Religion is basically a system of beliefs, faith, confidence in, or worship of a superior being; God.

Since the beginning of time, people all over the world have believed in a superior being or force. Before Christianity people worshiped the sun, the moon, rivers, snakes, lighting, etc, etc. It was hard for them to believe that death was the final event. The Egyptians believed that the dead went on a long trip and put food and other things in a canoe for the survival of the deceased. Other people believed that when they died they were reincarnated into other people or animals.

With the advent of Christianity and the Bible we learned about the creation of the world by God and the Christian doctrine. Which means to believe that the Old Testament (at least the first five books) was written by Moses and later on, the New Testament was written by four of the Apostles, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Also Paul, but he was not an Apostle but according to himself was to preach the Gospel to the gentiles (any person who is not a Jew).

Unfortunately, the Bible was written in two or three languages, mainly Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, etc. and it had to be translated to English. It was also written many years after Jesus died. Due to the need to be interpreted, the original was interpreted in so many ways that we now have many denominations. The differences in interpretation were so radical that different denominations would kill each other over their beliefs. For example, the Jehovah’s Witnesses hate the Catholics, and vice verse. The Protestants and Catholics killed each other in Ireland. The Catholic Church has brainwashed their followers to make them believe in more man-made tenets than any other religion. Which one has the true meaning? No one knows. And for this reason, a lot of people are confused or bewildered by religion. There are also a large number of non-believers.

Just to prove a specific and inaccurate translation (or interpretation) in the prayer “Our Father” taught by Jesus himself, he said: “and lead” us not into temptation”. This is completely in error. To say that God himself is leading us into temptation is an outrageous statement! The Christian leaders cannot clarify this!

Even now in modern times some people have created new religions such as the Scientologists who believe that we were made by Thetans? Unbelievable!

There are also many more pseudo-Christian churches and sects that have nothing to do with Christianity .

To summarize, it is my firm belief that to worship and love God, as well to love one another, is the key to being a true Christian. If everyone would do that, there would be no need of wars, killing, jails, laws for people to break, or need to have sins forgiven.

(See SIN in a previous blog entry.)

I have a conflict with the prayer “Our Father”.

The part that says “And lead us not into temptation” is quite disturbing to me. Throughout the Bible I read that Satan is the one that tempts but God only tests us. There are many references in the Bible about this. By saying “Do not lead us into temptation” aren’t we accusing God of tempting us or equating Him with the Devil?

Please feel free to comment on this. If anyone can help me to unravel this issue, I’d be very appreciative.