[eMTee]

There are many denominations claiming to be "the Church" and to be "Christian", but how many are actually fallowing the teachings of the very book they base their faith on? "Christianity" is one of biggest religion in the world..coming in at least second or third (to my understanding).

Any questions about anything, or comments?

[mojassty]

I know one of the other major religions is Islam. What would the third one be? Some Eastern religion like Hindu or Buddhism?

[zadojla]

According to my 1994 World Almanac, giving its source as the 1993 Encyclopedia Brittanica Book of the Year, the total population by religion is:
Christian 1,833,022,000
Islam 971,328,700
non-religious 876,323,000
Hindu 732,812,000
Buddhist 314,939,000
atheists 240,310,000
and so on

[insight]

to understand the real purpose of life, it is advisable for a person to choose and follow an ethical-moral system that restrains a person from evil deeds, encourages him to do good, and enables him to purify his mind. for simplicity, we shall call this system 'Religion'. Christianity helped to civilised the west, and Buddhism, as i'm a buddhist, civilised the greater part of the east long before. while western men seek to conquer the universe for material ends, buddhism and eastern philosophy like hinduism strive to attain harmony with nature or spiritual satisfaction. islam is also one of the well-versed religions and it's advisable to achieve understanding well. i think every religion has strong and weak points. for me, i still believe what i'm believing and understand it further more. that's the harmonious journey to me.

[eMTee]

I

Originally Posted by mojassty

know one of the other major religions is Islam. What would the third one be? Some Eastern religion like Hindu or Buddhism?

yes..I would be guessing those two, but just as Zadojla says...

According to my 1994 World Almanac, giving its source as the 1993 Encyclopedia Brittanica Book of the Year, the total population by religion is:
Christian 1,833,022,000
Islam 971,328,700
non-religious 876,323,000
Hindu 732,812,000
Buddhist 314,939,000
atheists 240,310,000

"Christianity" was possably and probably up on top at that time..but that 1994 book is like 11-13 years old..and the muslim's are probably close to (if not already) on top.

Although, the people who claim to be christians (when asked about the reason they are), most of them don't answer that question with what the Bible teaches, but rather contrary to what the Bible teaches.

[eMTee]

Originally Posted by insight

to understand the real purpose of life, it is advisable for a person to choose and follow an ethical-moral system that restrains a person from evil deeds, encourages him to do good, and enables him to purify his mind. for simplicity, we shall call this system 'Religion'.

I agree with you on that explaination of what 'religion' is. what is the spiritual reason for religion? What does religion do for you as a Buddahist in the afterlife? after all is that the main reason for religion?

[insight]

Originally Posted by eMTee

I agree with you on that explaination of what 'religion' is. what is the spiritual reason for religion? What does religion do for you as a Buddahist in the afterlife? after all is that the main reason for religion?

if you don't have faith in your religious volition, there is no reason to believe it any more because you don't believe it truly. so spiritual belief in that religion is maintained to achieve higher level. in budhism, pure spiritual gain is the highest order of the religion and attain the arahatahood. we're always aware of afterlives (not afterlife) because current life is one of the subsequent lives, which means we believe in cleansing our spiritual sins in many lives. finally, we will lead to the highest level of spiritual understanding of the meaning of our lives. there is a saying goes, "life is uncertain and death is certain".

[paultrr]

Originally Posted by eMTee

There are many denominations claiming to be "the Church" and to be "Christian", but how many are actually fallowing the teachings of the very book they base their faith on? "Christianity" is one of biggest religion in the world..coming in at least second or third (to my understanding).

Any questions about anything, or comments?

The problem is each faction of chrinstianity defines or inteprets the Bible a bit different. Their set of truths tends to vary from sect to sect. One might ask a better question of is there one absolute set of truths taught by the Bible or is it all subject to interpretation?

[eMTee]

Originally Posted by paultrr

is there one absolute set of truths taught by the Bible or is it all subject to interpretation?

There is one absolute truth taught in the Bible, but everyone tries to interpret that truth in many ways.

What defines everyone’s separate views on the subjects of the Bible is mainly determined by what each person decides to believe or not to believe, and what to believe as literal or un-literal.

There are many "churches" and denominations that don't take the Bible in entirety, they do not believe random portions, and don't consider them the Bible. One question that I would have to this is; how would one determine what is true and what is not? People will claim to be Christians, but at the same time not believe the Bible.

[paultrr]

Originally Posted by eMTee

There is one absolute truth taught in the Bible, but everyone tries to interpret that truth in many ways.

What defines everyone’s separate views on the subjects of the Bible is mainly determined by what each person decides to believe or not to believe, and what to believe as literal or un-literal.

There are many "churches" and denominations that don't take the Bible in entirety, they do not believe random portions, and don't consider them the Bible. One question that I would have to this is; how would one determine what is true and what is not? People will claim to be Christians, but at the same time not believe the Bible.

Personally, interpretation is an individual thing. I live in a Christian country, per say. But I do not claim to be one either and I do not believe the Bible even if I see some of it as historically correct. One could let the scriptures interpret scriptures. However, I like certain liberal Christians think since we do not live in a vacuum that trurth period, no matter its scourse must interpret truth.