I believe that God is Multi-Denominational.

Let me explain why. I was raised as a Catholic, and was taught that the Catholic Church was the true church of god. Starting when I was about 16, I attended some protestant churches and found out that there were people that didn’t follow the teachings of the Catholic Church. I didn’t know much about those Protestants prior to that. I found out that they were Christians that believed in God, but had different interpretations of the bible. I have attended one Jewish service. I haven’t been exposed to any other religions that believe in God and follow the teachings of a book other than the bible.

I still attend Mass occasionally, but don’t consider myself a practicing Catholic. And I continue to attend services at different organized Christian churches. I also attend services at a church not affiliated with a particular organization.

My belief is, that is doesn’t matter which organized church you belong to, or which book you follow that determined your belief in God.

I cannot imagine a god that will exclude one single person from the afterlife with him based on the beliefs they learned from birth to the day they die. Why can’t good Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Muslims and others that believe in God end up in the same place? I do understand there are major irreconcilable differences between these groups.

And, I do understand and respect the faith and beliefs of all others, but would find it difficult stating that my personal belief, faith or affiliation with any church or religion is the right and only one that provides other people with a path to God.

Tonawanda said:

Let me explain why. I was raised as a Catholic, and was taught that the Catholic Church was the true church of god. Starting when I was about 16, I attended some protestant churches and found out that there were people that didn’t follow the teachings of the Catholic Church. I didn’t know much about those Protestants prior to that. I found out that they were Christians that believed in God, but had different interpretations of the bible. I have attended one Jewish service. I haven’t been exposed to any other religions that believe in God and follow the teachings of a book other than the bible.

I still attend Mass occasionally, but don’t consider myself a practicing Catholic. And I continue to attend services at different organized Christian churches. I also attend services at a church not affiliated with a particular organization.

My belief is, that is doesn’t matter which organized church you belong to, or which book you follow that determined your belief in God.

I cannot imagine a god that will exclude one single person from the afterlife with him based on the beliefs they learned from birth to the day they die. Why can’t good Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Muslims and others that believe in God end up in the same place? I do understand there are major irreconcilable differences between these groups.

And, I do understand and respect the faith and beliefs of all others, but would find it difficult stating that my personal belief, faith or affiliation with any church or religion is the right and only one that provides other people with a path to God.

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I agree with you. I have long felt that God has laid out many paths and none of them are wrong. For some that path is through Jesus, for others it may be through Mohammed. Native people the world over try to live there lives in a way pleasing to The Great Spirit (God). They too have a path.

Each Religion preaches that there is only one true path, theirs. I think it is fine to believe this but it is not fine to hate others because they believ their path is the one true one.

I believe had the Christians lost the last crusade, then most of Europe would have become Muslim long before they came to North America. Had that happened most on this thread would now be Muslim and saying that was the one true path to God. It primarily seems to depend on what culture you are born and raised in.

God is all things and in all time. He is the Creator.

"When Gentiles who have not the law do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or perhaps excuse them on the day when, according to my Gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus" (Rom. 2:14-16).

I personally doubt that it has a denominational aspect whatsoever.

Tonawanda said:

I cannot imagine a god that will exclude one single person from the afterlife with him based on the beliefs they learned from birth to the day they die. Why can’t good Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Muslims and others that believe in God end up in the same place? I do understand there are major irreconcilable differences between these groups.

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That was THE singular question that led me away from the church, when I was barely the age to make my own decisions, and toward a general religious philosophy that works in my mind. If it doesn't have a basic element of impartiality and objectivity, I cannot accept it as anything legitimate.

I believe firmly in God, and Christ as lord and savior, but I avoid religious fundamentalism, systematic theologies and the like. I believe that God created us as free beings and that whoever sincerely seeks God will find him. I think God works somehow in all peoples lives to bring about such an opportunity to seek him. That said, faith in Christ is still the single and essential prerequisite of salvation, and there's no getting around that, allow I can't claim to judge for God. God will judge each person perfectly I'm sure.

As far as denominations go, I find it appalling when one or another denomination claims to be the only true one, or claims that a bunch of others aren't Christian. Christianity is faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ for forgiveness of sins and for salvation. When we step from the beautiful simplicity of this gospel message into denominational theologies and man-made traditions we substitute authoritarian religion for authentic spiritual life.

I agree. Humans created denominations. God didn't.

melons said:

I agree. Humans created denominations. God didn't.

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Such a shame that we've spent thousands of years killing each other over them, huh? And that we still do.

Tonawanda said:

Let me explain why. I was raised as a Catholic, and was taught that the Catholic Church was the true church of god. Starting when I was about 16, I attended some protestant churches and found out that there were people that didn’t follow the teachings of the Catholic Church. I didn’t know much about those Protestants prior to that. I found out that they were Christians that believed in God, but had different interpretations of the bible. I have attended one Jewish service. I haven’t been exposed to any other religions that believe in God and follow the teachings of a book other than the bible.

I still attend Mass occasionally, but don’t consider myself a practicing Catholic. And I continue to attend services at different organized Christian churches. I also attend services at a church not affiliated with a particular organization.

My belief is, that is doesn’t matter which organized church you belong to, or which book you follow that determined your belief in God.

I cannot imagine a god that will exclude one single person from the afterlife with him based on the beliefs they learned from birth to the day they die. Why can’t good Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Muslims and others that believe in God end up in the same place? I do understand there are major irreconcilable differences between these groups.

And, I do understand and respect the faith and beliefs of all others, but would find it difficult stating that my personal belief, faith or affiliation with any church or religion is the right and only one that provides other people with a path to God.

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I was also raised Catholic. it's my opinion that there are many paths to the truth, not just one.

Paschendale said:

Such a shame that we've spent thousands of years killing each other over them, huh? And that we still do.

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Some do and some don't but for the ones that do and did, yes, it is a shame.

rjay said:

I agree with you. I have long felt that God has laid out many paths and none of them are wrong. For some that path is through Jesus, for others it may be through Mohammed. Native people the world over try to live there lives in a way pleasing to The Great Spirit (God). They too have a path.

Each Religion preaches that there is only one true path, theirs. I think it is fine to believe this but it is not fine to hate others because they believ their path is the one true one.

I believe had the Christians lost the last crusade, then most of Europe would have become Muslim long before they came to North America. Had that happened most on this thread would now be Muslim and saying that was the one true path to God. It primarily seems to depend on what culture you are born and raised in.

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Except the bible says if you don't believe in Jesus you go to hell and the Quran says if you believe Jesus is god you go to hell. So I think your views are unsupported.

Misbelief said:

Except the bible says if you don't believe in Jesus you go to hell and the Quran says if you believe Jesus is god you go to hell. So I think your views are unsupported.

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The Bible says that no one can come to the Father except through the Son. The distinction there is bigger than it first appears. Look in to it.

ChuckBerry said:

The Bible says that no one can come to the Father except through the Son. The distinction there is bigger than it first appears. Look in to it.

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That's fine, he's still wrong. The only way according to the bible is Jesus.

Tonawanda said:

Let me explain why. I was raised as a Catholic, and was taught that the Catholic Church was the true church of god. Starting when I was about 16, I attended some protestant churches and found out that there were people that didn’t follow the teachings of the Catholic Church. I didn’t know much about those Protestants prior to that. I found out that they were Christians that believed in God, but had different interpretations of the bible. I have attended one Jewish service. I haven’t been exposed to any other religions that believe in God and follow the teachings of a book other than the bible.

I still attend Mass occasionally, but don’t consider myself a practicing Catholic. And I continue to attend services at different organized Christian churches. I also attend services at a church not affiliated with a particular organization.

My belief is, that is doesn’t matter which organized church you belong to, or which book you follow that determined your belief in God.

I cannot imagine a god that will exclude one single person from the afterlife with him based on the beliefs they learned from birth to the day they die. Why can’t good Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Muslims and others that believe in God end up in the same place? I do understand there are major irreconcilable differences between these groups.

And, I do understand and respect the faith and beliefs of all others, but would find it difficult stating that my personal belief, faith or affiliation with any church or religion is the right and only one that provides other people with a path to God.

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While I applaud your ecumenicism, I fear you have the title precisely backwards. God is not multi-denominational; but all of mankind reaches towards God. One of these things is bigger than the other .

Misbelief said:

Except the bible says if you don't believe in Jesus you go to hell

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Actually not only does it not say that, it explicitly rejects that view when it describes Old Testament figures as being in paradise.

The confusion, as usual, rests with people reading the Bible too literally. The Bible is a subtle book written over thousands of years by dozens of authors, each addressing a different audience in a different era. To make sense of it all requires quiet contemplation, not cursory quoting out of context. Frankly, the book is closed to non-believers: unless you are seeking a truth beyond the mere printed words, you will only see your own biases confirmed, because you will see only what you want to see. Intellectualism is false faith, worship of the products of the mind of man and not the Creator of man's mind and all it seeks to understand. You must seek the truth beyond the words where God's presence can be perceived clearly, and genuine understanding can occur.

Tonawanda said:

Let me explain why. I was raised as a Catholic, and was taught that the Catholic Church was the true church of god. Starting when I was about 16, I attended some protestant churches and found out that there were people that didn’t follow the teachings of the Catholic Church. I didn’t know much about those Protestants prior to that. I found out that they were Christians that believed in God, but had different interpretations of the bible. I have attended one Jewish service. I haven’t been exposed to any other religions that believe in God and follow the teachings of a book other than the bible.

I still attend Mass occasionally, but don’t consider myself a practicing Catholic. And I continue to attend services at different organized Christian churches. I also attend services at a church not affiliated with a particular organization.

My belief is, that is doesn’t matter which organized church you belong to, or which book you follow that determined your belief in God.

I cannot imagine a god that will exclude one single person from the afterlife with him based on the beliefs they learned from birth to the day they die. Why can’t good Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Muslims and others that believe in God end up in the same place? I do understand there are major irreconcilable differences between these groups.

And, I do understand and respect the faith and beliefs of all others, but would find it difficult stating that my personal belief, faith or affiliation with any church or religion is the right and only one that provides other people with a path to God.

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Yes, I think you are spot on. I'd even include religions that are not Abrahamic.

I'm Baha'i and so this idea is part of our theology: There is the concept of "progressive revelation", which means God will send prophets/manifestations to renew religion every couple of centuries. Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Mohammed were such manifestations of God, so were Krishna, Zarathustra and Buddha. Baha'u'llah, who appeared in 19th century Persia and founded the Baha'i religion is the latest of the manifestations of God, and the next is supposed to come in around 850 years.

All these religions stem from the same single God, and all are valid. They all have the same core. Their differences are due to the different stages of development and the different cultures: The Jewish people in the bronze age needed different teachings than the Greeks and Romans in the ancient world, so did the barbarians on the Arab peninsula in the 7th century or the Indian peoples ca. 500 BC. Their respective stage of development was different, so were their cultures, so the respective revelations had to be different.

Just like a parent will use different methods of parenting and education for a three year old, a nine year old or a 15 year old, and different methods for kids of different character, so God used a different language and different rules for the different peoples in different times in history. All the religions that resulted have in common that they were the respectively best medicine to cure the illnesses of mankind in that point of time.

How can a non-theist religion like Buddhism stem from the same single God, you may ask, although Buddha didn't say much about God? Tough question. But maybe you can use the school analogy: When you start teaching kids in the first grade of elementary school, you'll probably not start with college mathematics. Go step by step. And then, God is incomprehensible for us humans, as the comprehended can never understand the comprehending: Even the monotheist idea of a personal God is nothing but an analogy suited for our understanding, which fails to be entirely accurate.

The Baha'i religion teaches that we're supposed to develop our spiritual qualities in this life -- through spiritual practizes like prayers and meditations, good deeds, improving our character and following the religious rules -- to prepare our souls for the next life. Just like the fetus in the womb develops qualities and attributes the kid will need once it is born. "Heaven and hell" are just symbols, symbolizing being close to or far from God in the next life.

I believe everybody can develop these qualities, regardless which religion he or she follows. But of course, as a Baha'i, I will say my religion is the best set of guidelines to achieve that.