If most religions support the idea of a personal relationship with their chosen deities ...?

Question

What is the point of having a belief structure? If your God/dess is as capable of communicating with you as he/she/it was with people in the past, then why can't your deity simply instruct you on how to properly worship and live your life?

This is, of course, intended for people who follow structured religion.

Answer 1

I think it's odd that ancient writings of personal contact with God(s) are viewed with such sobriety, when almost anyone who claims such a relationship today is immediately dismissed or discredited.

I consider it ironic such texts are revered by a culture that in general, looks down upon age, aging, and the aged.

Nevertheless, this insightful question neatly exposes the emperor's new clothes. Few fair-weather believers will appreciate this line of thought, and even fewer will understand it to begin with.

Trouble is, as the presence of the target deity is slowly withdrawn (an explanation for the phenomenon I've heard in theological circles), the formula of mantra and ritual becomes more desperate, as if once strong, supple leather covers now crack, and fail to bind the crumbling pages of ancient manuscripts soon to be lost to the sands of time. The reassurance of repetition crowds out room for doubt, where it might otherwise exist.

Look around the world as devotees beat their breasts in denial that any new god should assert itself in the hearts and minds of any, especially in those who gave it birth. In the minds of some, God was revealed in the beginning as a test of future belief, and no further exposure was necessary or prudent. To this deity, first come, first served.

We resent subsequent pretenders to the throne of our hearts, their memory surviving generations of hate into consensus of past folly. What respect we deny anything old, we award to the oldest. Yesterday's newspaper is worthless; yesteryear's is priceless, because no one lives to dispute it.

Unworthiness of direct contact is another shield from the demands of proof. Faith is another, for without it, no direct test of true devotion can exist.

As you make your way through this barren landscape, the dust in your nostrils once held together by vital earth, bear in mind the importance scarcity has imparted to common water, the deep thirst that inspires a long pilgrimage by some, even in the face of those who drink from a hidden spring. The journey purifies, its length making every drop more precious.

Who is better satisfied? Would the faithful prefer an easier life? I think not. The more remote their god has become, the closer each verse and sacrament is held.

While this is my point of view, such analysis is vain in light of the faith of which I write, which survives, even trivializes reason. We are on the outside looking in. If we see nothing, is nothing there?

Answer 2

This is probably the only reason Im sticking with my religious beliefs. Because Ive tested it out over and over, and my religious book gives some serious guidance as far as how to live my life goes. And its all geared to make me happier than the ordinary person. You know what that means? Even if I dont see God, I know Im going to be a good person due to the values I hold on to in Islam. This is the only reason Im still a believer. The Quran is extremely clear and comprehensive as a life philosophy. And no human could have come up with such a comprehensive message. It tells me the minimum and maximum of every behaviour. It leads me to think that its so well thought of, its impossible to have come from any human.

Answer 3

There is not an animal that crawls in the earth, nor a bird that flies on its two wings, but they are communities like you. We have left out nothing in the Book. Then to their Lord shall they all be gathered together.

Holy Quran

But the Prophet left among you the same which other Prophets left among their peoples, because Prophets do not leave them untended (in dark) without a clear path and a standing ensign, namely the Book of your Creator clarifying its permission and prohibitions, its obligations and discretion, its repealing injunctions and the repealed ones, its permissible matters and compulsory ones, its particulars and the general ones, its lessons and illustrations, its long and the short ones, its clear and obscure ones, detailing its abbreviations and clarifying its obscurities.

In it there are some verses whose knowledge is obligatory and others whose ignorance by the people is permissible. It also contains what appears to be obligatory according to the Book but its repeal is signified by the Prophet's action (sunnah) or that which appears compulsory according to the Prophet's action but the Book allows not following it. Or there are those which are obligatory in a given time but not so after that time. Its prohibitions also differ. Some are major regarding which there exists the threat of fire (Hell), and others are minor for which there are prospects of forgiveness. There are also those of which a small portion is also acceptable (to God) but they are capable of being expanded

Answer 4

There is no such thing as a "personal relationship" with their deities because they do not exist. No matter how many people tell you that they have personal relationships with their god/desses..... The "personal relationship" they manifest is that of a simple imaginary friend who they believe to be real. That friend does not always give them the answers they are looking for and the religion's guidelines & belief structures cater to the person's "needs." The true spiritualists, however; are at one with their being & do not need to have any kind of personal relationships with any fictional god/desses nor do they need to adhere to the archaic structures of a primitive religion. They are simply balanced with themselves.

Answer 5

I agree. Which is probably why I belong to a religion without dogma.

Could I just have the relationship and skip the church/religion thing? Sure. But I enjoy being with like thinkers and joining as a community to help those in need.

Answer 6

I don't follow structured religion or religion. I do believe that they can and will help you understand how to properly worship them. It may not be an earth shattering voice that hurts your ears but a voice that can sound much like your own.

Answer 7

As far as I know, my God does instruct me. He supplied me with wisdom in the Bible, with the Holy Spirit on Earth, with his Son whom was sacrificed. "Proper" worship is a two way street with God, a way of communicating with Him.

Answer 8

'It' can tell you everything you need to know. All you have to do is listen. Structured religion is unnecessary.

Answer 9

I prefer ideas to beliefs.

Answer 10

Perhaps because we believe that God speaks through his prophets or his servants.