religions? how many can you define?

Lets see how many I can think of...

First, here are the traditional, more widley known and practiced religions...

Budhism, Hindu, Judiasm, Islam, and several forms of Chrisitianity including...

Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Evangical, Baptist, Mormon, Pentacostal.

There are also religions that mash everything from Budhism to Chrisitian beliefs that are called Ba'hai and Unitarian Universalist.

There are neo-pagan religions whos mythology is based on (but is not the same as) the old pre Judiac and Christian religions. These include Wicca, Driudic, and Norse paths.

And then there are the silly Scientologists, I have a hard time taking them seriously, but I'm trying not to be too prejudice.

Oh, and I'm Wiccan. Unfortunatly, I can't define it without volumes of pages. So if your interested in learning about any religions, pick up a book on them. But be careful and sceptical of the authors credibility. Just use your common sense, realy.

Be especialy weiry of people that say that only they have The One True Religion. Problem is, everyone seems to think their way is the only way. Which of course leads to war and pain and suffering.

Defining religious belief isn't a very good way to get information about religions. You need to go to the churches, sit in the pews and listen to what's being said. Talk to the people. Listen to them. Observe them in real life. Then ask yourself, "Are these people role models for me?" And if the answer is "NO!" then you can say with integrity that you have "some information" about a religion from your own experience.

Hinduism.

Define: A tough task. It's more a way of life than a religion. There is no prophet in Hinduism who proclaims himsself to be the only son of God. Hindus practice religion guided by their own conscience and convenience. There is no restriction or imposition on anyone to attend some temple.

Does all of this make any sense? There is no definition. It's more a way of life similar to ancient pagan religions which originated in the Indian subcontinent.

There are 37,000 Christian religions alone, how can anyone define them all?

I can give you some points as to how to find the people who are giving God the glory he deserves.

1.) What are the religions teachings based upon? Are they teachings from the Bible? Or are they the teachings of men?

2.) Is this religion making known the name of God? Do they use God's name found in the Bible at Psalm 83:18? Do they teach how to draw close to God?

3.) Do they have true faith in Jesus Christ? Or does this religion teach that Jesus is God? Does it teach that Jesus will rule as king and he will bring about an earthly paradise?

4.) Is this religion a way of life, or merely something they do on Sunday mornings? Does it go along with popular teachings, like celebrating pagan holidays?

5.) Do it's members truly have love among themselves? Do it's members refuse to go to war and kill their neighbors? Do the members stay neutral in political matters?

6.) Do they stay separate from the world? Jesus told his followers not to be part of the world.

7.) Do the members actively witness to others? Jesus told his followers to go tell the good news to everyone they met.

8.) Does this religion look to humans for a way out of the mess they are in? Or do they look to God's kingdom to solve mankind's problems?

These are a lot of questions to think about, and if they are answered truthfully, they will lead to the one true religion. My religion is based upon the Bible, looks to God to solve mankind's problems, Has Jesus Christ as it's king, doesn't get involved in the affairs of mankind, stays separate from the world, is a way of life, has love among it's members world-wide and doesn't go to war, we make known God's name, Jehovah world-wide, witnessing, making disciples in all the nations. Our religion is the only one like it. We are Jehovah's Witnesses.

All religions can be defined as having ONE major pre-requisite: It must promise Eternal Life. The peoplee who follow these religions are frightened people who fear death because their egos come to an end. They want to, they must, have something that promises life everlasting. One life is not enough for them....they must live forever. Look at any religion and tell me its basic premise is not a life in Paradise with some "God"., arter they die.They somehow force themself to accept the utter nonsense that is necessary for the promise that they will live forever. islamism, Christianity, name it. Its all about "I want to live forever and by God. damn it, I'm going to !

According to several Web sites, there are almost 5000 identified religions in human history. We humans just love to make up new ones.

Atheist.

Not a religion. A lack of a belief in any higher power.