How Important Is Religion In Your Life?

It's kind of a question that I've thought about recently, in regards to myself, and I wonder if some people have the same opinion as me. Or, is similar to it. I was a little hesitant to post this, because I know that for some people religion is a touchy topic.

I guess I've come to realize that religion doesn't play a huge part in my life. I think family and where I go in life is more important to me, I only really think about religion in regards as to when it all ends and where I will go from there. I don't have a set religion, nor am I looking to have one, but I always thought the beliefs of all the different religions was really interesting to me. I like to think that there's something there at the end, but religion isn't one of the motivations that makes me do the things I do.

What about you guys? Does it play into your writing?

Also, I am completely open for all discussion of people of all religions, but if at all possible, could conflict be...professional? You can state your opinion, but I don't want to see people bullying other people because they live a different life style. Please and thank you.

Reply Report

@HappyGreen12 I don't know how to fully explain this, but I have a religion, because that's what the world calls Christianity. To me though, religion isn't as important as relationship - my relationship with GOD first and foremost and my relationship with other people.

"Religion is what's left when the Spirit of God leaves the building." ~ I'm not quite sure who said that, but I believe in that.

As a pastor's kid, I grew up in the church and religion did play a big part in my life, but it was just that - religion. It was just really tradition or a set of rules I had to live by if I didn't want to burn in hell. Religion can be such a burden and I believe that if we blindly follow our religion just because we were born in that religion, it can come off as empty. Christianity was nothing but a religion to me until I actually encountered Jesus in a personal way. I long to love Him with everything that I am and He is a huge part of my life AND my writing.

In fact, the reason I chose "Psalmista" as my user name is because I want my writing to be worship unto Him.

:) I hope that answers your question.

Reply Report

@Psalmista I guess your view on religion can be brought out from the environment you grew up in. I know that some members of my family are Christian, but my immediate family doesn't have a set religion and I know my mother encourages us to pick our own, while being open to others.

I guess I haven't encountered anything in my life as of now that has really opened my eyes as to what religion I should follow.

Reply Report

@HappyGreen12 Thank you for presenting this question ! I suggest to you that searching for a good religion is not the main goal. All religions are mostly the human reactions of various personality types to the social responses to personal God-conscious at all times and in all places. God (by any name, that never changes the omnipresent Reality of the Father-Infinite I AM) and you have now a potentially eternal, living relationship ! He is our loving Father and we each and all are his beloved sons, made in the Father-Son Eternal Spirit "Image" of God ! Gen 1:26-27 "Let Us" is the Paradise Father and Son, One here in Spirit!

You can live a Godly life of seeking the highest truth, beauty and goodness and desiring to positively and wisely serve other humans in many different ways without joining a church or religious group. You can always practice the Sacred Presence of God by yourself; as the pure spirit Essence of God lives and constantly works within your soul and mind. My first book here in process is on this soul identity that all moral humans have. My next, larger book here will be on sacred Visions of God and advanced, continually Revealed Theology.

Yes, my last 35 years have been devoted to spiritual experiences, advanced Theology and active evangelism for and within our good Master Jesus Christ. He is fully here as the Father-Son Union Spirit of All Truth ...and more. But I am not, never will be, a member of just one Christian Church belief. Please ask any questions here or privately and I will try to share more.

Peace and progress in Spirit and in All Truth of God upon and within us !

Reply Report

@Psalmista Thank you for sharing that here.

Peace and progress in Jesus ever guiding us !

Reply Report

@HappyGreen12 I have to admit that my upbringing had a lot to do with it, but that doesn't necessarily mean that I did not make a choice to become a Christian. In fact, throughout my high school years and even at some point when I was already working, I was really questioning my faith. I looked into several different religions - much to my parents' dismay - but yeah... an encounter with God and a deeper knowledge of Who He is changed that all for me.

I've met a lot of people like you though. In fact, one of my best friends told me once that there are so many religions in the world, it's so hard to figure out which one is the right one, so she might as well just stick with the religion she was born with even though she doesn't fully understand much less believe what it teaches.

I guess the environment we grew up in plays a huge part in who we turn out to be.

Reply Report

@HappyGreen12 I am Nihilist. I believe in nothing, and I believe life is nothing. Though I was raised Orthodox Christian, I had many doubts that God would actually damn anyone who was in love with the same sex. Which is what eventually caused me to go onto a new philosophy that said life is meaningless so why care?

Is religion important to me? Not really, the religion I have isn't really a religion it is more of a philosophy. I believe that there is a higher bean than us, probably because I was raised Christian. Other than that I've never found religion to see me through difficult times. In fact Prozac lead me through a suicide attempt better than any priest at church.

I want to get what I have to get done here to live the life I want first. I suppose it is where you grow up that effects what you will become. In my family they were very religious and when I meet my first girl crush in Kindergarden they took me to confession.

I supposed religion is no longer important to me because the way I was raised I was afraid of God. Why be afraid of something or someone who is supposed to be helpful? So that is one of the many reasons I accepted a new way of thinking, Nihilism.

Reply Report

@fadingrose What type of nihilism do you believe is real ?

Metaphysical Epistemological Mereological Existential Moral Political

For a description of these, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nihilism

Reply Report

@HappyGreen12 It's a bit important to me, it's as important as relationships (family, friends, bf/gf..) and almost as important as my passion (music). I'm a bit of a Buddhist...and new to it. There's only a few things I disagree with it but then again, who agrees with their own religion completely.

I think religion is great to have, it's like a safety net. :)

Reply Report

@chemicalnoise and all,

There are at least two parts of religion.

First is the personal God-conscious of an individual human person. There should be nothing to disagree with there. You believe as you are so led in God's Spirit above and always within you.

Second is the socialization of religion which is optional. You choose to join a certain religious group or not. Now there will be disagreements among the members on group doctrines, creeds and customs, scriptures meanings, moral and political issues, etc. Jesus Christ here in Spirit desires that we strive for spiritual unity and not intellectual uniformity.

The focus should first be on personal God-consciousness; and then that human son or daughter of God is equipped to teach and uplift kindred-souls in the group; or maybe form a new group.

On Buddhism; it is evolving. At first it was a philosophy without a personal God; now some Buddhists are evolving to believing in our personal, universal God; and some are postulating a Trinity relationship of a "Buddha who was, who is and who will return here." There is more syncretism with Christianity and other religions. If you want more on this, email me..

Reply Report

@BrotherDave I understand the parts of religion. I don't believe in a God though.. I don't understand why you're saying this, I mean no one's opinion on "how important is religion in your life" is right or wrong XD

I understand that about buddhism as well, I've read :)

Reply Report

@chemicalnoise There can be no true religion without a belief in a loving Father God Who is a Creator, Controller and Infinite Upholder.

Much of this world is now in a serious crisis due to godless secular humanism.

[public domain, freely share this Fifth Epochal Revelation:]

Page 2075 "A lasting social system without a morality predicated on spiritual realities can no more be maintained than could the solar system without gravity."

Reply Report

@BrotherDave I'm sorry but I disagree with you. Please stop discussing this with me, thank you.

Reply Report

@HappyGreen12 I'm Wiccan, and though its a very important part of my life, I'm not too agressive about it. It does influence quite a bit of my writing and poetry though, and inspires me every day!

Reply Report

@HappyGreen12 Oops, I sent that twice D:

Reply Report

@HappyGreen12

I am a Christian, but to elaborate more I am a Jesus follower, a disciple of Christ. It is more important to me than breath, than life. I owe my life to Him and do my best to reflect that gratittude in the way that I live. It's not completely about upbringing. The women in my family are church going Christians, but their faith was never clearly evident to me. My faith is a choice I made when I was eleven. It has been shaped and molded by very important teachers, professors, and pastors in my life, as well as by God Himself in my own time of study and devotion. My faith (because I prefer to refer to it as that than religion) it is the basis for all that I do and believe. It effects my relationships with others, it is in my thoughts throughout my job (preschool worker). My faith defines the value of people, why they are important, and thus how & why I treat them the way I treat them. My faith explains the vital questions we all seem to ask ourselves "how did we get here? who am I? why am I here? how should I live?" the answers to these questions drastic impacts the way we live our lives.

Reply Report

Some words of wisdom to reflect upon.

No copyright, freely share.

Just as certainly as men share their religious beliefs, they create a religious group of some sort which eventually creates common goals. Someday religionists will get together and actually effect co-operation on the basis of unity of ideals and purposes rather than attempting to do so on the basis of psychological opinions and theological beliefs. Goals rather than creeds should unify religionists. Since true religion is a matter of personal spiritual experience, it is inevitable that each individual religionist must have his own and personal interpretation of the realization of that spiritual experience. Let the term "faith" stand for the individual's relation to God rather than for the creedal formulation of what some group of mortals have been able to agree upon as a common religious attitude. "Have you faith? Then have it to yourself."

Reply Report

@HappyGreen12

Can a 14 year old join this discussion?

Well, I'm Roman Catholic. That is, because my parents are too. But throughout my life I've never been really keen or faithful to this religion, I just think the images, crucifixes and stuff are kind of pathetic- they’re just stuff created by human. They don’t breathe, they don’t eat, and they simply don’t have life. But I believe that there is a Supreme Being who created us all. Trust me I've tried to understand the mindset of an atheist but the thing is I really can't. It's surreal to wake up one day, knowing that when you die, you die, and nothing else will come after. It's like, everything will just stop? In a blink of an eye?

I am a devoted Christian. I'm not perfect though, I still sin everyday...but when I pray and ask for forgiveness, I can feel Him. His love for me and His presence. When I read the Bible, it's like He's talking to me too. And believe me in everything that I do, whether writing, crossing the street, getting ready to sleep etc, I always talk to Him to guide me through it all.

I dunno if it's just the influence of those who are close to me that's why I grew up this devoted but being Christian is everything to me :)

Reply Report

To all, (No copyright, freely share.)

INSTITUTIONAL RELIGION Sectarianism is a disease of institutional religion, and dogmatism is an enslavement of the spiritual nature. It is far better to have a religion without a church than a church without religion. ... There is a real purpose in the socialization of religion. It is the purpose of group religious activities to dramatize the loyalties of religion; to magnify the lures of truth, beauty, and goodness; to foster the attractions of supreme values; to enhance the service of unselfish fellowship; to glorify the potentials of family life; to promote religious education; to provide wise counsel and spiritual guidance; and to encourage group worship. And all live religions encourage human friendship, conserve morality, promote neighborhood welfare, and facilitate the spread of the essential gospel of their respective messages of eternal salvation. ...The dangers of formalized religion are: fixation of beliefs and crystallization of sentiments; accumulation of vested interests with increase of secularization; tendency to standardize and fossilize truth; diversion of religion from the service of God to the service of the church; inclination of leaders to become administrators instead of ministers; tendency to form sects and competitive divisions; establishment of oppressive ecclesiastical authority; creation of the aristocratic "chosen-people" attitude; fostering of false and exaggerated ideas of sacredness; the routinizing of religion and the petrification of worship; tendency to venerate the past while ignoring present demands; failure to make up-to-date interpretations of religion; entanglement with functions of secular institutions; it creates the evil discrimination of religious castes; it becomes an intolerant judge of orthodoxy; it fails to hold the interest of adventurous youth and gradually loses the saving message of the gospel of eternal salvation.

Reply Report

@HappyGreen12 To me religion plays a great part in my life. I think as individuals we're lost and our judgement is very biased. Religion is a guidance, a way of life. And sets a purpose, a direction.:)

Reply Report