Every once in a while some soul will express on the site they are confused about what religion they should follow. I always tell them to follow their heart, go to the library and find the religion which matches their belief system. Others will say it wrong to shop for a religion like one shops for a pair of shoes. Which leaves the question how does one choose a religion? Do you use research of the vast amount of information accumulated by scholars through the ages on religion or do you simply ask in prayer of supreme being or beings?
How do you choose a religion?

Lets not discuss the difference between belief and religion. Religion is a formal belief system lets just keep it as that.

I just picked the titles that had the best match with my beliefs. Which is Agnostic Theism and Nihilism, just in case you were wondering.

Most people are BORN into a religion. Amazing how only in "free" countries can one "choose" a religion.

The answer is in your last sentence. You find the closest "formal beleif system" to your personal beleif system. And you go with it. Hence, I am an athiest....

carry on....

Very interesting thread, Darkwind :-)

Well, I've always thought that spirituality is a journey in life, and organized religion can sometimes be a part of that. I've always been one to follow my heart but have in the past 10 years been more spiritual than anything else. I like to do a lot of research and find that the Internet is an excellent source of information about spirituality and religion.

For years, I had that same confusion. I knew i was religious but felt there was more to it than that. After years of searching and reading articles online, I can honestly say that I'm most comfortable as a Christian Gnostic. I began reading what the Great John Lash had written regarding ancient Gnostics, and this led me to my current Christian Gnosticism.

Hmmm. The Mule's right. Most people are born into a religion, but I think it's fine to find a religion or set of beliefs that best suit you and your life. It wouldn't be so good if you took on and dropped religions and beliefs like you change your underwear.

No offense to anyone, but my advice would be to not pick any religion. At all. Now, if you desperately want to be a part of one, or eventually, you come across one that suits you perfectly, and you feel you can truly be a part of, then by all means, pursue it. But if you really are questioning your spirituality, I think the answer isn't in scouting out desperately for a religion, but rather not becoming affiliated with any labelled religion, unless, by chance, you find one as I mentioned earlier.

Proudly areligious.

Go to your local mall and shop for the best bargin lol and if you are one of these people that cant descide...hunt to a 2 for one offer LOL


Ok jokes aside...A person can only chose a religion by exploring them and what ever one that makes more sense and makes them feel confortable, thats the one for the,...I call it - following your OWN heart

I am dead againt anyone trying to advise another what route to take...thats NOT right at all....what you are doing is - not respecting their rights to make their own free choices...you are interferring

The religion one should choose is the religion one believes. It is always best to make an informed decision in such weighty matters. It would behoove the honest seeker to examine all the "major" religions of the world at the very least, and preferably a few of the smaller ones. The many religions of the world are all good to the extent that they bring man to God and bring the realization of the Father to man. That being said, true religion is simply a personal relationship with God and as such, organized religion is not a necessary component. It can be helpful to some, but a hindrance to others. Ideally, one should study as many purported sources of God-knowledge as one can and discern the bits of truth that each contains and add them to one's own belief system. It is a more difficult path to follow, but in my experience it is more rewarding and I think it is more likely to arrive at a genuine faith and genuine relationship with the creator because there is no peer pressure. It is only between you and God.

Jeez, I thought my religion found me. I developed a list of what I felt was important to me in the practice of my beliefs, and once I had done that I visited a couple of churches. None of them felt right to me. Then I ran across an ad for a lecture series at Ecclesia Gnostica, and I attended. I've never stopped attending. Perhaps there is a mystical or magical element to finding the expression of your own belief?

Peace,

RadicalGnostic

I agree with you Drego.

I don't stick myself in any category of any religion and haven't found any conflict within, so I think I'll stay that way lol.

I think that religion shouldn't tie into the personal faith you pick. What you should do is, examine what YOU believe, and then find people who are like minded. If someone is searching for something to believe then they should just think about certain things and come up with their own opinions. To search for a belief system is the same as searching for someone to tell you what to believe. Almost like a cry for guidance. Better to look within your own heart and your own mind, and formulate your own opinions based on logical thought and reason.

To me religion is the means to an end. And that end is to feel connected with the whole, Or to search for God if that's what you want to call it. The reason for religion should be to help you find the path that is right for you and the goal we should all be looking at is the journey on that path and not the destination at the end.

In other words I would never look at becoming any one singular religious type, life is constantly changing and if I actually believe that there is a higher power with a plan then surely I need to change with it. On the other hand if I don't believe in a higher being with a plan then I want to be able to look at why we have religions and work towards a connection with the whole. For I am spiritual but perhaps not so much religious.

Shop around baby it's all about learning and listening.

I heard Macy's is going half off on polytheism! All those Gods for the price of one!

Well, there is a difference between advising someone on what path to take ("Ithink you should believe me and here's why"), and telling them ("Believe me or BURN!!!!!!!!!!")... But, yes, I agree.

Also, Thanks Lotus, that's nice to hear

How does one choose a religion? Interesting question. I've noticed that a lot of people have responded to find something that closest resembles the belief you hold now. I guess in some ways that can work, but how does that work when you find a religion that is the complete opposite of everything you used to believe but makes so much sense that you are compelled to change your beliefs?

I don't think there really is a right way or best way to search for a belief. I know I wasn't really looking when i found God. I just happened to have met a Christian who embodied everything it meant to be a "Christ-like individual", and the love that this guy showed others was compelling, I had to find out what this guy was drinking. That set me off on a road of discovery where i started to read the Bible (actually reading it, not just finding bits and pieces I could use against Christians). Then it came to the point where I had to acknowledge that there was a God who was just too awesome to ignore.

I didn't go out and think "hmm, maybe I'll try Christianity this week - Just finished Buddhism, got the Mormons next week"....... You could say God found me, not me finding him

I know that's probably not a lot of help to your question, DW, but what can you do, I suppose

...religion is a waste of time, and a creation of man's imagination...

...search for god instead... he is real... *hint i read the bible*

No PA that was a good answer. Sometimes religion finds you. I might say the same for my religion, it found me and I just needed the vocabulary to make sense of it.



If you follow the Bible are you not following a religion based on on the Bible?

I think that choosing a religion would be very difficult. Some people are raised in a certian religion and thats what they choose to beleive. I think religion is something you really have to figure out for yourself, i dont think anyone can tell you how to choose a religion. You might research many religions and decide that one really seems to fit with what you think, but i find that while i may agree with some things a religion teaches i disagree with other things it may teach. For instance I was raised Christian since thats what my mother was, i went to church for years, but then i discovered that alot of things the bible said i just couldnt believe in. I don't think everyone needs to have a religion, but people should have their own beleifs, without them being influenced by others or feeling as if they have to fit into a specific religion

please excuse my bad spelling and grammer lol [color="#00BFFF"][/color]

ROTF !!!! That's what we girls do best !

I was a Deist but didn't know it. Then one day I was reading something, came across a definition of what a Deist is, and realised I was one. But Deism's not a religion... it's a philosophy.

For me, Deism is how I experience reality.

Peace,

RadicalGnostic

i do not have a religion because i have read about alot of religions and cannot choose

I was a Deist also but didn't realise it. Before that I was an agnostic. My belief sort of morphed into "I acknowledge the possibility that God may exist" to "God exists". But I didn't know what a Deist was, so without any specific religion I just stuck with the Agnostic label.

Then I became a Christian when I could no longer deny the fact that Jesus was the Saviour. And I haven't looked back since (well, I have, but never for long)

I really don't know what the heck I am-- to be honest.

i don't attach labels to my self as a rule ..I'm doing my own thing whatever serves the moment........ and I employ beleifs really only as tools to enrich the moment, i live in this world but not of it... .. i am letting life show me the wisdoms and mysteries of life by the living of mine....

I understand. I normally wouldn't feel that I need to, but it almost impossible it seems here...
I'd be first to admit there are things I'm not sure of, I question a lot, some things I'm confused about.. I only have those few things that I'm confident about- thru experience and time I've found to be what I call truth. that's all I got.. not sure where I belong on this scale of things is all.

thats the most honest genuine seeking post i have ever read... I rarely talk of 'my beliefs" i have so few and they are transient at best and they mean nothng to anybody but me and can only apply to me...... i jsut live my life... I find it to be joyous and full and exciting and overflowing witih joy I have people to love and much to be grateful for what more could i ask for...((HUGS)))

I agree. I am a me, and a me alone.

My earliest memory of being the way I am was when I was five, and I was already on the Deist path. So I've never been anything else. I don't imagine I'll change much, but I don't rule it out entirely because my beliefs are based on experience, and I could experience something which leads me to become something else.

I don't think a Deist is what I am... I think it's who I am, if you see what I mean.

I was forced into religious education growing up Catholic. I was introduced to Christ that way so I was "saved" and had first communion. By the age of 14 I understood I was a heretic, so I merely kept up appearances and played games of dogma the catholic church insisted upon. All this crap until I was 18 and legally able to leave the games behind and eventually acknowledge my Gnostic, deist faith in Christ. I NEVER beleived the pope was anything but crap. Christ is my religion is what I decided some time ago and following another, Jehovah, Jebus in addition to Christ I consider to be serving 2 masters.
Matt 6:24
" No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other You cannot serve God and wealth.
In fact, I believe Jehovah, G-d of the Jews is the god of incest and human sacrifice. How gross!

After checking out Wiki and such I'm still unsure how you define Gnostic or Deist. Can someone help me in a fairly simple straightforward sentence what each of these beliefs represent please?

I guess it depends on WHY you want to find a religion.
Is it because you are searching for a purpose or reason to life? Is it because you want to know an explanation for how we originated and evolution doesn't fill in the blanks? I'm in the second catagory so don't look to religion to find something but rather seek an answer to how we are here. I found it and the answer to how we can come together as a whole and live in peace and harmony with each other, and with my other questions on alien presence in our world, Raelianism does it for me.