Why do people insist that their belief is true and beliefs followed by others are false ?
Doesn't that sound too disrespectful?
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SW-User Best Comment
It seems to be an appeal of belief for some that they have access to an exclusive truth that others do not. It's part of why they believe, i.e. I know the truth, I am saved, I am blessed, you are not, you are confused, mistaken, misguided, and destined for eternal punishment and I will be rewarded and that makes me feel good about myself. I've never understood this approach to belief.
I've always been open-minded and part of it may be my long-time interest in various religions and cultures and the fact that I have traveled around the world (to the extent that I've been able to in 20 years of life) and seen the value and beauty and power in traditions that aren't my own. So the idea that there needs to be one true belief and every other belief is false and everyone who lives a pious life in that belief is screwed for doing so has never appealed to me (nor ever seemed true to me).
As an example, Muslims believe Mohammed is the one path to God; Christians belief Jesus is the one path. Well, they can't both be right. Yet they are both pretty adamant about their correctness. I don't think spirituality is as simple as membership in a group. I don't think God is limited by religious doctrine and dogma. And no matter what I believe, I have never insisted that those who believe differently are misguided fools. I may not share their belief, but calling other beliefs false doesn't augment me in any way.
I've always been open-minded and part of it may be my long-time interest in various religions and cultures and the fact that I have traveled around the world (to the extent that I've been able to in 20 years of life) and seen the value and beauty and power in traditions that aren't my own. So the idea that there needs to be one true belief and every other belief is false and everyone who lives a pious life in that belief is screwed for doing so has never appealed to me (nor ever seemed true to me).
As an example, Muslims believe Mohammed is the one path to God; Christians belief Jesus is the one path. Well, they can't both be right. Yet they are both pretty adamant about their correctness. I don't think spirituality is as simple as membership in a group. I don't think God is limited by religious doctrine and dogma. And no matter what I believe, I have never insisted that those who believe differently are misguided fools. I may not share their belief, but calling other beliefs false doesn't augment me in any way.
SW-User
@SW-User These are excellent points backed up by logic. Irony is that no amount of logic is sufficient enough to convince the believers of " I am right, my belief is right, my God is true God".
If they believe that way, no issues. There is no problems.
However knowingly or unknowingly they cross the dangerous line. There are not limited to their own beliefs. They want to force that belief on others. They go around and tell others about their religion, their God...They convince others to follow what they believe. Upto this point all fine.
However ego is still not satisfied. Once someone is drawn into listening their theory, the gears are shifted. Now starts digging other persons culture. Telling the other person that their culture is wrong. Their practices are wrong. It is not just wrong however practicing it is a punishable offence. That leads to hell. The God whom they worship, their parents worship are all fake. Then why do they worship that way ? Answer is simple. Along with God, devil also exists. Devil tricks people into believing the God they believe. Now aren't too the other person supposed to loose cool? No.. because there is only one God. He sets the standard.
Everyone values their culture, their family.. People will respect other cultures if others respect theirs too. But strangely this category doesn't respect others but demands respect for theirs. That's in other words extremism.
For most of the violence in today's world, the root cause is the belief that I am right, you are wrong. My belief is right you believe what you believe because devil tricks you to believe that way. We name different extremist organisations responsible for terrorism. But infact we fail to look into the core issue.
Once the entire world gets converted to religion A, still problem is going to persist. People will find ways to create sub relogions A1,A2...
You are absolutely right. There is joy in knowing and experiencing different cultures. Different cultures teach us new things. It provides us with the opportunity to take good aspects of different cultures. Celebrating others culture brings them joy and their joy brings us happiness.same goes the other way round. Instead if we follow I am right... We not only restrict our freedom of choice but also create chaos in the minds of people.
If they believe that way, no issues. There is no problems.
However knowingly or unknowingly they cross the dangerous line. There are not limited to their own beliefs. They want to force that belief on others. They go around and tell others about their religion, their God...They convince others to follow what they believe. Upto this point all fine.
However ego is still not satisfied. Once someone is drawn into listening their theory, the gears are shifted. Now starts digging other persons culture. Telling the other person that their culture is wrong. Their practices are wrong. It is not just wrong however practicing it is a punishable offence. That leads to hell. The God whom they worship, their parents worship are all fake. Then why do they worship that way ? Answer is simple. Along with God, devil also exists. Devil tricks people into believing the God they believe. Now aren't too the other person supposed to loose cool? No.. because there is only one God. He sets the standard.
Everyone values their culture, their family.. People will respect other cultures if others respect theirs too. But strangely this category doesn't respect others but demands respect for theirs. That's in other words extremism.
For most of the violence in today's world, the root cause is the belief that I am right, you are wrong. My belief is right you believe what you believe because devil tricks you to believe that way. We name different extremist organisations responsible for terrorism. But infact we fail to look into the core issue.
Once the entire world gets converted to religion A, still problem is going to persist. People will find ways to create sub relogions A1,A2...
You are absolutely right. There is joy in knowing and experiencing different cultures. Different cultures teach us new things. It provides us with the opportunity to take good aspects of different cultures. Celebrating others culture brings them joy and their joy brings us happiness.same goes the other way round. Instead if we follow I am right... We not only restrict our freedom of choice but also create chaos in the minds of people.
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