Is it possible to be a moderate religious person?

Hello fightingistheonlyway! My understanding of Christianity (Jesus) and Islam (Quran) is different than yours. Yes, they appear to be exclusive at some points, but I have found both to be actually inclusive, though with conditions. There are even some direct verses in Quran which are inclusive and based on which many Muslim scholars have opined that non-Muslims can also acquire salvation and can go to heaven.

I'm very religious. My religion doesn't dictate that everybody has to follow the same path. Not all religions are fanatic.

I believe that you are playing with words here. The word 'moderate' has several meanings and it seems to me that you are confusing them. On the one hand 'moderate' can mean something between two extremes. Another meaning is that of 'moderating' or liaising between contrasting or differing ideas. 'Moderately religious' implies the first meaning whereas a 'religious moderator' would almost certainly refer to the second kind of person. I believe that there are many paths to God and that He shows each of us our own way to Him. Imagine a mountain on which there is a great shining light. We may come from the North, South, East or West of it, so naturally, we shall individually be travelling in different directions (yet always toward the mountain). While we face the mountain and the light, our path is illuminated. It is only when we turn away and walk in the wrong direction that our path is obscured by our own shadow and we say 'there is no light'. Sometimes, too, the light is obscured by other things nearer to us (which may be our daily lives or the lies and half truths cooked up by religions) and they prevent us, temporarily, from seeing the light, though we still know in which direction it lies. At times the light is refelcted brightly by other things and occasionally that may confuse people into saying that there is more than one light. That is the natural confusion of a child who will eventually find out for himself that what he sees is but a reflection of the One Light - the One Truth.

I don't think the insane will go to hell just because they don't believe in Jesus. I don't think babies will go to hell because they don't believe in Jesus. I think it is hard to say that those who have never heard about Jesus will go to hell.

Personally, I don't find it necessary to subscribe to the rigidity of absolutes. The world is not simply divided between believers and non-believers, not even within the scope of an individual sect. I attend a Presbyterian church, and I know a fair bit of scripture. But truth be told, I am not fully convinced of God's incarnation as Jesus some 2,000 years ago. I do lean toward the notion that the four gospels were in fact genuine, sincere testimony, but I cannot support it with any of that concrete evidence I dish out when I'm speaking specifically of the Creator. I don't know about the other holy books in the world, but the Holy Bible is a collection of volumes which comprise over 1,000 pages in most copies (1,027 in my Metal Bible), and more than 30,000 verses between the two testaments. If people could find the time to sit down and read the entire Bible from Genesis 1:1 through Revelation 22:21, comparing and contrasting views as they went along without any reservation whatsoever, I seriously doubt that any two people would agree on the meaning of every single topic. I also doubt that any two people can agree on the authenticity of every single scripture, either. I know for a fact that I am not the only person in my congregation who questions various aspects of his faith. Christian pastors (at least those I'm familiar with) are supposed to proclaim upon ordination their faith in the absolute authority of the entire Bible, Old and New Testaments alike. But while I would never condone the act of subjecting a minister to a lie detector test, or truth serum, or hypnotism, or any other such methods for the sake of questioning, believe me when I say that the thought has crossed my mind every single time I've ever heard such a proclamation. Remember the story of doubting Thomas? He refused to believe that Jesus had been resurrected until he touched His hands and side. While Jesus did say that those who believe without seeing are more blessed than those who do not, He also said that those who believe upon seeing are blessed as well. That tells me God is indeed reasonable enough to be understanding of those who weren't around to see the Christ with their own two eyes. While John 3:16 may very well be the most famous verse in the Bible, the verse which immediately follows tells it like it is: "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:17) 'Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."' (Matthew 22:37-40) These are basic morals; I would expect practically every theistic clique that is or ever was to hold to such clear-cut, common sense, and all but the most brazen of sociopaths to acknowledge the age-old, "Do unto others..." phrase. To sum it up in two words: worship and fellowship. Rick Warren gives us five (worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and evangelism). I don't disagree with him, but the first two pretty well have to be the ones you start with. Personal conception of the image or persona of the God or gods of this universe is a grueling question to those who feel compelled to answer it before meeting him/her/it/them. I don't think God expects that of me. If He made me, and supposedly knows me more intimately than even I know myself, should He expect more of me than I would expect of others? I doubt it. One thing I do believe He expects, and reasonably so, is for every competent person who lives for a certain length of time to eventually become aware of the fact that he/she could never possibly come to exist by accident. "For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:" (Romans 1:20) If you believe that your life is, or may be, the will and handiwork of a Being greater than yourself, should you not at least demonstrate a willingness to give thanks and honor to this Being like you would your parents? And if you would prefer that the people around you are understanding and considerate of you, so that you might pass through life without constantly having to look over your shoulder, should you not put forth some manner of effort to initiate such an exchange by being understanding and considerate of them? This is what God expects of you, and it's not much. In fact, you should be doing these things whether or not you believe in the lake of fire; not just because you're afraid, but because you care. This is the path to God, whether you are Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, animist, Wiccan...whatever. How's that for a sermon? :)

It's not about being religious but what you believe and how you act on your belief. Example, the only way to God is only through Jesus Christ as He claimed in John 14:6. Others who don't believe that may be has some other way. In any case, let's have peace with all men if it be possible!

i think it is not like that...no matter what religion you are in,it is the person and not the religion that would save them,as i see it there is no real religion as of today that will be saved,it is what you do and how you look at and pray to god that would save you and not what religion you are in....