Confused? What church / religion am I? If any!

[FaithinQuestion]

I have recently (last few months)been thinking about God, religion and have ended up quite confused. I would be grateful for your thoughts.

basically, this is what I believe, does it match any religion?

I believe -
there is a creator (God) but is neither male nor female but has both elements - Father God/Divine Mother

that we do in fact re-incarnate, working out our sins or karma until we achieve self realisation and can return to the creator.

that Jesus was a great man, who had christ consciousness, and came to show us how to worship God/creator. I do believe he did in fact resurrect due to his god awareness/christ consciuosness.but i dont think he intended me to worship him,(jesus) but to worship/find God/Creator.

I believe that the New Testament has a lot of good stuff in it, but am confused as to why some things seem to be followed but others arent hence all the diff churches etc. For instance I read that women should keep their heads covered (to pray),and shouldnt cut their hair, why dont the majority of christians do this then? how come some things are taken "by the book" and others are disregarded ?
Also, regarding the Bible, did "God" suddenly change from being a vengeful and strict God, to being an all loving one, at the end of the Old Testament and start of the new?

Am confused by this! So any thoughts and comments are most welcome please.

try this to get an idea of what you believe

I don't nkow what you are but I am a humanist - I believe in basic goodness, not hurting others, etc but then I also belive in a higher being.
Incidentally, some christians cover their heads in church, in russia it's conisdered rude to not have your hat on in church. And there is a branch of brethren (?) here that never cut their hair, or talk to other peolpe outside their faith. Take waht you can, I say and leave anything that doesn't feel right.

Not really had a lot of time to think about your questions. But one thing springs to mind immediately: God is not a 'vengeful and strict God' in the Old Testament and something else in the New Testament.
Read Psalm 23, Psalm 103, parts of Isaiah. The bible is full of God's goodness in both Old and New Testament.

I've just taken the belief o matic test and it states I am a Hindu! now thats a problem because you cant convert to Hinduism! I do realise that it not actually meant to be taken as hard and fast!

Dutchoma - Thanks for your comment,
i do realise There is a lot of gods goodness in the Old & new testament, but he does seem to me to be a bit harsh in the Old testament - Floods, plagues, killing of firstborn etc etc? Thats what I meant about vengeful and strict.

Good website QofQ.

I too have a problem with the difference in the old and new testament God. I don't have an answer for that one.

With regard to why churches vary in their approaches, the way I see it, the Bible was written a long time ago. It was a product of the time it was written and as such was to some extent affected by the social, economic and political conditions at the time.

Churchs have also been affected by this. The word of God is there in the bible but interpretations are made in a particular climate. For example, the Methodists Church started as a way of trying to protect the poor from their excesses such as drinking and gambling, hence they were not allowed by the Methodist. Churchs were very simple compared to the Catholics for the same reason - money was better spent on food and shelter than churchs. (Not making a judgement on any particular church, just taking a very very general view).

I think the Christians would say that you worship Jesus as part of the Holy Trinity of Father Son and Holy Ghost. They are 3 parts of one whole and none is above the other, just different. Sorry not a theologian but that is how I understand it.

Interesting questions though. Have you tried any church/religion in practice?

haha - I've just done it and it's said

1. Orthodox Quaker (100%)
2. Seventh Day Adventist (84%)
3. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (80%)
4. Eastern Orthodox (80%)
5. Roman Catholic (80%)
6. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (78%)

Now I class myself as no.6

No, I havent been to church since i was 5 years old. Am hesitant to go. Would like to have a child friendly environment, where I can take my daughter (5) and baby. but am hesitant, I dont want to get "tutted" at because of my kids or my ignorance. I was christened CofE as a child, but never confirmed. Am just recently exploring religion again.
There are 2 Cof E churches in my area, one says "family friendly" on the website, the other one says it has a sunday school and does not display the family friendly logo! my daughter has never been to church, so am unwilling to send her off anywhere (sunday school) without me. Dont even know whether these Churches are for me or not.......

But QofQ aren't they at least all loosely Christian?

I came out as

1. Protestant Christian
2. Reformed Judaism
3. Liberal Quakerism
4. Mormon
5. Bahai' Faith
6. Utilitiarian Universalism
7. Orthodox Judaism
8. Sikhism

Bit mixed up I think !

A good church would never dream of tutting at you for your ignorance. How are you supposed to learn if you don't go?!

I know it would only answer your questions about Christianity but have you thought about doing something like the Alpha Course? Even if you didn't like what you hear you would at least feel that you had explored Christianity a bit and could concentrate on looking elsewhere.

Yes Niecie, that seems like a sensible idea. Will have a look around see if there are any Alpha courses in my area starting soon.

These are my results!

1. Hinduism (100%)
2. Mahayana Buddhism (92%)
3. Jainism (89%)
4. Unitarian Universalism (87%)
5. Theravada Buddhism (84%)
6. Liberal Quakers (81%)
7. Sikhism (76%)
8. Orthodox Quaker (75%)
9. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (74%)
10. New Age (72%)

I am a bit confused as how I came out a Hindu! Dont they have lots of Gods? Never mind! ha ha ........

Not all loosely Christian Niecie, just that is what your results show

They have changed a lot of questions in that quiz since the last time I took it, although it still gives me pretty much the same results

1. Neo-Pagan (100%)
2. Unitarian Universalism (97%)
3. New Age (85%)
4. Secular Humanism (83%)
5. Theravada Buddhism (74%)
6. Liberal Quakers (71%)
7. Nontheist (68%)
8. Mahayana Buddhism (66%)
9. New Thought (66%)
10. Scientology (61%)

So pretty accurate (barring that horrible word neo grrrrr)

Oh and I find No.10 a bit scary.

Qof Q, that's an interesting link. I'm 100% matched with Unitarian Universalism, which I've never heard of! Better look into it!

FinQ - that is a bit of a mix!

You could do with an Alpha type course for all the other religions too!

Do you know any Hindus or Buddists that you could speak to? Ime books only take you so far.

StG - Q of Q results are all loosely under the umbrella of Christian - they are all different types of church. She would class herself as Christian Protestant which was only 6 but at least the other 5 were in the right ball park.

Mine obviously aren't - they are all over the place. I don't understand what you are trying to say.

How interesting.

This is my top 10

Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (100%)
2. Liberal Quakers (85%)
3. Orthodox Quaker (83%)
4. Unitarian Universalism (76%)
5. Seventh Day Adventist (69%)
6. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (68%)
7. Reform Judaism (67%)
8. Bahá'í Faith (65%)
9. Eastern Orthodox (63%)
10. Roman Catholic (63%)

I am in fact a practising Roman Catholic. Although I am very liberal...

Yes I know some Hindus, but I believe in one creator god and also think Jesus and the NT had a lot of stuff I can relate to . So I think I will look into the Alpha course.
Thanks for your comments everybody...this is very interesting.

Interesting. My top 10:

1. Secular Humanism (100%)
2. Unitarian Universalism (89%)
3. Nontheist (85%)
4. Theravada Buddhism (79%)
5. Liberal Quakers (72%)
6. Neo-Pagan (55%)
7. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (54%)
8. Taoism (44%)
9. Orthodox Quaker (44%)
10. Mahayana Buddhism (40%)

No surprise about Number One.
I'd like it to be refined a bit - the opening questions should distinguish between the "no God or not sure or not important" options, and for some of the moral questions I'd like to see a "strongly agree" and a "strongly disagree" too.

I was so surprised when I saw my #1 was 7 Reform Judaism that I didn't register what the others were. RC was definitely not at the top & that's what my dh & dc are!

Good Luck FaithinQuestion. I hope you find something your are happy with.

you're not your.