Can you explain your religion to me?

Question

I am often asked this question by well-meaning people trying to understand me, and I try my best to respond, but it sounds like such a very vague question that it's difficult to know what kind of information is wanted.

Could someone please enlighten me as to what kinds of topics you would talk about when explaining your religion to someone? Feel free to give me an example by showing me how you would explain your religion. :) Oh, I know that there is a good chance you probably expect that everyone knows your religion already, but let's say hypothetically speaking, you are talking to someone who knows nothing about your religion.

Thank you for any responses! :)

My favorites so far are hindu monk (for incorporating other religions), bebopolis (for focusing on the personal aspect of religion), and gibbs9022 (for recognizing that religion comes from within & should not be accepted secondhand from other people). Witchy, you gave a really good response too, very thorough. There were many other good answers, so please don't feel neglected if I didn't mention you by name. The only people that didn't give good answers were people that shouldn't have been answering because they do not have a religion to discuss. If the question doesn't apply to you, skip over it! ;)

There's only thing I disagree with, and it is that I think religion can be talked about without fighting or emphasizing only our differences.

Some people are trolls and can use anything (religion & politics are merely easier targets) to start a fight, but it is not the fault of all religious thought... For example, this question turned out some very civilized and varied answers. We should blame the trolls for starting fights, instead of letting them blame their religion.

Thank you for bringing this thought up, though, because it is worth considering. Don't discuss religion with people that you know tend to use religion as a reason to fight with others. Actually, it's probably best to avoid confrontational people like that altogether, because they'd probably try to fight and suppress opinions in other areas as well.

Answer 1

focus on what it does for you. does it bring you peace or hope or love for other people? does it help you act morally or make you more service minded? why do you go to church?

if you want a theological explanation of the doctrines, then i was barking up the wrong tree of knowledge...yeah PUN POWER

Answer 2

When someone asks, they are usually asking about a particular practice of my religion rather than about all of my beliefs and practices. I simply answer their question directly.

On here when someone asks for a description of my beliefs, I try to keep it brief but to cover the basics. I don't mention other religions and keep everything that I say positive. How I'd describe my beliefs:

I follow a Celtic Reconstructionist (neo-pagan) path.
I worship some of the deities that were once worshiped in Celtic-speaking areas during the Iron Age. I am a polytheist and some of my deities are Taranis, Lugh and Epona. Two important tenets of my religion are honor and hospitality (there are more). My religion is offeratory in nature and it provides the structure and methods for me to deepen my relationships with my deities. I believe that deities have both positive and negative traits just like anyone else. I can't imagine any deity that is all-knowing or all-powerful. I also believe in land and water spirits/deities. I believe in reincarnation and give daily offerings of incense, food and drink at my family altar. I honor my ancestors. I believe in the symbology of a world tree representing the lower (sea), middle (land), and upper (sky) realms. After death, I believe that I will go to the Otherworld to feast before reincarnating again to learn more. I celebrate four agricultural holidays a year---Samhain, Imbolc, Bealtainne, and Lughnasadh. Although I recognize the solstices and equinoxes, I do not celebrate them as religious holidays.

Answer 3

Christianity. No denomination.

Lock yourself in a room. No TV. No radio. Start by going over every detail of your life. Start to read the Word and pray. Put your life on a balance and see how it adds up. Forget the TV preacher and the false doctrine you have been taught. Mans wisdom is ignorance to God. Forget the interpretations that many people have told you. You will find that most of the people that claim to be Christians are not at all as they appear. To be a true Christian is to follow Christ. There are some things in there that many people willingly go against. If you want a simple truth... a pure message... something different yet the same: Read the Word and take each part of it as Truth not making any excuses as to why one scripture doesnt apply to your life. Pray for eye-salve as He commanded.

Answer 4

John 3:16

Answer 5

In principle, Hinduism incorporates all forms of belief and worship without necessitating the selection or elimination of any. No religious idea in India ever dies or is superseded. It is merely combined with the new ideas that arise in response to it. Hindus revere the Divine in every manifestation, are doctrinally tolerant, allowing others to practice their beliefs - whether Hindu or non-Hindu. They regard other forms of worship, strange gods and divergent doctrines as inadequate rather than wrong or objectionable.

They believe that Divine powers complement one another and that all religions are merely different paths of reaching the same goal - the 'Par Brahman'.

Answer 6

My favorite phrasing of the question is "So what's Islam all about?" LOL

To which I respond, "Islam means 'submission to God's will' and 'peace.' It's not what you see on TV these days. We worship the same God as Christians and Jews, but there are differences in doctrine. We believe in Abraham, Moses, Jesus, but that God sent a final prophet, Muhammad. (peace be upon them all) The Qur'an clarifies things for us, but we still study the Torah and the Gospels. We pray 5 times a day, fast during Ramadan, and make a pilgrimage to Mecca once during our lifetime if possible."

There are usually more questions, but I don't mind! I'm proud to be Muslim and to be able to share some of my knowledge with people who are sincerely curious.

Answer 7

Good question! My religion is Islam, thank God. I love my religion because it answers life's questions. We believe in one and only one God, who is Allah (swt). We also believe that His messenger was Mohammad (pbuh). We follow the Quran, which God sent us as our guide. We follow 5 major the 5 major pillars of Islam, which are:

1.) Declaration of faith
2.) Praying 5 times a day
3.) Giving charity
4.) Fasting during the month of Ramadan
5.) If possible, going to the Makkah.

My religion has unfortunately been given a bad image because of the sick terrorists out there who are covering the goodness of Islam. Islam promotes peace and love and condemns violence and hatred.

Answer 8

My religion is giving thanks. The actual content is not important. Just being thankful for the gift of life. I think focusing on the topics and meaning of religion in conversation can bring out differences and disagreements between people, so I tend not to discuss it much.

Answer 9

Personally, my religion is this. I am doing everything I could to follow this two principles: 1) Love my God with all my heart, mind, soul and strength; 2) Love my neighbor as myself. Following these principles is the only way to "make this man in our image, after our likeness." Then and only then will I be able to reunite with my creator and redeemer--my God.

Answer 10

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. That whosoever believe on Him shall never die, but have eternal life.