Why are you in the religion you're in now?

Question

you know, i held the idea that as long as you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and God the heavely Father, creator of heaven and earth and all who belong to them, this is what matters no matter what religion you're in. But i questioned myself wouldn't this contradict with one's religious teaching like Buddhist, Muslim, ETC. since there's 'this and that"??

i'm a re-born Christian (at 19, 20 now), and i'm not trying to make other religions seem false, but considering all the many many religions out there, especially the ones that are similar like Christians and Mormons, its pretty hard to interpret the "real" meaning.

LJAY2000: I believe by faith, not everything can be physically seen in order to take sides. besides, we're here for a specific purpose, not by evolution.

NUNYA: As a matter of fact, Jesus is God, and vice versa. in human form, God came into the world to preach and teach His ways. thats why the Jesus said no one will get to Heaven except through His Father.

oop, I MEANT NO ONE WILL GET TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH HIM (JESUS) ALONE.

Answer 1

I'm not in any religion right now, thank God.

Answer 2

i got into my religion by shopping for it. When i became tired of Christianity, i researched as many religions as I'd ever heard of. I picked up on a few things that may or may not be pleasing to hear (if this is a christian board).
1. Most principles of most religions have these in common: honor the divine, respect the teachings of those who came before you, do right by your fellow man.
2. Religions of the Book (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) while all very similar share a principle in addition to the same set of myths. That is exclusivity, meaning you can't be a christian and Muslim or a Muslim and a Hindu or a Jew and Buddhist, even though a lot of the teachings are similar. This of course is a broad statement and each of these 3 religions has at least 1 denomination or sect that is inclusive to other religions. I think it was designed this way on purpose, fear is a tremendous motivator.

As a pagan, i pick and choose parts of all religions i encounter that i want to believe and don't feel bad about not believing the rest. I also respect the beliefs of others, because honestly no one knows for sure until we die. We might not even find out then. The rest, is faith.
BB
ted

Answer 3

I became a Christian when I was 51 years old and I had tried all the "other" things that I wanted to.., I really wanted to SEE/FIND/EXPERIENCE/DISCOVER the TRUE God and I can tell you that I am a sincere, devout, intelligent person.
I was raised in a group that called themselves Christian, but was FAR from showing forth the "love of God". I was physically, emotionally and sexually abused and I HATED the God I was taught about and was AFRAID OF HIM and I KNEW the REAL God was NOT IN CHURCH!!
I went after and worshiped anything and everything I thought/felt would answer the pain in my heart and the questions in my mind.
I know this: reading the Bible alone after eroneous teachings and false interpretations are given will alter right thinking. Without some teaching, some context, some love and the baptism of the Holy Spirit, there is NO way to know God in a real and relavent way.
I followed the native American Indian teachings, I went into every New Age and Occult practice I could find. I was searching for WHAT IS REAL and WHERE IS THE POWER beyond my own knowledge and ability.
All other "religions" and "spiritual practices" require lots of WORKS on the believers part and what you want is always just out of reach.., or just snippets of power and/or ability, but NO PEACE!
When I was so disallusioned that I just couldn't try any other thing, I said, "IF there is a God...", and I was talking out to some invisible entity...,
"I don't care anymore WHO is right or WHAT is right, if YOU will just let me know YOU, I will follow you".
I don't know why I said that but I do think it was out of all sincerity of heart.
Long story short, within a few days, I heard from TV and other people various things that were believable and was my answers and I KNEW IT!
I KNEW I needed the baptism of the Holy Spirit and that was ABSOLUTELY without doubt inside me. I believe now, that even that was always a "joke" from what I was raised in, that it was God answering me so I could have some ability to decifer the truth from the lie. The Holy Spirit is "the Spirit of Truth" , I know now, but didn't know it then.
I called a lady who could get me in touch with a lady I knew was filled with the Holy Spirit so I could call and go see her. I did, she prayed with me and I received.
Then, like in a day, I truly UNDERSTOOD the Bible I had been MIS-taught and KNEW that my fear of God was unfounded and I for the first time in my life knew that all the pain and trauma that had happened to me was NOT the will of God for my life and that HE LOVED ME.
I am a born-again, spirit filled Christian and it is my destiny and my first and only true GOD-relationship.
May all answer with an honest and open heart!

Answer 4

I am, have been, and will always be a catholic Christian. In practice I found that the Anglican way was the best expression of what that meant, but have seriously had to question that in recent years with the apostasy in the Episcopal Church. I believe that none come to the Father, but through Jesus, but you know what? It's Jesus who decides what that means. A Buddhist is far more likely to take that road if living according to the Father's will, than many so-called Christians who go about saying, "Lord, Lord" while constantly hating any and all of those He made. When St. Paul wrote that whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning he certainly wasn't refering to the Christian Scriptures which did not, as yet, exist. The First Commandment likewise antedates any evangelical concept of God. A positive mitzvah, it points to who God is and how to be worshipped rather than any limit to His glory. Yes, there ARE differences in religions, but I am constrained to say there is only ONE God,or as Muslims say, "l'illah Allah w'illah Allah" or Jews, "Shema Yisroel, Adonai, Adonai elohainu, Adonai echod". The Tao te Ching likewise points out the unity in approach to the divine. In learning of others one cannot help but be strengthened in affirmation of the greatness and glory of God, but one should never, ever deny the manner in which God has called and spoken to his own heart. Christians could actually learn far more if they READ and are convicted by the Scriptures rather than use them as a weapon to beat others over the head.

Answer 5

There are no two religions that teach "exactly" the same thing. Therefore either:

1. They're all wrong, and no one church teaches 100% truth
2. One is right, and the rest are wrong.

There really isn't any way that they can all be right.

That doesn't mean that most of them can't teach partial truths, however If the catholics have it right, everyone else is wrong. If the Mormons are right, everyone else is wrong.

I do think it's interesting that few churches these days are bold enough to say "We've got it right, everyone else is trying hard, but has it wrong". Most religions have become fairly spineless in this regard and have more of a "club-like" feel to them.

Answer 6

Most Christians have no idea what they really believe. They go to church, and think that since they've said the "sinner's prayer", and invited Christ into their hearts, that they're saved. They haven't really studied their scripture, and take on faith that those vomiting words from the pulpit are men or women of God, with good intentions.

I'm in the religion that I'm in because I have searched long and hard for something that makes sense. I realized that the Canon of scripture is not a list ordained by God, but a collection of books assembled by men to promote a particuar agenda.

The history of the Christian Church is replete with fights and killing about what is orthodox and what is not. To believe that Christianity today is correct, one must believe that some God ordained the enforcement of scripture by killing those who didn't accept it, and by destroying any alternative viewpoint.

I'm a Pagan. That doesn't mean that I hold no regard for Christ, but I certainly don't worship him as a god.

Answer 7

The reason I am in the religion I'm in is because of my beliefs. I am a saved person that tries to live a Christian life.
I am not perfect nor will I ever be while I am on this earth. But, as in my belief: Jesus Christ is one day coming back to get me and then I will be perfect.
Glory to God!

Answer 8

You said I believe by faith, not everything can be physically seen in order to take sides. besides, we're here for a specific purpose, not by evolution"

Wrong! Evolution is god's methof for creating all things, the universe and life on this planet. You are right about human life being here for a purpose. You a wrong when you say everything cannot be seen. God has no reason to hide anything from us. Everything about god and cration is right out in front of us all of the time. The whole of the human race does only one thing. It creates new knowledge. That is the only thing the human race has ever done since the first man stood on his hind feet and planned his own future. ALL ELSE it does is but a byproduct of creating new knowledge. Some newt things we create are "good", some ares "bad", some are neutral. All things that we do to enhance our ability to create new knowledge is "good", all that we do to impede the creation of new knowledge is "bad". Christianity, which gave us ther dark ages, is one of the worst creations of mankind. It spits in the face of god, who gave us the freedom that was necessary to create new knowledge, and christianity works 24/7 to take that freedom away and divert our attention from our ability to create with lies about things than only "faith" could make us believe. Since the creation of new knowledge is the singular thing humans do it is quite easy to determine that is what our purpose is. God is successful, we do as he designed us to do. We do not need an imaginary "hell fire and brimstone" to prod us to do what we do. It is automatic. :

Answer 9

I feel great because i am born in that family who believe and fllower of religion calledJAINISM.There are NO GODS. Actually in fact God is a creation of the Human being! Of course it is for the good and benefit for mankind! But when believer becomes aggressive than it create many problems! So better not to believe in this ! THERE IS NO GOD AT ALL! GOD IS WHAT EVER YOU DO AND WHAT EVER OTHERS HAVE DONE! Jainism is based on Nonviolence and Universal forgiveness which is the solution to terrorism.Salute and pray for the scientist who has invented so many things for betterment of human life! Have you heard about JAINISM.It is a religion in which they try to practice 100% Non Violence and Universal Forgiveness! Their Priest live in such way that even invisible microorganism also is being taken care 0f not for few days but for the whole life! They don’t eat food or drink water from evening till morning for lifetime! They walk bare foot for lifetime! They don’t touch or keep money with them! They do fast with nil by mouth from day one to several days! Many give away their life just like this! They just worship and stay or lie down for to achieve death! It may take few days to even few months! All who are follower visits this to happen! See this is one way to LIFE without hurt to any living creature. This is the only unique religion, which is practiced by very fewer people through out world! It is very very difficult to understand and to follow for lifetime! But surprisingly this is the only one religion has been supported documental proof that it is very near to the science! Just to go the web site "www,
.jainworld.com" you will find many things there to believe this! Be 100%vegetarian if you are not! Take care! It is good to believe in REBIRTH so that we can restrict ourselves in doing any hurt to any! I am always YouRsmE

Answer 10

I no longer embrace "religion," which seems so often dominated by the dogma of man rather than the teachings of whomever. For me, I am much more concerned with how I should find meaning, peace, and harmony during my life rather than worry about a promised reward or punishment in an afterlife; which seems more firmly defined by humans than by the divine.

While I applaud your commitment to your faith, remember that Jesus was so much more than a savior to accept, but rather he was a teacher who gave us words to live by, not simply to die by. Far too many focus on why and how he died rather than how he lived and taught.

I was raised Christian, if you want to know, but today spend little time worrying about religion that is too often defined by the power plays, fear, hypocrisy, and the hate of man. Today I embrace philosophies on how to live that include the teachings of Jesus, as well as Buddha, Lao Tzu (Taoism) and even a dash of Mark Twain, Albert Einstein, and the Dalai Lama.

Thank you for the opportunity to add my two cents to the conversation and may God bless and keep you until the end of your days.

Answer 11

My parents were raised as Protestants, but when i was three years old they became Jehovah's Witnesses. I was raised as one of Jehovah's Witnesses, but I also came from a hugely diverse religious background. My mother's family all became Witnesses, but my father's is a conglomeration of Born Again Christian (my grandfather), Protestant minister (my late great uncle), non practicing Catholic (my aunt), and New Age/non denonminational beliefs (my cousins and my other aunt). I spent hours with all of them, discussing, learning, disputing, debating, understanding. And what it comes down to is not what your personal beliefs are, but what fits what God wants best. I believe, as you do, that God's will is written in the Holy Bible, so i studied that. And then i looked at all the options that were available to me, and i chose the one that is what the Bible teaches. I chose to be one of Jehovah's Witnesses and have been one since 1987.