I believe in a higher power and have faith. I have a really hard time coming to grips that we do so many horrible things to one another because we can't agree on how a devine spirit wants us to live. If God (or whichever higher power your religion worships) is truely all around us and inside all of us do we really need religion to tell us what to do?
2007-04-26 17:35:31 · 17 answers · asked by endo 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The key word here is "perfect" of which none of us are. As for the devil inventing religion, FEAR invented religion, and THEN the devil stepped in to run the show. Despite the fact religions make their mistakes, and they have not been the best moral examples throughout history, none the less they HAVE contributed to many changes in how we as humans behave. To entirely do without religions would deprive people of social contact or associative behaviors, and though we all differ, relatively we are all the same by "believing" that there is "something" in the spirit world that can help us. Religions, just as our species are not PERFECT, and that's where many disagreements come from, and much of it is related to EGO.........
2007-04-26 17:53:32 · answer #1 · answered by Theban 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, the Devil created most religion:
Re 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Please notice, Satan has decieved the whole world. But Yashua says that there will be a group that are not decieved:
Mark 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
Two groups, one decived and the other not. One following a false religion based on a false concept of Christ and lying signs and wonders , one following a true religion based on Christ.
The answere is simple, you need to search for the right group.
What would a major characteristics of this group be?
Re 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Keeping the commandments AND having faith in Yahshua. Not one or the other as most "christian" religions teach. You are not going to find many groups that teach, and try to live, this way.
Which brings up your angst over the horrible things we see on a daily basis. This world is cut off from God because the vast majority of mankind has rejected Him.
2007-04-26 18:51:47 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
An imaginary Devil setting up a faith system so man can worship an imaginary God.
I would sooner think it was invented by a bunch of lazy men who wanted to come up with some way to get a nice chunk (10%) of what you have. It is either the ministry or politics if you are unwilling to do any honest work. I suppose we could consider begging in with that class but I don't think so. I think Christians would look at the beggar as doing God's work. After all, the beggar allows good people to be charitable.
I was born and raised in a Christian home, grew up in a Christian Church and was even ordained. I was over forty years old before I figured it out. I suppose I am slow but I made it.
2007-04-26 17:55:48 · answer #3 · answered by gimpalomg 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's what the devil told Eve, that we are all gods. I mean, that's what you're saying basically. Without a standard to measure truth by we are left with our own reasoning, which is fallen, or else there wouldn't be so many religions and all the evil that comes with them. But yes, the devil invented a way to convince people that he, the devil, is worthy of the worship that belongs to God. He convinced Eve to disobey God by telling her that she would be wise if she went by her own instincts or what have you, rather than believing God and obeying him. It was a lie and it is still a lie. When Adam and Eve sinned they lost and the whole human race is lost through them, but the lie keeps being desseminated. Christianity is the only belief that shines the light of truth on the lie.
2007-04-26 18:03:16 · answer #4 · answered by hisgloryisgreat 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. It would seem that the Devil [the bad guy] (if a Deity did actually influence the Bibles authors) "wrote" the Bible.
In the Bible, the overall gist is that God is good and the Devil is bad, right?
Well, if we were given "free will" wouldn't the good guy be the one who will accept you as who you are, no matter what?
And wouldn't it be the bad guy that tells you to act a specific way or you will be horribly punished?
It would seem that the bad guy wants to get you to not experience the gift of life as a free person.
It's been a while since my last read-through of the Bible, but I don't ever really remember the Devil going around telling people that God was evil and should be fought. It was the other way around.
"God" and the "Devil" are just the names... so if the "bad guy" wrote it, wouldn't he use his name as the good guy?
2007-04-26 18:26:06 · answer #5 · answered by Ryan T 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Religion, doesn't Tell You what to do, But, the Bible sets out some simple and easy to follow guide lines. The first being is that you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Next that you try to live your like Christ Like, and most of that just involves you doing what you know is right in the eyes of GOD! If you would not do something in the presence of GOD or Jesus, then you should not being doing it at all!
2007-04-26 17:45:01 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are talking about organized religions, then in my opinion, the answer is No. Man made religions (maybe with a little of Satans help) and they have little to do with the personal relationship we can have with our creator. In fact, it is the many differences in the various world religions that have caused a great many of the horrible things you speak of.
2007-04-26 17:49:20 · answer #7 · answered by Poohcat1 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like you might have an affinity for the Unitarian Universalist Church. You might find a search interesting.
You might also do a search in one of the Bible sites for "Devil" and ask yourself what horrible things the Devil actually did. Then do a search of what God did. The latter is brutal.
2007-04-26 17:44:42 · answer #8 · answered by valcus43 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God and the Devil are just opposite sides of the same coin. The Devil and God give each other purpose and substance.
You don't need Luke Skywalker if there's no Darth Vader and you don't need God if there's no devil.
2007-04-26 17:41:44 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
many people think the devil invented the pre-christianity religions so that when the story of christ came along and happened to PERFECTLY mimic parts of the stories of mithras/horus and dionysus/osiris, the story of christ would not be believed.
Now this is REALLY stretching it if ya ask me, but some folks hold that opinion.
2007-04-26 17:42:43 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋