Why do people follow a certain religion?

[raquelle]

Hello people,
I am new to this forum and was recently wondering about religion and god and what not and hence decided to join this forum...so I had a question that perhaps people who follow a religion of some sort in particular would like to answer:

Say that there was a God...even then..why the need to follow a certain religion? Why can you not get into "heaven" by being a good person? Why the restriction to "pray" and to believe in a certain God? I mean as long as you believe that there is a God why does it matter which God you believe in? This is what doesn't sit right with me....I mean you could have good morals without religion and you could be a just person who doesn't murder/fornicate/steal and all that stuff without religion..so why do we really need it?

Why do you follow a certain religion if any??

[Miles]

It isn't so much what one believes, but what that belief does for a person. For most, religion functions as a salve for the anxieties in life; a sop for their sorrows and a reassurance for their fears. So, protestation from the faithful to the contrary, don't go looking for logic or much reason in any religious belief, you won't find it.

[cnorman18]

Hello people,
I am new to this forum and was recently wondering about religion and god and what not and hence decided to join this forum...so I had a question that perhaps people who follow a religion of some sort in particular would like to answer:

Say that there was a God...even then..why the need to follow a certain religion? Why can you not get into "heaven" by being a good person? Why the restriction to "pray" and to believe in a certain God? I mean as long as you believe that there is a God why does it matter which God you believe in? This is what doesn't sit right with me....I mean you could have good morals without religion and you could be a just person who doesn't murder/fornicate/steal and all that stuff without religion..so why do we really need it?

Why do you follow a certain religion if any??

Well, just for the record, modern Judaism agrees with you. You don't have to be Jewish; we don't even think it's particularly important whether you believe in God or not. If there is a Heaven - Judaism doesn't say - "being a good person" is how you get in, period.

"If there is one"? Yeah. We claim no reward and threaten no punishment. Being good is something you do because it's GOOD to be good, not because there's a Heavenly lollipop or a Hellish spanking waiting. Judaism is a religion for grownups.

[Coyotero]

Well, just for the record, modern Judaism agrees with you. You don't have to be Jewish; we don't even think it's particularly important whether you believe in God or not. If there is a Heaven - Judaism doesn't say - "being a good person" is how you get in, period.

"If there is one"? Yeah. We claim no reward and threaten no punishment. Being good is something you do because it's GOOD to be good, not because there's a Heavenly lollipop or a Hellish spanking waiting. Judaism is a religion for grownups.

Quoted for truth.

The idea that you need to follow a particular religion to be "saved" is entirely politically motivated. It was an easy way for medieval rulers to control people. As far as I know, it is an idea limited to a small number of religions in the western world. Most notably, Christianity and Islam.

We of the Asatru faith follow our Gods (or ideas of gods) and traditions because it is our ancestral heritage. Not for any promise of heaven or eternal life.

[handofnergal]

I'll give the answer you need, as this is most assuredly the case with most people of faith.

If your parents were Jews you will most likely be a Jew
If your parents were Muslims you will most likely be a Muslim
If your parents were Christians you will most likely be a Christian
If your parents were Secularists you will most likely be a secularist

Anybody noticing a trend here? It also happens to be the case with denominations as well. They usually happen to go along geographical lines and such. It is no mere coincidence that over 90% of the people in Spain and Latin America are Roman Catholic. It was reinforced, sometimes with bloodshed.


There are some cases, such as Wicca, Asatru, and other non-mainstream religions, where that trend is broken. Also, in the case of converts, people deliberately seek a religion that...I dunno what

I suppose they seek a religion that matches their ideals, but I have no need of religion so I honestly couldn't tell you. I just wanted to clarify that the number one thing that determines one's religion is the kind of culture they grow up in.

Make no mistake of that.

[olivin]

Hello,
Yes you are right that many people say that there is good but on other hand many say don't and we also don't have any proof. but we all believe that god is there.

thanks!!

_________________
brainwave mind voyages

[gabbeTroop]

I was born christian, when i got to the age of 12 I started studying, I became a "deist", then i continued on studying, till im atheist as now...

To me, it seems that what seems most likely to people tends to "convert" them, I think many christians are just angry because they have met atheist calling them stupid and brain damged as insults to their religion, only to cause them holding their faith stronger. When I was raised, I did go to chruch every christmas and stuff, but noone said to me I was stupid, then when I was going to "confirm" myself as christian, I started studying the subject, and then i guess i find out that skydaddy isn`t really so true as the priest say...

[ChaosBorders]

I was born christian

How is one 'born a Christian?' Presumably everyone is born an atheist and either comes to believe in God at some point or not, often in early childhood if the former.

I think many christians are just angry because they have met atheist calling them stupid and brain damged as insults to their religion, only to cause them holding their faith stronger.

Insults to a belief do often cause someone to hold onto that belief stronger. That can apply to scientific or political beliefs just as much as religion depending on the personality of the person being insulted.

When I was raised, I did go to chruch every christmas and stuff

So were you only going on holidays?

I started studying the subject, and then i guess i find out that skydaddy isn`t really so true as the priest say...

Presumably you decided some particular statement (or perhaps the Bible itself) was not as true as priest says. Given that God as a being cannot actually be proven to be untrue, it seems an impossibility to 'find out' said being 'isn't really so true'.

[naz]

Hello people,
I am new to this forum and was recently wondering about religion and god and what not and hence decided to join this forum...so I had a question that perhaps people who follow a religion of some sort in particular would like to answer:

Say that there was a God...even then..why the need to follow a certain religion? Why can you not get into "heaven" by being a good person? Why the restriction to "pray" and to believe in a certain God? I mean as long as you believe that there is a God why does it matter which God you believe in? This is what doesn't sit right with me....I mean you could have good morals without religion and you could be a just person who doesn't murder/fornicate/steal and all that stuff without religion..so why do we really need it?

Why do you follow a certain religion if any??

Well, just for the record, modern Judaism agrees with you. You don't have to be Jewish; we don't even think it's particularly important whether you believe in God or not. If there is a Heaven - Judaism doesn't say - "being a good person" is how you get in, period.

"If there is one"? Yeah. We claim no reward and threaten no punishment. Being good is something you do because it's GOOD to be good, not because there's a Heavenly lollipop or a Hellish spanking waiting. Judaism is a religion for grownups.

I would say that sounds kind of snooty or snobby. Are you implying that Christians are immature and that religion doesn’t require any sort of dedication or discipline? Think again. You could be a good citizen, respect the law but at the same time be a terrible person and show a lack of respect for others and not apply god’s law to your daily life. So what is the reward or benefit for that? I would say you don’t fully understand Christianity to make a statement like you did. “Judaism is a religion for grownups�. That also undermines your Jewish heritage if you really claim to be the people of god or god’s children. There are kids that can behave a lot better than most grownups and sometimes act more intelligent. If you think immaturity is only associated with children then you are far from the truth, it also plays a role in the lives of adults and it shows with your previously posted comments.

[Goat]

Hello people,
I am new to this forum and was recently wondering about religion and god and what not and hence decided to join this forum...so I had a question that perhaps people who follow a religion of some sort in particular would like to answer:

Say that there was a God...even then..why the need to follow a certain religion? Why can you not get into "heaven" by being a good person? Why the restriction to "pray" and to believe in a certain God? I mean as long as you believe that there is a God why does it matter which God you believe in? This is what doesn't sit right with me....I mean you could have good morals without religion and you could be a just person who doesn't murder/fornicate/steal and all that stuff without religion..so why do we really need it?

Why do you follow a certain religion if any??

Well, just for the record, modern Judaism agrees with you. You don't have to be Jewish; we don't even think it's particularly important whether you believe in God or not. If there is a Heaven - Judaism doesn't say - "being a good person" is how you get in, period.

"If there is one"? Yeah. We claim no reward and threaten no punishment. Being good is something you do because it's GOOD to be good, not because there's a Heavenly lollipop or a Hellish spanking waiting. Judaism is a religion for grownups.

I would say that sounds kind of snooty or snobby. Are you implying that Christians are immature and that religion doesn’t require any sort of dedication or discipline? Think again. You could be a good citizen, respect the law but at the same time be a terrible person and show a lack of respect for others and not apply god’s law to your daily life. So what is the reward or benefit for that? I would say you don’t fully understand Christianity to make a statement like you did. “Judaism is a religion for grownups�. That also undermines your Jewish heritage if you really claim to be the people of god or god’s children. There are kids that can behave a lot better than most grownups and sometimes act more intelligent. If you think immaturity is only associated with children then you are far from the truth, it also plays a role in the lives of adults and it shows with your previously posted comments.

Actually, Cnorman is a convert to Judaism, and used to be a minister. I have to concur that there are a number of sects in Christianity that are into 'me-ism'.. the idea that "Jesus died for ME" ,and 'I have already passed into eternal life' .. etc etc etc.

Of course, not all denominations, or even all people in a denomination will buy into that. However, the structure of belief is that to encourage that kind of selfishness.