Do you think that God particularly cares about what religion one follows as long as they believe in Him?

Do you think that God particularly cares about what religion one follows as long as they believe in Asked by rhine44 10 months ago Similar questions: God cares religion long Society > Religion & Spirituality.

Similar questions: God cares religion long.

Making the assumption there is such a being, nowhere in the Old or New Testament does it say "thou shalt be a Methodist" or "Thou shalt be a fundamentalist. " It only states that you should (yes, this is paraphrased! ) "love the Lord thy God with all thine heart."

It doesn't say you have to be any religion in order to do so. However, since the Bible is aimed at the Jewish faith, I suppose one could find an underlying message in there if you looked hard enough that "Thou shalt be a Jew or else thou art doomed. " Overall, the separate sects/religions have one goal in mind and that's to raise money and so long as you give it to their denomination, belief or anything else is a moot point.

Well, if you use the bible as your reference book: Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the father except through me" But also, "... he sent his only begotten son, so that whosoever believes in him shall not perish..."therefore, the conclusion would be that the defining point would be accepting Jesus as your contact to God; and all else is brand names. So if you are defining "religion" as whether you are christian, hindu, etc; then yes, I think Jesus is the key, according to my belief system.

However, if you are defining "religion" as what brand name your christian church has over the doorway - then no. It's just a brand name.

Me, I like to think that all points at best to a God who doesn't care if you believe or not, but might just care a tiny bit about how we treat each other and ourselves. And at worst, one who doesn't care at all. Or maybe I've got "best" and "worst" mixed up there.

I'm inclined to disagree: I think it points to a God who cares very much, and an opponent who is willing to do anything he can do to try to distract the people God created from following God. Which leaves the question of why God allows the opponent to exist - and THAT is a question I have suspicions about, but no firm answers.

Personally, I don't approve of religious groups who try to monopolize God by saying that theirs is the true path to salvation, and that all others fall by the wayside. Rhine44 10 months ago .

And similarly, I look askance at religious groups who claim that God is happy to let you do whatever you want.

On that point I agree. There has to be rules and limitations to keep morality in balance. Rhine44 10 months ago .

No. But for a lot of religions, the only evidence they have of the existence of God also gives them some specific orders. What would be the point in saying, " I got this divine revelation from a prophet, and it's got a lot of words in it, but really they're all just kinda waffly suggestions.

" Why would God send the world his only begotten son just so that the Jews and Muslims could get away with not accepting them as their lord and savior? Just "believing"? What is this, a test?

" we're gonna plunk you down on this planet with a few thousand prophets, some obviously nuts, all contradicting each other, plus a bunch of scientific evidence that's going to lead in you in a completely different direction. Check one box only: God Yes/No? Think carefully, because it's important, and nothing else is.

"Me, I like to think that all points at best to a God who doesn't care if you believe or not, but might just care a tiny bit about how we treat each other and ourselves. And at worst, one who doesn't care at all. Or maybe I've got "best" and "worst" mixed up there.

I always believed that God has got to have a supreme sense of humor, otherwise why would he put so many fools onto one planet. Rhine44 10 months ago .

The irony of this question is that only a person who believes in the god as presented by organized religion could really answer this. All anyone else can say is, it isn't likely they would buy into the concept because they are so entrenched in all of the story lines that accompany their own particular brand of religion. The varying story lines are as important as the supreme being itself.

However, as one who does not ascribe to organized religion having any ability whatsoever to begin to comprehend the likes of what created this massive, pulsing fit of incomprehensible genius called life, (let alone some poor guy playing chess with his overworked minions lazing away millennium after millennium in Heaven a go go while Rome burns), I would have to say that for a believer to dislodge from the sheer fanfare and the hoopla long enough to consider god as something other than defined by the entrapments of the varying brands of religion would be a huge LEAP. (Longest sentence known to man)......This leap I would whole-heartedly applaud (not that it matters). This would prove that the human mind had accomplished a feat that religion doesn't even embrace, it evolved.

Yippee! .

(Longest sentence known to man)......I've seen longer. :-) rhine44 10 months ago .

He was good at doing rambling sentences. Rhine44 10 months ago .

Ha. I see. Great minds think alike...LOL!(kidding) .

I think God particularly cares about those who have agreed with m and apologized for their previous lies about "Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men" (Matthew 12:31). Jesus' atonement on the cross atoned for ALL sin except one: continuing to lie to the Holy Spirit that, no, one doesn't need Jesus. As for "religion," "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world" (James 1:27).

As far as God is concerned, "religion" is not what set of rules to get to God one uses; religion is whether one helps the helpless.

I am going to give you a helpful vote for that one. Rhine44 10 months ago .

I believe a Christian should be a good Christian. A Moslem should be a good Moslem. A Jew should be a good Jew.

A ndu should be a good A Buddhist should be a good Buddhist and an Atheist should be a good Atheist.

Old "Making the assumption there is such a being, nowhere in the Old or New Testament does it say "thou shalt be a Methodist" or "Thou shalt be a fundamentalist. " I agree with you, Old but you are talking about different denominations of Christianity. That's all one religion.

I don't think God cares what denomination one belongs to. I do think he cares if we worship what the Old Testament calls false gods.

Christianity teaches that Jesus was God and that He died on the cross so that we can have eternal life. That is either true or untrue. I tend to think that if it is true (and I believe it is) that God would want people to believe what Jesus told us.

" "RhineChurches are a way of learning more about God and of serving God. I don't think God is wanting us to be pew potatoes. We're social animals.

He wants us to grow with each other. He wants us to learn more about We can't do that all by ourselves. We need others to learn from.

Churches have various missions that we can be part of such as helping the homeless.

Your question makes three assumptions: that God exists, that God has emotions and that God is a male. We know that some animals have emotions. I saw a video on TV where a dog led rescuers to another dog that was injured; Both were saved.

And then there is Temple Grandin who recognized the need to be concern about the feelings that cattle have. If, as I believe, God is transcendent, then to ascribe human characteristics, such as thought and emotion, to God is a form of anthropomorphism. Such notions reflect the limitations of our ability to image what qualities a creator of the universe might have.

However, that we seek to give constructive motivations to a deity and desire to identify with them, is laudable. I largely agree with goldie080's answer to your question. If you identify with a particular religious system of belief and faithfully follow its tenants and practices, then you can become increasingly aware of a spiritual side to reality.

However, even if you do not ascribe to one of the 150,000 religious faiths, or you doubt or dismiss the notion of a God, by actively caring for the lives of other beings (human and other) you are developing your spiritual nature (even if you do not recognize it in that term).

I was raised a Catholic, but I was never one for wearing my religion on my sleeve. At this point in my life I am resigned to accepting whatever God doles out to me. Rhine44 9 months ago .

Though I wasn't raised Catholic, Father was an atheist (yet he believed in kismet) and Mother was a high holiday Polish Catholic, my spiritual roots have their origins in the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. I am of the opinion that no religion (that I am aware of) truly represents God. Still I struggle to evolve an understanding as to what Spirit and Soul are, and whether these concepts (as myriad as their definitions may be) are real or merely part of the human mythos.It is likely apparent from my postings to Askville that I would prefer to believe that they are real.

Jesus said to not stop the people healing in his name in the Bible...

Bible said best religion...take care of poor/have mercy...he didn't want sacrifice.

Not really as long as you follow his commandments and worship him thats all that really matters.

That's exactly where I am. Rhine44 10 months ago .

Yeah me to,don't really have time for mans religion.

Mankind is incapable of comprehending the entirety of what God is or thinks or does so all man can do is to ascribe our human qualities to a limited concept of God. It is a mistake to think of God as a separate entity who judges our every thought or deed. The Bible says, "The kingdom of God is within you."

This LIFE, or awareness, or consciousness is how we are made in and it is this higher state of being - this divine spark we call "I", known as the "I AM" - that we must realize as we progress in expanding our consciousness. The Master said well and knowingly, "I am the Life! " He knew the source of his being and demonstrated it in his life, teachings, and healing.

He came to show us the way to our divinity. A belief is just that, an accepted idea in the mind, and beliefs/ideas can change at any time so this points to a lack of integrity and genuine truthfulness. Truth is eternal and unchanging otherwise it is incomplete.

One can well ask what is eternal and unchanging in a world that is based on change. Think it over. What has always helped in my understanding is to look for the connecting link, the silver thread, that is seen in ALL religious beliefs - honouring a greater power than one's own, man's continual growth not only physical and mental but in deeper understanding of Life itself, for our Life is part of the whole of a stream of consciousness, and it is for us to reflect the Divine Life that we are whether in a physical state or otherwise.As we grow spiritually we will realize that it is indeed the Universal Presence, or Divine Mind, or Cosmic Consciousness, which is expressing Itself through us as channels for the Divine Love we call God.

This is what the Master Jesus demonstrated to his followers, and it is by reflecting the Divine (the Christ in you) that we enter into the presence of the Father, or God. ------------ .

Interesting concept. I like it. Rhine44 10 months ago .

Thank you. I daresay there are still those who regard the pinnacle of their faith as enjoying personal eternal peace while strumming a harp up there, and the rest of humanity is dismissed as not worthy of such favour before God who may condemn them forever(?) because of their beliefs. What is overlooked is that we are ALL created in the Divine image, and the true shepherd will not rest until all souls are gathered into the light and recognize their own being.

Such a one is a great teacher who sees the light of the divine in all souls.

I believe that God no matter what religion or if you do not believe in God would punish someone for eternity if they were a good giving person through there life.

We are all Gds creation, and have free will. But there are covenants He laid out to be followed. Some covenants have conditions and others do not.

Most religions overide the conditions or people too, so that religion or train of thought can fit into their lifestyle. Some of these conditions are for our benefit as human beings, keeping a Gd approved way of life. Some of these are requirements for Gd to be in our life.

Before Abraham, there was no set of religious books or denominations, so why is he counted towards righteous? Do you think he did not go to heaven because he didn't believe in Jesus? He became a father of nations on the grounds of his relationship and way of life, by faith in the Creator.Gd is the same Gd, He doesn't evolve or go back on so when denominations do a dog and pony act, go back to the root, just like Abraham did....start there.

Gd does require action from us, not just faith, despite He has conditions. If He didn't have conditions, there wouldn't be a hell. You don't need a RELIGION, you need a Relationship.

Just like a marriage,( sacrifice,patience, faithfulness, security, love, forgiveness etc) you have to work at it and live a marriage way of life, like so with Gd, you agree freely to live according to that lifestyle, and if you don't a divorce may be at hand or least your marriage suffers. Gd doesn't leave you, you leave m by choosing to live outside of that covenant.So religion? No, faith by works?

Yes.

Just to point out, I am not saying to not read bible/Torah, I am stating that biblical characters didn't belong to a religion, because they were living it and later it was documented so that a people did not stray from the way of life Gd wanted them to live. Biblically two ways of salvation, Jewish way (or according to the law, and Christ as Messiah-grafted to the vine) very simple, were it gets complicated is where predjudice, rebelion and religion come in-- to clarify its simplicity.

Excellently written. Thank you for your contribution. Rhine44 9 months ago .

Gd was asked what shall they call He said "I Am" as far as I know He only has one name...all else are descriptions of .

What makes you so sure that yours is the true religion....every religion claims that.

I checked Google - and close as I could get - some claim there's about 150,000 religions in the world. I guess some could get higher or lower numbers. But, supposing 150,000 is correct, here's what I see -- God with a score card - listing 1 through 150,000.

Now, being all knowing, he/she, must use a "sliding scale rating guide". For example:A Catholic helps an old person cross the street, that equals 10. A Muslim does the same, that equals 9.99.

This continues for good deeds (with subtractions for bad deeds). And so on.... Down to 0.01 for an atheist who means well. I could really go on and on with this - but I don't have the time.

Thanks for the exercise though Rhine! .

Anytime, my friend. Rhine44 10 months ago .

I think he/she is already pissed off at the fact we have so many names for him/her. Some of us may have already lost some points for calling him the wrong name.

Taking s name is vain is the one sin I have always tried to avoid. After all, He does keep a list. Rhine44 9 months ago .

Most of my comments here were tongue in cheek - I'll respect the opinions of the true believers.

I believe that gods are constantly re-defined by believers. Your scenario sounds like a reasonable god and not one of those wrathful gods so common in history. The bottom line is…god can be anything one wishes to make him/her.

Of course, after the Sun and Moon stopped being deities, most deities in Lower Paleolithic were animal gods. Modern "true" believers believe their modern god descriptions are more sophisticated; this is mostly Ego mixed with ignorance.

I read the quote that said god didn't say be a baptist or methodist. This is wrong: god said be a universalists and someone asked what about baptist? God said..."what's a baptist"?

Thanks. I finally had my daily laugh. Rhine44 10 months ago .

A booming voice from the heavens said...THANKEST THOU! .

I read Lighworks answer. It is interesting and sadly, typical, that christians think that hindus path oheaven is acception of the christian definition of god. The word myopia comes to mind, then, of course,...delusion.

The true religion of god is Islam,it's said somhwer in the Quran. Tha whoever practice a religion other than Islam it shuld not be accepted from him,and" Allah "is the most merciful who have power over all things,jus kno tha the bible doesn't existe anemore,coz it has been demolish by taking allahs word out of context in order to brainwashed the world,I'm na agaist any belief or religion ,but the true religion of god is Islam and Mohamed"sw"is the last prophet.

That is the kind of thinking that I am so much against. How is that Islam created thousand of years after Judaism comes as being numero uno? Doesn't make sense to me.

Rhine44 9 months ago .

I didn't realize the category existed. " "can we grace ourselves out of obedience? Religion and Spirituality" "Is killing to protect a religion evil?

If so, does that make the God of the Bible evil? " "Why are you what ever religion you are?" "Religion has come a long way. How much more progress do we need to Make?

" "How many gods are present in the Can they be thought of simply as manifestations of one God?" "what do you think of this religion? " (10 answers) "Is there a religion for me? " "When did the first country exist that kept religion and government seperate, and for how long was it around?" "Which should have more authority in the US, the laws of man (the country) or the laws of a religion (god)?

Religion has come a long way. How much more progress do we need to Make?

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.