2007-04-05 07:34:10 · 19 answers · asked by Megan 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Don't worry, be happy!
2007-04-05 07:38:22 · answer #1 · answered by John C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The dizzying diversity of religions suggests to me that religions arose as coping strategies for people in different areas and cultures with different concerns. It also suggests to me that none of them are valid. IF I hear 1000 stories about the same event, I'm not going to believe any of them.
Is it all a big test? I assume by "it" you mean life, and if so, I certainly hope not. If life is a test, then the test maker obviously has no idea about what they're doing. There's no baseline, no control of confounds and test condition, so the results don't mean anything.
2007-04-05 14:40:45 · answer #2 · answered by Subconsciousless 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No not a test, an opportunity. God called Abram out and made him His people. That started the Jewish saga. Then Gab-rial Talks to Mary and Joseph, at different times and that is the start of Jesus the Christs Saga. Now is the time to take advantage of the window to ask Jesus into your heart. To lead and save you. To love and care for you. There is plenty of prophecy for the last times. Christians are taken away at some point and God then deals with the Jews again. A whole diff. ball of wax. A test only for you to ask God to become real to you. I hope you test Him. Blessings.
2007-04-05 14:48:41 · answer #3 · answered by swamp elf 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What, a sort of big multiple choice question with hundreds of potential answers instead of five?
That would be cruel. I'm not saying it can't therefore be true, but it would be cruel.
Especially, to stay with the metaphor, as the syllabus offered varies so much geographically.
You are unlikely to tick "Christianity" if you are raised in Saudi Arabia, or "Buddhism" in Nigeria...
Although there are definite exceptions, most people follow the religion of their locality, family, tribe, culture...
Have a look just for America:
2007-04-05 14:53:47 · answer #4 · answered by Pedestal 42 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a difficult question to answer because it involves discussing some principles that the person you are witnessing to may or may not agree with. For example, does he or she agree with you that truth is knowable, that God would attempt to communicate with His people, or that only one religion may be right? Usually, I start by acknowledging the difficulty of coming to an easy answer. However, I tell them that I do have an answer; I am sure it is the right one, because it is an answer based on evidence. What kind of evidence? Prophecy and its fulfillment (see question # 34), Jesus and His miracles, the resurrection of Christ, etc. Then I ask that person if he or she knows of these things happening in other religions.(1) The answer is invariably, "No." Then I point out that they have only happened in Christianity. If any religion were true, Christianity fits the bill.
2007-04-05 14:38:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
There is a difference in religion (the worship of God) and religious denominations.
Unfortunately denominations are formed because selfish, power-hungry people take the true meaning of what God's purposes and teachings are and twist them to meet their own personal agendas, purposes, thoughts, beliefs, and struggles. When people are let down by these man made doctrines and dogma, they want to break away and form a new denomination. Then, unfortunately, this new denomination falls into the same trap.
There is a difference is being spiritual and a member of certain denomination.
God is one God. His truth is one truth. It is man's twists on them that create denominations.
2007-04-05 14:43:21 · answer #6 · answered by Carol D 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are so many religions because man tries to seek his own truth. Man will attempt to explain why he/she can live a certain way. However, there is only one truth.
And no, this is not what I would consider to be a test from God. It's man's selfishness.
2007-04-05 14:39:00 · answer #7 · answered by CuriousGirl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The reason for religion is so that man can have something to look forward to after death. So that we all don't think that we're just here, we suffer, and we die. It gives hope to the faithful. I don't think it's a test though, because like the Bible says, God loves everyone, regardless of thier faith.
2007-04-05 14:38:36 · answer #8 · answered by Me 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People, in general, have a need to have a god(s) watching over them, and to make sence of all of "this". Different cultures attain this need by inventing different deities. It's not a test. It is weakness in the part of humanity to have a 'need' for some controlling entity, someone(s) that can be blamed for the bad, and praised (worshiped) for the good. There is no gOD(s), there is only nature, and that is NOT a god.
2007-04-05 14:44:58 · answer #9 · answered by Richard C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think it is a test so much as a challenge to find one that will bring unity, love, and compassion. Even the ones that say those things usually don't practice them.
2007-04-05 14:38:43 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Why do you think there are so many religions out there?"
Multiple gods.
" Do you think its all one big test?"
nope.
2007-04-05 14:38:13 · answer #11 · answered by LabGrrl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋