Man or God..

Man or God? Who created religion? Who created God? All religion's point to the same thing, from reading the Bible, to the Koran, to the Torah, to the Guru Granth Sahib, each describe the Almighty, each discuss a simple life, free of materialism, detatched from this devoid world and all hoping to reach the same ultimate goal, unity in the house of the Lord, or with the Lord himself. But, the question is now, why the segregation, why the division? Each religion teaches similar notions, but yet there seems to be this rift between the religions of the world. So, with this in mind, is religion a product of man or God? Would God create the many religions of the world, knowing in full confidence, such convolute would arise. Sure, dependent on intention, and we, as humans, have no right to interfere with God's intentions. But, the major problem between the religions is more associated towards custom and is often discriminatory based on infallible support for ones accustomed religion and patriotism for ones heritage. In regards to this, religion becomes the clear product of mankind.
In regards to the above, I have only given two options, Man or God. I refused to acknowledge any other possible answers, including a mixture of the two. Personally, I believe that it is a clear mixture; but as time goes on, we humans stray farther and farther away from the ultimate truth, in search of a more insatiable thirst for materialistic desires. It is with this that I introduce the novel "The Third Secret" by Steve Berry. Berry very subtly destroys the very foundations and pillars from the which the Roman Catholic Church was built, constantly censuring even its most traditional, canonical, customs. The novel claims that the very essence of the church had been destroyed when Man decided to juxtapose his word, with that of God, that of the Divine Truth, through the Pope. But, what is often forgotten when the pope is discussed is, the fact that he is, and will always be, no more than a man. He is capable of deceit, more than capable of fulfilling his own desires rather than that of the Church and, therefore, not worthy of speaking Divine Truth. Jesus Christ himself, never depended on other men kissing a jewel on his finger, but rather, placed himself among the people and taught them of the true path, the right path, the only path towards Heaven. I believe, however, that Berry mentioned several things that could very much represent the extent to which the Church has influenced the word of God, over the millennia. The deal with male priests was a decision based on the fact that Christ was a male, and on the fact that societies at the time were much more patriarchal than in those we live in today. So, through all this, it would be difficult to conclude any one thing, but the purpose was to illustrate that man's undying need for power, money and all that often clouds the truth, and such needs have occurred since before the coronation of the first supreme pontiff, The Holy Father Peter. The point is to realize that the so-called things we hold as 'truths' nowadays may never have been so, and may never be so.