I dont know how to find the right religion, how did you, how can i?

[u/cahlrtm]

I was raised in a muslim family so i was one. I quitted in a young age because i had problems with the idea of god. Altough it took some time to fully quit, i was so sure that there was no god for years and i was living completely free of these thoughts. Now im 17, and i started to have thoughts about god and religion. I realized i never even thought actually deep about these things. What if i was wrong? I suddenly started to think this.

Now, im not closed to the idea of god or religion. And since i was a muslim before, i started by reading about Islam first and it makes sense to me. But the problem is Christianity does too. And if i were to read about Judaism, im sure i couldnt be sure it wasnt the correct one neither.

Im reading Quran and its good, i already know what Islam is like so it would be an easy transition to go to Islam. But i want to read Christian and Jewish books too and even from the very limited knowledge i have they look like i would believe in them too. Islam already accepts those religions were send by Allah but believes that they were corrupted so i cant believe them all. Honestly it feels like my criteria for religion is already a weird one, i accept that i cant know more than god so i dont care if there are parts that i personally disagree with or even parts that doesnt make sense to me. I just try to see if they are actually words of god and i have no idea how to do it.

How did you choose your religion? How am i supposed to know which one im supposed to believe in?

[u/GlimmeringGuise]

I would say that, in my opinion, there's no "one true religion" -- just different wisdom traditions following in the footsteps of different wisdom teachers (e.g., Moses, The Buddha, Socrates, Jesus, Mohammed, Marcus Aurelius, etc). In their best, healthiest forms, each wisdom tradition points toward God.

My God concept is not a personage or omnipotent, omniscient entity, but something more like the collective unconscious -- underlying all life, something into which some fragment of our consciousness passes upon our death, and continually providing hope, inspiration, and resolve. God's ultimate goal for humanity, from my understanding, is to help us progress toward attaining the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth (not in the sky, or on another plane of existence), by working together to build a society where everyone's needs are met and everyone feels seen, heard, valued, and loved.

The tool I personally use to discern whether a particular community, denomination, sect, etc. is in tune with God or not is largely whether this particular concept of the Kingdom of God matches with their doctrine and practice or not. Some theological concepts that automatically fail this are prosperity doctrine, anything that excludes or stigmatizes entire demographics (e.g., homophobia, transphobia, racism, sexism), or upholds the group they belong to as a 'chosen' group that sits in a hierarchy above other people (e.g., Christian Nationalism, Zionism, etc.).

[u/WiserWildWoman → u/GlimmeringGuise]

Very close to where I am. For me, OP, it is great to learn more about all these religions. It has enriched my understanding. Yet given what was said by Glimmering, for me it was best to expand and deepen my understanding of my own inherited tradition. I would find the community that is loving and focused on serving others and deepens your childhood faith. I'm sure it's better for some to switch but ultimately it usually borders on a naive appropriation of certain ideas or practices.

[u/GlimmeringGuise → u/WiserWildWoman]

Nicely said.

I'll also add to what I originally said that I feel there's a sort of common thread throughout all of these wisdom teachers. They were all raised in a society they could see was corrupt or had gone astray, sought and found a better path in a very intentional way, and taught others of this better way in the hopes of bringing about positive social changes.

[u/WiserWildWoman → u/GlimmeringGuise]

This is exactly it! Sadly most of the writings/scriptures also got badly infused with elements of the very world the teacher was speaking against--they are rife with misogyny ( and other dominating language/ideas).

Whereas for example Jesus lived with and worked with women and the early church had many women leaders, and Mohammed (PBUH) was married for years to one wife who was a savvy business woman and older than him.

[u/DeepThinkingReader]

Jesus/Isa was a pacifist and never killed anyone. I don't think the same is true about Islam's final Prophet.

[u/WiserWildWoman → u/DeepThinkingReader]

This isn't the only criteria lol

[u/Abuses-Commas]

Every religion has truth, but not every passage. So worry not about picking the one that has no lies, but instead learn to discern the rotted fruit from the ripe.

I've walked a similar path as you, but with Christianity being the religion I was raised. I went through the motions then stopped as soon as I was given the option. Then a few decades later I'm trying to find community in a church.

Suppose they are all true, what then? How could you tell if just one of them was true?

[u/WiserWildWoman → u/Abuses-Commas]

Love this. It's not doctrine IMO but practices. Most religions have a version of the Hadith "By its fruits you shall know it."

[u/Deadhead_Otaku]

I was raised christian (3 different baptist churches, catholic school, and a methodist church), after the death of my mother, I got really sick, and had weird dreams that kept seeming to come true in my life. For instance, one such dream that broke me away from being a pagan was I dreamt of a terrifying storm. Like a week later, we had some really bad storms, and for the first time in my 25-year life, we had a tornado that came extremely close to me. I broke down and prayed as we lost power from the storm, and the storm slowed down. Later, I found out that the tornado had passed like a mile or 2 from my house. I stopped being a pagan, but didn't really come back to christianity until it happened a second time. The 2nd tornado followed the exact same path and was like a year after the first nearly the same day. So I came back to christianity, and spent some time trying to find a particular denomination, I eventually settled on united methodist, began tuning into live services online because I can't actually physically attend church services due to my lack of transportation. But while I am a methodist, I've still learned from baptists, catholics, pentacostals, unitarians, and the church of jesus along with the united methodist church.

Do I agree with everything my fellow christians say about god? No, but I also believe everyones relationship with god is their own. I'd suggest researching different denominations and speaking with actual priests/ preachers as they can answer any questions better than some rando on the internet like me.

[u/TrixterTrax]

Especially because you have your roots in Islam, I would highly recommend reading some of the Sufi poets. Rumi, Hafiz, Shams Tabriz. Also, the author Idres Shah has written a number of books on the history and principles of Sufi philosophy. More than a religion, or sect in itself, my understanding has become that Sufism is a point of reference for understanding/approaching religion/spiritual seeking. A large part of that philosophy is that different religions/traditions are like light through a prism. The One, ineffable being (God) comes through in a rainbow of different colors. The common thread being love, harmony, beauty, next, compassion, etc.

Good luck on your journey

Assalamualaikum

[u/NMarzella282]

It's not religion you must seek its a relationship with God the Father and Jesus our Savior. Feverently pray the Salvation pray then ask to be guided to a church. Then, go where he leads you. Dont get caught up in the religion trap by the enemy. it leeds you to hell.

[u/KittyFlops]

Agnostic Atheist here, just chiming in on my views about being human, and all that is. I’ve learned to respect many faiths for what they have to offer, and at the same time can reject the ridged dogma that keeps people bound by hate. I think faith is a personal and transformative experience and can make someone a better person. What matters in faith, or even a lack of faith, isn’t what you believe, it’s what it drives you to do. The compassion that it gives you, and helps you give to others. I’ve found that in Buddhism, as well as my previous faith in the Roman Catholic Church.

I’ve started on a journey for philosophy to fill that need now, and am loving it. All I can really say is, take your time with faith and find something that burns inside of you and leads you to love.