Surely the problem of religion is that it's meant to be a guide and the interpretation is personal?

Question

Fuzzy: I am more of a friend of Christianity rather than a 'Christian'. So when you quote scipture and ask really?, then my answer to you is simply this: What is written (about God) is never sufficient to communicate the full spiritual truth. Many biblical words were written for their audience at the time...They were subjective and often allegorical/metaphorical. Gospels such as that of Thomas was left out, why? Because often religion has been manipulated by those in power. Spirituality is something that grows and can not be taught etc... Good wishes to you and the others who have answered.

michael C: One day there may well be a world without religion. But probably not before we destroy ourselves. Dietrich Bonhoeffer talked about a world where 'christ is in the midst of us' meaning we advance spirituality to the point where base religious doctrine is 'void'. I think everyone would agree we are all a very long way from that!

Answer 1

People's own interpretation isn't the problem. Its the occasional nutter who wants to force his interpretation on others. Mick

Answer 2

No, being a true Christian is not open to any kind of interpretation at all! It is a way of life which is prescribed in the New Testament by Jesus/God/Holy Spirit and is the only way anyone should live who calls themself a Christian. There are many people who are calling themselves Christians who are not born again or baptised...and the Bible (NT) specifically states that these are requirements. No man may enter the Kingdom of God unless he be born again.....of water and the Spirit.
Jesus commissioned the disciples to behave in a particular manner and that is how the modern day Christian disciple of Jesus (Which is what a Christian is) should behave also.
People have personal choices as to which religion they choose..they can also choose to become Christian..but most of them are happy just to knock 'Religious' people with little or no real understanding themselves of what any specific religion is about.
I chose Christianity as I was told I could have a relationship with God...by the power of the Holy Spirit, through Jesus who is alive today since He rose again on the third day after His crucifixion. I was right to choose it as I have experienced many things and been given gifts by God which I could never have dreamed of. I have also had so many prayers answered that I sometimes cannot believe it possible.
Everyone has their own choice and all I would say is choose wisely as it could be a matter of life or death in the long run.
Best wishes, Mike.

Answer 3

What about God's interpretation?

The Mosaic Law was not open to interpretation. When the Isrealites strayed from it, they were punished.

At Isaiah 48:17, 18 God tells us that he is : "teaching you to benefit yourself, the One causing you to tread in the way in which you should walk. O if only you would actually pay attention to my commandments! Then your peace would become just like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea."

The Bible contains commands, not guides. We either follow them and benefit, or don't follow them and don't benefit.

The problem with religion is that most modern day religions have become burdened with man-made philosiphies and pagan customs that God clearly condems. They then try to justify these through scripture, which can't be done. Then there's the wars in the name of God.

Certain Gospels were left out of the Bible because they have been proven to be no part of the Bible cannon.

Answer 4

While I agree on your statement that religion is a guide which interpretations should be personal, I don't think that is the problem.
I think the problem is that despite the many similarities between the major religions people still want to argue about the differences. To blindly think that what one believes is undoubtedly right without ever exploring others beliefs seems a little foolish to me but many people seem to do it. To me the problems with religion come from an individuals unwillingness to accept other peoples beliefs as a credible way of living. Deeply devout people sometimes seem to forget the spiritual aspects of their faith in order to condemn an others way of practising theirs. So to me the problems with religion are actually problems with the people who practise them, after all a religion is just a collection of ideas. The problems stem from how people impose those ideas onto the world

Answer 5

Wrong! The reason Christianity is extremely screwed up is because of exactly what you stated. Because people think that they can interpret Scripture for themselves is the reason why there is so many problems and utter chaos in Christianity. By putting themselves in a position of authority, which was never meant to be, they basically make themselves their own religion with their own false doctrine. We can thank the Protestant Reformation and the heresey of "sola scriptura" for this.

Jesus knew that this would happen, that is why He gave total authority to ONE church and not 36,000 different ones who all differ dramatically on simple matters of theology. Jesus gave us truth, and that one truth can only be found in ONE church. As the Bible states in Ephesians 4:5 -- "one Lord, ONE FAITH, one baptism." There is but one true faith, and that is found exclusively in the Holy Catholic Church - the only church built on the authority given to St. Peter through Christ and the holy orders of the Apostles.

Answer 6

This is completely true. The problems with religion today is that people look at the bible as nonfiction, not a work to be interpreted as people see fit to do so or as a metaphorical tale of fiction that attempts to guide how we live and make us better people. When every last detail of the bible is examined to hell, problems begin to arise and is misinterpreted.

Answer 7

Really!

Read 2 Pet 3:16As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are certain things hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, to their own destruction. (DRC)

See how personal wrong interpretation gets! Destruction is what it gets.

The truth is what sanctifies, the blood and the spirit, that and holy conduct and good Christian works lead to salvation for the baptized Christian.

Answer 8

Speaking for myself here, as a Christian. It is a guide to living in that it teaches us how we must live in order to lead lives pleasing to God. Application may sometimes be personal, but the truth is absolute.

Answer 9

Yes religion is a problem and is indeed open to ones own interpretation. That's why truth is important.

Answer 10

that's one of the problems yes, i would also say, in times of crisis, some religious people want god to sort it out rather than doing something themselves.