Religon

I've shared some of your observations in dealing with people, and found little use for religion in my personal life. That's not to say that there is no value in religion however.
I like to think that I have my head on pretty straight, and that my moral compass is more or less aligned.
I think that on a larger sampling of individuals, you'll find cheats and liars from all walks of life. Hypocrites pervade our society on all levels, and it's a shame that they dilute groups of people dedicated to charity and helping fellow man. That hypocrisy perhaps stands out in greater contrast in people who outwardly lable themselves according to their religion, but a majority of people are disappointing regardless of Creed.
Some people are genuinely good, generous people. When you find a rare, selfless individual who also is religious, it's a compliment to their personality. It's more than feeling good about yourself on Sunday, it's more about helping other people who are having a hard time seeing the positive things in life, or just need a hand through a rough patch of road.
That's my model of faith. Though I feel alone at times in a sea of immorality, I know that I am as good as I can be. Not for God nessicarily, but for other people who share my view and struggles.

kevinedward1234 wrote: I am not religious, I deal with customers who are, through out the years of interacting with people, I find to be true, not always, but at times, religious people are two faced, back stabbing ignorant to intelligence , selfish, greedy , and some other really nasty things I won't mention, type of people.

People I have and deal with on a customer based level, people who just want their car fixed and not try and use their poor me excuses, tend to be better people in life, not needing a crutch to lean on and downgrade others, tend to be just that, hard working sane people.

What I am driving at is , too often I see people who are of a religious belief, be some of the nastiest people when it comes to money and honesty!

In my opinion, people use religion as a way to feel better about themselves on Sunday or Wednesday, and lie steal , cheat, do whatever during the rest of the week.

One bit of text I do find of interest is , let ye without sin cast the first stone, I probably got that somewhat wrong, but close enough!

Just an opinion, thanks for reading!

I wish I could say that I am surprised. "Religious people" can absolutely be the worst! The main reason, at least in the Christian faith, is these people are only "Christians" by name. I would challenge that most people who call themselves Christians are not true followers of Christ. As you said, they go to church on Sundays or holidays to somehow pay their dues, then live their lives in a way that can be even worse than a non-religious person for the rest of the week! These types of people are NOT Christians. In fact I don't even call myself a Christian anymore because it means nothing in this day and age. I call myself a follower of Jesus Christ when someone asks me what my faith is.
Someone who truly knows and loves Jesus does not act this way (Sunday only, then live however, the rest of the week). Everyday is a day where I want to walk closer to God, I want to be kind and forgiving and compassionate. Following Him and His examples makes me want to help others, to love them and care for them. These are the marks of a true believer. I am willing to bet, you've just not met very many true believers and I hope that you can see one in me.
I am not perfect, not by any means. I still fall short in so many circumstances, but God is not finished refining me yet.

There is a reason why when Jesus spoke to the religious leaders at the time that He said...broad is the way that leads to destruction and narrow is the way that leads to eternal life and few there be that find it. You see the broad road that leads to destruction was for the religious people!!! He wasn't talking to people who were atheists, he was talking to the religious elite! The same people you see today as being religious.
Religion is mans attempt to reach God , Jesus is Gods way to reach man.
Thanks for the comment! I really appreciate it. Hope you have a blessed day.
Paul

There is a difference though, every single religion was created for ways that man can gain access to God. For man to work and earn his salvation. There is only one "religion" if you want to call it, where God says to man, that you cannot ever earn it, you can never be good enough to meet my standards, so I will send my son to pay the penalty of sin, which is death. He came and died and rose again so that we may live! So then we are free in Christ! We do good deeds out of the gratitude of our heart, not out of obligation to gain salvation. There is no other religion that is like this, they are NOT all the same.
John 14:6
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
Acts 4:12
And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.

Notice, Jesus didn't say the he was A way, but THE way. There is only one path, there is only one absolute truth, there is salvation in no other "religion"
As my avatar says "Religion says do, Jesus says done"

Your first sentence you are completely discounting the work of the Holy Spirit. @Columbus450 summed it up well for me and thank you for your reply at the end too. It was not combative and I appreciate this a lot. We do not have to all agree on these things to respect and listen to each other.

ScannerDanner wrote: We do not have to all agree on these things to respect and listen to each other.

Exactly!