Why do some people say they are not religious, but they believe in God, isn't God a concept created by religion?
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ANSWERS: 18
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I have no idea, and yes god is a concept created by religion. +6
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It means they have a belief in God, but don't agree that they need to follow every custom and whim of a church.
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I think they mean formal religion. Some churches are mult-national organisations with specific beliefs, practices and interpretations of the Bible. You don't have to belong to a church to believe in God.
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If they believe, I imagine that for them it is the other way around. They believe God exists(ed). Religion(s) are something man created based on His teachings. . There are many different religions, some of them to greater or lesser degree contrary. They can't all be right! . So if I believed that God exists, but did not believe that any religion had the absolute truth, that it was created by fallible people on the basis of thier personal interpretations, i wold believe in God but not any or all religions.
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I'm not being smart or sarcastic but the reason COULD be something as simple as "that's the way they feel". People who share this perspective were probably raised to believe in God so they wouldn't think of feeling any other way. But for whatever reason, they've decided not to attend church regularly and they may or may not read the Bible or do those things they associate "religious people" doing. Therefore, they don't consider themselves "religious". It has nothing to do with examining the origin of religions. Personally speaking, I consider myself "spiritual". That means, I don't go to church or read the Bible either. I gather my information and form my perspective of God from "non-traditional" sources AND my own personal experience.
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If you read the New Testament you will see that the Pharasee's and the saducee's were called Religeous By Jesus Himself along with vipors and they were the ones who had Jesus killed. These religeous people were the ones who stood in the temple in their fancy robes for everyone to see. Jesus wore simple clothes and spoke only of His Father and not Himself. so that is probably why Christians say they are not religeous, but believe in God.
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There is a difference between being religious and spiritual. Some are religious and spiritual, others spiritual and not religious. We read of surveys of people who believe there is "something" out there but don't belong to a religion. Religion didn't "create" God: that is a nonsense. On the other hand I suppose we do tend to "create" our own gods in our imagination far removed from the real God. The most skilled at creating imaginary gods are the atheists who presumably do so in order to "prove" they don't exist!
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probably cause theyre talking about a relationship with god and not a religion
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Not really...Religion is what happens when a belief system is organized...and even then not properly. Abraham was living in UR , an ancient city, but believed in a singular god. This god was Jehovah who sent an angel to tell Abraham to leave the city and live from then on in tents...to become a nomad. Only when others joined Abraham in his belief could they be called a religion. Organised belief systems could very well have existed in UR before Abraham was visited. Abraham was the start of MONOTHEISM...
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No. God is an entity that has always existed. Religion explains Him.
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pugwashjw65 Hi Linda.. the question was " what explains religion?" and not religion explains God.
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You're wrong on both counts. What people actually mean is, they are believers in the "spiritual" or "transcendent" mainly. Though there are other concepts out there. "Religion" like "empire" is a modern misunderstood concept which people today are largely ignorant of. Most people who have simple minded views on religion, as you do, seem to think it's some sort of "race" or "nationality". Where all the "individuals" are the same and follow one set of rules. This is obviously not the case.
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pugwashjw65
For JSHM...In each particular religion, the individuals DO follow the one set of rules...even if wrong. There can BE only ONE creating God and the Bible states Jesus as his son and helper. Proverbs 8: 22-31...Jesus was Jehovah's very first creation . And Jehovah does NOT have multiple sets of rules to cater for his ONE creation//US...So only one organized group can be acceptable...And we find that group by seeing out of all the religions in the world...the ONE that is being properly obedient...1. Using almighty God's proper name [ Jehovah ] and being obedient to what Jesus asked...Mark 9:7...Matthew 28: 19,20...and taking the ' good news' to the world...Matthew 24:14...
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Look up the word Religion. I heard a Seventh-Day Adventist pastor preach about this concept. God can be used to mean entirely different things. There are people who claim to be believers, but only remember God during the holidays. They are known as seers and not necessarily religious. Then there are people who adapt their religious beliefs into their lifestyle to be what the Bible describes as doers. Matthew 7:24 "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock."
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pugwashjw65
All but ONE religious group are those that built on sand...and the flood came and washed them all away...The obedient ones wait on Armageddon to prove it. (Revelation 6:2) And I saw, and look! a white horse, and the one seated on it had a bow; and a crown was given him, and he went out conquering and to complete his conquest. -
Jenny The Great ⭐
Quote: "All but ONE religious group are those that built on sand..." According to my answer which is in detail and according to your comment, you forgot to mention which religious group has built or is building his or her house on the rock. Too funny! lol -
pugwashjw65
Good comment Jenny...I deliberately did not mention WHICH group...It is the group being properly obedient to scripture...Matthew 28: 19,20 And using God's NAME...And has worldwide unity, with no subdivisions...Only one group fits.... -
Jenny The Great ⭐
Representing is important so others can know what your religious views are about. Other than that, don't forget, Jesus is the name to confess. (Romans 10:9, 13)
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It's means they have a personal idea of God with no religious affiliation. Religion means :- Religion is a cultural system of designated behaviours and practices, morals, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that relates humanity to supernatural, transcendental, or spiritual elements. God: - In monotheistic thought, God is conceived of as the Supreme Being and the principal object of faith. Hence, for example some will believe in God, but will not go to church to participate in church activities.
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People have stopped supporting religion because of their unloving attitude...and threats of violence if they do not comply...with man made rules...example ...crossing oneself as a mark of respect where in fact Jesus was not killed on a cross...He was killed on a STAURUS...an upright pole or even a tree...WITH NO CROSSBAR... A proper study of scripture will reveal all these religious UNTRUTHS.
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Jenny The Great ⭐
It seems like you are more concerned about publishing the Jehovah's Witness propaganda than to touch on the subject. What Christian denominations are making "threats of violence to their members if they don't comply?" -
pugwashjw65
Hi Jenny...The RCC threaten people with " eternal hellfire" if they do not comply with their mana made rules...and all taken from one scripture which mentions Satan and not people...Revelation 20;10... -
Jenny The Great ⭐
You said threats of violence if they don't comply. I see what you mean with threats of hellfire. That's one way to keep the herd in fear. -
pugwashjw65
Hi Jenny...Nice to hear your comment. Just look at he history of religions and see which ones DO threaten...J.W's do not...but just give people the chance to change...for the better. And have you noticed...In just about any movie scenario where religion is involved, it is always the RCC that is promoted...and rarely do they cite scripture... -
Jenny The Great ⭐
Hello pugs, Shabbat shalom on this Saturday afternoon. Thanks for sharing your religious views. Neither do the Seventh-Day Adventists threaten people. We accept everyone, regardless of how they live their lives for change. We are the only Christian denomination who cares about a person's inner and outer self. This is why we have the General Conference of the Nutrition Council. We recognize the autonomy of each individual and his or her God-given power of choice. -
pugwashjw65
Hi Jenny...I answered another comment of yours on equality...As a 7th day member, you apparently follow the trinity line...as such you would be searching out singular scriptures to support this...But the bible cannot be viewed in isolation...ALL the scriptures must be compliant. As to equality...(Philippians 2:6) who, although he was existing in God?s form, gave no consideration to a seizure, namely, that he should be equal to God. NO thought of being equal...and not my words but scripture So back to what Jesus asked....to preach the Kingdom Matthew 24:14 and 28: 19,20...Yes, he healed people but his priority was the Kingdom...the NEW system soon to come in...NOT to promote life saving efforts in this system...soo to go. Your ' nutrition council' , ' Save the children' ,..Red Cross and other similar organisations...ALL are really just band aids for this system and will be totally Unnecessary in the coming Kingdom...ON THIS EARTH... The Kingdom is NOT everyone dead and in heaven...because that idea denies the reason that the earth was created...to be a home for people...BREATHING... (Isaiah 45:18) For this is what Jehovah says, The Creator of the heavens, the true God, The One who formed the earth, its Maker who firmly established it, Who did not create it simply for nothing, but formed it to be inhabited: ?I am Jehovah, and there is no one else. -
Jenny The Great ⭐
Hello pugs, I haven't heard from you in a while. Bible in isolation? Actually, I accept all the Bible, and I agree with most of your teachings, except on the subject of the Trinity and a few others. Equality is based in Jesus who existed in the form of God. Quote: "Your ' nutrition council' , ' Save the children' ,..Red Cross and other similar organisations...ALL are really just band aids for this system and will be totally Unnecessary in the coming Kingdom..." Wow, just wow. As a Christian, our bodies are the Temple of the Holy Spirit. The way we treat our bodies is how we glorify God. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 "Or do you not know that your body is a Temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." We should also save the children. Matthew 19:14 "but Jesus said, Let the little children come to Me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the Kingdom of Heaven."
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"I don't believe in God, but I'm afraid of him." - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
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pugwashjw65
If you believe that [ Jehovah ] God does not exist, then what is the basis for fear? You cannot be scared of nothing... If you ARE scared, then that proves HE does exist. -
Archie Bunker
It's a quote from someone else, dude. I think what the author is trying to say is that there is the fear of the unknown. Basically, what if you (you, in the general sense) are wrong? -
pugwashjw65
Hi Archie...I accept that what the Bible states is truth...It has become ALSO my opinion. A scripture covers this point. (2 Timothy 3:14) You, however, continue in the things that you learned and were persuaded to believe, knowing from whom you learned them The Bible persuaded me. -
Archie Bunker
Catholic school taught me a lot, including my aversion to the business of the church. You can pray on your back porch just as well as sitting in a tax-deductible building payed for by donations and tax-credits. I'm just making the point that your truth (faith) isn't always everyone else's and others may have none at all. To each his own. What I find perplexing is how some believe that the Bible is the answer to everything. What you just said was that you accept the Bible as truth, because a scripture in the Bible told you so. To me, that's like me saying I'm the King of England, because I have it written down on a piece of paper. Me, I don't need all that. Not that I'm knocking yours. Again, to each his own and more power to ya.
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Revelation 1:8
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pugwashjw65
(Revelation 1:8) ?I am the Alʹpha and the O?meʹga,? says Jehovah God, ?the One who is and who was and who is coming, the Almighty.? Jehovah is " almighty" God...and is coming in that he is sending Jesus... (Revelation 6:2) And I saw, and look! a white horse, and the one seated on it had a bow; and a crown was given him, and he went out conquering and to complete his conquest. Jesus prayed to his father Jehovah so is under Jehovah's direction... .and is the one who will eliminate wickedness...again under Jehovah's direction.
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Religion isn't a requirement to believe in God.
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they believe in having a relationship with god
pearllederman 
Linda Joy 
Creamcrackered 
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