(just to clarify, I’m not trying to a bad name or shit on islam, i genuinely think it’s a beautiful religion. Most people i know believe in islam and they are the kindest, sweetest and loving people i know. My family believes in islam and i love my family. But this is my true experience and feelings so please dont come here and tell me i’ve sinned and that god will punish me and etc etc. Yeah if its all true then fine, let god punish me. But I want real and respectful opinions on how i should go about this, if anyone could relate to how i feel or if there’s anyone who’s been through this before, do let me know what you did after and how you feel now)

im 20(f), and i grew up in a muslim household. Throughout my 20 years on this earth, there were periods where my mom put me in classes to learn a little bit more about the religion. Praying classes at 7 years old for a year. Learning basic arabic letters in my teens to being able to read the quran now. I’m grateful for the knowledge i have, im actually really stoked that i can read arabic, it’s like an achievement ! But i feel like religion’s been forced onto me since young, and i know that it’d necessary so that it can guide me to be a better person, and there’s other people who go through it too and end up having unwavering faith in islam.

But i feel overwhelmed, i dont like being forced to do things. And if let’s say, i’ve had a tiring week and all i want to do is just sleep in on saturday, i cant because religious classes is at 9am. But even when i skip it, while im sleeping, my mom gets really upset and she starts shouting and making me feel bad for skipping religious classes. How she paid for my religious class and im just wasting her money. I dont like how she reacts. I have a brother and sister too, but my brother doesnt have to go to religious classes. Only my sister and i have them. And that just adds to my unpleasant feelings towards my mom about religion. If you want to follow traditional and strong believes, the eldest son should be religious and lead the family, be the imam. But my brother doesnt have to go to religious class, he can go wherever he likes at night and just do whatever. But when my sister and i skip a 30 minute religious class, my mom goes crazy. It makes attending religious classes feel like a chore, i stop looking forward to it, i just dislike it now, i’ve strayed away from it.

(i love my mom, i really do. She’s done so much for me and im forever thankful that she pulled through all the hardships. But sometimes i dont agree with the way she does things and i know that its okay to feel that way. But i just wont say much)

However, there were only 2 points in my life where i was genuinely curious about the religion. I watched and listened to debates with a believer and non believer. Listened to some stories about the prophets and watched the movie about the times of the prophet and stuff. In these times, i really wanted to learn, i even started praying consistently for up till 2-3 months.

But then it all just fell apart. I feel like i’ve never been consistent with religion, and i know that it’s a chance to always pick myself up and learn more about it. But i’ve tried to go back to it and it works for a while, but then it just stops.

then eventually i’d question myself, if islam is the true religion, why do other religions even exist like christianity and buddhism. And if they believe in their own gods and prophets, how do we even prove that islam is real. There’s stories where people convert from other religions to islam, even atheists who find peace in islam. But there’s also stories of muslims converting into other religions and some not believing it any. There’s alot of back and forth action and it leaves me confused. If someone believes in christianity, that jesus is god. Why is it a sin in the eyes of islam, why would they go to hell for worshipping the ‘wrong person’. If that were placed in islam, if we worship god, but then there’s an even higher being that’s the actual one that deserves worshipping, would we go to hell too? Im guilty of this and im so sorry to anyone reading this that i even felt this way, i dont anymore but when i was rlly religious, i questioned my friend about christianity and when he talked about jesus and the holy trinity, i felt like it rlly didnt make sense and that it’s stupid. But then now im looking from an outside perspective, if christians believe in jesus and the holy trinity, why should i look down on them. Why will they go to hell ? People who believe in other religions can look at islam and also think the same way. that us muslims would go to hell for not believing in jesus. who’s to decide who will go to hell ?

There’s always questions at the back of my head, questioning if the religion is even real to begin with. And i know that in itself is already a MAJOR sin but i feel like after doing research into the history of islam and all of that, along with looking into other religions, if it brings me back to islam, it’ll strengthen my believe, perhaps i will never doubt it again.

But if i do my research and i stop believing in islam, im worried how my family, friends and everyone around me would react. i love the people im surrounded with. I love my family, i love my friends. I dont ever want to lose these things. But i dont want feel like it’s right to call myself a muslim, when i dont believe in the reality of heaven and hell. When i dont believe in some stories of the prophets. To be a muslim, is to submit to god and believe in the last prophet muhammad. But i dont believe in the prophet, im doubting the religion.. so im not a muslim anymore ? When i talk to my muslim friends who are more religious that i am about my concerns. That i find it hard to believe in the stories of the prophets, they just tell me that islam is the truth and i shouldnt doubt it, to just believe in it. But, i cant just hear that and go ‘oh yeah okay ill just believe in something that i dont believe is true’, it’s like looking at a pig and someone’s telling me it’s a cow. Like i simply just cant believe in it just cause they tell me it’s true.

the best way to describe what i believe in is that i believe in a creator, but the stories of the prophets is just a way to represent how people should live. Like for prophet muhammad (pbuh), he’s known to be the most truthful and he’s never told a lie. I feel like he’s an example of how we should be truthful in everything and that lying just discredits our character and nothing good ever comes from lying. The story of prophet ibrahim (pbuh), how he felt like he had to kill his son to prove his loyalty and unwavering believes for Allah SWT, then he was rewarded. It shows that we should be loyal and have strong standing grounds in what we believe in.

But i dont believe that a man can turn into a goat. I dont believe that a man can be truthful about everything through his life. Even adam and hawwa, they sinned. Humans were meant to sin and do wrong. Also, in my opinion, humans never just spawned on earth, i dont think thats believable, i believe in human evolution. The story that god created humans from mud and blew life into it… idk how exactly god can blow life into mud. AGAIN i know believers would say, god is the most almighty and he can do everything he wants, he created the earth, the galaxy and everything, what makes u think he cant blow life into mud and create a human.

But i dont know, it just doesnt sound real. i feel like i need to see an angel or something crazy to be like, maybe it’s real. But then even if that happened, to me, i’d still feel like i was just hallucinating and it’s not real. If god talked to my ear and tell me that islam in real, i feel like i’d think i’ve gone too deep into this doubt of religion that i’ve begun to hallucinate.

I was listening to a podcast recently, just a psychological video on people dying and being brought back to life and what was their experience. They said that they felt their sense of self just dissipate and they were floating, thats coming from a licensed doctor with papers to back it up. But the videos of people saying they saw god and all, have ai voices so i find it hard to believe, I feel like it’s made up.

Also i dont believe in the concept of heaven and hell. i would listen to stories and watch movies about hell and being dipped into lava then be brought back to life and then dipped in lava again as a form of punishment. First of all, i think its crazy to be punished like that just because of doubts and not being by the book religious beings. Yes if someone killed another, that kinda makes sense but if I’ve never hurt anyone, i’ve just lived my life but the only thing that is ‘wrong’, is to not believe in god’s last prophet, i think thats just crazy. But i never went ‘this is real, i dont want to go to hell’, its just like, uhm okay ? who’s to say this isnt a man made tale. i like the principles of being patient, being caring, helping out the needy and stuff, but the parts where it talks about heaven and hell, it’s questionable. I dont think i believe in islam anymore, but i dont want to lose the people i love, im worried about what they’ll think. It was nice to be religious and having peace that im doing good in this world for the afterlife, but right now, im just so confused and doubtful.

there are so many people that have encountered demons, supernatural phenomena and things related to it, there’s clearly something that happens after we die and i don’t know what to make of it

it’s losing me sleep

because i love religious imagery, and im really into art. i like small hand painted shrines, and crosses even tho i dont celebrate any religion. is this wrong?

I'm 19 now and I became Baha'i at 17. I've been Baha'i for about 2 years.

I'm involved in the Baha'i community in my area but my immediate family members don't know what I believe in. I'm adopted with 2 gay dads, so religion isn't the #1 thing they expected me to get involved in.

I'm honest with my parents and I told them that I had contacted the local Baha'i community. One of my dads decided to do what I'm assuming is 5 seconds on Wikipedia before yelling at me for "talking to some cult that can come over and kill us" and I'm going to assume that he saw something that wasn't the most positive. Back when I first became Baha'i I tried to explain what I believe in but he assumed I was trying to "indoctrinate" him into a "cult" as this was back when he had that particular mentality. He has absolutely no problem with me attending Baha'i meetings and events so I think he's gotten rid of the "cult" mentality. My other dad helped me with fasting last year after I told him that I would be fasting.

There are 2 Baha'i holidays this weekend so I was thinking I could try again at explaining what I believe. I'm assuming neither of them know anything about Baha'is besides the fact that we believe in God and we fast so I was thinking about starting off with the basics.

(I'm going to bed because it's late for me. I will look at the comments in the morning. Thank you in advance.)

The Old Testament has been used throughout history, ironically more so by Christians than Jews, to justify rape, plundering, slavery and racism.

The Qur'an and Hadiths have also been used by Muslims throughout history to justify the same evil things.

The Vedas, sex tales in the Puranas, and stories of their Gods, such as Shiva forcing himself on Parvati, has been used by Hindus to justify caste discrimination and rape

This isn't to say Sikhs have not done horrible things in history. Although I can argue they have done less than followers of the other religions. But I digress.

The opinion I have is that no Sikh has, or can, use mental gymnastics to say the Sikh Gurus and their Rehat Maryada (Sikh code of conduct) condones evil things, such as rape.

Just to be clear, Sikhi did not invent morality

I believe all humans deep down, since antiquity, have known things like rape, slavery, racism and caste discrimination are wrong.

What bothers me is when people say all virtuous conduct and moral common sense came from Judaism and Christianity. Ben Shapiro, Jordan Peterson and Matt Walsh are 3 that come to mind who peddle this nonsense.

If we have to choose a religion that gives no room for justifying abhorrent behavior and institutions the only one that comes to my mind is Sikhi. I don't think the same can be said of the other religions.

I consider myself agnostic, open to possibilities but unconvinced on either side. I’m curious to hear compelling arguments, mind-bending theories, or experiences that might sway me in one direction or the other. Whether it’s philosophy, science, spirituality, or personal insights, send me down a rabbit hole!

I remember having a book in college that covered almost all of religions that have ever been practiced in the world that they know of. Is there one that someone could recommend that is pretty comprehensive and even academic?

Hello everyone.

Today is a special day for me. I'm feeling lost and could use some help.

Do you know a prayer to implore the realization of a wish?

Thank you in advance. SN

In 2033 it'll be 2000 years from his Death and Resurrection these were major moments that the calender should've started there idk just a thought

If lust is a sin how do you explain why the body has sex hormones and having a libido or a sex drive? Jesus said that if a man looks at a woman in a naughty way he has committed adultery in his heart but as God shouldn't he have known that having sexual thoughts and feelings are things that are out of our control but yet punishes us?

Do many buddhist find it annoying that people often associate the budai with the Buddha?

So I don't exactly know how many gods you guys worship but I'm sure it's alot, my question is how do you worship them all? will Krishna get angry if he sees you worshipping Ganesha more? like how a child would get angry at a parent for caring about the other child more and since you guys believe in many many gods won't you inevitably forget to worship one? I know that braham exist but still.

I have heard some Muslims say that those who know about Islam yet still choose to reject it are on their way there. i have read some parts of the Quran but stopped because I'm lazy if that's not enough I guess it's jahannam for me. Please keep this civil.

And through modern philo-scientific views, it is natural to conclude that despite different customs they are driven by the same animism and share the same standards?

Do most jews not care or is it only religious Jews that do

I am 21 and I have never been raised seriously religious. My parents believe in God but they’ve never relayed any kind of beliefs or opinions to me apart from this. This means I have never practiced any religion.

Recently I have felt a pull towards this, a pull to do better and a pull towards God and Jesus. I haven’t got a clue how to go about it. I would go into a local Church of England but I don’t want to be disrespectful in my approach and frankly it is very anxiety inducing for me. I also have never prayed before - I did when I was younger but cannot remember and again, I want to do this respectfully.

If anybody can let me know the best way to go about this I would appreciate it immensely.

Thank you.

Basically the title

How does it differ or how does it intersect with things like culture, ethnicity, but also ideology and philosophy.

When does an ideology become a religion or vice versa and if they really are different, in what ways?

I know that such a topic might be nebulous, but I'm curious what you guys think makes a religion a religion.

What might a prescriptivist answer be to the topic? And of a descriptivist answer?

I mainly ask in seeking to understand my own religion, or whatever it is that I ascribe to.

A pilgrimage is often seen as a journey of great physical and spiritual exertion, a challenge undertaken to demonstrate devotion or seek enlightenment. But what happens when technology steps in, offering a less strenous path?

Does using an electric bike on a route like the Way of Saint James fundamentally change the nature of the pilgrimage, or can the spirit of the journey remain intact? Could a pilgrimage in modern times be defined more by intention and personal meaning than by strict adherence to traditional forms?

For example, one could manage interacting more with a landscape turning it in a form of "faithscape", a landscape imbued with sacred and symbolic meaning for the devotee; and, in this context, the use of an electric bike could be viewed as a tool for enhancing engagement with the landscape, allowing the pilgrim to cover more ground and experience a greater variety of environments.

So, maybe, ultimately, the question of whether an electric bike pilgrimage can be considered a true pilgrimage rests on individual interpretation and the specific meaning the journey holds for the pilgrim, and it is the individual's intention and their authentic engagement with the journey, rather than the mode of getting from point A to point B, that defines the experiences's significance?

Religious people, why does God test everyone differently but not equally? Why do some people suffer way more than others?

I've come to realize that it seems like some people are just born extremely lucky, they attract everything they want without having to do much (or not as much as others) while some people are just extremely unlucky and nothing goes their way. Is there a way that your religion explains this? Or way a way to change this?

There is a specific video I liked to watch on YouTube, it was only a few minutes long, and it broke down the different books in each Bible pretty easily. It first briefly explained the Torah, saying that all Bibles had them, and then broke down the Old testament into three different sections, and then went through the Catholic Bible and explained all the books in there, before putting a glowing box around the books that aren't in Protestant Bibles. Once he was done that, he went through the Protestant Bibles and explained all the books in that, of course, omitting all the ones from the Catholic Bible that are considered apocrypha in Protestant ones.

Then he moved on to Orthodox, but instead of saying every single book, he just broke down the extra ones that orthodoxes have that Catholics and Protestants don't, including the extra Psalms and all that stuff. Then he briefly talked about how different Orthodox denominations within each other can resemble each other or have more books, and even more Psalms.

It was a very cool video, and I liked to watch it and to show it to other people, but now I've just spent the last half hour looking for it and I can't find it anywhere, I don't know if the entire Channel or video got deleted or something, but if anyone could help me, I would owe you a huge thank you

I keep thinking, as an anti-cosmic and anti-demiurge person, I see from the other side of the wall that the trinity is the fight against the Demiurge for some Gnostic Christians. Since for me, with the teachings of my group, Demiurge is Jehovah.

They see my head as one side of the group sees the other, who is the demiurge for each side.

I don’t know what religion to believe, there are so many. I’m scared that I would go to some sort of hell if I don’t believe In the right one, Do I believe in Christ? Buddha? Allah? I’m so confused.

To start, I've always struggled with religion, but I 100% believe in God and lean into the Abrahamic religions more than anything else when it comes to God and how God interacts with the world. But as far as history, truth and understanding. I'm completely lost and confused. I grew up 'christian' if you can call it that. Basically I went to church and was told what to believe. (A clear memory was being 15 and being told 'You're just a stupid kid' when I tried to talk to my dad about my beliefs) My mom guided me into the Hebrew Roots movement, or Messianic Judism (which I know is a touchy subject for some) and I've been in that movement since, married a man with the same beliefs etc. But as I learned about the history of the christian church, the history of Jews, etc. The more unitarian/Jewish I lean. But I don't know how to move forward with it. Or how to feel. My husband doesn't completely agree with me. And his family would probably lose their minds, as they're pentecostal christian/ hebrew roots in their beliefs. There are no synagogues to attend near us, and no faith bodies that aren't Christian or 'Messianic Jew' around us. Sometimes I regret searching, because I miss even the tiniest bit of community I had, which wasn't much, the difference in my beliefs aren't usually welcome in christian groups from my experience. Ultimately I have given up on anything, I am stressed and very upset about all of this questioning and not being able to trust anything I learn. I don't feel close to God anymore and it's really bothering me but I don't know where to turn anymore.

is their an islam version of kabbalah?

so theirs a book called the sepher raziel shemhamforesh tht corresponds the 72 names of god to psalms in the bible to perform miracles

my next question is is their something like that for islam or sufism tht corresponds 99 names of allah to zayins or verses of the quran

Like did he have to be crucified why not beheading or hanging?

Like whenever I think of God I just think of some senile miserable old guy sitting on a throne watching over us ready to smite any one that dares to have thoughts that he seems sinful.

Like I don't know what else to think when it comes God except that or Jesus since I live in a Christian family.