Religion

Religion

Religion is a personal thing, and yet religion is also a cultural and universal thing. It has bound people together and has driven people apart. Religion has changed the lives of individuals and of nations.

God

Do you hold strong views about God, and want to take part in the debate? Then this 'God' site is for you. Whatever your belief about God, whether God is most important in your life or even if you believe there's no such 'thing'.

Does God exist, and if so, does it matter?

Is the concept of God relevent in today's world?

The Golden Rule

All too often the differences between religions are emphasised at the expense of their similarities. If there is a God, then whilst 'he' would undoubtedly speak to different people in different ways, depending upon the age, languade and location of the people 'he' was speaking too, God's message would be similar. The so called Golden Rule is just one example of the similarity of message that transends religious boundaries.

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Why I'm an Agnostic not an Atheist

I'm an agnostic scientist, not an atheistic scientist. For me, agnosticism fits the facts

Leaders of many religions may eventually be vindicated with future scientific advances, and able to say at long last, "We knew there was a God, here's the proof". Scientists may also eventually be vindicated with future scientific advances, and able to say at last, "we told you science had the answer to everything, here's the proof".

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1. Introduction to Atheism

Atheists do not believe there is a God, and they usually also believe that religious belief itself is at best unhelpful, and at worst harmful.

Religious people make an assumption that there is a God, and seek a religion that meets their incorrect assumption. Atheists start from the assumption that there is no God, and that there is no evidence to prove that any God exists.

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1. Introduction to Baha'i

The history of the Baha'i Faith has its cultural and religious roots within Islam, and starts with Sayyid Ali Muhammad (known as the Bab or 'Gate'). He preached that a prophet called Baha'ullah was coming who would fulfil the promises made by other religions and usher in an age of peace and justice. The majority of his writings urged his followers to be watchful, and to recognise and follow the Baha'ullah when he came.

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1. Introduction to Buddhism

Siddhartha Gautama was on a quest to find out how to overcome human suffering, when he sat down under a tree to meditate. During his meditation he underwent a religious experience or 'enlightening' (nirvana) during which he became enlightened about human suffering and existence, and became free of the fear of suffering.

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1. Introduction to Christianity

Christianity is one of the three major religions in the world and traces its roots back to the same prophets, and the same monotheistic God, that Jews and Muslims also believe in. Orthodox Judaism retains a strong messianic belief that a Messiah will come and establish God's kingdom on Earth, and Christians believe that Jesus was that Messiah.

Jesus himself was a Jew, as were all his disciples and all the early Christians.

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1. Introduction to Confucianism

Confucius (or more accurately Kong Fuzi) has become so appreciated for his wisdom that Confucianism is now considered a religion in its own right.

His teaching was such, that by his death he was looked upon as China's most important teacher of morals. In particular he taught that jen, or human goodness and compassion and consideration of others, is something that everyone can learn and strengthen within themselves.

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1. Introduction to Hinduism

The Rig Veda is one of the oldest and most important of the Hindu scriptures. Originally passed down orally by priests known as brahmins, it evolved to contain over a thousand hymns and prayers to many different Gods.

Knowledge and understanding of the divine spiritual force of the universe Brahman is to be strived for, but is unachievable for most, so it is easier for for most people to understand the various God's that are worshipped.

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1. Introduction to Islam

Islam is one of the three major religions in the world and traces its roots back to the same prophets, and the same monotheistic God, that Jews and Christians also believe in. Islam teaches that Jews and Christians have misinterpreted or misunderstood the word of God, and so God had to reveal his word afresh.

Muslims believe that in heaven there is an original book written in Arabic, containing the word of God. God chose to reveal this book to the prophet Muhammad.

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1. Introduction to Jainism

Mahavira was the twenty-fourth in a line of 'enlightened ones' known as tirthankaras or jinas, and the words of Mahavira form the basis of Jain scriptures.

Jainism recognises no supreme deity and has no priests. The emphasis is upon an individual's own action to escape from a continuous round of life, death and reincarnation by removing karma from their lives.

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1. Introduction to Judaism

Judaism is one of the three major religions in the world and traces its roots back to the same prophets, and the same monotheistic God, that Christians and Muslims also believe in.

Jews believe they were specially chosen to receive the revelation of God. This revelation was given directly to the prophet Moses in the form of a written law that was written directly by God onto tablets of stone.

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1. Introduction to Paganism

The word Pagan is actually an early Christian word used to describe people who continued in pre-Christian religious beliefs in Christian Europe and North Africa, and the word originally literally meant country dweller. So originally a Pagan was someone who was a Druid, a Celt, someone who worshipped the old Nordic Gods such as Thor or Odin, or one of the old Shaman religions.

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1. Introduction to Shintoism

Shinto is the original religion of Japan, and is one of the few religions that is not revealed.

Spiritual entities known as kami are identified in natural objects such as trees, mountains and rivers, and shrines are set up in these locations. Kami are not Gods in the accepted term. Shinto believers believe there is a spiritual force pervading the universe that manifests itself in these kami, and that they can also be manifest in animals or deceased people, especially ancestors.

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1. Introduction to Sikhism

Guru Nanak was born a Hindu, and had both Hindu and Muslim friends, both as a child and as an adult. When he was 30 he had a religious experience that left him dumb for a day, after which he spoke the words that are now known as the Mool Mantar

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1. Introduction to Taoism

The main scripture of Taoism is the Tao Te Ching written by Lao Tzu, and this was followed many years later by the Book of Chuang Tzu.

They both teach that there is a spiritual force in the universe, the Tao that affects everything within it, and there is a Way of living that helps us understand the Tao and become absorbed within it.

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