Religion & Spirituality

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Religious people: How do you know your religion is the correct one? [Spirituality & Religion]

There are loads of different religions and each of them has belief systems which are mutually incompatible. There are different sects within each religion and different interpretations of all religious texts. Why is it for example, that an American born in the Bible Belt 'happens' to be part of the chosen people by God? I guess someone born in China or the Middle-East is just out of luck when it comes to St Peter's judgement. Why is it that British Christians are largely tolerant of abortion, yet American Christians see it as murdering babies? I accept there are scientific arguments for that but I'm looking here at the cultural reasons why groups of people believe what they do.

I have respect for religious people who are tolerant of others. If you accept other people's right to have opinions and that you might not have all the answers then that is OK. What I don't get is the highly religious people who make consequential decisions affecting others (personal and political) based on their belief in God. I also hate how religion often is used as a justification for the persecution or intolerance of others.

If anyone thinks 'God spoke to me' counts as proof, then you need to explain why God tells different people different things.

-The Onion, January 1, 2000

[quote][b][u][big][center]Christian Right Ascends To Heaven[/center][/big][/u][/b]

TULSA, OK -- At the stroke of midnight, Jan. 1, 2000, the clouds opened above the Bible Belt and a golden staircase appeared for all born-again Christians who do not bear the Mark of the Beast to ascend into Heaven and enjoy Everlasting Salvation.

Night turned to day as Jesus Christ appeared at the top of the staircase in a blinding white sun-beam to select only 1,000 believers for ascension into Heaven, as outlined in the Book of Revelation.

"Follow Me," the bearded, unkempt Jew told His assembled flock as He unrolled a papyrus scroll bearing a list of names. The list was a veritable Who's Who of the Christian Right. "Pat Buchanan, Bob Dornan, Jerry Falwell, Fred Phelps, Ralph Reed, Trent Lott..." Jesus read on, as those named followed Him into the clouds.

Millionaire cable-TV executive and right-wing politician Pat Robertson smiled gleefully as he slowly climbed the stairs. "I've been waiting for this moment all my life," he said, his three-piece suit shimmering in the beatific glare.

"I am going to a place where everybody is like me, filled with Christian love and understanding," said conservative talk-show host and two-time presidential candidate Buchanan. "There will also be a shared hatred of gays."

Sources close to Jesus say He and Buchanan will meet privately later this week to discuss a gay-killing meteor, which could smite the Earth's wicked Sodomites by as early as 2002.

"Remember, Jesus loves you," said Christ, waving from atop the golden staircase, flanked by Robertson, Buchanan and Falwell, who also waved down to the damned. "So long, suckers!" Falwell exclaimed.

Noted astronomer and atheist Carl Sagan, whose skull is now the drinking gourd of Satan, spoke from the fourth level of Hell, saying, "Save me, Jesus. I was wrong to value scientific reasoning over divine faith. Please, take me with you."

The chosen Christians are expected to enjoy an eternity of worshipping God and singing hymns in Heaven. "I expect it will be a great deal like being in Sunday service, except it will never end," Robertson said. "I am very excited about it."[/quote]

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PoizonApple · 41-45, F

My parents told me so and I don't like independent thought.

Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@PoizonApple 🤣👍

Mamapolo2016 · F

I won't say all paths lead to God, anymore than I would say my direction is the only correct one. The God I worship created individuals who may or may not seek the Eternal. That is their choice.

The fact that religion and the name of God have been used to subjugate, oppress and murder, therefore God is invalid, is specious. Of course greedy and corrupt humans throughout history have seen the value in a mass of believers who could be manipulated. There is no avenue of power that has not been used to further evil. That is the fault of humans, not God.

Those who choose to believe in God rather than man have been able to avoid those pitfalls. They are discounted as brainless and misled sheep.

Each human must seek their own way, or believe there is none. Humans are outraged by parents who instill their religion into their children, even though those parents believe it is the best road to happiness. How much more would they hate a God who left them no option, who created an earth full of puppets?

God is blamed fot the acts of man by the same people who do not believe God exists, while mocking believers for their illogical stance.

Yours are all clever and deftly crafted arguments but they don't bear much scrutiny.

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Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@Mamapolo2016 I think I understand your point now. You are making an argument for all faiths being equally valid provided they are practiced on a peaceful way?

Pfuzylogic · M

@Burnley123
I will assert in my belief that salvation through the Messiah is the only way.

Mamapolo2016 · F

@Burnley123 My God is embracing, not exclusive, and those practicers of religion who hold themselves up as the [b][i]only[/i][/b] right ones are building fences. Fences are a human construct.

Quite similar to those who believe their precise political stance is the only right one.

God has been wooing us throughout history and while the human interpretations (and additions and corrections) to God's message have created confusion and devastation, the general message is clear.

Don't hurt anybody.

Worry about your own righteousness, not that of others. Others are in the hands of God.

Try every moment to be better, more compassionate, more fair, more less self-centered.

Admit your own crimes. Make amends for them. That will keep you busy.

canusernamebemyusername · M

Most of the people I have ran into that can't think for themselves have similar psychological traits. They argue from an appeal to authority. They require strict obedience to a central authority even at the expense of personal freedoms. And exclude and even attack those not like them. They have a social dominance perspective that believes in a black and white, us vs them and hierarchical view of the world. Where certain groups are better than others. They have prejudice and are often isolated, even willingly to diversity to the point of xenophobia. And they suffer from relative deprivation when in they belive they are being oppressed and are entitled to something. This is some of the psychology behind it all. All of it creates inflexibility and an inability to have empathy. Without those two things they will swear that are right and everyone else is wrong. Often times I hear people say, well God told me. Which is a whole other psychological issue in itself.

GodSpeed63 · 61-69, M

@canusernamebemyusername [quote] I have ran into that can't think for themselves have similar psychological traits.[/quote]

Funny, that is how I see you guys. You can't think for yourself so you have others do the thinking for you. Me, I think for myself because God, Yahweh, gave me the freedom and the wisdom to think for myself. I don't put my trust in man like you do, I put my trust the one true God, Yahweh.

canusernamebemyusername · M

@GodSpeed63 You just admitted right there that God thinks for you. If you can think for yourself how can you not see another's point of view, see its merits but still hold onto your views. I have know plenty of Christians that can do that. Why can't you?

GodSpeed63 · 61-69, M

@canusernamebemyusername [quote]You just admitted right there that God thinks for you.[/quote]

Read it again, and this time pay attention.

infiniterealism · 51-55, M

Like you said...the only correct religion is the one that accepts people of the other religions as equal human beings,

The only Wrong religion is the one that does NOT regard people of another religion as equal human beings.

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infiniterealism · 51-55, M

@Burnley123 My friend most people in this world is not interested in truth. It's all about what they want...selfishness. That is why this world is so corrupted and they don't realize that.

Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@infiniterealism I agree with that too. I want the truth though, in my own way.

infiniterealism · 51-55, M

@Burnley123 So do I. It's important to me. I cannot live a dishonest life...and still thinks that I am "good." I believe that dishonesty is the most evil thing in this world. Believing your religion is right and the others are wrong is simply dishonest.

SatanBurger · 36-40, F

In the pre Christian days there were actually several Christian groups about 8 known ones, all who believed in an ethereal spirit rather than literal human being. The Orthodox one we see today is just the one that happened to dominate with the rise of the church.

It's still ironic though, that [b]every religion[/b] has their sub groups and each still vie for power.

HootyTheNightOwl

If it feels correct to you, then it's the correct one to follow at that stage in your life.

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SatanBurger · 36-40, F

@BlueVeins Science has not proven religion so there's no info to be poisoned. Religion is abstract because it's a reflection of the person itself and so religion changes according to majority popular opinion, this is why religious texts and religious Govts throughout history tended to change so much.

So religion is incorrect and true at the same time as religion has always been in the mind.

BlueVeins · 22-25

@SatanBurger Religion makes several claims about the way it actually is, though. If you believe religion only exists in people's minds -- a conclusion with which I tend to agree -- that makes it false because its followers believe the opposite.

SatanBurger · 36-40, F

@BlueVeins Well if someone really wanted to believe a deity existed I suppose you can go the far out way and just theorize there's parallel universes so your God could exist in one lol 😂

SmartKat · 56-60, F

If there is a God....what if he/she/it doesn’t care what religion you are?

What if all the religions miss the point?

Loretta78 · 46-50, F

@SmartKat That´s what I am often thinking too...

infiniterealism · 51-55, M

That's easy. They know that their religion is the correct one and the others are wrong is because their parents told them.

Loretta78 · 46-50, F

I NEVER can know if my religion is the correct one - that´s why I NEVER judge about other´s people´s believes or religions.

soar2newhighs

There is NO correct one. Everybody believes differently. IMO organized religion is the bane of mankind's existence!

bijouxbroussard · F

Someone once said, “If your beliefs make you kinder to others than mine make [b]me[/b], yours are better”. And I came to a point where folks who didn’t believe in a heaven or hell still managed to be nicer. It was a revelation...so to speak. ☺️

easterniowegin · 51-55, M

This post is curiously anti-christian in nature. Why not talk about other religions in a condescending manner? The koran's instruction to kill any non-believers, the hindu sacred cow, etc.

Feels too much like an axe to grind.

Pfuzylogic · M

@easterniowegin
I agree with this.

SatanBurger · 36-40, F

@easterniowegin OK fine then answer the question but for whatever religion you are instead, if you're Muslim then answer why your sect is the right sect.
The question still fits so deflecting doesn't work.

Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@easterniowegin Nice whataboutary. I don't like any religion but I knew that people defending religion on here would be Christians yes, my argument also aplies to Muslims.

MarkA · 56-60, M

Well said! That one post explains everything that is wrong with religion. Inconsistencies, anomalies, personal agendas....etc.
Who could possibly take any of it seriously???

InOtterWords · F

There is an interesting story of Mughal India where an emporer was forcing hindus to convert to islam or die. A Sikh guru martyred himself to protect the men .... it is the only instance where i have heard of someone fro. One religion sacrificing themselves for the freedom.of a different one.

But great question, i am not a follower of a religion but do find it interesting

Idontknowlol · 41-45, M

There is no real religion.. Only hope for the ones that believe in one. It is like a placebo... It cures with the power of your own mind.

PrivatePeeks · 26-30, F

I know that mine is the one and only true religion because it alone satisfies all onuses to prove.

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PrivatePeeks · 26-30, F

@Burnley123 I'm considered an expert in the field. I don't deal in the abstract.

Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@PrivatePeeks look debate me or don't. Your reasons for not debating are obscure. Unless you respond with some substance, I'm done.

PrivatePeeks · 26-30, F

@Burnley123 You know next to nothing, and those hearting this post are just as poorly informed. The faiths are given to fragmentation. Big revelation!

curiosi · 61-69, F

There are many paths up the same mountain. The correct one is the one that is right for you.

Entwistle · 56-60, M

If it helps make you a better person then its the one for you.

Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@Entwistle I have no problem with that. I know religion has helped turn some people's lives around and that is fine with me provided that they are also tolerant of other people

Pfuzylogic · M

I have no problem responding about my faith but could you put what you are looking for in a nutshell?

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Pfuzylogic · M

@Burnley123
I believe in an Abrahamic Faith.
I am Christian and convinced that the story of the Bible is literally correct.
Is that what you are looking for?

Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@Pfuzylogic Not really dealing with my points. You seem like a nice guy though and thanks for posting respectfully.

Pfuzylogic · M

@Burnley123
I did respond with thinking the Bible was literally correct with its story about everything. That seemed to answer your question from my perspective.

RemovedUsername460409 · 26-30, M

I learned that people are liberated through Christ, Or rather what Christ has presented through what the Bible says.

GodSpeed63 · 61-69, M

James 1:27. That's how I know.

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