I have tried to understand all religions and stoped believing in any religion.Read on Hinduism .Am I mad?
470955
I think you've been looking at these religions like fads.  I'm Catholic and regard the teachings of my religion as the true Christian way.  \nI believe in my religion's teachings even if some Church leaders don't anymore. (some unnacceptable groups of people were allowed to become leaders and make some F-ed up changes back in the 60's)\n\nMaybe you just aren't looking for truth, but somewhere you feel accepted in.  \n\nAcceptance isn't worth much if the religion is a fake on, so I decided to look for truth.
229260
Only once... but throughout the many decades in my personal quest, I have journeyed, searched, visited, learned, queried and studied AT LEAST a couple, or maybe three, dozen other religions before settling down quite satisfied with what I found near and dear to my heart today.\n\nIn addition to Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Zoroastrianism, Shamanism, Zen and Stoic religions that I have studied or scanned, I have also had close relationships and acquaintances with people [girlfriends & friends] of some Protestant faiths, Wiccans, SDA, JW, Mormons, Episcopalian, and several Atheists, UFOlogists, Freemasons and Jewish friends and business associates along the way. And, needless to say, I've been quite a sinner and a hypocrite of prodigal proportions! LOL.\n\nBut by comparison, my Faith today is at least ten times much more stronger than what my original convictions used to be, having had a "solid" background of being born and raised in a devout Catholic family environment, and even becoming an ex-seminarian myself.\n\nHowever, ultimately, I found that there is only One Truth and that begins with being true to one's self first!\n\nPeace be with you!
53493
For me it has a lot to do with a dearth of evidence. I spent time looking for god when I was younger, but could never find him. As I grew older I became more aware of the arrogance that necessarily accompanies religion. "I'm saved. You're not. My old book is better than your old book!"\n\nIf Jesus was the answer, were my Hindu friends bound for hell? People seemed to think so. I couldn't accept this any more readily than I could believe in reincarnation. It all seemed quite silly to me. \n\nPeople base their entire existences around certain texts that were written by men who believed that the Earth was the center of the universe. It took centuries for them to admit that they were wrong. They threatened Galileo with death for uncovering the truth. Unacceptable.\n\nAnyone who steps back for a moment and looks at the situation with a modicum of reason can see how insane this is.\n\nWe live in a world where wars are fought because of religion. People die in agony every day because they can't agree on ancient books.\n\nI long for the day when we've relegated this insanity to the history books.
925978
I think that maybe for a while you need to stop focusing on religion and just focus on God. Take some time and read the bible(King James Version)
183320
You are not wrong. But understand that Christianity is a religion based on fear.  Follow me or burn in hell for all eternity!  Believe or be damned!  It is been my experience that many Christian believers will not even listen to another religion's argument or concepts with anything other that complete disregard.  Brainwashing at birth.  Ask the majority of people why they follow there particular religion, the answer will most likely be that it is the only thing that they have ever known.  I only speak English because it is the only language my parents and peers ever spoke to me.  Most major religions believe in the same basic principles.  Be good and the end result will be good or better for you.  Don't let someone bully you into thinking their way.  Explore all religions and find the one that speaks to you.  There are millions of good people out there who do not believe in Jesus Christ - I find it hard to believe that they will feel the wrath of God because they have not accepted Jesus into their hearts.
248323
Once upon the time I too was quite belligerent about religion, that is until I discovered philosophy.  From my studies I realized all knowledge has Faith as a base. For science to work one MUST except the universe is organized, understandable and that man is capable of understanding it. Those, my friend, are assumtions, not facts, and unless you except them there is no scientific method to be had.\n\nMy advice, cut the religious group some slack. If you respect their beliefs, maybe they will find in themselves to respect yours. If they don't, well you are better person for having tried.
326605
Nope. Home recovering from surgery. I just wanted to say, I really liked your take on spirituality! So many people turn away from God (or whatever you prefer to call it) when what they should be questioning are the religions created by man. God does not equal religion. When it comes to teachings, take what rings true to you! I'd love to see more people understand the difference!
842151
I guess you have not heard... that religion is confusion....\n\nWho studies everything and incorporates everything into a ball of understanding....?\n\nand I will tell you that person is confused.... \n\nThey can never ....never.... give you a clear answer......\n\n\n--Ginger
1013038
I have often wondered.  That's why I carefully examined every religion (and continue to re-examine).  I am a Christian not just because I have rejected other religions, but also because I accept the Bible.\n\nPascal's wager might be a good starting place for looking at religion, but that in and of itself isn't much of a basis for a foundation.
353392
when i was 15, 2 very close friends were killed in a car accident, i was miserable and confused. i discovered that it wasn't that god had abandoned me, he never existed in the first place. i have spent a lot of time reading about it and discovered what a bag of shite religion is,\n\nsince loosing my faith, my life has improved ten fold, instead of wasting time on a false deity, i am living life for me.\n\nconsequencially my fiance wants to get married in a church, but i refuse.\n\ni kinda upset my parents as well!
321050
I am a Hindu. It is against my religion to try to convert you to Hinduism and it is even more spiritually damaging for me to try to explain to you what I have experienced and understood of God. Hindus say that God is infinite...vast...big....and because of this each of us merely gets a glimpse of the whole, we only touch a small portion of the whole. \n\nThe story that is often used is about three blind men who each walk into the forest and come across an elephant. The first blind man comes across the elephant but is only able to touch the elephant's tail. The second comes to the elephant and is only able to touch the elephants nose before it runs back into the forest and the third only gets to touch its ears. Each of these three goes back to their respective villages where the people have never seen an elephant and tell about what they experienced. Is any of their experiences invalid? God is like the elephant and we are like the blind men who only touched a part of the elephant. Each of our experiences, our understandings, is valid for us. Therefore what I say about God is from my own experiences and understandings. You should search your own experiences and understandings. Perhaps God is not the in the personal form for you. Perhaps you see beyond the need for forms and names and divinity and see the Impersonal, formless, nameless One. Whatever it is, it is.\n\nThe Upanishads talk a lot about Brahman (the term they use for both the impersonal and personal form of the One...the Ultimate Reality, Cosmic Consciousness, etc). The question is asked "How do we know that Brahman is real?" and the answer comes that "You exist, therefore Brahman exists." This is better understood when you consider that the text has up to this point said that the entire universe came out of Brahman and that the Atman (usually translated as soul in English) within each of us is also Brahman...everything is Brahman and yet Brahman also pervades the universe. You could say, from a scientific viewpoint that Brahman was what was before the Big Bang (and even science can't really describe what that is and thus Hindus say that we as humans can often experience it, but cannot usually put it into words). The three words that come up in Hinduism a lot for Brahman are sat-cit-ananda (being-consciousness-bliss). In Buddhism and Jainism they talk about the Void, the Nothingness...as the terms are translated. Yet in every sense the Void, the Nothingness, the One...Brahman...etc....this is God, too.\n\nIn the words of eastern religions: search for yourself, test what you hear, and if it does not work for you, move on.\n\nPeace.
1145668
I don't just believe, I "know" from deep within. I can't look at all of the good around me, all of the gifts I've been given, the lessons I've learned, and the "coincidences" that appear right as I need them and not believe. But, I also don't push my beliefs on others. I consider myself an "independent spiritual" as I do not lock in to one religion but take wisdom from numerous religions. God loves everyone whether they believe or not. I find that things go best when I remind myself to relax and trust in God's plan.
227274
i'm with you on this dude.but you must understand the difference between spiritual and religious. the religious person ignores his experience on the basis books they believe in. a true spiritualist leaves his/her believes when he has experience something other then what is written in books. follows the path of his heart, seeks light from with in, and understands that there no wrong or right till he/her decides that it is. seeks understanding from all walks of life.  god is far too big to understood by one, two or three types of understanding. Zen talks.com meditation groups, spiritualist church( this church is for all seeker. no dogma is preach. but some rule are asked of participant. 1;to love fully 2;to respect all life, cause all life is sacred. 3;truth is the only path to your divinity. trust your feelings, and always be joyous. life and God is the same thing. best of luck, on you way home. peace, love, joy be with you always.
162557
If you are having a crisis of faith, try talking to a priest or someone else in the church. They may have answers to your question that you never thought of, or that make more sense. If that doesn't work, try educating yourself on other religions as well. Maybe you will find your answers in another faith or belief. I don't mean just Christian religions. Look into Buddhism, Wicca, Taoism, etc. I myself am Wiccan. The most important thing is not to lose faith in whatever you believe in, and to remember that everything that comes to you in life, good or bad, is a test and the gift of an opportunity to better yourself.
263451
coz everyone thinks their religion is right and nobody else`s  is. Im a Hindu and i just experienced it today. I said "oh my God" and a Catholic classmate of mine said dont say "God" if u dont believe in Him. i was really mad, and i started saying how Hindus believe in God, and saying I blieve in Jesus's existence. It wasnt enough for them that i said i he "existed" they wanted the perfect tenses and all. I dont get why ppl think Hindus r pagans.  ppl just cant be tolerant,. i really hate it, and what's worse is that noone knows whats right except God, and everyone has a diff.intrepetation. we should be more tolerant though.  but i dont want to be a hypocrite.
652223
The more eccentric a religion is the more they need to "push" it onto others.  If you feel that you are constantly being "convinced" about religion, maybe it is time to revisit your faith.
1092609
I'm with weemaryanne on this one.\nYour take on religion is pretty much the same as mine - and many others. And you are not alone in being the only agnostic in a religious family.\nI think it's healthy to question the world around you and not take everything at face value. If you find faith in your god again, you won't have lost anything by examining your faith.\nIf you decide god doesn't exist, you won't be a worse person. You'll be accepting the world as it realyy is. And that is really quite liberating.\nGood luck with your journey.