What is religion?

Question

I've always believed that it is man made since there is one faith and one God.

Answer 1

God didn't start a religion. Jesus set up a kingdom . . . the Kingdom of God.

Jesus said, (Matthew 6:33) "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."

Answer 2

It might be more interesting if we stop wondering if religion is man made and try to learn why we have religion and what religion can teach us. Some more interesting questions would be: Can you prove that there is or isn't an ultimate being or God? Do you need to? For that matter, would God really care? And for that matter, do you care if there is a caring ultimate being? Some people think that there is a God and that God does care. They believe practicing a religion will bring them closer to God. Some would rather be as far as possible. Some people don't give a s*** and all this arguing is probably just p***ing them off.

I stopped asking these kinds of questions and this is what happened. For me, religion is a big how-to guide to life. Specifically, it tries to answer the question; how should one lead their life (a question, I might add, philosophers are constantly trying to answer), by providing examples (that may or may not have existed or may or may not have any contact with an ultimate being) such as Moses, Jesus, Mohammed, and of course, the reasons why their way of life was/is ideal.

Though I do not practice nor believe in any one religion (because I do not have faith), I try to learn from all of them. I agree with one on some subjects but with others on other subjects. And some subjects, I might disagree with all religions. I've come to realize that religion is a thing of beauty (when you aren't being persecuted) because it made me question why I am who I am.

Answer 3

Religion is the belief that there is a Higher Power by whom we are held accountable. I agree that it is "man made" as the holy books were certainly written by men, which leads me to wonder why were they written and why they were written so many different ways by so many? But to reiterate your question, what is religion. Before there were organized denomonations there was Spirit worshiping and Witchcraft. Could those not be considered religious in a sense that people even before the story of creation was written believed there was something out there that was bigger than them and controlled their destiny?

When I really think about it, with there being so many denomonations and seperate sects of denominations in the world as we know it today everyone that believes in something has a need to validate themselves and their actions. Personally, the Big Bang theory scares me just as much as the theory of Evolution does. And, I can admit that there are some really good arguments about the theories. I will even debate them to a certain point and then it becomes very uncomfortable and just feels wrong to me. I consider myself to be quite open minded but there is a part deep within myself that shuts down when I I think about it too deeply because it goes against everything I have been taught and come to believe on my own. I was raised Catholic, went to Catholic school and know that I am full of "Catholic guilt" which is taught or a learned behavior. I think maybe fairy tales and fables are a necessary part of explaining ourselves to ourselves. For those that believe that is.

Today, I consider myself to be much more spititual than religious. And I find myself borrowing different beliefs from different religions to create what feels right to me. Catholism has damaged me in a way that I am unable to explain; however, I am still that little girl that genuflects, stands, kneels, sits and utters the poroper resposes at the appropriate time. When everything in my world feels wrong you will find me in a chapel lighting candles praying to the Patron Saints for myself and others. It is what I was taught and fundamentally what I am.

This is a really difficult question to wrap my mind around, but in simple terms I guess religion is relative. It is simply having hope. Faith is faith, regardless of what religion you are.

Answer 4

To put it simply religion is ones belief system.

Does this mean that there is 'one' true religion? No, because if there where there would be more followers of that religion than any other. But since there is only proof that at one point or another a religion( I mean Christan, Muslim, Mormon, etc. .) have been the fastest growing religions around the world.

But the many different surveys say that ether Wiccan, Mormonism, Christianity and so forth are the fastest growing religions at the same time all over the world.

So simply put again we don't have one true church, never have never will!

Answer 5

Religion is a faith.
All the religions in which the followers believe in God, lead to only One God. Others are man made.
I have no idea why some people think that we have a muslim God, a christian God and etc.
Religions are not man made. Some religions had miracles with them which could not have been done by man. E.g Quran had noted that fingerprints of every single soul differs from the other. It was then discovered years later by men.

Answer 6

In my opinion and from my study of the major religions of the world, I believe that Religion came from the imagination of inquisitive minds of leaders who were searching for answers to the challenging questions of their subjects.
These leaders, through their advisors, created religions that targeted the fears of the people at the particular time. These advisors were similar to the marketing consultants and advertising specialists of today. The wealthy people found creative ways of keep the working-class people (slaves) obedient to their whim and fancy.

Answer 7

a religion is a set of beliefs(sects) religion is man-made rules and rituals...a religion and personal relationship with God are separate things//i dont follow a religion(Jesus didnt) i am a follower of Christ believing as you do...one faith and one God

Answer 8

Its not something anyone can really say with any certainty. Its probably one of three things; Either man made it up as a way to rationalise fears and feel like there is some order and some all seeing power to watch over people, like when people used to worship the sun, it just helps society and gives people a reason to do things beyond just survival. Or some divine power actually came down and said "worship me" and we were scared and did it. Or Aliens came down and gave us the concept of religion/ we thought they were gods and that started religion. Of course which one you believe depends on your ideas on life. I personally believe that there is a god but that man made religion since 'He' transcends us and so we could not really comprehend 'Him'

Answer 9

You're quite right.
There's no Heaven Inc. publishing bibles.

Christian religion was created by Constantine from a lot of Pagan religions.

Check these sites:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04295c.htm
http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/

I'm pretty sure those people who created religions couldn't have known that it's not the solution and will bring more suffering in the future...

Can't blame them since humans are born with god spot.

Christianity = ignorance and bigotry.
That's one reason I chose to be an agnostic atheist.

From 'The Golden Compass':
In one of the final chapters of The Amber Spyglass, an ex-nun named Mary tells Will and Lyra, "The Christian religion is a very powerful and convincing mistake, that's all." Mary also tells them that after she learned there was no God, she soon discovered that "physics was more interesting anyway."

~Ming~

Answer 10

All non-profit religions are a form of mind control.

- Harry S. Truman (President of the United States) ~ paraphrase