I am curious, what do people believe in and why?
I have looked at many religions and to me it seems that every religion seems to
Make at least a little sense, but then each religion also has things in it
That could not possibly be true. Discuss!

I am curious, what do people believe in and why?
I have looked at many religions and to me it seems that every religion seems to
make at least a little sense, but then each religion also has things in it
that could not possibly be true. Discuss!!

Hi, theexteraminate!

A big part of believing in something religiously is having faith that there might be some truth to that which a person believes to be true. For instance, even Adolf Hitler was religious in what he believed to be true. On the other hand, Jesus Christ was very religious in what he believed to be true. Was either one of them as religious as the other one? Probably so, at least in my opinion.

Are there any religious beliefs and/or religions in particular about which you have questions, please?

To be fair, since you would like a discussion, it would be helpful if you would also post what you believe in and why?

Also, why have you posted what you would like to be discussed as a command to do so rather than as a request? I'm just curious, as you are curious...

Thanks!

I believe in Jesus Christ. I believe for a number of reasons but mostly because my life experience has confirmed the existence of God and the truth of the Gospel. The Gospel is about relationship with God, not religious observance. I also believe there can only be one path, it makes no sense that there would be multiple diverse paths.

I think some people don't get it because they are only aware of snippets of Scripture and so the whole flow is obscured from them and they don't see how it all fits together. I also think that much has been added by tradition and this has also obscured the message

I don't believe in any gods. I seem to run my life quite well without groveling to some unseen being in the sky. It's very empowering to know that *you* are in charge of your life.

I believe in Jesus Christ. I believe for a number of reasons but mostly because my life experience has confirmed the existence of God and the truth of the Gospel. The Gospel is about relationship with God, not religious observance. I also believe there can only be one path, it makes no sense that there would be multiple diverse paths.

I think some people don't get it because they are only aware of snippets of Scripture and so the whole flow is obscured from them and they don't see how it all fits together. I also think that much has been added by tradition and this has also obscured the message

I too know there is a God.
And if you seek Him you will find what you seek. But I think there can be as many paths as there are people.

Now I don't want to get off on a rant here... but...

Snippets of scripture be dammed! Take all the scriptures , from all religions, they tell the same stories and even use the same characters,

And the message is clear. Be a decent human being. Help others when you can.

So if all the followers of the many gospels in the world really followed their religious teachings... Illegals problem solved... and most of the others too.

It will be interesting to see if theexteraminate returns to continue the "discussion" that theexteraminate wants to happen here!

I don't believe in any gods. I seem to run my life quite well without groveling to some unseen being in the sky. It's very empowering to know that *you* are in charge of your life.

So you have made a god of yourself

so you have made a god of yourselfI guess so!

Hey guy's sorry I posted this and didn't get around, I had left for hoilidays!
I really appreciate all the feed back you are giving, And now to answering other peoples questions, First off to Clough:

"Are there any religious beliefs and/or religions in particular about which you have questions, please?" Well I guess the main reason I posted my question was because I have many friends of many different religions, some are Christian, others Catholic or Mormon and still others Muslim and Hinduism. I don't understand how their can be so many religions, and have so many people devoted that their religion is correct. So its not that I'm questioning a certain religion or practice, but more the different faiths of the world.

"To be fair, since you would like a discussion, it would be helpful if you would also post what you believe in and why?" I don't really believe in any one religion, there are certain things in each religion that I believe to be true, for example the reincarnation of the body. As well as a higher power or god.

"Also, why have you posted what you would like to be discussed as a command to do so rather than as a request? I'm just curious, as you are curious..." I didn't mean for it to come across as a demand! I was just very curious and wanted this to be more of a discussion then people posting what "the truth" is.

Now for martinizing2:

"Snippets of scripture be dammed! Take all the scriptures , from all religions, they tell the same stories and even use the same characters, and the message is clear. Be a decent human being. Help others when you can."

That was another point I was going to get at. I have an agnostic friend who said "It seems that all religion is just a way to get the morals of the world out there and for people to follow them." That made quite a bit of sense to me. All the religions have basically the same rules, be nice to your neighbors, treat your parents well, etc. etc. as well as do not believe in any other gods? To me all these religions seem to have a very... close connection with each other. Not on overly obvious one, but a close connection for sure.

Thanks again for all the input and suggestions!

That was another point i was going to get at. I have an agnostic friend who said "It seems that all religion is just a way to get the morals of the world out there and for people to follow them." That made quite a bit of sense to me. All the religions have basically the same rules, be nice to your neighbors, treat your parents well, etc. etc. as well as do not believe in any other gods? to me all these religions seem to have a very... close connection with each other. Not on overly obvious one, but a close connection for sure.

Thanks again for all the input and suggestions!!

Hi theex,

There is a fair bit of truth to your above statement. Most Western religions have morality imposed from the outside, e.g. Divine Command Theory. I guess this is because it is assumed that humans can't come up with an objective theory of morality which they can impose on themselves. Highly debatable of course.

Regards

Tut

Hi theex,

There is a fair bit of truth to your above statement. Most Western religions have morality imposed from the outside, eg Divine Command Theory. I guess this is because it is assumed that humans can't come up with an objective theory of morality which they can impose on themselves. Highly debatable of course.

Regards

Tut

I think you are missing an important element here, the connection to God, whatever you conceive him to be. This goes beyond morality. What we as human beings experience can only be ultimately explained by the creator and that belief has been continuously refined so that you have many expressions of belief.

What we as human beings experience can only be ultimately explained by the creator and that belief has been continuously refined so that you have many expressions of belief.One can easily live a life without a belief in any god and still "experience" things.

One can easily live a life without a belief in any god and still "experience" things.

So what things do you experience?

What things do YOU experience? Since you brought it up.

I think you are missing an important element here, the connection to God, whatever you concieve him to be. This goes beyond morality. What we as human beings experience can only be ultimately explained by the creator and that belief has been continuously refined so that you have many expressions of belief.


Yes, I agree there is more to beliefs that just morality. I also agree there are many expressions of belief.

For example, I believe that the sun revolves around the earth, yet I have never experienced this in a conscious manner. I also believe there are many different ways to find God. Others have different beliefs. Hopefully there is some type of internal continuity to my beliefs. I want to maintain my internal consistency regardless of what experience may or may not teach me. I think this is true for everyone.

Is someone operating with a different set of beliefs and mental habits wrong or unreasonable because they don't conform to what I believe?

Hume provides an interesting answer. He claims that beliefs that we have show the unusual mental predisposition humans have. He says there is no justification for believing one thing over another, except that we have a strong tendency to do so. When we try to find evidence for believing or disbelieving something we often find that there is no evidence from our point of view.

It seems as though we cannot stop believing.


Tut

Yes, I agree there is more to beliefs that just morality. I also agree there are many expressions of belief.

For example, I believe that the sun revolves around the earth, yet I have never experienced this in a conscious manner.

Although I believe the earth revolves around the sun I am not going say it is wrong that because you believe differently. To each his own.


Actually that is a joke I am sure you meant the opposite.
I just wanted to agree with your post and spread some rep, but the agree/disagree box did not show up in your post.

A I just wanted to agree with with your post and spread some rep, but the agree/disagree box did not show up in your post.There are no agree/disagree options in all the Discussion forums. That is by design. :)

Obviously the way it should be now you point it out. And I thought I was a master of the obvious. Thanks I'm still new around here and need all the help I can get.. lol

To Tut. Apology totally unnecessary. The only people not making mistakes aren't doing anything.

What things do YOU experience? Since you brought it up.

So you would like to know what I experience? You would need to become a Christian to understand that. I experience the tangiable presence of God something that cannot be explained by any other explanation, nor are such experiences confined to myself

Yes, I agree there is more to beliefs that just morality. I also agree there are many expressions of belief.

For example, I believe that the sun revolves around the earth, yet I have never experienced this in a conscious manner. I also believe there are many different ways to find God. Others have different beliefs. Hopefully there is some type of internal continuity to my beliefs. I want to maintain my internal consistency regardless of what experience may or may not teach me. I think this is true for everyone.

Is someone operating with a different set of beliefs and mental habits wrong or unreasonable because they don't conform to what I believe?

Hume provides an interesting answer. He claims that beliefs that we have show the unusual mental predisposition humans have. He says there is no justification for believing one thing over another, except that we have a strong tendency to do so. When we try to find evidence for believing or disbelieving something we often find that there is no evidence from our point of view.

It seems as though we cannot stop believing.Tut
I think you misunderstand me, you might believe the Earth revolves around the sun because someone told you so because as you say you have not experienced it for yourself. I believe there is actually only one path to God because he has told me so. You can believe what ever you want to believe but whether it will lead you to God is problematical, but what I know from my experiences is that as far as I am able to discern the path I am on is in accord with what God has told us.

Opinion is useless unless it lines up with what God has told us himself

you would need to become a Christian to understand that.I was, so that "you can't understand if you're not one of us" argument is quite invalid.

I was, so that "you can't understand if you're not one of us" argument is quite invalid.

Not really, obviously you didn't have the same experiences as I do otherwise you would not think as you do, but there is a reality that unless you are a born again Christian you are unlikely to have these experiences. Now I answered your question about experiences but you have not answered mine, so come on, what are your experiences?




Originally Posted by NeedKarma
One can easily live a life without a belief in any god and still "experience" things.

so what things do you experience

Makes me wonder, why a poster would post such a question as their first question and never return

makes me wonder, why a poster would post such a question as their first question and never return
That happens so often on this site I don't even give it a second thought any more.

Now I answered your question about experiences but you have not answered mine, so come on, what are your experiences?
Everyday living. Doing things with friends and family, trying new sports, traveling to new places, meeting new people, facing challenges.

Everyday living. Doing things with friends and family, trying new sports, traveling to new places, meeting new people, facing challenges.

That doesn't count NK I experience all that too, I'm speak about something more, and you know what you failed the test, how empty it must be

... and you know what you failed the test, how empty it must be
Typical response. Enjoy your life, I'm enjoying mine! :)