I've heard many people on this site basically saying that they'll just pick and choose from several religions to create the worldview that suits them.

I can see the perks of this, really I can. Everything would be what you agree with right off the bat. You can create an image of God that suits you. And hey, as time changes and you do along with it, so can your worldview.

Here's where it gets problematic: you've just created your own god. When a large number of people do this, it means that there are many many mini-gods who all have their own little "creator" waltzing around the world making stuff, or watching stuff, or just being stuff. Because all of these gods created by all these diverse people are thus, diverse, they are all varied and often contradict eachother. (Example: one person's god is totally against war in any cases, another's is totally for war, another's doesn't care) Yet each person claims that there is one supreme being, their god. Therefore, there is no truth.

So my question is posed towards those out there who pick and choose, get a smattering from several religions, create their own idea of who God is. How do you justify this in your mind?

Of course, I'd also love to hear the opinions of others (atheist, Christian, Wiccan, etc. etc. etc.) on this issue.

As an atheist, I don't believe in God, so what the Bible says means rather little to me, thank you.

Many of you follow the Bible as a religious outline for your lives. The Bible condones slavery, stonings, etc. and treats women as property. Why would anyone choose to follow that religious text? I know there's a King James version of the Bible, but that was just HIS interpretation of the Older Testament. He was not inspired by god, yet many Christians follow it.

And I think that creating a religion would give people more spiritual security, if that's what they lack.

Cheergirl:
I'm a Christian, but I must let you know that the argument you just gave will get you absolutely nowhere. You can't say that a book is trustworthy and valid simply because it says so, this is called circular reasoning. We as Christians accept this, but this is understandably not enough for skeptics.

Think about it...lets say that some new cult was trying to recruit you and they showed you their "holy" book. You ask why in the world you should believe that book to be correct, and they point to a page that says "this book is perfect and is correct." Would you believe that book simply because the book said it was correct? Of course not, and neither does an atheist.
(The difference of course is that the cultist doesn't have a book that contains many fulfilled prophecies, no false prophecies, is entirely fluid, has been confirmed by archaeology, and has stood the trial of time for thousands of years...but that's another discussion)

And what's with the "in your face" thing?

...If you do, get a King James Bible or, an N.I.V., or an N.K.J.V. You can trust what the Bible says to you. 2 Timothy 3:16 & 17 says,
16-"All scripture is given by inspiration of God , and is proffitable for doctrine; for reproof; for correction; for instruction in righteousness,"
17-"That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly fernished unto all good works"

LoL CCheergirl, you have a point there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bye have a nice day

As a matter of fact, the Big Bang Theory could be quite possible. And frankly, I have an easier time believing that than God.

The most proof of God is nature. Look outside, at your world. How did it get here? Do you honestly believe in the "big bang theory"?...

Teddy, I don't know what you're talking about, but ok.

Katie, you say that your God answers prayers when it is His will, could that not also be true in the case of someone else's God?

At that point, I decided I could not believe in the Christian God, since then I've searched for a religion I could accept, but I have not found one. I worked things out in my head, which is how I got to my current beliefs.
I don't really know if I belief in Fate or not, it's an idea that I don't understand as well I as could, to make a judgment upon it.

Look, I can understand your logic on how you say God doesn't love you becuz he didnt answer your prayer. However, GOd answers pray if it is in his will. After this situation happened, was this the point where you decided to believe in what you believe today? Do you believe there is any God at all? I am having trouble understanding your previous statement.

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I do not believe in accidents, everything happens because of the series of events that could lead to it. I believe that any outcome can be accurately predicted.

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Does that mean you beleive in fate that controls our destiny? When you say every outcome can be accurately predicted, would you mind giving me an example? Could it be predicted that a young girl was raped? Could it be predicted that kids from a loving family with no social problems become suicidal? Not everything is predictable...
As for your side note, as you know, no one is perfect and I would be a liar if I said that I have never made a mistake (example:lying), however, I use every day as a new day that I can follow God with my whole heart and know he will forgive me if I mess up.
God Bless,
katie

I know how you feel, I tried asking for help from God before and he didn't answer me but instead I got drugged by doctors so they could calm me down. . But, there is difference between what you and I think. You think because God didn't answer you, that there's no God but I think God didn't answer me because he disowned me as his child, I believe in him now and forever but I caused terrible sins and now he feels bad but he needs to turn the other cheek and punish me.
It has nothing to do with depression. It might sound like it, me feeling like a terrible, evil person, but it's nothing like that.
I still talk to God though, because I want him to forgive me, I don't care if I need to go to hell for my sins, all that really matters is that he forgive me and give me the power not to kill myself because when I grow up, I want to change every bad thing in this world into something good and if I give up and die, nothing might change!!!!Also,I love my family and I wouldn't want to leave them.
Well, Bye N Have a nice day

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I mean... how can you believe in something that doesn't even have any proof that it loves you, it exists, or that it is all powerful?

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Ahh, I am oh so glad you said that, even if it means I have to share a story that I do not like to share.
Several years ago, I began to question my faith. I began to doubt what both the Lutheran and Catholic chruches teach. I had been, until the questioning, a fairly faithful Christian, only because I was led to it as a child, and didn't think to ask different. Anyway, one night, I was at a very bad point, mentally. I called upon your God, as a believer, and asked for help, I begged. Yet, for my pain, my asking, I got no reply. That was when I stopped believing in the Christian God.
Your God did not reveal to me that He exists, is powerful, loved me, or really even cared. So, indeed, how can one believe in something that never shows its face, power, love, etc?

I do not believe in accidents, everything happens because of the series of events that could lead to it. I believe that any outcome can be accurately predicted.

On a side note, I find it rather interesting that you believe the Bible "with your whole heart". I wonder, do you follow its teachings directly also?

OUtspokenme
Yes as a matter of fact I have numerous non Christian friends and yes again I have asked what there God had done for them and honestly.... no ONE person could answer me straightly which I find really sad. I mean... how can you believe in something that doesn't even have any proof that it loves you, it exists, or that it is all powerful? Again, if I offend anyone I apolgize perfusely.
Alot of peoples arguements might be to flip my logic with the question, "What has your God ever done for you? HOw do you he exists and he is a loving God?" As you can read from my previous posts, God saved me from an abusive, dark past which is proof that he is a loving God and that he exists. Let's be realistic. NOT everything could have happened for chance. I find it impossible to believe that we are here because of an accident... that there is no point to our existence.. its quite a depressing thought. Scientists have said numerous amount of times that the human body's intricateness(sp?) alone is reason enough to believe that there is a higher being whom created all of us. As for God loving me, look at what he did on the cross. Yes, a very controversial subject I know. I am not jsut basing my beliefs on the Bible although I believe the Bible with my whole heart, I am basing it on thorough research that I have done on the subject proving the validity of the Bible and its claims and the validity of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. If you want some information on my research, let me know.
God BLess,
Katie

But you do pick your belief system, whether you realize it or not. Each religion believes in something slightly different, in some area or another, and so when deciding where to place your faith, you picked a belief system, whether concious of that fact or not. Granted, you picked a system that was already there, but again, it had to start with someone, at some time, and it did.

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What did another's person's God do for them? Forgive me if you take this the wrong way, however, I have yet to hear a story of someone saying that the God that they believe in other than the Christian god, saved them from a situation.

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First I must ask: How many non-Christian theists do you know? And have you asked them for the story of their God's work?

To put my point another way: I bet you did not know that my dad picked me up from school today, but because you didn't know this information, does that mean it's not true?

As to my gender, I am female, though I fail to see the revelance of it. Perhaps just curiosity?

Well to quite honest, I didn't pick and choose my belief system. My beliefs are based on the Bible and its not even like I chose certain things i agreed with and chose not to believe others as you may or not believe is the case in this situation, however, I believe the Bible wholeheartedly. What I would like to do, not to sound extremely harsh, however, i must be blunt, What did another's person's God do for them? Forgive me if you take this the wrong way, however, I have yet to hear a story of someone saying that the God that they believe in other than the Christian god, saved them from a situation. If there is a situation that I have not heard about, I apologize for my lack of knowledge and would much ablige to hearing about this.
God BLess,
Katie
P.S. Are you a male or female?

I'm sorry for scaring you Crowley, didn't mean to and I know God loves me, I never said he didn't, I just think he needs to punish me for my sins and like you said, I need to "Buck Up" and be a Man well, in this case be a woman about this. I know he loves me and he doesn't want to do this but he needs to, I DESERVE THIS as easy as that.

Also, I think you got the wrong idea when I said bad things keep happening to me, I didn't mean it in a way that I think I have the most terrible life in the world because I really don't. I know I'm just weak and I don't even deserve this wonderful life of mines. I meant it in a way of punishment,thing keep happening because I keep making sins without knowing it and I need to be punish. That's all I meant.............I know people have it harder than me and I feel so so terrible for them and I wish I could clear and solve every probelm that is on Earth. I will try to.
That's all
Bye N have a nice day

Teddy: Are you serious? I don't know you, but you're really scaring me. I'm not God(contrary to popular belief) so I can't speak for him/her, obviously, but I don't think there's any way he can hate you. (Incidentally, no one else you've met is god either, so I wouldn't put too much stock in what they say.) Lot's of people have trouble finding god. You have time, don't worry about it so much. If there is a god, he gave you life and he wants you to live it and make the most of it. That's about all that's clear. And bad things happen to everyone. I don't know what's happened to you, but there are people all over the world starving. So (in the kindest possible manner) buck up!

As to the forum in general, I am a confirmed agnostic. I don't know if there is a god. If there is, I don't know anything about him and am in no position to decide what he is or what he wants. Taking what one feels is best from several religions makes a lot of sense from a standpoint of choosing morals and behavior, but I think it is foolish to actually assume that what one comes up with is THE truth. If none of the other religions are right, why should yours be? I do what I think is right, but I don't pretend to know it to be right, or to really know anything, for that matter.

I don't think that God, if there is a god, is going to change because of what I think about him. Therefore, creating my own god is pointless, but harmless. (If God can change, based on what I think he is, then maybe we are all right. Huzzah!)

Sorry for my spelling typos...........I know some of you guys hate that so I'm really sorry
Bye Again N Have a nice, wonderful, cheerful, peaceful day
Take Care N Be The Very Best You Can Be

Um.......I'm confused
I thought all you need to do is believe in God and try to not sin in your life and if you do sin, ask for forgivness and you will be alright in the end.
You know.........in other words just be a Follower of God. Whenever your heading into somthing that there's a wrong and a righ way but you just are not sure which one is which then just try to picture yourself in God's shoes, just ask yourself what would God do? It's like he would speak to you or something. Guide you in someway
That what I was told most resently from someone ...... But everyone, meaning the people I TRIED talking to just keep changing things around and I don't know what to believe anymore. (I didn't talk to many people though so I'm also the reason for being so confused)
I tried so so hard, I tired reading the books, I read the Bible, I talked to people, I prayed. I probably didn't do everything and I probably didn't even tried hard enough. But, I don't know what to do anymore!!!!!!!!!!
What I believe in NOW is that God doesn't like me. He is very upset and disappointed in me. I'm not his child anymore, probably he still loves me but I'm going to hell. You know, I'm like that angel that betrayed him and was send to hell....sorry don't know how to spell the angel's name, it starts with an L, Ludsefur or something.

I wish things didn't have to end up this way, I love God and I didn't mean to be so evil to him but I was and I'm not going to be a Coward about this, I will face my punishment and go to hell. Honently, what I believe in now makes the most sence. It explain why I couldn't find him, why he didn't find me and why bad things keep happening to me, it's punishment and I deserve every bit of it.
Someone thinks it's just depression that I'm feeling but it's not, I'm a evil, terrible person and I'm going to hell and deserve what's coming to me. I just wish God could forgive me for my sins and know I'm really really deeply, truely sorry and this is not coming from out of fear of going to hell, I just wanted him to know that
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Well, Bye n Have a nice day
This is probab;y really long so I'm sorry but thanks for reading!!!!!!!!
No-Name

The flaw in your logic, puppydawgk, is that every person thinks their God is the real God, the only God, and so on. And I'll be they all have the stories to prove it, too.

People who pick and choose their religions believe their God is the true God, so who are you to tell them (S)He's not? You do the same thing, in all actuality.