Do the works that religions do show if they really follow their god?
361190
We shouldn't just try to convert people. If you really want people to become a part of your religious group, or any other group, the best thing you can do is help them, and be nice to them. Make them say, "Wow, this is a great group of people. They're so loving and kind. I might like to be part of their group." The best way to introduce people to God's love and grace, is to show love and grace yourself.
91586
I believe my religion is true -- that's why I follow it!  I've had many prayers answered... and just praying brings me that "peace that passeth understanding"  This isn't like meditation -- it's something more!
382847
yes, and the funny thing is, as said above, when faced with real history, if it dissagrees with their religion in the slightest, they automatically condemn you, or assume you have your fact wrong, then give you a million bible verses, as if that tells you anything confirming 0_o thing is though, religion shouldnt RULE your life. i think its increidibly important to BELEIVE something, just dont revolve your life around it. theres no one right or true religion. what if you live your life as one religion, die, and lets say you were one religion, and you get REBORN rather than going to heaven or hell, nirvana, purgatory, nothingness, what have you, or getting any type of closure, wouldnt you feel like you revolved your life on a lie??\ni say have spirituality. have faith in SOMETHING, ANYTHING. just dont make it your entire life.
715060
yup, that's why there are so many different branches of basically the same religion, mormons, jesuit, RC, church of england, jehova's witnesses, ahmish, methodists etc etc. They all follow certain parts of the bible more than others. I've always wondered whether what is written down is accurate or happened at all. A good similie would be chinese whispers on a massive scale. Personally I don't believe in any of it, a massive sceptic here. If there is only one god, why are there so many different religions? Why don't we all believe the same thing?
1054709
Each religion believes that their god/spirit is the only one. The better question, however, is: Is there really a god in the first place.
424800
I believe religion is fiction.  Emotion shouldn't play a part in it.  There has never been any real evidence that there is a god, the whole point of faith makes that clear.
1151320
A good point. Religions are supposedly faith-based, but then tack on requirements to keep that particular label. Even an agnostic has to meet the requirement of believing there is no God, so I guess the answer is no religion meets the parameter of not requiring anything to be a part of it.
403005
The answer depends on which stories and the context in which you are asking.  Much of the Bible relates true history and has been documented by archealogical study.  Some Bible stories are exactly that, stories.  This doesn't mean they are not true in the theological sense.  They are stories told to relate a truth about God and his relationship with people.  Its like telling a story to illustrate a point.  The story may not be true, but the point the teller is making is true.  The key is to know what kind of story you are reading.  There are histories.  There is poetry.  There are songs.  There are philosophical dissertations.  Many forms of literature appear in the Bible.  When reading remember what the Bible is for.  God is trying to help us to know who he is and how he wants us to be.  If we read looking for the answer to these questions, "Who is God?" and "Who are God's people?" we will find that the answers found in the Bible are always true.
20734
I understand what you are asking.  This is why all religions can't be true.  There has to be one religion that is true, and teaches God's will.  Otherwise, your thought experiment becomes true and sin becomes subject to YOUR belief weather its a sin or not.
449399
The 3 major religions of the world (Islam, Jewish, Christianity) all follow a specific book. Many others have their 'holy' and/or spiritual literature to follow.  Any spiritually focused book could be considered 'holy' in one context or another.
811447
Religion doesn't change. It stays in its ancient mindset regardless of how the world around it changes.
100292
Even for the books we do know for sure who wrote it, such as some of the letters of Paul, you still have to ask this question.  Just knowing who wrote it does not mean that you automatically know if it is true teaching.\nAnd if you don't know who wrote it, this does not mean it is not true teaching.  Knowing the name of a human author really has little bearing on whether their writing is true.\n\nYou have to look at the content.  Is it accurate with what we know from other accurate sources?  Is it self-contradictory?  Does it contain false prophecy?  Does it contain questionable moral teachings?  You just have to examine it with these types of questions in mind.
1093912
Hmm...interesting. If you believe in It, the work of God is absolutely everywhere. Certainly makes sense, if "He" is hungry to show us what He's done. Guess we just have to look with the right focus.\nCommiserations on the funeral. Never good.
918861
I guess they don't want people to notice the inconsistencies and nonsensical things that become blatantly obvious whenever you analyze organized religion, and particularly the Bible.\n\nIt's all fine as long as you accept every word in those "holy books" without thought. But as soon as you question just a little bit, the cards start to fall. You're eventually left with two choices: Decide that God in some way defies logic, or reject the book as false.
852089
Not that I am aware of.  In fact, some branches of some religions don't even believe in using symbols at all.
783033
One thing you may not realize is that the good translations are translated directly for the original Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic manuscripts that have been preserved for all time.  There are over 5000 manuscripts recovered and translated. (The most evidence from any major ancient literary source)\n\nScholars do indeed see the human elements in Scripture but that doesnt make Gods truth any less than important.  A wise man one said that the Bible is theologically perfect enough to astonish the wisest of scholars and human enough to give any unbeliever doubt.
1097128
Gnostic books contradict the diety of God. \nGnostic books are not inspired by the Holy Spirit of God.