Do religions represent God?

[Little Rik]

Each religion represents God in exactly the way its adherents  fantasize that God wants to be represented.

Boru

Wrong.

Nothing to do with fantasies.
It was all about the priests desire to become intermediaries between God and the masses.
At that stage they had to create stories like hell and paradise so people would follow them.
It was a very evil plan rather than fantasies.  

---

Wrong.

Shiva, Krishna, Jesus and Buddha never intended to start any religion and yet they gave principles to follow.
These people teach spirituality not religions but I guess you wouldn't know the difference.  

...a system of beliefs and values stemming from a supernatural power is a religion, Rik.

Tell me something Fat.
What is the difference between religion and spirituality?  

[FatAndFaithless]

Each religion represents God in exactly the way its adherents  fantasize that God wants to be represented.

Boru

Wrong.

Nothing to do with fantasies.
It was all about the priests desire to become intermediaries between God and the masses.
At that stage they had to create stories like hell and paradise so people would follow them.
It was a very evil plan rather than fantasies.  

---

...a system of beliefs and values stemming from a supernatural power is a religion, Rik.

Tell me something Fat.
What is the difference between religion and spirituality?  

I don't know of a useful definition for spirituality.  But a system of codified beliefs and values with attendant rituals, especially when attributed to a supernatural force is the definition of religion.

[vorlon13]

Evaluated by their own Scriptures, it is CLEAR no Christian schism is "doing it" correctly.  

Treating Mormonism separately, they are PROFOUNDLY in error in regards to their own sacred writings.  I will concede a particle of possibility some of the very earliest (and now defunct) Mormon schisms might have been rather close to 'doing it' right, by their own scriptures.

I'd say that while still in considerable error, the most ultra super dooper hyper orthodox Jews might be similarly close as those early and now lost Mormon schisms.

By their own Quran, I'd weigh most Islamites as being at an intermediate level of representing Allah.

Obviously, from an atheist stand point,  all the Abrahamites and Mormons are blowing shit out their assholes.

[Whateverist]

Got to go along with F&F's definition.

But Rik, the difference you're trying to make between spiritualism and religion is problematic. It would be more clear if you called it the difference between practicing a religion and seeking religious experience, like a shaman. If one goes walk about in the wilderness long enough, or ingests 'shrooms/peyote, or engages in a sun dance in order to provoke a vision which one interprets for himself .. then one has engaged in direct religious experience. But if you work with a priest/master the guided exercises and study is more akin to the religious training of the priest class than it is to the direct religious experience of a shaman. Direct religious experience is dangerous. No one who joins the priest/swami class can claim to be above/outside religion. You are firmly anchored in your tradition every bit as much as any catholic priest, Rik.

[vorlon13]

Christianity and Mormonism alike, I remain AGAST at how in each the early supposedly 'True Believers' (and in the case of Mormonism including the founder himself) despite their professed 'belief' nevertheless felt the uncontrollable urge to change dogma, doctrine, protocol, procedures, strictures, and rules willy nilly.

Yes Apostle Paul, Brigham Young (and Joe Smith), I'm looking at you.

[Minimalist]

There is no fucking god.

[brewer]

It's what people say god is, that is the representation. Whether in a religious context or not. 

It's still woo.

[Alex K]

That's one confused list of options

[vorlon13]

There is no fucking god.

indubitably, but isn't it grand to evaluate the claimants by their OWN fucking standards and realize they still don't make the cut, and that they in fact don't make the cut by several quadzillion nano-furlongs ?

[Edwardo Piet]

There is no fucking god.

Hell, there isn't even a celibate god.


@ The OP: I would vote on the poll but it's missing a "Little Rik is a confused little bastard" option.