Dear Mr. Opinion,

Indeed, no knowledge of philosophy, sociology, anthropology or history is required in order to practice religion. All you need is a pure heart and God's grace.

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Dear Paul,

It doesn't matter what/which god Christians believe in - only what is in their heart. So long as this belief or another helps them to open and purify their hearts, preparing it to receive God, then it is welcome, irrespective whether the particular contents of that belief are factually correct or otherwise.

Religion often produces beneficial and therapeutic side-effects, but to waste it on such temporary things and stop there, is a pity. Among those side-effects I count finding-a-meaning-to-life, mental comfort, emotional comfort and the wonderful feeling of serenity.

That's all nice, but temporary and one should not stop there: the purpose of religion is to transcend the illusion of existence altogether, only then one finds God, in fact one then finds out that they ARE God and there has never been anything else.

"Indeed, no knowledge of philosophy, sociology, anthropology or history is required in order to practice religion. All you need is a pure heart and God's grace."

You don't even need a pure heart and God's grace. Gullibility is the main need in practicing religion.

Dear yuyutsu and david f,

You need a knowledge of philosophy, sociology, anthropology and history to UNDERSTAND religion, not to PRACTISE religion.

Dear David,

It's a hot topic currently about Catholic priests who TRIED to practice religion without a pure heart, then instead ended up in bed with their choir boys.

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Dear Mr. Opinion,

Nothing short of actual practice allows one to understand religion, but yes, a knowledge of philosophy, sociology, anthropology and history is needed in order to understand what religion is not.

Dear yuyutsu,

That is the most confusing thing anyone has ever said to me.

Dear Mr. Opinion,

If you study your philosophy, sociology, anthropology and history, then you will learn how religion was abused through the ages, how corrupt and power-seeking leaders claimed whatever they liked to be "religion", how they promised worldly (including post-worldly) advantages, riches, health, comfort and success - none of which is of any spiritual significance, for what they claimed to be religious practices, how they presented hygienic and scientific principles as if they were the word of god, how they made a mess by comparing irrelevant objective/scientific facts with the fruits of the spirit, etc.

Thus you would be studying about all manner of things that have nothing to do with religion because they do not lead to God. You would be studying what religion is not!

If you want to understand religion, then you need to practice it. If you don't know how, then pray to find that out, or meanwhile you could begin practising some established religion or you could even make your own, whatever most appeals and inspires you, then you will continue to refine it as you go. Whichever religion you choose, the path to God starts with restraints, in other words, it places limits on materialism so that your life and your energy can be diverted towards God - but those restraints may not be imposed by others or be taken up out of fear or greed or anger, they should come from your own free and loving choice. For a non-denominational explanation about the elementary restraints, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4soSHYkCra0