When you look at modern religions and cults that have sprung up in the recent past, does it give you pause? [Spirituality & Religion]
[b]Does it make you wonder about people like Jesus and Mohammed? [/b]
Look at L. Ron Hubbard who was a science-fiction writer and now is exulted amongst Scientologists. Look at Joseph Smith, a convicted conman who is now recognized as a man with a direct line to God by the Mormons. And look at any number of "spiritual leaders" who amass followings of people who believe with their whole heart and soul that this person is an enlightened master working for god...
What makes Jesus different from those people other than that his religion caught on?
@canusernamebemyusername Exactly, and later on from Rome. Two empires that existed during and soon after the life of Jesus -- and in both cases the autocrats decided that the new religion could be potent political tool. First and foremost is teaches unquestioning obedience to authority and hierarchy.
SW-User
There are over 4000 religions in the world today. The problem is that nobody recognizes their own as religion. I had countless (civilized) arguments about this already. “Im not talking about religion,im talking about accepting Jesus “ was the response where i gave up
It's never about religion, never has been or ever will be about religion. Get your head out of the religious sects. It don't belong there. A relationship with our Heavenly Father is all that matters.
eh give it another millennium and i'm sure they'll be arguing the same points for these guys as they do now for Jesus. there'll always be people finding ways to profit from the gullible
Exactly, right? It seems to me that the main difference between these religious figures of the past and the ones we have today is just the veil of time.
@Pikachu but one saving grace we have is that we value logic and reason now more than dogma (Mostly) so no Scientology crusades or Mormon state terrorism.
I subscribe to the Tulpa theory in regarding any idea that spreads on a mass level, characters or popular culture. Kind of like memetics or viruses of the mind. I'm not saying that religions are or are not viruses (it's not related) but in theory, it works the same way. And in theory, they are real but not in the way people think ;)
It's not that I believe this 100% or something but I think Tulpa's are plausible even though it's a spiritual concept.
Well i suppose Tulpa's are plausible if one believes that thoughts can affect the real world. It's sort of reminiscent of the author Terry Pratchett's take on gods: They grow in power or diminish based on how much people believe in them.
[quote] It proves without a doubt the power of God![/quote]
No. It doesn't. To you who already believe it is confirmation.
To someone who does not already believe it ONLY proves that these people believed. Just as the ex-christian turned Muslim finds their life reformed and made better through Islam. Their conviction is no more than those belonging to Heaven's Gate. Do you understand what i'm telling you? I'm not saying you're wrong, i'm saying that conviction of belief IS NOT EVIDENCE, much less proof that the belief is founded in reality.
@Pikachu It proves the power of Jesus over any other “god” Allah, Buddah, Shinto gods, the Sikh god or native Indian gods or ANY can not show a changed life, like Jesus! Absolutely not!
I'm not interested in fighting with you, Carazaa. If you deny the fact that people find their lives changed by other religions then i won't spend time trying to make you accept reality.
@SpiritualMan [quote].last time I checked Jesus raised from the dead.[/quote]
Can you prove that? Can you prove it any more than Mormons can prove that Joseph Smith found golden tablets with the word of god? Can you prove it any more than the Muslims can prove that Muhammad was a prophet?
To state my objection plainly: I'm asking you what's the difference between ancient religious figures like Jesus and more modern religious figures and your answer is "Ours is the real one!"
