Does religion help you deepen your personal relationship with God?

Answer 1

By the way your question is worded, I am assuming you mean organized religion such as churches, and so forth.

In answer, church membership helps to give formation to one's relationship with God. The clergy help you to understand the Scripture and how to apply it to your life, rather than going it alone. Sunday School helps, too, especially for children and those new to the faith. Sunday morning worship helps to organize your need and desire to worship. And, the overall faith community can help support you in the ups and downs in life and remind you that even in times of great difficulty, God is still there. In short, the answer is yes.

Answer 2

A religion that demands ethical living and a personal relationship with and accountability to a Loving and Just God would certainly deepen a personal relationship with God. Religiosity can ironically be used to keep God at a distance.

Answer 3

Religion is only a path leading to God. But at the same time, it does help one to see or experience the presence of God. Most of the religions, like hinduism, christianity, islam, etc. does prescribe ways to immerse one self in the ocean of happiness. Rather than concentrating on the differences that the various religions have, if a person concentrates on the central theme of the religion they believe, then not only we would find our way to God's realm but also that the basic teachings of all the religions are the same. I have seen & heard many people boasting about how they have memorized their holy texts & stuff. But, it is a pity that except for a very very few, rest do not understand the true purpose of what it teaches.
In my case, yes religion did help me deepen my relationship with god. Because with its help, i was more able to understand what the Lord wants out of us even though i have a lot more to learn. It did help me into looking at things from a more universal point of view. It is just like a Map for treasure hunt. Religion is the Map and God is the treasure of ultimate joy. The treasure hunter have to deal with a perilous journey but ultimately, after all the wrong paths that the he has taken & all the obstacles that he had to face, he finds the X mark to dig out the chest containing gold & precious stones, in our case, the Supreme Mighty. Of course, it is a different case if the seeker allows himself to be caught in one of the snares of illusion. He either risks his life or would be so enchanted by it that he loses track of time in finding the gold. In the real world, this part refers to people fighting in the name of lord and all those tensions that the material life throws at us.

Answer 4

Me personally? No. I find most of organized religion to be oppressive and divisive. If you really think about it, isn’t "religion" a man-made thing, like a bridge or a building? What matters most is what’s inside of you, what your beliefs are, what you do to bring joy and hope and peace to those around you. I can sit in the middle of a stream and find more joy and inspiration--and feel closer to God--than I ever can sitting in church listening sermons. Here is one of my favorite quotes about religion:

“ I believe in God, but not as one thing, not as an old man in the sky. I believe that what people call God is something in all of us. I believe that what Jesus and Mohammed and Buddha and all the rest said was right. It's just that the translations have gone wrong.” ~John Lennon

Answer 5

To know and deepen relationship with the God is possible without religion, but how to worship and please HIM, is only possible by a true religion.

Answer 6

Religion has nothing to do with me getting closer to God as religion is man made. What helps me get closer th God is the Holy Spirit that lives in me.

Answer 7

Spirituality will deepen your relationship with God

Answer 8

My personal relationship with God IS my religion. Organized religion has little or nothing to do with it.
I agree with the person who said it might cause a rift.

Answer 9

Well atheism sure doesn't. The problem with your question is that religion makes GOd, without religion there isn't ANY relationship, let alone a god.

Answer 10

Religion confuses the whole issue, since it is entirely concocted by men who lie that it is the word of God. No God would write such ridiculous stuff.