Something that has always bothered me about religion (name your poison), are the almost infinite interpretations of the holy scriptures attended and how different groups of believers choose to dissect the exact same text. Within, Christianity alone, there are multiple sets of beliefs, all based on “the bible”. For instance, one major sect, venerates certain dead people as having influence in heaven and by praying to them, there might be a resolution to whatever their interlocutory concerned.

Not praying directly to Jesus (although that still occurs), but to some special ones as defined by the leadership of their church. The same people also venerate statues, something I think “god” forbid in the Old Testament, didn’t he?

Another Christian sect believes that you have no choice on whether or not you’re going to heaven. That’s right. You are chosen before you are born (John 17:24 – actually before creation!). I had to ask the question then, if I am chosen, then it makes no difference whether or not I choose to follow God or Jesus. Correct. I can be a faithful follower of Christ all my days and might not enter heaven. Yes. Finally, then if I were a seria; killer, or mass murderer, and I had been chosen before I were born? Chosen is chosen.

Of course, there’s lots of Christians that don’t believe that particular dogma, but in fact do believe in, once saved, always saved meaning to me somewhat the same thing in that once you’ve accepted Jesus, that’s it. You’re going to heaven even if you become the evilest person the world has ever produced (I guess!). What else could that mean?

There are those that believe in “the gifts of the spirit”, clearly outlined in the New Testament, (1 Corinthians 12) and those that do not. My questions, even as a believer, about these among others were never clearly answered to my satisfaction. If we, as believers, are to follow God’s inspired Word (the Bible), why isn’t it we don’t all believe the same things? It looks to me that believers pick and choose what they want to believe in (outside of Jesus) and ignore the remainder, even put it off as, in those days. In other words, depending on which sect you follow, “god” doesn’t work in the same way he did two and more millennia ago.

I write about Christianity because that’s the religious belief I’m most familiar with but I think I can say there are similar schisms in Islam (Shi’ite vs Sunni, and their sub-sects), as well as Hinduism (lots of gods, lots of beliefs) and probably every other religion we can name today. Even those that are dead (I kind of like those of the ancient Egyptians as well as the Vikings. We should bring those back.).

Maybe I’ll just stick with my non-belief. It’s way too confusing to be a believer.