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I was wondering if this is even "legal" in our society so I better ask before I put my foot where it shouldn't be. So can someone tell me, can you believe in god, but not follow a religion? :)
Definitely. Religion is more a concept associated with HOW you wish to express that belief and desire to follow. If you review the evolution of monotheistic religions, the striking feature is that as education levels rise, disagreements over 'how' to follow increase. Hence the number of sects has ballooned even though some are now defunct. You can not only believe, but in many countries you can set up your own version without further qualification and even set one up as a business (tho its usually described more idiomatically!). In essence, an individual (assuming they actually have a 'free' choice) can choose between non-belief and belief. If they choose to believe, they can either select one of the many many pre-made templates, or they can make up a template of appropriate practices and observances of their own. Comparing the histories of all religions reveals cycles of assertion, tradition, dissent and re-invention that say much about the human condition. Most people get so caught up in the detail of one tradtion and its most recent history however, so they stay too close to the trees to see the nature of the woods....
"God gave us Spiritual Truth, The devil organized into religion." This old saying almost seems true to me, when you look at alot of the problems caused by religion in our society today and in the past. From Child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church to Islamic Jihahd Man has taken great messages of hope and salvation and twisted it to force his will on humanity
Churches have also done a great deal of good that you will never read about in your papers, LOL. I am not apposed to going to church to worship, I just dont like the Idea of a preacher telling me I have to jump through a bunch of hoops before God will love me. Religion can drive a wedge between us and God. Watch this video, and Read the book "The Shack". It really put it all together for me.
We all look to role models to help us be better (or more interesting!) people. In looking across the world's religions, I'd say God seems to represent the ideal of what humanity would like to become; the totality of our spiritual aspirations. Imagining a state of total Good is much easier to share and communicate if you have an opposite to compare it to, hence the devil concept. Before we had the words to describe it, humans would always have had a sense of order and disorder, and we still prize order over disorder, peace over war (which was very very common in ancient times) - hence devil-worship has always been rare but worship of good gods common. :)
Me too. There's a lot of common sense in the texts of many faiths/sects - e.g. That being kind and helpful to each other is a good thing. Oddly, some of their followers seem to think that only card-carrying members can be like that. There are even followers of different faiths who seem think its to kill each other in the name of the same god. Failing to walk the talk devalues their faiths and leads to strife - look at the Middle Ages in Europe, its conflicts and schisms, for many examples. Little has changed. Non-believers may not be pious, but they mostly accept and teach the virtues of tolerance and 'good human practice' without pride. Ironic.
I agree. People find it hard to put principles into practice. Many faiths endured much persecution over the centuries, yet continue to persecute others even though their own faith's texts say it is a bad thing. But that's our animal side - our desire to be better than someone else by having something they don't - it's called social dominance. You can see it in every aspect of humanity from the way we dress to the way we behave as individuals, groups, communities and nations. Take time out to watch chimp behaviour, and ask yourself how far forward have we really come....
I believe in God, I believe Jesus is the Son of God, I believe there's a heaven and there's a hell... but I probably shouldn't consider myself a Christian because I don't agree with some of their beliefs. For instance, I don't believe it's right for us to be so against gay marriage. So since I support it, most Christians say I'm not a true Christian. But I'm okay with it, I have my beliefs and that's it. I don't need to be put under a category when it comes to anything, especially religion.
I see no reason you shouldnt consider yourself Christian (unless you dont want to, thats a pretty good reason!). You believe in the main stuff, and I think you're allowed to have other beliefs about things like gay marriage. If you ask me, you are far more Christian than people who are against gay marriage and go around persecuting people. And its not up to anyone to tell you that you're not a true Christian, they should worry about their own lives
There are many non-Christian religions based on a belief in God. Just as the UK/US have been described as 'two nations separated by a common language', many faiths are divided by a belief in the same deity. This won't change until more people take time to study other faiths instead of placing their own on a pedestal. It doesn't take much study before you begin to realise why the Dalai Lama has such an intriguing sense of humour...
If god made us with love, why would he NEED us to follow a set religion?
Just follow him.. when I was a child, I went to a catholic school.. all it spoke of was how other religions got it wrong, and of how bad we all were... would god truly think that wise?
I just believe In a higher power, we would call god.
I think it's perfectly okay to believe in God, but not the religions that are out there. Religions complicate the whole idea far too much in my opinion, especially if you consider all of the rules they set for you to be considered 'Christian' or someone who is worthy of heaven.
I think so. I mean it would be really hard(at least for me) to believe that there is no existing god or life after death. Like wheres the hope in that? I don't really know if I believe in the religion I was raised with though. Still figuring that out.
I dont think you have to agree with everything other Christians believe. I think there are some central beliefs, but in some cases you need to decide things for yourself. Other Christians complicate things needlessly! Thats just what I think though
sometimes i say in my thoughs that he is real or not,i got no answer,but one thing i can tell by my experience,when i pray to him,i feel comfort,i found much luck at my side,so i do believe him,but am not religous person.
well of course, you can do what ever you want its not as if anyone can stop you but i get what you mean, and thats how i am, i believe in a higher power or a god of some sort but i dont follow any/just one religion
Most Christians I grew up with and around are very close-minded. I accept everybody, regardless of who they love or what they do. I don't like to consider myself a Christian because I feel like a hypocrite. :)
That's not true. You have to agree with what Christians believe.. follow the bible. Do you know how many things are considered a sin? It's pretty crazy. Not one person can go one day without sinning.
ofcourse believing in god is one thing and following what priests say is a different thing....you can love god and obey him even if you do not follow any dictates laid by any relegious instituition.
i have my own religion and i believe in God. i dont follow the bible or go to church i beleive what i want to believe cuz no one can force me to belive in somthing i just dont
You can believe what you want to believe. Others might not share your faith, but it's not up to them what you believe in, only you can decide
No, I simply think he's a higher power.. I don't not look up to him to make me feel better or interesting. I don't think the devil is real=/
sure, you can beleive in whatever you want. the rules mankind has made up for religion are really just guidelines
yes, no one can tell you what you can or cant think about. its none of their business what goes through our heads
the only thing you need to do to be 'christian' is to believe in God. It's not very complicated =]
Of course. Believe what you want. I believe in God but I don't follow any religion
YES!!! I do....REligion IS MAn-made! check out my blog whitelilybride
Oh sweet! I didn't know that! We got something in common lol
oops, that should be '...think its ok to kill...'
You can believe in whatever you like.
Yeah. I do.
100% right
