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Although I think having a personal relationship with Jesus is wonderful, it is not the answer for everyone and by no means is that the only way to define religion or to replace the missing piece. There are many other religions out there that provide that sense of belonging/belief in god
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Thanks for adding this thought to the discussion. As someone who was raised Roman Catholic, was active in my faith, and even spent two years doing a master's degree in theology at a Catholic seminary --- but then converted to Judaism, I agree heartily that there are many religions that provide a sense of belonging and belief in God. I realize that for those who take a fundamentalist/literal interpretation of scripture it is difficult to understand how someone can read the Bible and come to a different conclusion about Jesus. But the fac tis that there are many people who interpret scripture in many different ways. Jews and Christians are a good example -- all of the references in Isaiah that Christians interpret as being prophesies about Jesus as the messiah, Jews do
not interpret that way.
As for the original question, no one else can answer that question for you. They can say what their experiences have been, but as the responses here show there isn't one answer or even a clear consensus. It is your journey through your life. Keep listening to the questions in your head and heart and you will eventually find your way to answers that make sense for you.