stuff, enough to scare the youth out of ya)....but knew all along that we are more than what the bible gives us credit for...we are powerful creatures in our own right........and we have the right to be powerful and loving and kind. You could also try and unitarian church.... if I were to go to a church, I might try one of those, as I hear that they are non-judgemental as well, and encompass many styles of religious beliefs. I don't like threats or force in my religion. I like magik and wonder and choice. Good luck in your search. I was just like you once...searching....but luckily enough....I knew where I belonged at a very young age....it just took me until I was 40, to tell the world.

Answer 6

You named three different types of religion each one in a different direction then the other. All I can say is ask in prayer each one to show you the right answer. If you truly are seeking God, he will lead you on the right path if you let him. Ask yourself, do you want a God that is love and understanding and promises eternal life if only you choose or do you want to believe in a god that is dark & evil and full of hurt and pain.

Answer 7

You have the spirit of God within you, this is what prompts you to seek the truth. Pray directly to God, please send me a teacher. he will do so. See www.stephen-knapp/articles_to_read. This is an unbiased, factual site. about the roots of christianity,buddhism and islam. See syda.org/theguru, swami chidvilasananda, She has the same powers as jesus, she teaches siddha yoga, the same thing jesus taught, only with much more clarity and without the harshness that was neccessary then.

Answer 8

Contrary to what the unknowledgable person who wrote not to become involved with Jehovah's Witnesses I beg to differ. I have been a Witness of the true God for 20 years. My husband and children are also Witnesses and unlike many mainstream religions, each of us have made this the religion of our choosing. You see, in order to become one of Jehovah's Witnesses you actually have to study and know what you are accepting as the truth. It is not something you are born into or accept because you know nothing else, we study all religions.
I too had investigatated many religions at your age, I dabbled in witchcraft, Catholic, Seventh Day Advocates, Lutherans, Judaism, Born Again, etc. . . What I learned was that all these religions fall short of truly pleasing God. Eventually they would all say something to me that was totally off the wall and I would be on my way in search of yet another. When my Grandmother died I longed for the truth about where she was and if we could infact transcend the spirit realm and communicate but it seemed as though she had vanished into a big black hole. On the way home from the funeral my only aunt and uncle were killed in a car accident. My Grandfather had died just about 4 weeks before my Grandmother. I lost everyone. I called the church of my family, Catholic, not one, but three, my church, my mothers and my Grandmothers. Would you believe that not one of them could tell me the truth about their condition, in fact, over my tears, one of the priests said, "if you can get here in 5 minutes, I can give ya 10". I never set foot in that church again. Instead I prayed, and prayed to God for answers. Two years later Jehovah's Witnesses came to my door, they asked me if there was any question I thought the Bible could not answer. I said "can it tell me where my Grandparents, aunt and uncle are?" The opened the Bible to the book of Ecclesiastes 9:4-6. I was shocked. I called the church and told them how I now knew about where my family was and how angry I was that they stood before me in church with their Bibles opened and lied to me about their condition and where they are.
My advice to you is keep searching and don't stop until you know you have found the truth. John 8:32 says "you will know the truth and the truth will set you free". God Bless you on your journey.

Answer 9

I tell people to read the gospel of John. You can read it from the New Testament or you can buy it all by itself.

Read it, and if you feel that it is talking to you, then find a church that does two things; preaches from the Bible, and encourages its members.

If it does not talk to you, then search for something else.

grace2u

Answer 10

OK, let's keep this simple. What do you want from 'religion'? And, what are you prepared to give? Ask those questions to yourself. When you are sure of the answers, then go looking for someone who is living at peace. Be sure of it before you approach them. Watch their lives, their friends, their family, if you can. Then talk to them and find out what they believe.