A lot of this is not going to make sense, since I’m just basically writing whatever is coming into my mind right now so bear with me.

I have a feeling the people (not all) who claim to love or believe in God only do it because of his ability to put people in heaven or hell. It's like a mass brown nosing. I wonder whether those same people would still love him if he wasn't so high and mighty. Think about it there are countless of these self-righteous, sanctimonious blockheads that claim belief (some may even be priests) for their own spiritual benefit.

And those who do all the self-less acts of giving and volunteering is in a way being selfish I think for it gives them JOY in return, which goes against the definition of selfless. I realize I’m being extremely cynical right now and am in no way trying to disrespect those who are fully devoted to giving their time and effort for the better cause. But there are those, I might even dare to say a majority of the people (including me) who only do such “selfless” acts to benefit themselves in an effort to improve the look on their resume or college application. That being said, I would much rather like to see a Buddhist who completely devotes himself to his religion without fear or doubt than see a regular Christian who constantly lies to himself. It makes me sick to look at such overzealous people praise God when their motives are so obvious. Many old people I see are overzealous (understandably so since their time is running pretty low to make a good impression on God) with their constant preaching and praying.

In addition, I also can't help but think the concept of religion to be nothing, but a mass conspiracy to keep the lower class in control (it sounds paranoid and foolish I know, but it can’t be completely ruled out). Religion has first appeared in an attempt to explain the inexplainable, which has by now has been replaced by science. So with the original purpose of religion gone, it makes sense for others to try to use it to their own advantage as is very apparent throughout history (especially in Catholicism). Without God to give hope of a glorious afterlife, there's no way in hell these lower class people will stand by and be trampled on. They would try to live out their life to the best and mass chaos will roar throughout the globe.

I think the main lesson here is to be practical and accept the fact that there is a chance that God may not exist, but to continue to have faith in Him because nobody can be sure of his existence, for there is no proof and continue to live by His rules and teachings. That being said, how do you believe when you can’t be sure? I think the better word for it is “trust”. You must trust that God exists and not believe he exists, which I think are different (someone help clarify this point). There’s a difference in saying I believe the Knicks will make it to the Final Four and I trust the Knicks will make it to the Final Four. To trust is to fully understand and accept the fact that He may not exist and yet still have faith whereas to believe is to completely rule out such possibilities and is more like blindly believing something, which for some reason sounds worse.

Lol I just realized that instead of asking a question, I've done a rant.
Well the queastion is: Is there a point in religion? Or better yet, what IS religion? Is it a simple reward and punishment system like we do with dogs or something much deeper?
I would also be interested to read in your comments about what I have said.

Bairdh

if you are unsure he exists i dare you to pray each night before bed " Jesus if you are real i want to know you and i want you to reveal yourself to me" if you do this for 60 days sincerely i guarantee you that you will meet him in person and you will them know him personally, as far as God being all high and mighty in your letter did you forget that he came to earth in the form of a baby, and served others while here, than not only died, but died on a cross to pay for our sins, nothing is more humble than what Jesus is and did. i think you need to read your bible a little more and talk to God a little more, as you have alot of things here confused, and also you say there are people that are not true in what they are doing, Jesus himself warned that many would falsely come and use his name, so we should already know that, and everywhere bad people can be found, even in Churches

Jesushelper76

You see I know God exists. I have never doubted. As far as religion goes it sounds that your very cynical but that is your choice and your feelings. I do believe that you are paranoid and that your lumping people in one category. It does not matter what group your connected with. What religion, What culture. There are people who want to make themselves look good, just for the show. Not for the benefit of others. It is not up to you or I to judge anybody's heart. It is up to God. God knows who is sincere in his/her love and who is not. The only true life lesson is to LOVE, Learn true love and to share true love to others.

Joe

leelea

Your faith or trust is only as good as the object in which you put your trust in. God doesnt want to send anybody to hell. he sent his only begotten son to seek and save that which was lost. In order to understand this you must read john 3:17-18. along with john3:16. God does not condem. the world condems itself through unbelief. God does exist and that is the truth. Jesus said "i am the way the TRUTH and the life no one comes unto the Father but by me." John 14:6. It is the truth and it still is the truth whether someone believes it or not. i would rather you find this out now instead of the other side of eternity.

Allheart

Hi Very,

Oh my. Not sure where to start. Oh Yes I love God, Our Father and feel so unworthy of His love. To be honest, and this may be wrong, but I don't think of eternal life, as I know I just have to much work to do to cleanse my soul.

I trust and yes beleive there is a God, and have been blessed at a very young age to have been introduced to Him, something I will forever be grateful to my Mother for.

Why do I trust and beleive? Because God our Father, carried me through some pretty sad days and I truly felt his love.

I do not have this faith so it is in exchange for eternal life. I have this faith because I have been blessed, so very blessed and have an obligation, because I have been given
this blessing to know Our Father, to share His love with others. Oh not by preaching, but from sharing love from the heart.

When you do and give from your heart, it is always genuine.

If you wish, take a quiet moment and talk to Our Father. Someone wants shared with me, that we can talk to Him, just like we would our earthly father. Tell Him your fears, your doubts, your concerns. Open your heart to him, you will be so surprized how you feel his prescence.

Just so you know, so many times I found myself, forgetting to pray, staying in the dark, thinking I can handle this life on my own. When I would forget, that's when I struggled the most, when things became so unclear. The moments that I remembered the love of Our Father, that's when I am the happiest.

Sorry, I hope this helps. Seems I am rambling on myself.

Megg

I personally think i am wiccan. I do believe in a god or at least think i do, but at time's i wonder why and how is there a supreme being. Honestly that's not possible...scienctifically. There's nothing wrong with wondering and doubting. My fiance doesn't believe anything...so basically there may be a god or not. You just need to reseaurch different belief's and maybe you'll find what you what or you may be of no religion.

Jesushelper76

Scientifically there is support that there is a supreme being, a supreme creator. Anything is possible and everything is possible. We are only a small part that actually exists in this whole world. It is amazing to think of all the possibilities out there. The world is bigger then just our earth.

Joe

Morganite

My daughter when little told a playmate that the way to say funny things was to "Just say whatever comes into your head!"

While that might be true of children, as we mature and consider the world and all that is in it, we do well to become informed so that our opinions are based on something more than our feelings at the moment, and to ensure that what we say is not merely governed by our emotions.

One definition of Religion is that it is any form of attendance on or worship of a supreme being. Having said that, to deal with all the objections/questions you raise about religion and the religious would take several volumes. Is it not sufficient to say that many people derive direction, succour, and comfort from their faith? These would seem to be excellent points derived from religion.

On the question of fear of opunishment as the motivation for religious adherence, I do not see it. That opinion - I will not call it an argument - has been used for centuries by the non-religious as a form of criticism.

But what if there is more to it than that? What if religious faith is not the delusion that the non-religious sometimes claim it to be?

What if there is something real in the religious experiences of mankind? Does person A have to feel what person B feels in order to make person B's religious experience valid?

Does person A have to feel the same love for for Person B's wife that person B feels for Person B's love for his wife to be valid for person B, or can he love her irrespective of any feeling person A might or might not have?

Religion is like love. Some will say that it is love, and that it is love for God rather than fear of God that motivates them to be 'religious.'

I consider your answers qwould be better answers for you and more understandable and acceptable to you if you were to delve into the natyure of religious experience as experienced by others, rather than sitting, as it were, on the sidelines watching a game in which you are not involved.

You might never become a player, but at least you will begin to understand the game and appreciate that those who play it enjoy it.

I will address one further point you make, and that is the question of social control. It is undeniable that there have been times and places where rleigion was used to subdue the poor and keep them in their places. One well-known hymn, says:

The rich man in his castle,
The poor man at his gate.
God made them high and lowly
And ordered their estate.

That worked well when the local minister was in cahoots with the local squire and the local maghistrate to keep the underpaid, overworked, and ill-used masses quiet. However, time has marche don, the earth has rotated a few mopre times, and the places where that was so have enjoyed a social revolution so that no minister, squire, or magistrate is counted more worthy of anything than the most lowly working man.

Interestingly enough, although certain forms of religion imposed such controls, it was also certain forms of religion that broke them, raised mankind to its feet, and threw off the shackles of slavery and serfdom. It has not always been bad news everywhere for everyone. Religion has done and still does make major contributions to society and our well being.

The non-religious benefit by being in the same place, whether they like that or not. That is a fact of life.

While it is customary for some to notice religion only to find fault with it, it is a imbalanced view of the world's religions as a whole to heap only negativity at their doors. One can only do such if one is blind or ignorant of the many positive contributions that religion has made to ease the burdens of humanity.

Thank you for an interesting post and some thought-provoking questions.

MRGANITE

Starman

I'm not sure what you mean by a "point."

There is a strictly sociological atheistic way of looking at religion that is taught in our schools of higher learning which would partially be in accord with the reward punishment viewpoint. In this scenario religion would also be a way of alleviating mankind's fears of the unknown via giving the illusion that it has some control over its own destiny and that the forces of nature can be appeased.

The majority of non-atheists view religion as a manifestation of divine guidance. For Christians, for example, the religion revealed via the OT and NT comprises God's instructive message to mankind.

BTW
The relationship between God and man isn't that of master and pet. It's one of parent and child. Which brings up the question of whether rewarding someone for following instructions make him a pet. Just an afterthoght. No humor intended.

Morganite

If you are a Christian, then you are righteoused by Jesus, and you ought not to feel unworthy. To feel unworthy is to (sort of) deny the all-encompassing atonement of Jesus. Stand in his light and love! "Though your sins be scarlet they shall be as wool. Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as white as snow." You believe in Jesus. Now BELIEVE what JESUS says.