Why so many religions?

[Classik]

Why do we have so many religions?

 

[handy]

And why so many that come sooo close to Christianity... deities who come to earth and die and are reborn... not too mention Islam and post-Christian Judaism... Mormons and JW's...

We are all made to believe in and worship something and Satan knows that a lie is most effective when layered with bits of the truth.

 

[Claudya]

It's because we are llimitied in our perception and our knowledge. Human reality is always suubjectively constructed; a product of our personal experience and the culture we live in. We have that spirituality thing within us, so we are driven to seek for absolute truth, but we are incapable of finding it. Our mind's aren't made for absolute perception.
So different people at different places and times come up with different answeres for what the world's origin and its purpose is, and what human's origin and purpose is. That's why many different religious systems have formed.
Whether or not one of those answers is the absolute truth we cannot know while in this world. That's why we need to believe/ have faith.

 

[Classik]

The WHY of so many religions: I've heard some argue God wants variety. You are right, Dora. Christianity has so many branches, most teaching something totally differnt.

 

[Classik]

[MENTION=90700]Edward[/MENTION]. LOL. Well...dad seems to have transfered it to us. Seems to be a biological thing. He asks a million questions per day.

 

[Classik]

It's because we are llimitied in our perception and our knowledge. Human reality is always suubjectively constructed; a product of our personal experience and the culture we live in. We have that spirituality thing within us, so we are driven to seek for absolute truth, but we are incapable of finding it. Our mind's aren't made for absolute perception. So different people at different places and times come up with different answeres for what the world's origin and its purpose is, and what human's origin and purpose is. That's why many different religious systems have formed. Whether or not one of those answers is the absolute truth we cannot know while in this world. That's why we need to believe/ have faith.

Nice reply. So do we really need a standard. Would there ever be a standard? Even Christianity has varying teachings - most contradicting the others.

 

[Classik]

That is the reason my church encourages 'follow up'. If you go on a house-to-house evangelism and win a soul you don't give up on that person. You need to lead and direct the person in all things. If not the person may end up in a church that teaches a totally different or false doctrine. And they call it christian church - when nothing is christian about it.

 

[Claudya]

Nice reply. So do we really need a standard. Would there ever be a standard? Even Christianity has varying teachings - most contradicting the others.

That's the problem. We would need a standard. But it's not within our abilities to know what the standard would be. There is no real objective knowledge. We could construct objectivity be accepting what many people and many religions agree on as inter-individually objective. For example there is probably no religion that would think arbitrary murder or adultery a good idea. The "golden rule" (Matthew 7:12) is a teaching that can be found in many religions, so it's kinda objectively a law of human ethics, too.
But as individuals we all need to make a decision what ethical and meta-physical standard we accept for our lives; and we have to do so without certainty whether our decision in line with the absolute truth.

 

[TRUTH over TRADITION]

Why do we have so many religions?

My guess is that it's due in large part to the fact that we have so many people with different perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences that have only in recent history began coming together as a united human race that is not as isolated in our own communities.

Religious belief is often a product of a culture's preconceptions, knowledge (or lack thereof), traditions, and superstitions.

 

[Classik]

Why do we have so many religions?

My guess is that it's due in large part to the fact that we have so many people with different perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences that have only in recent history began coming together as a united human race that is not as isolated in our own communities. Religious belief is often a product of a culture's preconceptions, knowledge (or lack thereof), traditions, and superstitions.

I agree with you. Culture is one good example. Thanks. However, even in a particular culture shared by a particular 'people', there are great differences in teachings/doctrines. Take for instance, in a particular culture there could exist the Baptists, JW, Catholics, Pentecostals, etc... What do these differences have to do with culture. (I'm talking about christianity)

 

[TRUTH over TRADITION]

Take for instance, in a particular culture there could exist the Baptists, JW, Catholics, Pentecostals, etc... What do these differences have to do with culture. (I'm talking about christianity)

My bad, I thought you were referencing all religions as opposed to different sects within Christendom.

 

[Brother Mike]

The WHY of so many religions: I've heard some argue God wants variety. You are right, Dora. Christianity has so many branches, most teaching something totally differnt.

Teaching what different? There is only one way to God the Father, that is the Lord Jesus Christ through the redemption of His precious blood shed, that whosoever will confess the Lord Jesus and believe in their heart, that God has raised him from the dead shall have eternal life.

We have the blood, raised from the dead, the Son of God by which only mankind can have eternal life, and the Lord was resurrected from the dead, giving us hope.

Any real church teaches and believes those things, even the Catholic Church believes those things and the only condition I see to being born again, through the belief in the Lord Jesus.

I have checked Methodist, been Baptist and Nazarene, Been to Catholic mass and all believe just what I typed above. So, none of that is different.

If what you believe will get you to Jesus, then the Job is done and life has started.

Now we can speak about pre-trib rapture, post trib, praying to Mary so that she can talk to Jesus for you, speaking in tongues, and whatever other subject you want to talk about and different from each church but it all don't matter if you end up in Hell and miss the teaching that Jesus Is Lord.

Mike.

 

[TRUTH over TRADITION]

Take for instance, in a particular culture there could exist the Baptists, JW, Catholics, Pentecostals, etc...

Consider that initially, the Christian religion was more of a top down authoritarian religion than one of the people. Councils and boards of bishops conviened to determine what acceptable doctrine was and their decisions were made in effect law to the laity.

In the course of time as Bibles became more readily available and literacy increased, rise was given to opinions that stood in opposition to what had been mandated by the religious leaders.

The protestant movement occurred followed by a reformation and as more people believed that they had the ability to connect with God just as the religious leaders of days gone by had claimed, some felt they were privy to new revelation or better understandings so they formed religious sects based on their own perceived relationships with God and their points of view.

What gets lost is that if you look at the Bible, specifically the NT, it reads as a book NOT designed to produce a religion or a religious sect. The various sects that formed based loosely on what is written are very likely not the offspring intended by the inspired writings. Religion could very well be the children of Babylon.

 

[jasoncran]

And why so many that come sooo close to Christianity... deities who come to earth and die and are reborn... not too mention Islam and post-Christian Judaism... Mormons and JW's...

We are all made to believe in and worship something and Satan knows that a lie is most effective when layered with bits of the truth.

post Christian judiasm? you mean simply Judaism. of course satan does.

 

[reba]

mankind always seems to make a mess of things;

Religion is mans plan for God

Salvation is God's plan for man.

 

[Free Christian]

Hi Classik. For me its like this. We are told in scripture that many will heap up to themselves, with itching ears, teachers that teach what they want to hear. Also that many in the last days will say "Lord, in your name we cast out devils, prophesied and did many wonderful works". These people believed they were Christian and claimed it. Jesus says though "depart from me". Not all who look Christian are Christian. That's why we are told to try the spirits. To look into and check if they and their teaching is in line with God and scripture. There can be slight cultural difs even in one culture but the basics are clear to see in scripture. It tells us about who teaches, elders, singing, worship, conduct, idols and so on. If what they do or teach does not line up then we must consider a few things. That's why there are so many, but not all doing the right thing. Seriously, what's so hard about doing the basics which we are shown clearly? Nothing, then why do they deviate? We can follow a repair manual for a car to the letter and get it right but not some simple church practices?

 

[King James]

Why do we have so many religions?

Why not?

 

[Mike S]

Why do we have so many religions?

Many theologians and scientists alike feel we're hardwired for religion. I believe that's true. Science can go a long way toward explaining the "how" of things, but can't even get close to explaining the "why." Culture and tradition and individual experience are big factors in shaping the form of our religion (and there are billions of us so just imagine the possible permutations) so I think it's inevitable that we see different religions all over the globe. Even very different versions of our same Christian denominations, for instance, between African countries and the United States.

 

[Classik]

Take for instance, in a particular culture there could exist the Baptists, JW, Catholics, Pentecostals, etc... What do these differences have to do with culture. (I'm talking about christianity)

My bad, I thought you were referencing all religions as opposed to different sects within Christendom.

You are in order. Sorry if my post confused you. I was wondering why even in christianity we are divided.

 

[Classik]

The WHY of so many religions: I've heard some argue God wants variety. You are right, Dora. Christianity has so many branches, most teaching something totally differnt.

Teaching what different? There is only one way to God the Father, that is the Lord Jesus Christ through the redemption of His precious blood shed, that whosoever will confess the Lord Jesus and believe in their heart, that God has raised him from the dead shall have eternal life. We have the blood, raised from the dead, the Son of God by which only mankind can have eternal life, and the Lord was resurrected from the dead, giving us hope. Any real church teaches and believes those things, even the Catholic Church believes those things and the only condition I see to being born again, through the belief in the Lord Jesus. I have checked Methodist, been Baptist and Nazarene, Been to Catholic mass and all believe just what I typed above. So, none of that is different. If what you believe will get you to Jesus, then the Job is done and life has started. Now we can speak about pre-trib rapture, post trib, praying to Mary so that she can talk to Jesus for you, speaking in tongues, and whatever other subject you want to talk about and different from each church but it all don't matter if you end up in Hell and miss the teaching that Jesus Is Lord. Mike.

Thanks for your reply:D Tho its a bit confusing.