Does belief in GOD require RELIGION?

  • Thread starter Thread starter uncommon_sense
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
U

uncommon_sense

Guest
The above question just came to me on another post and I thought it was a pretty good question, If you are going to believe in God do you then have to officially join a religion? I used to feel this way for a few years and because I did I looked in to Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and other organized religions because I felt like I had to at least go to church or a mosque or follow some specific ground rules. but in the end I came to the conclusion that the only thing you can do is the right thing or the wrong thing. I remember past conversations with people who were apart of an religion unable to understand how I could have a belief of God but not be religious, as if it was unheard of and in some places it probably is. I guess another question would be, Has right and wrong become not good enough? Is religion that extra step that (people who are not born into a religious family or find that there road takes them to god later in life) makes us feel like were complete when it comes to God, what do you guys and gals think?
P.S: if this was the wrong place for me to post this just let me know, I have it copied and will paste it somewhere else, thanks!!!
 
I feel a basic belief in God is a wonderful place to begin. For a lot of people, especially in today’s God-less society, that basic belief is a major hurdle.

For that, may God bless you in at least believing in a higher power!

As for which religion to choose, I would love to be biased and say join the Catholic Church, but you will get that response from everyone.

It is a must for you to realize that God does desire an intimate relationship with you and you must persevere in a prayer life and remain diligent with it. You will be led amazingly if you learn to abandon yourself completely to God and where He wants you to go.

As for your belief in simply doing what is right and wrong…there is truth to this, but let me ask you this:

What is right and wrong? Is it an absolute truth or is it relative to what you believe to be true? Some people feel there is no harm in pornography because it is not hurting anyone…others feel the exact opposite. That was one of my reasons for being drawn to the Catholic faith was that She has so many logical teachings on morality. Some people dislike the Catholic faith because they claim we become like robots adhering to a set of rules.

If you instead look at it from the perspective that you are following Commandments set by the Creator of the Universe who knows what is best for us beyond our own version of “right and wrong” then following these Commandments become not a restriction, but they actually set us free. The joy and peace from living this way is far more rewarding than simply living life based on earthly pleasure.

Anyways…I think an earnest desire to search for truth is a good start. It makes me rejoice to know at least people still believe in God. I sympathize with your being confused with the myriad of religions to choose from.

Just remember, the God who created you also gave you a means for finding absolute truth (as far as it has been revealed, since the infinite nature of God will never be fully understood). You simply must desire it and it seems like you do and that is the best start.

Again, may God bless you in this journey. It is tough at times, but you are in the beginnings of something beautiful!

Please, by the grace of God, persevere!
 
I think Catholics would say that belief in God requires you to be in His Church. (Now, I suppose we could get into a debate at to what constitutes His Church - but that’s probably a whole new thread.)
 
Well…I have to be true to my faith and the Church:

I do believe that the absolute truth God has given us is found in the Catholic Church.
 
i don’t think so. if you beleive in god and lead a good life i think you’ll be fine, but it would be better if you had a religious base.
 
Re: Does belief in GOD require RELIGION?

Actually, NO!

Pagans of old prove that. But what they also proved is that when one has a sense that ‘there must be something else’ higher than our existence, the ideas of WHAT that is, is quite diverse.

There are now many established ‘versions’ of that search for The Higher Being. But there is ONLY ONE where The Higher Being came to man. Christianity is the only one that states that.

But one is still free to search on their own.

The ANSWER is already here, but one cannot be forced, coerced or tricked to Him. That is not how He works.

He is That Powerful!

:cool:
 
What does the Bible say about this?

Hebrews Chapter 10
15The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:
16"This is the covenant I will make with them
after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds." 17Then he adds:
“Their sins and lawless acts
I will remember no more.” 18And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. 19Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. ***25Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. ***

I think it’s pretty clear, don’t you?

in Christ
Steph
 
It beats me how many people sneer or deride ‘organized religion’ as if it were the spawn of the devil, a nightmare of ‘rules and regulations’. They (not that I am accusing anybody here in particular) seem to think, oh, heaven, how tragic that I not be ‘free’ to ‘worship the being I call god’ whenever and wherever choose! How stifling to be ‘part’ of a whole instead of a perfect package of ‘one’ with all the endless creative ways to worship! like, uh, oh yeah, looking out at a tree. Cool. Or, uh, getting a really good feeling inside. Yeah. And not being forced into going to some dull church with a bunch of hypocrites (so totally unlike me), just listening to dull old stuff. I mean, we don’t really know anything about God, and all the various groups say stuff, but I don’t really know so why pick ‘one’ thing when I can be this cool “spiritual” person who likes Tarot, and Christmas, and respects the earth, and is in touch with the ‘feminine’, and likes Easter eggs, and thinks yoga is cool, and has a ‘spirit guide’, and does tai chi, and reads the Kama Sutra, and knows all the way cool stuff like "Chariots of the Gods’ and how all this cool pagan stuff just got destroyed by these bigoted religious freaks, which thank Persephone <I’m> not like, because I’m just so spiritual, you know? Live and let live. let people do their own thing, you know, it’s all cool, "An ye harm no one do as ye will’ and all that and what gives you guys the right to say something is wrong when it might not be wrong for somebody else–and if you like babies so much you adopt that poor woman’s and don’t be telling her what to do with her own body because I’m a live and let live kind of person. I don’t tell anybody what to do --except when they’re doing things wrong like all these religious bigots who won’t let me just be ‘spiritual’. And I’m so much better than they are anyway. 😃

Now again, I am not accusing anybody, but think about it. Just why is ‘organized religion’ so ‘unappealing’ to so many? A lot of it turns on exactly that idea of ‘obedience’ to somebody else (a church) and having to accept that you are not the be-all and end-all of creation, that maybe there is more to having a relationship with God than ‘doing whatever you want so long as you’re nice and now and again get a good feeling or do a ‘good deed’. . .and nothing more. That maybe the church has ‘rules’ for a good reason. That maybe you can ‘learn’ from that ‘old dead stuff’. That maybe you have to be responsible and not just throwing up your hands with, "I can’t choose what is truth–it’s ALL good (except the organized stuff), don’t make me–I want to take what I like and ignore the rest --I don’t want to be bothered having to take a stand, I just want to relax and think I’m covered no matter what. . .and above all, I don’t want to make ‘waves’ by making a firm choice because then I will have to take some things which I will know are wrong and stop doing them. My friends and family will get upset because I won’t be the friendly spiritual person who smiles at anything they do with "It’s all good’. If I actually choose a real religion, they’ll laugh at me. They’ll say I’ve sold out. They’ll mock me. And they’ll be able to do all the ‘fun’ things and call me a moron and a bigot and make me feel bad. But if I just let anything go. . .they’ll all LIKE me, and I won’t have to feel bad. When it comes right down to it. . .I’d rather not offend people. God will understand. Besides, if he REALLY wanted me to be religious, He would have made it perfectly clear which was the REAL religion and everybody would be it and so it’s really His fault if I pick a ‘wrong’ one or indeed any one."
 
uncommon_sense said:
The above question just came to me on another post and I thought it was a pretty good question, If you are going to believe in God do you then have to officially join a religion? I used to feel this way for a few years and because I did I looked in to Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and other organized religions because I felt like I had to at least go to church or a mosque or follow some specific ground rules. but in the end I came to the conclusion that the only thing you can do is the right thing or the wrong thing. I remember past conversations with people who were apart of an religion unable to understand how I could have a belief of God but not be religious, as if it was unheard of and in some places it probably is. I guess another question would be, Has right and wrong become not good enough? Is religion that extra step that (people who are not born into a religious family or find that there road takes them to god later in life) makes us feel like were complete when it comes to God, what do you guys and gals think?
P.S: if this was the wrong place for me to post this just let me know, I have it copied and will paste it somewhere else, thanks!!!
Click to expand...
Since I know plenty of people who believe in God and don’t belong to a church, I’d say no. Are you familiar with the Deists? Many of the founding fathers of the U.S. were Deists (Washington, Jefferson, Ben Franklin, Thomas Paine). They believe in God (thus the DEIism) but they weren’t what would be described as religious. Check them out at www.moderndeism.com if you’d like to learn more - I just saw the website for the first time last week and find their approach interesting. They didn’t go to church at all and believe God could best be found by communing with nature.

I think it could be argued that belonging to a “religion” can actually be a hinderance to spiritual advancement because so many relitions are so biased and narrow in interpretation and teaching. Despite the intentions if Jesus (whatever they were) many “Christians” are strongly biased and in many cases give the religion a bad name. There are plenty of examples of people who go to church regularly but who aren’t what I’d call spiritual, or even very good people.

My suggestion is that you not try to force yourself into a box just because you think you should. Go with your heart.
 
uncommon_sense said:
The above question just came to me on another post and I thought it was a pretty good question, If you are going to believe in God do you then have to officially join a religion? I!!!
Click to expand...
depends on your definition of religion, which commonly accepted here is the duty the believer owes to God in justice of praise, worship, thanksgiving, contrition and obedience. The various organized religions claim to teach the proper way to render that duty. There can be no real belief in God without a corresponding response to that belief.
 
To answer your question I say flat-out NO. For me religion is man’s way of explaining and serving a higher power. Now if you want to find the truth, I definitely recommend you pray to that higher power we like to call God (which he is) and ask him to reveal little by little the way He established to worship and serving him which will lead you to the Catholic Church :eek: .

PS: I hope I didn’t sound so propagandist but it’s the truth. Also will help to pick up the Bible and meditate on it.👍
 
Of course one would not know of a ‘God’ without some kind of revelation…the aztecs worshipped a sun ‘god’ and to appease its evidently bad disposition,they practiced human sacrifice…when the great Cortez entered what is now Mexico city…he found some 100,000 skulls…most of young people,who were thus murdered to placate this ‘god’…in left wing Nazi Germany they returned back to an ancient myth of a ‘god’ that only preferred folks who were Germanic by birth and thus we had eventually the holocaust! Without a teaching from spiritual ancestors we would be but pagans…and thus worship, success without achievement,ethics without religion and character without morals…for we as humans like it easy…its tough to get down on ones knees and worship a God of Truth and sacrifice…instead its easier to worship movie stars and politicians and talk show hosts…no one ever dies for a lie…knowing its a lie…so those who left us the story of Jesus were telling the truth and its good enough for me…
 
I’d say that depends on which God you believe in. Some are only revealed through religion and themselves command their followers behave in certain ways, take part in certain rituals, which is essentially partaking of religion.

If you just believe there is something out there…you can believe that but never specify it enough or worry over it enough to respond in a specific manner.So in that case, you believe, but you have no religion, just some vague ideas.

Others believe in a deity revealed by some religion, but then form their own personal religion around it…come up with their own set of behaviors in response to their belief rather than follow the ones that most of the deity’s followers ascribe to. That is still a religion, just a religion of one.
 
Yes, I agree with the desciption: a ‘religion’ of one.

I find it of interest, that we are often urged to have 'integrity."
[oneness, wholeness.] That what we do, or say, or think -
or in our evaluations, in life - that these find their context
in that which we hold, as an individual, to be a reflection of reality.

Needless to say, when it comes to religion, groups of
human beings, say: 'This is the truth."

In light of these faith statements - and recalling the catechesis of childhood, I’m composing a catechism of that which I do believe [can believe.]

I’m finding that this ‘catechism’ format, holds the same affective quality - as did the catechesis of the far past.
To wit:

quote: reen12, from another thread
****What is the purpose of life? ****
I can safely leave that for the Creator to know.

Why are we here?
Linked to the first question. I’m here - so the
Creator must have wanted me to be here.

Is the Creator God?
Yes.

How do I know that God exists?
I base belief - in the existence of God -
on the complex design of living creatures.

Why do human beings suffer?
This requires childlike trust in God,
that He knows why.

Why does evil exist?
It just does. I leave the ‘why’ in the keeping of God.

What am I supposed to be doing?
Trusting that God really does have the whole world in His hands.
Respecting my own human needs - and the human needs of those around me, while trying to meet the needs of those who are truly helpless.

What of the faith statements of the major world religions?
These express deeply held beliefs about God,
often based on scriptures.
Click to expand...
**

When I complete this catechism of one, I shall put some
pictures in it, print it, and bind it. What I hold true about God,
as He knows Himself to be - not as others have described Him.

reen12

**
 
I agree with the description of a ‘religion’ of one.

We are oft urged to maintain integrity [oneness, wholeness.]
To display integrity - when it comes to what we do and say,
and in making assessments in life.

Groups of human beings make statements about
theological reality - the beliefs that are held, and the bases
of these beliefts. Sometimes, these beliefs are stated in catechisms.

In keeping with this practice, I am making a catechism of one.

quote: reen12, from another thread
What is the purpose of life?
I can safely leave that for the Creator to know.

Why are we here?
Linked to the first question. I’m here - so the
Creator must have wanted me to be here.

Is the Creator God?
Yes.

How do I know that God exists?
I base belief - in the existence of God -
on the complex design of living creatures.

Why do human beings suffer?
This requires childlike trust in God,
that He knows why.

Why does evil exist?
It just does. I leave the ‘why’ in the keeping of God.

What am I supposed to be doing?
Trusting that God really does have the whole world in His hands.
Respecting my own human needs - and the human needs of those around me,
while trying to meet the needs of those who are truly helpless.

What of the faith statements of the major world religions?
These express deeply held beliefs about God,
often based on scriptures.
Click to expand...
When it is finished, I will print it and bind it - having added pictures to the text. Already, I find this catechism to have the same ‘affective’ nature, as did the original catechesis of long ago.

This new ‘catechism’ reaches far back in time, un-doing that
which I was required to memorize about God, faith, church…
in a similar format.

This is, I am finding, an effective method of undoing the* ‘*affective element’ - which, for me, accompanied the original catechesis - before I had reached a point in life where I might have offered challenge, to that which I was being taught.

reen12
 
I will answer NO. Because as Jesus said in Matt 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, “Lord,Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.”

But I do believe that religion is the way to give us direction to do God’s will. And as Jesus said that “I am the way, the truth and the life”. So, it’s the right thing to follow Jesus.
 

Hi,
I am not agree with your question because God didn’t say like that everyone who believe the God will enter into the heaven.​

Joel

orkut
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top