What religion and why? Anyone else think there's something more to it?

I don't even know where to begin, these are the questions that have been pondering my mind lately and was wondering if anyone else has came to these ways.
Ever since I was a child I have gone to Christian church and my family was half catholic and the other half christian.
(Mom Catholic, Dad Christian)
They have both been semi into their religion and beliefs to a point where a kid would be drawn in to it too.
But for me ever since i was probably 11 or 12 i started thinking about the bigger picture. I started to ask my self why does god say only certain religions survive and what not and all the different gods there are to pray to, depending on belief.
There are so many religions out there to choose on. I feel most of us aren't really given a choice because there parents have had them go to church on a regular basis that they don't really get to choose for them self what suits them for the person they are.
I feel the most strong about the Buddhist religion because there isn't a a god you have to classify yourself for, it's more about yourself and reflecting on one another and isn't that what our mission here on earth is to find peace, tranquility, and enlightenment.
My questions is, is there anyone out there that believes in another power out there that they cant explain that created us for a reason but not the image of the god we read about in the bible and none of those stories that are told?
I feel we have lost touched with what we really should be in touch with, we have replaced everything with material things that we don't even need or really want. I feel like we lost a lot of information a long time ago that we needed and instead some people came along and paved us a road for what they wanted and from that other religions were born.
I also feel like as if something big is coming, really soon within the next months this year.
I don't know why I've just had a gut feeling about it for about a year now.

Maybe you're naturally inclined to be a deist?

This is the internet, you can study every religion. it doesn't matter if you're reading a webpage or a book, it's the contents that matter. Maybe you can find something that fits into your feelings of the 'big picture'.

Also, study science. The more you know for facts, the more clear the 'bigger picture' should become, and the better decision you can make for conjecture.

Seattles finest, i highly recommend "conversations with god" by Neal Donald Walsh. Those books will give you answers to questions you are asking, and then some. These books will amaze you (3 books).

Originally posted by Seattle's Finest
Ever since I was a child I have gone to Christian church and my family was half catholic and the other half christian.
(Mom Catholic, Dad Christian)
There are so many religions out there to choose on. I feel most of us aren't really given a choice because there parents have had them go to church on a regular basis that they don't really get to choose for them self what suits them for the person they are.
I feel the most strong about the Buddhist religion because there isn't a a god you have to classify yourself for, it's more about yourself and reflecting on one another and isn't that what our mission here on earth is to find peace, tranquility, and enlightenment.
My questions is, is there anyone out there that believes in another power out there that they cant explain that created us for a reason but not the image of the god we read about in the bible and none of those stories that are told?

when i was 6 years old, i remember walking out of watching a religious movie, thinking there has to be a better way.
the movie was about the sacrifices made by various saints.(rock in shoes, etc.).
i thought maybe we are here to learn something, but there has to be a better way.

so i went on my own spiritual path.
i joined many groups, went to their churches, but i didn't like the doctrines and dogma.
people should know how to think for themselves.

then in 1970 i was visited by a few different beings, i decided reside in different dimensions than our own.
seen by other people, cats and dogs, not my imagination.

there was no hollywood type of messages in their visit, but they taught me how to be a useful member of society and help others.

and since i know we are not alone, i became fascinated by studying what the ancients had recorded.

i find it easy to communicate with rabbis, buddhists and Hindus.

catholics and fundamentalists are very hard since they memorize what they believe and will quickly judge anything said.

personally i see myself as a servant of the Lord and i work for The Divine Unity.

i don't worry about end of life, prophecy, end of world, and other debates.

only what applies to everyday life and that can help others.

reply to post by Inkrinhuminge

Seattles finest, i highly recommend "conversations with god" by Neal Donald Walsh. Those books will give you answers to questions you are asking, and then some. These books will amaze you (3 books).

I absolutely agree. In fact, I've almost finished Walsh's "The New Revelations." It reiterates many of his points detailed in his previous books. It's more of an overview of sorts. Very thought-provoking and provides some advice on how we can begin to shed our old beliefs about God....the very beliefs that have created the biggest problems for humankind.

This book challenges you to examine some new ideas about God. It suggests that mankind's views and actions throughout history can be attributed to our false beliefs about God that date back to ancient texts, such as the belief that there is something that God needs something from US to be happy.

reply to post by SeattlesFinest


Don't choose a religion, choosing a religion implies blindly following dogma. Make your own dogma, if you think there is a God and that God (or whatever it is) has certain rules that have to be followed, decide for yourself. Spirituality is an entirely personal matter.


My view is that the universe is an amazing place, whether or not there is some all powerful God it wouldn't make the universe any less special than it already is.

reply to post by xxsomexpersonxx


Wow Iv'e never came across the Deist belief before, thank you. It seems to fit like it has a lot of matching characters I can relate to.
And I'm very into science, and learning about outer space at the moment. The more I research these things the more logical ideas I get.

reply to post by Inkrinhuminge


These sound interesting I might check them out, But.. I'm the kind of person that likes proof of some sort or it's hard for me to believe. I need something to be backed up from my experience or a professional experience. This is why it's hard for me to read the bible and believe exactly what it's saying..

reply to post by citizen6511


What do you mean visited, is this while you were awake? I'd like to hear more about this if you'r ever willing to share.
I've always heard of people having strange life changing experiences happening to them, but never sat down and talked with one. Me myself would love to go threw something like that. That would be something beyond my imagination and totally change your mind on everything you have ever learned from the "teachers".
What exactly is your belief based on now?

Originally posted by Inkrinhuminge
Seattles finest, i highly recommend "conversations with god" by Neal Donald Walsh. Those books will give you answers to questions you are asking, and then some. These books will amaze you (3 books).

Ditto, i have all eight books, in fact there could be nine im not sure. Please read them they will change your life, if you do not wish to buy them as i dont think theyre available online (Donalds reason for this being that anything of value is OF VALUE) dont make this cynical of him, you need to read the books, i would be happy to post and lend them to you as long as as i have your word that you will return them to me.

reply to post by SeattlesFinest


What do you meean about half Christian ?
To be Christian is to be part of a large religion spectrum which include all religion that has taking the New Tastement as they core belief.

reply to post by lifeissacred


I've never really been able to explain what I felt my belief was. I always found myself saying i don't know when people asked me of my religion. I never tried to explain my thoughts about it because i don't know how other religions would think about that. What would i call this "act of self religion"?

I can relate to you OP. I was the same. Growing up in "church"...never feeling right about X-mas. Always trying to question, a god, the bible, etc. Never felt "right" about any of it. No matter how much my father tried to "convince" me it was the "only way".

As I grew and left the church (and my family), I found my own way. It's not popular. It's not excepted. But it feels right for me. I am still growing and learning today. Honestly, I feel that earth is hell. I believe we are in a "prison" while on earth. Sounds out there, I know.

The church never felt right. Holidays felt strange. I didn't want to be part of it. I broke away from "tradition". It feels good. I know there is more to learn and understand, and I am working on that (even as I type this).

I am sure you will get a lot of different opinions. Things that may confuse you and make you wonder if you are wrong. Stick with you what you believe in your gut/heart, how ever you want to look at it.

I wish you luck. I know its not an easy (or excepted) journey. I think you are on your way....

reply to post by thedoctorswife


Maybe I should check these out, a lot have suggested them on the post already. I read a little about them and it just seem'd like a guy asking himself questions from the sounds of it.
Possibly, I'm kind of interested in these now. If you cant post them some how, don't worry about sending them my way. I will probably just go pick these up this week. Thank you though.

reply to post by thedoctorswife
Something i forgot to mention, i was gonna make a thread about this last night, entitled my first serious thread on religion spirituality and god, but fell asleep half way through cos ive got tonsilitius.

Anyway i dont consider myself the sharpest knife in the drawer but im gonna have a go anyway.
A question for you all, if God exists, then what do you think is more inportant to him, our spiritual relationship with him or our religiious relationship with him. Personally i think it is the former. Now notice what the abrahamic relationships have done, they have turned the concept of spirituality into religion.
I have a spiritual relationship with god (i feel very lucky to have this) i feel his presense and i trust iin him, i am not religious i no longer attend church, i dont believe that god in his perfection demands us to obey rules especially ones laid down by men.
MY theory is this,should there be a "devil" or lets just call it evil (which for some reason must have been created by god, but thats another discussion), what if religion ( and lets be honest millions have died in the name of religion) what if, religion is the evil that has destroyed our spiritual relationship with god, what if, religion which has become so abhorrant in its hypocrisy and ridiculous doctrine, and the evil of child abuse, has destroyed also the possiblity of Joe Public even considering just creating themselves a spiritual bond with god.
I see people in my town walk past the churches not giving them a second look, theyve become obssessed with materialism and all the rest of the evil of the western world. OK maybe a few might trot down to waterstones and look for something in the religious section titled "conversations with god", but not enough nowhere near enough.
Anyway thats my theory on religion and spirituality, please feel free to critisise even though my throat hurts so bad i think im gonna cry (that was not meant to be manipulative in any way).
Good evening pals

Originally posted by SeattlesFinest
reply to post by thedoctorswife

 

Maybe I should check these out, a lot have suggested them on the post already. I read a little about them and it just seem'd like a guy asking himself questions from the sounds of it.
Possibly, I'm kind of interested in these now. If you cant post them some how, don't worry about sending them my way. I will probably just go pick these up this week. Thank you though.

No prob, they were pretty life changing for me, the only thing you may find hard to accept, but hey in a world of infinite possiblity anything is possible, when Donald started writing these books he was at his lowest ebb, he was broke, lost everything, maybe drinking ( dont quote me on that, donald if you read that and its not true im sorry), basically he sat down with a pen and a pad of paper and starting writing angry questions to god,and lo and behold answers came back from the the big man himself. Now that sounds bizarre, but you need to read the depths of imformation in these books and you just may be convinced that they actually were from from the G man.

reply to post by SeattlesFinest


You see this is a problem I always had. I could never reasonably follow any 'doctrine' as all religions inevitably have. I don't see why I should have to associate my personal spiritual views with a label etc.

It's my view that if there is a God, it's something far beyond human comprehension and understanding that it would not make sense that there would be a 'religion' to be followed. But like I said before, God or no God, the universe is an amazing place and we should try to understand it's existence and the nature of it's being before we try to understand God, something which transcends 'reality'.

My personal beliefs by the way are close to 'Deism' if one were to put a label on it.

Originally posted by Seattle's Finest
reply to post by citizen6511

 

What do you mean visited, is this while you were awake? I'd like to hear more about this if you're ever willing to share.
I've always heard of people having strange life changing experiences happening to them, but never sat down and talked with one. Me myself would love to go threw something like that. That would be something beyond my imagination and totally change your mind on everything you have ever learned from the "teachers".
What exactly is your belief based on now?

for years i had visited friends on Superstition Mountain in Arizona.
it was named due to the stories the indians told early spanish explorers.
you can google the mountain to find more.

i heard many stories, but figured it had nothing to do with me.
then i lived on the mountain for 6 months.
check out my prior posts on grey alien for the whole story.
i don't know how to do links.

a white light being, very angelic was one.
i consider him a friend.
although my cat and dog were scared.

an earth spirit being with rapid beating of air, an earthy odor, but that could go through walls.
ask me 3 times who i was, then brought in a more powerful being.
said i couldn't see him because it would damage me.
they decided that i was just a human.

and two large beings, i know of as guardians of time, they are my protectors.
they have control over time and open portals between dimensions.
no sense of humor, they never smile.
i had to learn not to get mad at anyone, they take me too seriously.
very hard to keep emotions in check, but i take it as my fate.

i don't mind when they show up and i'm by myself or just animals.
i can calm down animals easily.
but humans have a hard time accepting things outside their perception of reality, and i have seen hysteria and people having problems months later, even when it was just a couple minute event.

they show up both day and night, it makes no difference to any from what i've seen.

two very large eyes, oblong in shape, smaller in the middle.
seen twice, introduced itself as the eyes that see God.
only beings i've ever seen that hop for motion.

a shape changing "dragon?", made of strands of beautiful colors, almost like fur.
which i have come to consider as one of my closest and best friend.

none have ever threatened me or been a bad influence on me.
i am not to judge any of these beings and to play my part in serving the Divine Unity.
i consider the work i do in helping others as more important than myself.

i try to keep things simple, if it's not my job, i don't worry about it.

i say my morning prayers, and then deal with the day.

Heres a nice quote from page 207 of Conversation with God book three
God; God, Life, Love, Unlimited, eternal, Free.
Anything which is not one of these things is not any of these things. You are all of those things. and you will seek to experience yourelf as all of these things sooner or later.
Neale: What does that mean " sooner of later"
God It depends on when you get over your fear. A I've said , fear is false evidence appearing real. It is that which your are not.
You will seek to experience That Which You Are when you are through experiencing that which you are not."
Mods sorry if i should have done some external quote thing, ive never done it berfore, i just really wanted to get that quote out, i promise to learn the rules straight away even though i have a septic throat (not trying to make you feel guility or anything) seriously will sort out referencing thing. promise

Originally posted by lifeissacred
reply to post by SeattlesFinest

 

You see this is a problem I always had. I could never reasonably follow any 'doctrine' as all religions inevitably have. I don't see why I should have to associate my personal spiritual views with a label etc.

It's my view that if there is a God, it's something far beyond human comprehension and understanding that it would not make sense that there would be a 'religion' to be followed. But like I said before, God or no God, the universe is an amazing place and we should try to understand it's existence and the nature of it's being before we try to understand God, something which transcends 'reality'.

My personal beliefs by the way are close to 'Deism' if one were to put a label on it.

edit on 30-7-2011 by lifeissacred because: (no reason given)

And thats my point religion is the barrier to us finding enlightenment, in fact i dont think it s the same in other countries but the sunday morning churchgoers ar regarded as a bit of a joke here, but theyve destroyed sprirituality.