Religious people, help!?

Question

I need help. I want to believe in the goodness of religion, but I am struggling.

I'm starting to think religion is just all about preserving your own ticket to so called heaven rather than creating happiness and sympathy for people who are actually here on Earth.

It seems so many religious people are blindly willing to hurt their own families, minority groups or even inflict violence against others if it means they get on the good side of God and get into so called heaven.

Even my own aunty avoids her non-religious family and shuns her parents, and also her son who is gay, which has cuased them so much pain, all becuase of her selfishness to get herself into heaven and be on Gods good side.

I am worried as I am becoming very cynical towards organised religion, but at the same time I also think it's making me more understanding and compassionate of the feelings and pain of others.

I don't know what to think. Am I being too cynical?

Answer 1

What is happening is that you have realized that you are not satisfied with the religion you have at this point.

It is a good idea to look around and see if there is a religion that more closely matches your feelings.

Religion exists to help you become more spiritual, (that is closer to God). If your religion is not helping you spiritually, move on.

Answer 2

You shouldn't base your judgment of "religion" purely on how the loudest ones behave. Oh they're loud and obnoxious alright, but the majority of people who adhere to a religion are not like this. I mean, there are some great rock bands with extremely lame fan bases, but I still like the music.

Besides, when was the last time you were proselytized by a Buddhist? Or had a Hindu tell you that you were cursed because you didn't follow the Vedas? Run into any picketing Amish people recently? If you assume fundamentalist Christianity is the only religion out there, then you're actually making the same false assumption they are.

Answer 3

I think you're realizing the truth.

I believe that if that religion was real, and God/Jesus really did "plant a seed in our hearts" [( as my step-grandma Jill has said )] then we would just 'click' with the belief the very first time we heard it and never doubt it, for if it were the natural, right and true belief, we would have no doubts against it because it would be what was meant for our body and mind.

And most religious people are HYPOCRITICAL nowadays. They're not supposed to judge others- that's supposedly 'God's' job. And yet, your Aunt is going against her family and son, therefore judging them as 'bad', because they do things that are against her religion.

If God is real, then he should accept you with open arms for being a good person who accpeted and helped people. And if he would turn you away to Hell simply because you didn't believe him, then he's a worthless man who should not be worshipped at all.

Answer 4

I think you are on the right track.

God is good. Jesus is good. Religion is not always good.

Who plotted Jesus' death? The "religious" of his day! (Don't read this as "the Jews": Jesus was Jewish, and so were his first disciples.)

Jesus did not select us to follow him in order to shun those who think differently from us. He told us to "Love God" with everything we've got, and also to "love your neighbor as yourself". And look at these quotes that John wrote:

1 John 3:17
If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?

1 John 4:20
If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.

Your aunt is making a big mistake--unless it's those non-religious family members who rejected her first, and not the other way around. And unfortunately, the teachings of Jesus have, throughout the centuries, been twisted by those who want to use God to justify their own greed, hatred, and fear.

If you can talk to your aunt about this without condemning her, please do so.

Answer 5

ok, God does not want us to hurt other people if they are doing this they are not in the good side of God there are the selfish ones because the gospel is for all.
and your aunt is not selfish the thing is that her no-religious family does not want to do the will of God and she at least is trying becuse God wants us to at least talk to other people and our own families about the word of God but if those people are not willing to do obey God than we should put distance in between becuse they may be an obsticle for you to serve God correctly like abraham did :
Genesis 12:1 (New International Version)
The Call of Abram
1 The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.
God told him this because the people he was with him wich it was his people did not want to do God's will.
and about her gay son this is what the bible says:
Leviticus 18:22 (New International Version)
22 " 'Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.
so clearly he's not doing God's will. Just remember the devil will do any trick to draw you away from God so open your heart to God and let him guide you and look for the truth your self and if you want to serve God do it with honesty and you hart and he will guide you to His way Go to church
The Light Of The World Chuch
And I don't know who told you that there is happines here on earth besides Gods wants us to:
Matthew 6:19-21 (New International Version)
Treasures in Heaven
19"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
When he said Treasures on earth he meant doing your own thing just living your life "happy" trying to think you don't need God and that your better without Him.
But when he said store up treasures in heaven he meant,
doing His will trying to live your life according to his will even if that means leaving you family that does not want to serve
God and they start judging you or Alienating you becuse to them you are someking of religious freak becuse it says:
Psalm 27:10 (New International Version)
10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
the LORD will receive me.
so look for the truth
Go to churck
The Light Of Ther World Church
God Bless you.

Answer 6

Religion is a bad word. It means "speaking the same thing over and over" It refers to the traditions and rituals of the church. What you want is spirituality which refers to your own personal relationship with God.

Very religious people are usually not very spiritual.

Answer 7

Perhaps it would help to reread the Gospel accounts of the many encounters Jesus had with the Sadducees and Pharisees in the synagogue.
Becoming a Christian does not make you perfect. There are many trials to be faced. Grow in those trials and seek to please God. Guard your relationship with Him jealously.

Answer 8

Yes it is easy to become cynical these days but look, in a room full of doubters and cynics one brave person can make a real difference,be that person cause if you join them you too are beaten.

Answer 9

People, religious or not, are just that: people. We all have problems. But before you get jaundiced by their actions, take a look in your own closet. How're things in there? Have you been born again?

Answer 10

A bleeding heart hurts.