Is there a difference between God and religion?
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
United States
February 28, 2013 10:44pm CST
I believe there is a big difference between God and religion. To me, religion is man made. In watching the Salem Qmwitch Trials. It's an amazing movie and it is astounding how the Puritan church was the governing body. All these girls go into mass hysteria and they are labeled as witches. Anyone who was thought to be a sinner were publically humiliated. There was a scene where two women were forced out of the community naked. I'm glad I didn't live in those days.
The Puritans were an unforgiving lot. They came to Anerica to escape religious persecution and they quickly behaved the same way and forced their religion on everyone else. I feel bad for the Native Anericans that were killed by disease and by religious persecution.
Religious persecution goes on still today even within the Christian religion. For instance, people of one group will say that people if another group is going to bust hell wide open just because their beliefs are different.
I'm a Christian, and I feel no need to force my beliefs on someone else. If you are Pagan, Muslim, or even Athiest I have no desire to try to convert you.
Do you believe the Christian religion has evolved (changed) over time? I believe it has but I also feel that God is constant and never changes.
Your thoughts?
Hope there are no typos.
3 people like this
17 responses
@ddnj2006 (652)
• Philippines
1 Mar 13
Feels good Christian community system for other is better nowadays, no threats, no pressure.. Maybe on our place.
Though religion is a group of people believing in one God, God itself is an upper being praised and worshiped by group of people we call religion. The conflict is that, there are many declared God as they call it, and so in my own.
Maybe it's about respect of who and what you believe in, of where and how you belong on its respective group of believer. Sad to know, some are forcing other to believe in their own God that was causing improper treatment, slavery and alike..
But it's true, that God itself create his own church.. Just like on us Christian, as the Father Almighty send Jesus to descend here from heaven.
1 person likes this
@manleyjoe (1597)
• United States
1 Mar 13
Some in Pakistan would disagree with you on that, PQ. I read, just a few days ago that some christians were beheaded because they would not convert to Islam.
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
1 Mar 13
Yes these days people are not killed for their beliefs in God. But there is still much prejudice among the different religions and denominations of the Christian faith.
1 person likes this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
1 Mar 13
There's a huge difference between God and religion. Religion is rules and people telling people what to do. God is... well, God. A relationship, not a set of rules.
I agree with most of what you wrote except for the last part. While I wouldn't push my beliefs on anyone who wasn't interested, I believe that if one truly believes in God (or another belief) that one would want others to believe that way, too. So I do desire to convert those who might be interested because I have something very important to offer them.
1 person likes this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
1 Mar 13
I respect people enough to honor their belief systems. It would insult me for someone of another belief system to imply my belief system is wrong and I must convert to be of the 'right' faith. My faith is personal to me. If I am asked, I will share my beliefs but I will not knock on doors and so forth.
@manleyjoe (1597)
• United States
1 Mar 13
@peavey, "God is... well, God. A relationship, not a set of rules" have you read your bible? God is the creator of all things and he has set rules for us to live by. as you know the bible is the inspired word of God and we should follow it. It is full of rules. God gives us the wisdom to know what he is saying when we read and study the bible. Our relationship with God makes us want to follow the rules so maybe that is why they don't seem to be any rules.
@PQ, The bible tells us that we are to spread the gospel to all peoples. He does not want us to force our beliefs on others but he does want us to tell others about him.
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
1 Mar 13
Manlyjoe, I appreciate what you say but I rarely leave my house and have no friends other than here. All my friends live quite far away. The people I talk to on the phone already have a relationship with The Lord. Even if I could get out I would only talk about God with people who broach the subject with me? Why? Because we live in America where legally all religions are equal in that you don't tell a Jew or a Muslim they are lost and going to hell.
For me, my faith is personal. It's just as valid for me as anyone else's faith or lack thereof is to them.
Religion has changed so much in the last 300 years. It's crazy how people think they know the mind of God when hardly anyone is of one mind and one accord. Look how Methodism has changed since John Wesley. The Pentacostal movement is fairly new. The Puritans lost their hold over people after the end of the Salem Witch Trials.
@sid556 (30959)
• United States
1 Mar 13
Yes. In my opinion there is a huge difference between God and religion. There is to me anyway. I don't subscribe to any man-made religion but I do have my beliefs and they are only beliefs because I have no proof of anything and neither does any religion. I don't think it is wrong to believe in a particular religion as long as they don't push it on others or insist that "theirs" is the right one. They can't "prove" their beliefs any more than I can mine.
1 person likes this
@sid556 (30959)
• United States
2 Mar 13
I was Catholic but I haven't been to church is years. I don't believe that I am considered a member any longer anyway because I got a divorce and that did not set well with them. I could have continued being part of the parish had I explained why I got my divorce and let a panel of them decide whether my reasons were valid. My reasons were very valid but I'd had enough anyway. I exposed my daughters to church and religion but I did not baptise them as I felt that something like that is their own personal choice.
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
1 Mar 13
Yes sis. Me too. I am a Methodist, but I don't get to go to church. In not in to religiosity at all.
@celticeagle (168369)
• Boise, Idaho
1 Mar 13
I think there is a big difference between GOd and religion. I think that back in the time of the Salem Witch Trials there was alot of fear and ignorance and Puritan ruled their flocks that way. And I think that religion is interpreting the Bible in their own way and not really how it may or may not have happened. I am an agnostic so I question alot of what the Bible says and how we are taught to believe in church. I also believe that the church rose out of a need for people to have a social outlet back when people lived so far away from other people. And the priest or whatever ruled over the people and made them do things they wouldn't ordinarily do due to their thinking, not necessarily by the good book. ANd I think God is more of a spiritual experience. Personal and within each of us.
1 person likes this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
1 Mar 13
You got the BR on this one because I too believe the God experience is personal. I agree. The pastors of those times ruled by their will rather than God's. no mercy.
1 person likes this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
1 Mar 13
I think people don't always know and choose to refuse to follow. I think they HEAR about God but never experience God for themselves.
@marcmm (1804)
• Malaysia
2 Mar 13
For me, GOD is the only thing we should have follow. I do belive GOD didn't want any religion to be form in this world because He want us the earth population to serve and worship HIM only. Remember the 10 Commandment. GOD want us to serve and worship him only.
In the new testament, Jesus said nobody come to Father except through me. By following Jesus we call ourselves a Christian. Catholic, Anglican, Protestant, Baptist, or any other denomination will not guranteed us a place in Heaven nor do the Church. It is Jesus grace we will go to Heaven.
I have to agree Religion are created by man nowadays. Religion is the name we name the followers of the certain teaching. We follow Jesus Christ teaching and we are called Christians. Buddist because the follow Buddha teaching. So it goes on and on and on..
1 person likes this
@marcmm (1804)
• Malaysia
21 Mar 13
Christian are name given to follower of Christ so that we can identified ourselves among others.
I as well don't believe that every religion have their own GOD. There are only one true GOD and I believe by follow Christ we will meet our GOD, that is our Father, in the glory kingdom of Heaven.
Jesus said there are false prophet before and after Him, and I believe Jesus Christ is the only way to GOD.
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
2 Mar 13
In Christianity we follow Christ as the way to God. Religions divide people. What if there are many 'Christs?' I believe like you that religions attempt to provide a pathway to God. I don't feel we have to be Christians to experience God. I don't believe in one god for one group of people and other gods for every other group of individuals.
@sreejithsreenivas (10200)
• India
1 Mar 13
Yes there is lot of difference between religion and God.It is religion which is creating all the problems through out the world.God is bigger than the biggest (so big the universe is within Him).God is subtler than the smallest thing a human mind could conceive.God resides in the heart of every living being.God is the supreme creator of the universe.Everything is one with God in its essential nature, including you as a soul. There is only one field of absolute Being where all divisions and separations merge into one existence.
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
2 Mar 13
Hi PointlessQuestions, Religion is man made and some terrible crimes have been and still are being committed in the name of religion and that includes Christianity. Man created God in his image and therefore sees God with the same faults as himself. There are few Christian Churches that wouldn't be as bad as the Puritans if given the opportunity. I agree with you that we should not try to force our views on others. It's fine to be a Christian or a Muslim or any other religion as long as you respect the rights of others. I believe the truth is to be found within, and to live the golden rule is all the religion that anyone needs but everyone has the right to disagree. Blessings.
@choconut (297)
• Philippines
1 Mar 13
true religion is man made filled with traditions and lies. They impose on others the way they understand one things. Even in Jesus' time, the Pharisees and the Sadducee persecuted Jesus and all the "sinners" in their time. They forced what they want on others regardless if its really God's will or their will.
1 person likes this
@averygirl72 (37845)
• Philippines
1 Mar 13
It seems people made their religions their God and God is religion. But God is always God whatever religion we maybe we cannot change God. I can change religion as often as I wish but God will still be God. God minus religion is possible because we think of Him and we have our morality and faith. Take away morality and faith and you have no God.
1 person likes this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
1 Mar 13
Exactly. We can change religions but God is God.
@extremefun4fun (2908)
• India
1 Mar 13
Well, religion according to the time, we should update things according to the time which we live in. according to the technology and increasing knowlege by research and study. God is the only one, the source of power who is all over and connected all in whole the universe. religion is just some instruction for humanbin to give them knowlege of what is good and bad, what to do is better and what to not do, because in those time people ignorance was too much and humanbin were not be able to understand things, that humanbin needs guides like prophets, messengers and book of guide. and now in this time, all of those thing is stopping or changing because our knowlege had inceased by some study and research now we are able to think and understand good and bad, and what to choose... so this is the time that God will never send us another book or messenger, becuause we are able to connect directly to God, to the source of energy.. with listenig to our heart and being and living just in the present time, God never change, and he is here, just in the present time, right and now!
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
1 Mar 13
I believe the bible is part of organized religion. Some groups of Christians believe if you don't speak in Tongues you aren't saved. Then other denominations don't teach anything the bible speaks about tongues and the other gifts.
@priyaxxx85 (108)
• India
1 Mar 13
Religion is man made and basically formed to stick a group of people together who have same beliefs and religious practices. Also it should not be forced upon a person to follow a religion. God and religion are two different things altogether. A person who believes in God , may also be the one who doesn't follow any particular religion. Man made religion and God made man, but that doesn't imply religion has to be linked to God. There are a lot of religions wherein a common man was promoted to the position and stature of God and people began worshiping him.
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
1 Mar 13
Yep, and when you no longer fit in with that group if believers you either find another group to sign up with, or start your own church with your own set of rules or you find some other outlet. Maybe you choose not to assign yourself to any group this time around.
@justyou (68)
• China
1 Mar 13
I think religion is a little selfish,but god not.God is in everyone's heart,make you feel you are not alone.Belif is in your deep heart,you can share it with your friend,but not convert them believe in what you believe.That is not respect for you god......i'm a chinese,i have my own god,and he will always advise me where to go......
1 person likes this
@PointlessQuestions (15397)
• United States
1 Mar 13
I appreciate your response and would never try to convert you. I feel it is wrong to push ones beliefs on others.
@HakkeshouKaiten (24)
• Philippines
3 Mar 13
" To me, religion is man made "
--- these times, most of religions established now are man made, but the religion that was established by God in the bible is the genuine one,, so you can't be decieved
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
1 Mar 13
it is a fact they are too different things, usually god is at the base of any religion, but not always. Buddhism is a religion but they do not have a God per se they have enlightened ones and avatars but not a God that they worship.
Religion is man made that is a fact, that however is very different from spirituality.
religion is what you are taught also known as dogma, spirituality is your relationship with God the creator.
Spiritual people don't necessarily go to church,
religious people take pride in going to church, and following the dogma of their church or holy place.
Even Christianity has hundreds of denominations which have different dogma, (church teaching)
@iuliuxd (4453)
• Romania
1 Mar 13
"Seek freedom and become captive of your desires. Seek discipline and find your liberty." - Frank Herbert
A lot of people are thinking like yourself but i want to tell you that it is more likely not to understand God if you are doing it alone. You will fall into idolatry and make God the slave of your passions just like the rest are doing...unless you are really lucky.
If you want to understand the Christian God seek discipline.
@Bluedoll (16773)
• Canada
1 Mar 13
I believe there is and there are bible quotes about that. I would have to find them but one says that it was man that needed a King for guidance and the reason Jesus Christ was sent to earth. That tells me as far as God is concerned religion is not needed in connection with man and God but the idea of an organized rulership is something requested by man.
Other quotes in the bible tell us that without love present there can be no Godly spirit. In other works, if a church goes astray and away from God it is most definitly not the same as being with God. It must get back on track to have an association with God.
