Different Religions In The World

    Religion.... Its a word we hear often in the tiny halls of this school. But do we actually know what "religion" means? i looked at dictionary.com and this is what it said that religion is "a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects". That made me think.... what are the other belief systems that are outside this "christian bubble" we have around us? And what are their beliefs?
     

everyone remember judaism right?.. no? ok welll its  what the Jews believe. in judaism  they believe that there is one God who is absolute ruler of the universe (much like Christians), and that the torah (the first five books of the bible) are God's law to us. Judaism teaches that there is an inherent good in everyone and there is no need for a savior, becuase we are God's creatures. This is simulare to what the "nation" of Islam believes, they believe that everyone is itionally good, but due to this corrupt world they defiled their goodness. Muslims believe in the same faith taught by Abraham, David, Moses.... but they believe that Jesus's death on the cross was a hoax and that Jesus was merely a good man, who was a prophet for their god Allah. Their standards are just as strict as Judaism, in such that they much say prayers five times a day (towards Mecca, their holy city) and that everyone must be good and do good deeds in order to have heaven.
   

These however, are not the only religions that believe that mankind is naturally good, and should do good works in order to achieve heaven. Take Confuciusism and Taoism for instance, they both believe that everey person is good and that they are reponsible for the balence of peace in the universe. Both religions follow the same "path" which is to acheive peace with earth and be kind to every person you meet. Another religion that speaks of reaching peace is Buddhism, which believes that once a person dies, they are reincarnated and after a certain number of life cycles, if that person releases their inhabition and desires, they have reached a state of nirvana (eternal peace, not the band).  Its foolishness like this that makes celebrities want to follow other religions.
   

Like Tom Cruise.... he's a part of a religion called Scientology. Yea, i didn't know what it was either, but after looking it up I couldn't believe how people could follow it. Scientology teaches that with every person comes a need for survival. And that survival could be broken up into 8 parts (individuality, life, group, mankind, the physical world, the physical universe, spirituallity, and a supreme being). Now stay with me, scientology teaches that before one acheives happiness (survival) in the first category, that they are to  become a Thetan (a thought or idea) and that before that person had life on this earth they were living in an extraterricial culture. How could anyone believe this?! I mean really, do you wanna be called an alien? Exactly, but thats how some people live their life. Its silly and makes absolutely no scense.
  

  So here we have it, all the lies and confusion that exist outside of what we know and what we think. And as far as religion goes, Christianity makes alot more scense. I mean, would you rather try and try and try to reach something that'll never happen? like being a good person... if everyone was good to start with, we wouldn't need a court system. and being called an alien? it looks like faith trumps thought in this debate.