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Why Religion?

Eddi

Agnostic
Premium Member
If you have a personal relationship with god, what would "develop" it?

Learning about scripture (at church) improves my relationship with God as I believe he communicates with humankind via scripture

And a good worship service makes me feel closer to God
 

TransmutingSoul

Veteran Member
Premium Member
So it is all subjective?

No, the Messenger presents Evidence to those that ask and look with Justice.

The first evidence they offer is their person and life, they ask you to judge them according to their Message as they are the first to live to the standard given.

Regards Tony
 

TransmutingSoul

Veteran Member
Premium Member
Okay, but what need is there for religion?

The Message given from God always includes a Covenant and Laws that we must Follow in the age the Message is given. It is an elixir that would cure the ills of humanity. As God is all knowing, God knows what humanity is about to face and thus the Messenger comes to give us what is required to avoid the calamity to come.

This is also a good way to recognize them, think of what humanity now faces and has a solution to this problem been given?

Regards Tony
 

Tumah

Veteran Member
If you believe in god, meaning that you have a personal relationship with god, what need do you have for religion?

Isn't it essentially other people telling you how you should have a relationship with god?
How are you defining religion here?
 

Willamena

Just me
Premium Member
The Message given from God always includes a Covenant and Laws that we must Follow in the age the Message is given.
That's a good thing, especially if the relationship with god is personal.

It is an elixir that would cure the ills of humanity. As God is all knowing, God knows what humanity is about to face and thus the Messenger comes to give us what is required to avoid the calamity to come.

This is also a good way to recognize them, think of what humanity now faces and has a solution to this problem been given?

Regards Tony
If a person has a personal relationship with god, what need do they have for a relationship with the courier?
 

Eddi

Agnostic
Premium Member
It can, but I asked about the personal relationship.

Organised religion (i.e. church) helps my personal relationship with God - for me the social side and the personal side are both sides of the same coin, I can't have one without the other

No religion and I'm all alone with my bible and prayers

And no personal relationship makes religious practice an empty ceremony

Edit: also, religion helps structure my personal faith
 

Marcion

gopa of humanity's controversial Taraka Brahma
Following a spiritual path or cult and even having the fellowship of people following that same system of spiritual exercises does not mean that you have to be in a religion.

So the question arises, when does it cease to merely be a socio-spiritual oganisation and become part of a religion?

That depends on how you define or view religion.

I would say it becomes a religion when you and your fellow religionists believe that your system is somehow exceptionally privileged and people outside your religion cannot posibly be on the same path as you and by definition follow a false or at least inferior path.
 

loverofhumanity

We are all the leaves of one tree
Premium Member
If you believe in god, meaning that you have a personal relationship with god, what need do you have for religion?

Isn't it essentially other people telling you how you should have a relationship with god?

To a Baha’i God is the ‘unknowable essence’ so any imagined form of God would be just worshipping our own imaginations.

Because we are incapable of direct communication with God and our minds cannot fathom Him, He sends Mediators to communicate with us,

These Mediators such as Jesus, Buddha, Muhammad are Baha’is believe, Perfect Beings Who pre-existed and are All Knowing and possess both innate and infallible knowledge and wisdom.

They are sent by God to OFFER solutions for problems mankind faces especially during times of high corruption in both religion and politics and low morality with its negative effects on society.

Their one purpose is to promote human happiness and the further advancement of civilization. They all work together. For example Muhammad’s main role was to establish the nation now Baha’u’llah has appeared OFFERING solutions for world unity and harmony and teachings that are capable of uniting all people and creating a flourishing world civilization.

But as you said we can and do totally ignore Them as we so desire due to freedom of choice. That’s where we are at now.

I want there to be world peace and unity so after careful examination I have accepted the solutions which God’s latest Messenger has brought as I cannot find any better. Peace & unity have so far been evasive. Maybe we have overlooked the solution and it is in our midst.
 

Willamena

Just me
Premium Member
To a Baha’i God is the ‘unknowable essence’ so any imagined form of God would be just worshipping our own imaginations.

Because we are incapable of direct communication with God and our minds cannot fathom Him, He sends Mediators to communicate with us,

These Mediators such as Jesus, Buddha, Muhammad are Baha’is believe, Perfect Beings Who pre-existed and are All Knowing and possess both innate and infallible knowledge and wisdom.

They are sent by God to OFFER solutions for problems mankind faces especially during times of high corruption in both religion and politics and low morality with its negative effects on society.

Their one purpose is to promote human happiness and the further advancement of civilization. They all work together. For example Muhammad’s main role was to establish the nation now Baha’u’llah has appeared OFFERING solutions for world unity and harmony and teachings that are capable of uniting all people and creating a flourishing world civilization.

But as you said we can and do totally ignore Them as we so desire due to freedom of choice. That’s where we are at now.

I want there to be world peace and unity so after careful examination I have accepted the solutions which God’s latest Messenger has brought as I cannot find any better. Peace & unity have so far been evasive. Maybe we have overlooked the solution and it is in our midst.
Are you a messenger? and, if not, why not?
 

Eddi

Agnostic
Premium Member
Why can't you have a personal relationship with god that is fulfilling?

I can and do have a personal relationship with God that is fulfilling, to me doing religions is a means of strengthening my personal relationship with God

I'd say that religion helps structure my beliefs and relationship with God

And it's nice associating with people who also want to strengthen their own personal relationship with God and who hold similar beliefs about him
 
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