Religions - Man Made or Divine?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

One often hears these remarks about religions, that they are all products of human imagination or fear. Quite contrary to this, is the fact that, most people do not like to be "tied down" by religious rules. If one were to look closely into these religions, especially their scriptures, one would notice underlying similarities in them. Most noticeable is the existence of a Creator and that people will be held accountable, in life after death, for their actions and will be rewarded or punished accordingly. The concept of praying to God is so central to all religions, that it is implausible that people around the world - geographically and linguistically separated - came up with ideas so similar. It is not uncommon to find phrases and concepts which are strikingly similar between different religions. Also very common is presence of key figures, who are central to these religions and are role models for their followers.

An interesting ritual, which has survived weathering and is almost universal, is marriage. It is so much ingrained into each society that they accept it without questioning - even those opposed to religions. Although the details of it differ in each religion, all of them treat marriage as sacred and any relationship outside of it as evil. If people were left to evolve their own religion, they would most certainly find ways to avoid such laws - which is now apparent in recent social trends.

Religions, in general, are being blamed for all wrongs and suffering of humanity. It can be argued though that, it is these religions that enabled people to bind together into civilized groups, cultivated manners into them while dealing with each other, encouraged sacrifice and love between them and implemented justice.

On the other hand, the differences between these religions are so deep and wide, that they cannot be reconciled. In fact these differences lead some to denounce all religions as false. Then what is the reality of these religions? Are they all product of human fear and imagination? Or all of them are divine?

The presence of common ideas among these religions, does point to the fact that, Allah سبحانه و تعالى, has been sending messages and scriptures to mankind from time to time - commanding them to worship Allah سبحانه و تعالى alone without any partners, guiding them to goodness and away from social and moral degradation.

لقد أرسلنا رسلنا بالبينات و أنزلنا معهم الكتاب و الميزان ليقوم الناس بالقسط
Surely, We have sent Our messengers with clear evidences and revealed with them the Scripture and the Balance, so that mankind keep up justice. (Al-Qur'an 57: 25)

With the passing of time, however, followers of these religions, introduced new ideas and rituals into them. As the numbers of those who followed the religion to the letter, taught it and preached it, dwindled, the sense of purity of religion was lost and it could no longer be reliably traced to its source. Over a long period of time, the original message of these religions became so convoluted, that only faint reverberations of true message could be felt. It is these deviations introduced by followers, that led to corruption of religions, to the point that their followers worshiped role models, other creations or even animals.

و لقد أرسلنا نوحا و إبراهيم و جعلنا في ذريتهما النبوة و الكتاب فمنهم مهتد و كثير منهم فاسقون. ثم قفينا على آثارهم برسلنا و قفينا بعسى ابن مريم و آتيناه إنجيل. و جعلنا في قلوب الذين اتبعواه رئفة و رحمة. و رهبانية ابتدعوها ما كتبناها عليهم إلا ابتغاء رضوان الله فما رعوها حق رعايتها. فآتينا الذين آمنوا منهم أجرهم و كثير منهم فاسقون
And surely, We sent Noah and Abraham and We placed the prophethood and the scriptures in their generation; then of them were guided ones, but most of them are rebellious. Then We followed them up with Our messengers and followed up with Jesus - son of Mary, and gave him the Bible, and placed love and mercy in the hearts of those who followed him. And monasticism that they invented, We did not order them; they did so seeking pleasure of Allah, but did not upheld it rightfully. So We gave those who believed from them their reward, but most of them are rebellious. (Al-Qur'an 57: 26, 27)