Editor, the Knoxville News-Sentinel:

I was interested in responding to a letter published on Nov. 16. The writer asked, "How in the world could anyone believe that God is in all these religions?" The short answer is that God isn't in these religions. God didn't create religion. People created it. Therefore, the answers won't be found in religion.

Another word for religion is Pharisaism. The Pharisees were notorious for taking the Ten Commandments and turning them into a bunch of rules and regulations.

Luke 11:42-54 says it all. Jesus explained what the great commandments were and that is love of God and love of neighbor. Jesus admonished the scribes because their hearts were not right. They put unnecessary burdens on others while neglecting to show charity, especially to the weak and the poor.

If you aren't acting out in love, then going through the motions of conventional religion will become a burden. A personal relationship with Jesus Christ is the key.

Chris Fortner

Knoxville