I believe in God, but I hate religions?

Question

I believe in God, especially in karma & I also pray to god when I am in need of help (I also pray everyday as much as I can). The reason for that is because I have experienced both the above phenomenon work well for me several times. However, I do not believe in following religious or traditional customs (especially pertaining to sexual abstinence, alcoholism etc.)

Would I still be considered as a religious person, or as an agnostic?

Answer 1

I would call you "spiritual", not religious.

You're in good company - a lot of people feel that way.

Answer 2

Christ never had one good thing to say about religion.

Religion is man, by his own efforts trying to be good enough for God. And it is emphasis man places on himself that messes everything up. We see man's failures on front page news everyday.

Christianity is about God reaching out to man, in the form of sacrifice. Its emphasis is on the ability of God, and developing virtues more like God, which of course would prevent such things as what is on front page news. More information--email me, or look up berachahchurch.org. The Bible in the original language has a different perspective to offer, one without contradictions, and it does not include forcing beliefs on others.
hope this helps

Answer 3

Someone who is agnostic believes there is a higher power, but they don't know what it is.

I think you might be considered more spiritual than religious, simply because "religious" to me implies organized religion, which you obviously don't follow.

However, you believe in a god, and you pray, and that's religious. Don't worry about labelling yourself.

Answer 4

Hello. For the religious people, you're an agnostic, and vice-versa. You are not the only one who feels like that, I don't like religions, either. After all, they're human inventions, but it doesn't stop me from believing in "The Man Upstairs!". Maybe Marx wasn't so off-road...
PS: I had some "weird" experiences, as well.

Answer 5

Here is how God desribes true religion.

James 1:26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. (27) Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

You can call yourself "religious" if you want to but it sounds like you are engaging in the modern equivalent of "idol worship". In other words, you believe in a "god" of your own mental creation and not the creator God who has revealed Himself to mankind through his Son, the Bible and history, and through the changed lives of those who turn to Christ Jesus and receive God's Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (29) For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

I hope that before it's too late you will realize that the momentary pleasures that might be gained through promiscuity and unbrideled consumption of alcoholic beverages are not worth the cost of spending all eternity apart from the presence of God.

Revelation 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. (2) And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (3) And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. (4) He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."

(5) And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." (6) And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. (7) The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. (8) But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."

Answer 6

You are not agnostic, agnostics question the reality of god. You have your own personal religion, which is cool. Just don't start going door to door handing out pamphlets about it. Then you will have overstepped the boundaries of coolness.

Answer 7

U shouldnt even believe in Karma. Thats just a name given by hindus to some unknown power. Otherwise u r normal and healthy person.

Answer 8

Since you believe in a god, then you are still theistic. One does not have to belong to a particular branch of organized religion to be religious or spiritual. It just means that your beliefs aren't easily labelled.

Answer 9

I also believe religion seperates man. Religion was created by man, not by God. It is filled with a bunch of morals that are not from the Bible. I just love God, am saved by Jesus and study His word and put it into effect.

Answer 10

You just have spirituality you don't have to "belong" to any group. And you aren't agnostic, because it seems that you believe that a god has an effect on this world.

Answer 11

you sound like a deist.

an agnostic isn't sure about god. a deist believes in god, but not religion.