What are your views on God and Religion?

[RyanEC]

I believe in God but I’m not sure if any of the religions are 100% right because institutions can be corrupted and their sacred texts can be interpreted in different ways and have different meanings then before.

I think the most important thing is that you are a good person and it seems to me there are good people from all religions and no religion.

[BCRanger10]

I believe in God and I follow a religion. I am a Christian, specifically a Roman Catholic.

This will be long and dense, so please be patient. I'm happy to discuss further though if you'd like.

To your closing point, yes, there are good and moral people both inside and outside of religious belief systems. However, the object of religious faith is not simply making someone a good person or teaching them morality. After all, an evil, terrible person can still think still have good manners, a nice smile, help frail old ladies cross the street, and otherwise have the appearance of being a "good person". That, however, is to be expected when religious faith is reduced to "having good morals" and "having good morals" is reduced to "don't be Adolf Hitler". Morality is a part of religion, but it is not the object.

The Dictionary App defines "religion" as...

• "a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs."

The Modern Catholic Dictionary defines it as...

• "The moral virtue by which a person is disposed to render to God the worship and service he deserves. It is sometimes identified with the virtue of justice toward God, whose rights are rooted in his complete dominion over all creation. Religion is also a composite of all the virtues that arise from a human being's relationship to God as the author of his or her being, even as love is a cluster of all the virtues arising from human response to God as the destiny of his or her being. Religion thus corresponds to the practice of piety toward God as Creator of the universe."

In short, the primary object and concern of religion is man's relation to God.

With that established, to know what is pleasing to God (and displeasing), to be able to relate to God would require an act of revelation from God, an intervention, if you will. Otherwise, man would just be taking a guess or confirming his own priors and biases. It would also require a means of authoritatively communicating these truths and revelations which would transcend political, geographic, cultural, and racial boundaries. And yes, these teachings would have to remain consistent. They could not be bent to the whims and demands of a given place or time.

And it goes without saying, since humans have such short memories, these truths and the authority they communicate would have to be written down.

To take it a step further, it would also reasonably require people specially trained, formed, and consecrated to the communication of these truths throughout the ages. They would have to be of a particularly high character and piety and be instructed on the history of the languages, traditions, and culture in which the sacred texts were written.

And yes, because humans are fallen, flawed, prideful, and sinful creatures, it naturally follows that there would be those who would use this system of belief for their own benefit, would not act in accordance with it, or would teach things that are not true. In such cases, there would naturally and rightly be consequences for them if they did not amend their minds, hearts, and deeds to God.

I'm sure that there's more I could say, but I fear I've gone on too long as it is. As I said at the beginning though, if you want to continue discussing this, I'm perfectly happy to.

[RyanEC]

I appreciate you taking the time to give me your detailed response.

I agree religion is primarily about having a religion with God and I think that is useful since I believe in god.

An issue I have been stressing over and frightened over is the idea that a person who doesn’t believe in Christianity can’t go to Heaven. It just seems heartbreaking to me that people who were as good as they could have been with their moral values deserves to be separated forever.

It makes me think of people I have known who have died and people I know now who don’t believe in God who will die one day. It is just too hard for me to accept that.

What is your view on this?
Do you believe God is merciful to those who didn’t believe it him?

[RyanEC]

I find the idea of Universal Salvation comforting.
This is the idea that in the end everyone will be reconciled to God in the end.
But this doctrine isn’t very popular at the moment.

[BCRanger10]

You're welcome and thank you for your response.

Be forewarned, another long response...

So I'll take your second comment first. I wholeheartedly and vehemently reject universalism. For one thing, it runs contrary to everything I outlined and, believe it or not, contradicts what even Jesus Christ Himself said. I haven't done any counts or tabulations, but according to Scott Hahn, no one in the entire Bible said more about Hell and damnation than Christ. If nothing else, Matthew 7 reports Him warning us that the gate that leads to eternal death and destruction (Hell) is wide and easy and the gate that leads to Eternal Life (Heaven) is narrow and difficult and those who find it are few.

It also contradicts the virtue of justice, both on the part of man and even of God. If every man and woman on Earth throughout history received the same reward, no matter how good or evil they were in their thoughts, words, or actions, that would be a grave injustice against those who did good. It would also flatten, deflate Christ's warning that I mentioned above. And it invites spiritual laziness and indifference.

And this might seem bold, but it would also be an act of extraordinary CRUELTY for God to allow everyone to go to Heaven, regardless of their good or their evil.

I have more to say, but I'll let you respond first. Don't want to give you too much in one comment.

[RyanEC]

I don’t mind long comments.

I haven’t been researching this topic for very long but some think Jesus was talking about consequences in life when he was talking about the road to distraction. But again I don’t know as much as you.

What do you think the fate of decent people who were not Christians?

[BCRanger10]

I'm not sure who the ones are saying that He was talking about consequences in life. Even then, I don't know where they'd get that idea from, since Jesus often spoke of the afterlife, judgment, the Kingdom of Heaven, and so forth. It still wouldn't make much sense from their perspective though. Evil people get away with their evil deeds all the time and good people faithful to God and the Church suffer.

This, consequently, speaks to what I said at the end of my previous comment. If everyone goes to Heaven after death, then the suffering that those faithful to God endure in their lives was ultimately pointless. They would have suffered, toiled, and offered the same for no discernable reason at all. As for those who served evil, it would be far more cruel for them to spend eternity in Heaven with the God , and upon Whose servants they inflicted suffering.

Now, to answer your question, this is actually something that I myself wrestle with quote often. The best answer I can give is that God knows a person's heart better than even they do.

[RyanEC]

I appreciate that you think that those people who are not Christian have a chance.
I think being allowed to have a genuine hope for them is good.

[BCRanger10]

I should clarify something very important though. If a man of good will were to ask me what he should do, I'd still tell him to get baptized.

[RyanEC]

I am considering Christianity but I’m still learning.

If I did I would carry a hope for people outside the religion.

I think I would have a similar view as Bishop Barron who prayed even for Christopher Hitchens after he died.

[RyanEC]

Do I you think it would be acceptable if I became a Christian but have a personal “hopefully salvation” for the people I feel compassion for.

[BCRanger10]

Praying for the dead is a good thing. That said though, I do not recommend Bishop Barron.

As for your follow-up, what do you mean by "hopefully salvation"?

[RyanEC]

I mean hoping God has mercy on them without saying I know for sure.
Just hoping and believing so.

[BCRanger10]

You can and should pray for those who do not know God. However, you should not presume upon anything.

[RyanEC]

Would it be better to if I say I hope, rather then then I believe.

[nawtee_me]

God is real and wants to have a relationship with everyone. However He does not want to make anyone want to be in one with Him. That is why He gave us all freedom to choose for ourselves if we believe in Him or not. He wants us to want to have a relationship with Him, and that is done through Jesus His Son...

[RyanEC]

What about people who believe in other religions or Atheists?
Do you believe God loves those people as well?

[nawtee_me]

He does indeed but if they don't believe in Him then they won't be having a relationship with Him will they?

[Paris13]

@nawtee_me God Bless You, You are amazing!!! So Right ON!!! xxoo

[AndrésC64]

A relationship? Then why doesn't he just get his ass down here and introduce himself? You and I have a closer relationship then God does with anyone. See? I'm actually responding specifically to you and what you said. You could actually hear my voice if you wanted. God, not so much. You could actually see me if you wanted. God, not so much. You could actually meet me face to face if you wanted. God, not so much.

[nawtee_me]

@AndrésC64 the reason why you can not is that you look with your eyes and listen with your ears... Try using your heart where God would reside if you would let Him.

[AndrésC64]

Your heart is a muscle that pumps blood through your body to keep you alive.

[Agape93]

I don't care what you believe in or don't. I don't care if you worship nothing, God, Krishna or the flying spaghetti monster. Keep it to yourself and don't push it on others. That's a dangerous prospect.

[Tyrael]

Not a believer I'd say. Always interested me but I'm not convinced.

It's also hilarious that people who are Christian will tell me I'm bad for being atheist, but they themselves are refuting the existence of thousands of gods when they say there's only one god. So am I really that bad?

[KostasKouvalis]

I started questioning the logic of monotheistic religions after that trip to Taiwan. How logical is it to say one God exists, but other gods don't?

[RyanEC]

I’m guessing Taiwan is mostly Buddhist.

[KostasKouvalis]

Taoist actually

[jshm2]

"there are good people from all religions and no religion."

That's as daft as saying "good people, who are doctors and thieves".

It's no wonder you're hypocritical and intellectually fucked up. You cannot separate something good from bad. If this base principle is beyond your grasp, then anything else you assert on morals and religions is equally beyond your grasp.

[slatyb]

There’s no evidence that prayer works or that there is any sort of afterlife, So there’s nothing for me to do. Beyond that I don’t worry about it, except when believers try to force everyone else to live according to their beliefs.

[BarryLiverstone]

God is the best.


Church can be a positive as it helps hold people accountable. It’s also got a country club vibe as you get to know other sinners and make connections.

[TonyMetal___86]

Your statement is true!
It can't be 100% authentic but in general it's real, i do believe in god and jesus and the most important thing to a believer is being good with others!

[OddBeMe]

Religions can't be true, as humans are imperfect. And ancient texts never have the originals. We always have to trust the translators.

Now god…whts most likely? Magic man in the sky or people afraid to die and make up a story about afterlife?

[4esfsamfisher]

Religion today helps calm people of the unknown.

God is in the eye of the beholder.

Perception is key. How I see God doesn't matter as long as you believe.

[FunkyMonkee]

It's ALL bullshit designed to control the masses!

[Googlemyahoo]

I have none