1/15,000 chance that you're right. (Earth, beliefs, choices, choice, church)

[painted wolf]

part 1: This is the way that is right for me. Everyone chooses the path that they walk, if someone elce wants to do what is best for them, who am I to argue?
Religion isn't just about "magic sky daddy worship" as some would like to say. Religion is also an expression of culture, history, psychology and self improvement.
My religion is (to me anyway) about connecting to my ancestors, learning from the spirits that guide me and learning to live in ballance with myself and the world around me.

wa:do

ps. part 2: doesn't really apply to me as I wasn't born into my faith.

[OneStraw Revolutionary]

Originally Posted by Prometheus

I think the divine is an absolute truth, not a relative truth. If there is a God, or a karma, or reincarnation, or a path to enlightenment, or souls and spirits, they would be true for everyone, not just a few.

So whatever supernaturalism is out there, it should be true for everyone just as much as other truths are the same for everyone.

So much of the laws and dogma in religion (expecially the controversial ones) ARE relative, though. Relative to who was in power at the time, and to what part of the earth and what culture they came from.

I can agree that the divine can be or is an absolute truth, much like Newton's laws that govern my life whether I know about his laws or not. Still, much of religion isn't divine, its man-made and man-mandated. In nature, there is no one right way to live. Different species react to the same natural laws differently. Take overpopulation. Increased food supply means and increased population, and with and increased population, without an increased food supply, means that they'll soon have too many to feed. Some species will split their group. Others will kill part of their group. Others will start fighting with others of their same species but different group. Each one of these scenarios has the same effect; less population to feed.

People taking on different religions is the same thing as that, reacting to a natural law (the divine law) as they know how, (whether they're aware of that law or not.)

[roli]

Originally Posted by Prometheus

To every single person who follows an organized religion, I ask two questions.

If you believe your religious convictions are correct, how can you be so certain about them when you know there are thousands of other religions out there in this world?

Let me put it this way. As much faith as you may have, as strongly as you believe your religion is the truth, as much as you think you know you're correct, I guarantee there is someone out there who believes in a different religion and is just as, if not more convinced they are right than you are. How do you justify your belief considering how stacked the odds are against you?

Second, to those who still believe in the religion they were raised in, don't you ever wonder that your beliefs are just an accident of geography?

If you were born in India, chances are very good you would be a Hindu. If you were born in the Middle East, chances are very good you would be a Muslim. If you were born in a Western country, chances are very good you would be a Christian.

Or, to take it one step further, if you were born in ancient Greece or Norway, there's no doubt in my mind you would believe in Zeus or Thor respectively.

For so many of you, your religion is an accident of where and what conditions you were born into. Are you so egotistical to think you are one of the lucky few who just happened to be born into the right religion? Because I've got news for you, so does everyone else.

If you still believe in the religion you were brought up in, I'd advise you to seriously, seriously consider why you believe what you do. It has nothing to do with if it's true or not. It's simply what you were taught. You believe what you do because it's what you were told to do.

Think about it.

If it was just about believing or not believing in some faith,than I would be confused ,frustrated and certainly not secure in what I am following as to be the truth,no matter how convinced I am in my mind or through the excellent teachings that are within those religions.
Because of the fact that there are so many religions
If it were'nt for the power, presence,person and manifestation of the Holy Spirit that a born again christian receives and expereinces at conversion, I would have just been following another religion with it's rules and nice moral teachings.
But when the Holy Spirit moves in and heaven enters the heart of man, he/they are changed .
It is the confirmation,guarantee, and absolute revalation of God through the Holy SPIRIT that assures a believer that what they have is the way, truth and life.

When you feel the weight of guilt from sins lifted and the security you have knowing that your name is written in heaven and that this world is not your home, but your just passing through this life and that when He returns you are going to be with him, it matters not what the world throws at you in the way of doubt, reason and whatever else there is that casts a shadow of uncertainty in our faith ,because Jesus through the Holy Spirit places the Holy Spirit within each believer and as scripture says so the believer expereinces, the holy spirit is given as a deposit or downpayment of what is to come.

If you don't have that absolute assurance there god or faith is right, you should seriously reconsider what it is you follow and if your trusting in the fact that your mere hoping will make it so,don't hold your breath.
2Cr 1:22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Jhn 16:7Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
Jhn 14:26But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Eph 4:30And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Jhn 16:13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew [it] unto you.

You see the beleiver has so much more confirming them of their faith in the one true God and his Son Jesus Christ is the real and only one.

Can you believe your faith is the one that will take you to heaven ya, but according to God if you don't come through the son you come to where God is. End of story ,I guess unless one repents, but the chances are greater that the other faiths are wrong and Christ is the way,but that will only be confirmed to those who step over in faith and than and only than will God confirm who he is and where all other religions and dieties stand or fall,