What makes you religious? [Spirituality & Religion]

Let's make this clear: I'm NOT against the idea of a God because it is hard to believe that this complex world is the result of random circumstances. I'm very open to the idea of our instinct, intuition and morality being God given.

What baffles me is that many people don't trust the results of these "interactive tools" processing current events as much as 2000 year old static instructions. Why did we get all these abilities if all we need is ancient information?

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Boallods · 26-30, M

In my personal view, discussions are pointless. You will believe and serve God if you've personally experienced Him; if you don't experience Him, but are instead "convinced" He exist due to some philosophical reasoning or alike, you will believe in His existence, and yet not care. He who thinks he can bring people to God by science or philosophy is foolish.

On the last point: the Bible is anything but static. The New Covenant abrogated the Old one, thereby giving the two greatest commandments: Love the Lord your God will all your soul, mind, and body, and love your neighbor as thyself. I see nothing static in that. There are, however, people who approach the Bible as a science book - but that's a completely different story.

SW-User

@Boallods I agree, but my intend isn't to discuss people's reasons or convince them to do think differently. I'm just curious about what drives people. The difference between experience and logic would change the topic away from that, so I won't go into that right now.

It's not entirely clear to me what you base your decisions on though. If the Book and your feelings, intuition, relationship with God or whatever you call it, contradict each other, what do you follow?

As for the Bible not being static, of course things have changed slightly in translations. But have any major changes happened as in instructions being removed or added?

Boallods · 26-30, M

@SW-User What do I do in the case my relationship with God and the Bible contradict one another? Well, my relationship with God (and the other things you mentioned as possibly contradicting the Bible) is fallible; the Bible is not.

The Bible teaches that our heart is deceivig. Thus, we cannot trust it completely; we must test it. This we do with the Bible

You wanna know what drives people - again, personal experience of God is irreplaceable. I remember me becoming a theist: an overwhelming feeling of peace, warmth, safety, love, and who knows what else overcame me out of nowhere. It happened seemingly "uncaused"; I was but doing my daily routine when this happened. Yet the feeling was such that I wept. Imagine washing your dishes and being filled by God's Holy Spirit.

Ever since then, I knew that God exists, and I knew that the truth of Him is contained within the Bible. I didn't know how I knew it; I just did.

Later on, I learned what the Bible teaches about God, and devoted my life and soul to Jesus Christ.

I hope this helps you. I'm more than glad to share my spiritual experience with someone.

SW-User

@Boallods Thanks! It makes sense, except for one thing. Maybe it was a typo or maybe I understood, but you said your relationship with God is fallible and the Bible is not, but also that it is irreplaceable. Is the Bible better than your relationship with Him or not?

Boallods · 26-30, M

@SW-User I said that the experience of God is irreplaceable, not one's relationship with Him; do note the difference. For only experiencing God will bring you to Him. The Bible, however, will help you build that relationship once already there.

For sure, many people have experienced God whilst reading the Bible; the two are hardly exclusive. But reading the Bible without experiencing God is vain.

SW-User

@Boallods Thanks for the clarification!