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]