Religious Folk: Answer (Jesus Christ, testimony, Earth, gospel, mystic)

[Sportman]

I consider myself agnostic, only because I cannot disprove the existence of a God(s).

But my question to religious people, is how do you justify your beliefs when there are so many differing views, even within a single sect!

The only response the religious can effectively come up with is they have FAITH in God. This is made plausible by saying something along the lines of 'faith is like love ... I cannot prove it with science, but I know it exists, I can FEEL it ...'

I can accept that much. But what people have to understand, that this is the same feeling people of all religions have. They ALL feel and 'KNOW' on the inside that their God/Gods exist. Many religions, such as Christianity, Islam Judaism DO NOT allow for other Gods. So, straight away millions of people outside of these religions must be wrong on order for them to be right.

Then, looking at Christianity, Judaism and Islam. They all believe in the same God, yet feel he wants to be worshipped in different ways. If any of these is right, that means BILLIONS of others were wrong. Then don't get me started on the different views within a single religion, which simply change to adapt with contemporary society.

How can anyone justify themselves and their belief when faced with this? The chances of being correct, logically are astronomical. Look forward to responses.

[Mike182]

great thread!

my religion is not so much based on the after life, it is based on this life, which means that the positive effects of my beliefs can be seen by myself in my life, which inturn enforce those beliefs.

my religion is also based upon personal mystical experience, i have personally had a few mystical experiences where i have felt the power of Deities and seen some visions of one, and i trust the testimony of others who like myself have had similar but more in-depth experiences. these in my mind prove that the universe works how my religious view assumes it to.

my religious view however allows for different Gods and Goddesses to exist, to be worshiped and approached differently, and even for different after life's to be possible. in other words, in my view, all the religions are not in conflict with each other

[ayani]

I can accept that much. But what people have to understand, that this is the same feeling people of all religions have. They ALL feel and 'KNOW' on the inside that their God/Gods exist. Many religions, such as Christianity, Islam Judaism DO NOT allow for other Gods. So, straight away millions of people outside of these religions must be wrong on order for them to be right.

hey, sportman. i know this, and it used to bother me too, before i found my faith. i'm ok with plurality of religions- it doesn't bug me. i guess mainly because the theological basis of my faith is very simple, and does not conflict with others' faiths. i can agree with many beliefs as Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhi Dharma, ect. i love learning about other faiths, man. i see so much that is cool, truthful, and righteous in them. how a person uses their faith is up to them- they can be very lax or very devoted and try their hardest to be faithful to their ideals and to others. how these Words speak to them is for them to explore and foster.

[Halcyon]

Originally Posted by Sportman

I can accept that much. But what people have to understand, that this is the same feeling people of all religions have. They ALL feel and 'KNOW' on the inside that their God/Gods exist. Many religions, such as Christianity, Islam Judaism DO NOT allow for other Gods. So, straight away millions of people outside of these religions must be wrong on order for them to be right.

Then, looking at Christianity, Judaism and Islam. They all believe in the same God, yet feel he wants to be worshipped in different ways. If any of these is right, that means BILLIONS of others were wrong. Then don't get me started on the different views within a single religion, which simply change to adapt with contemporary society.

This is where tolerance and acceptance come into play. People always think they're right, if they didn't they'd change their mind - we have to accept that other people will always see God in different ways to ourselves, even within our own religion.
People will also always think that everybody else is wrong, and there isn't anything strange or inherently wrong with that attitude, it's only when we try to change everybody else's thinking to match our own that we have a problem.

Originally Posted by Sportman

How can anyone justify themselves and their belief when faced with this? The chances of being correct, logically are astronomical. Look forward to responses.

There is no need to justify, so long as we don't force you to take our beliefs as truth.

Logically, any religious decision we make has an astronomical chance of being wrong, including choosing to forgo all religious belief. We can only do what feels right for us at the end of the day.

[Bishka]

Originally Posted by Sportman

But my question to religious people, is how do you justify your beliefs when there are so many differing views, even within a single sect!

One, I believe my particular faith to have the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ; this does not mean that the others don't have some particles of truth. I believe 99% of religions on this earth have much truth in them. They just don't have the entire truth, or the truth they were given may have been twisted over time. My beliefs are my beliefs, and I don't condemn anyone to hell, because, in the doctrine of my faith, there are very few that go to 'hell' (you basically have to look Jesus Christ in the face and deny that He exists).

There is so much truth and beauty to be found out there, and I believe everyone has the light of Christ within in them.

[Rolling_Stone]

IMO, religious concepts are symbolic of one's relationship with the cosmos at its most fundamental level. They do not need "justification," any more than a child's relationship with their parents needs justification. It is what it is.

[painted wolf]

My religion is simply the path that I walk, others take different paths but as far as I am concerned we all walk tword a common destination.
I choose to wear moccasins rather than sandals or sneakers.

The only justification I need is that this is way that is right for me.

wa:do

[Scuba Pete]

Originally Posted by Mike182

my religion is not so much based on the after life, it is based on this life,

Frubals on your head for this. I am the same way. You either choose love or give in to hate. You choose God by choosing love: the denomination/creed/sect doesn't matter as much as serving your fellow man.

[Mister Emu]

I can accept that much. But what people have to understand, that this is the same feeling people of all religions have. They ALL feel and 'KNOW' on the inside that their God/Gods exist

My knowledge isn't based on feelings but direct communication.