Am i confused when it comes to religion?

Question

i do believe in god but i hate when i hear about it in politics. i don't think they should bring it in our schools and i don't like the hypocrites running are churches. maybe i am just scared not to believe, or maybe organized religion is just ruining it for me.

i am not trying to step on toes here, and i am not saying any certain religion or non religion is bad.

Answer 1

organized religion is nothing more than a popularized cult. [seriously]

either way, there should always be a separation of church and state. i have no problem with religion being in schools, you should just respect that different people believe different things.

hypocrites will always run things; churches, schools, countries. there's no avoiding it.

don't be scared not to believe. try figuring things out for yourself.

i'm not Catholic anymore. I'm agnostic now and i like trying to figure things out for myself without the whole worry/pressure of going to h**l for questioning things.

:3

Answer 2

If you're not confused now, you soon will be if you spend much more time in here.

Its too late for the likes of me, so fly, you fool!

Answer 3

You may feel confused, but you're certainly on the right track!

Do you realize that Jesus Christ strongly denounced those falsely claiming to follow him...?   Notice:

“Many will say to me: ‘Lord, did we not prophesy, expel demons, & perform many powerful works in your name?’  Yet I will confess to them: I never knew you! Get away from me.... --Matthew 7:21-23  

"You hypocrites, Isaiah aptly prophesied about you:

‘This people honors me with their lips, yet their heart is far removed from me.  It is in vain that they keep worshiping me...

because they teach *commands of men* as doctrines.’”  --Matthew 15:7,8  

"“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees [the false religious leaders in his day, which correspond to those of our day], hypocrites! because you resemble whitewashed graves, which outwardly appear beautiful but inside are full of dead men’s bones & every sort of uncleanness.  In that way you also, outwardly, appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness." --Matthew  23:27,28  

"...[Jesus] went on to say to them:

'You are from the realms below; I am from the realms above.

You are from this world; I am not from this world." --John 8:23

But, does this mean that ALL organized religion is false...?

Notice what is further recorded in God's Word about this:

"...Let us consider one another to incite to love and fine works, *not forsaking the gathering of ourselves together*, as some have the custom, but *encouraging one another*, and all the more so as you behold the day drawing near." --Hebrews 10:24-25

"... I exhort you, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that *you should all speak in agreement*, and that *there should not be divisions among you*, but that you may be *fitly united in the same mind & line of thought*. " --1 Corinthians 1:10

"...God is [a God], not of disorder, but of peace." --1 Corinthians 14:33

Also, certain ones of Jesus' early followers were specifically commended:

"The Be·roe′ans were noble-minded, for they received the word with the *greatest eagerness* of mind, *carefully examining the Scriptures* daily as to whether these things were so."  Acts 17:10,11  

"Indeed, that is why we also thank God incessantly,

because when you received God’s word, you accepted it,

not as the word of men, but, just as it truthfully is,

as the word of God..."  1 Thessalonians 2:13

"...True worshipers will worship the Father with spirit & *truth*, for, indeed, the Father is looking for suchlike ones to worship him.

God is a Spirit, & those worshiping him *must* worship with spirit & truth." --John 4:23,24

Obviously, God's true worshipers value togetherness & mutual support, & follow God's Word instead of man-made ideas. But, who are they? Only by personally examining the facts for yourself, will you be able to determine this.  In the process, you might find it helpful to consider some of the following --Scripture-based-- articles:

"Taking in Knowledge of God---How?"

- In Search of the Truth

- Identifying God's Channel of Instruction  

http://watchtower.org/e/20061015a/articl...

"Does It Matter Which Religion You Choose?"

- How Do Religions Get Started?

- Whom Do Religions *Really* Want to Please?    http://watchtower.org/e/20070301/article...

"Should You Belong to a Church?"

- How God Dealt With People in the Past

- God has long dealt with his people as an organized group.  

http://watchtower.org/e/20040601/article...



"Religion--What Good Does It Do?"

- Why Many Have Turned From Religion

- Religion Used for Evil Ends

- “What Do I Care?”  

http://watchtower.org/e/20060901/article...

"Why Care About Spiritual Things?"

- Spirituality & Your Well-Being---A Positive Link!      http://watchtower.org/e/20040201/article...

Faith and Reason *Are* Entirely Compatible!

http://watchtower.org/e/20020401/article...

"Search for God With Your Heart *and* Mind!  

http://watchtower.org/e/20020401/article...

Our main Bible study aid is:

"What Does the Bible *Really* Teach?"

(audio > listen or download, ch x ch)    

http://jw.org/index.xjp?option=QrYQZRQVN...

(Also available in print.)

http://jw-media.org/people/worship.htm

"Understanding the Bible--A Pleasure Open to You...

- A Pleasure Open to All!"

http://watchtower.org/e/20060401a/articl...

There's really no need to be confused!

The answers are ALL in God's Word:

"All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, reproving, setting things straight, & disciplining in righteousness, that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work."  --  2 Timothy 3:16,17 (compare Romans 15:4)

"Beloved ones, do not believe every inspired expression,

but test them to see whether they originate with God..."

--1 John 4:1-21

You, too, can... "Make sure of all things..." --1 Th 5:21

Answer 4

So a hypothetical question:

You are a train conductor who has just wrecked your train in a washed-out bridge, but by some amazing chance you survived.  As you follow the rail back up the line to civilization you see a another train heading toward the washed out bridge.  Convinced as you are about the condition of the bridge and the catastrophic results of running a train into it, what means would you use to warn the other train?  Would the conductor of the other train call you a hypocrite if he knew that you had wrecked your own train?

Just some things to think about as you consider why those with conviction work hard to the logical conclusion of their deep-seated beliefs.

Answer 5

No, there's nothing wrong with your thinking.....

it's the religious leaders of Christendom.

{ For those that don't know: that's a term for those who claim "Christianity", but, do not follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. }

Search for the truth in God's Word.

He can be found, but, YOU have to search Him out.

And He will let Himself be found by YOU- all of mankind,

it's what He desires.

YOU is meant in the plural form; I'm not yelling.

Answer 6

i think I know too, what you mean, I think you should ask the same question once more, although in the privacy of your own room, or bedroom, at night when silence has taking over the City a/o town where you live. This is serious, so think about it, my analysis shows that it may be best, though to avoid part of the sentences in which you begin to say, "maybe I'm just scare not to believed,(add) my Lord", and then because organize religion its pressuring me"  and don't be afraid that you will step in any ones toes, religion is own you, and you aren't in religion, so your free to decide, So, first try to talk to HIM(God). its my purposes to help you and I'm serious in what I say, but the effort is yours, until the night comes, you can read my profile and judge in your own if I'm joking.      

Answer 7

I know what you mean.

When they founded this country, they promised each American was entitled to religious freedom.

So obviously, the government gets to decide what is religion, what is cult, and what is gang. And they assume that we all agree with "in God we trust".

Hate it.

Answer 8

Aren't we all...Or is it just me(s).

Answer 9

I believe in God, and I believe in Christianity. I do not like how God is portrayed in politics, schools, or hypocrites who attend church. This country was founded on freedom of religion as a Christian nation. People believe that "freedom of religion" and the foundation of "freedom from religious persecution" means that this nation was founded so people could believe whatever they want, which simply isn't true. People just refuse to know the history of the nation.