Is one religion better than the other.. and if so....

[McBell]

You just gave two example of (one) Arithmetic.

I gave two examples of getting to one place.
Both examples are truths.
Thus showing that it is possible for more than one truth to lead to the same place.
Thus showing there is more than your claimed "one truth".

Now if you want to deny it, that is up to you.
Just don't expect to be taken seriously.

 

[Vorkosigan]

True, but that in no way makes your assertion quoted above any less nonsense.

It was a question, not an assertion.
For example: If you have 1000 claims mutually incompatible, at best only one of them can be true, and the probability of any of them to be true is 1 in 1000. That's all I meant to say.

 

[George-ananda]

Hi All,

I Was wondering what you think about the various religions and religion streams in the world.

There is no 'one' right religion. However I believe my religion presents the most advanced understanding that I can grasp, so I am most advantaged by accepting it. I think in the end the theological squabbles will look silly and the quality of the heart and mind of the individual will be the important thing.

I will add that I often see atheists discussing other religions as if their adherents held strict exclusivist fundamentalist views. I just don't see fundamentalist thinking in modern western society to the level atheists seem to imply. I think people are getting more intelligent about their religious views as time goes on. I think presenting a view of religion being narrow makes religion easier for attack by the atheist.

 

[Vorkosigan]

I gave two examples of getting to one place.
Both examples are truths.
Thus showing that it is possible for more than one truth to lead to the same place.
Thus showing there is more than your claimed "one truth".

Now if you want to deny it, that is up to you.
Just don't expect to be taken seriously.

semantics again, boring

 

[McBell]

semantics again, boring

Write it off however you like.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

It was a question, not an assertion.
For example: If you have 1000 claims mutually incompatible, at best only one of them can be true, and the probability of any of them to be true is 1 in 1000. That's all I meant to say.

And what, therefore, is the probability that all of them are wrong? (And, do you realize that this is a different question?)

 

[Quintessence]

Maybe my English is not very good, what I mean with “cosmos” is the universe, reality, everything. Its nature cannot depend on anyone’s opinion.(
If you keep looking for semantic issues this will get really boring)

I think your English is fine - I should explain where I'm coming from in more detail here, because what I am getting at is definitely not a semantics issue, but a a matter of understanding what religion is and more importantly what it does within persons and cultures.

What you seem to be focusing on here is a small portion of what religions are and what they do - explaining the nature of the cosmos/universe/nature. Not all religions put much if any emphasis on this, or at the very least, the manner in which this approached is pretty distinct from that of the sciences. In explaining the nature of things, religions are often more concerned about the meaning of a particular story about the universe, and the stories are a way of articulating particular values or perspectives about the universe and the human relationship with it. In that, the stories being "factually true" is not particularly important, though there are some persons in particular religions that fixate on this as a point. Similarly, since these are matters of perspective and values, we have to be careful making the sort of statement you made earlier that diversity in perspectives and values means religions are "wrong" somehow.

Setting aside that particular piece of the religion framework, there are many other pieces of religions that don't have much to do with explanatory things at all, and ascribing "rightness" and "wrongness" to these other natures and functions doesn't make much sense. For example, as articulations of values, religions often have celebratory rituals to honor those things that they value. It could be honoring the birthdate of the religion's founder, some natural event like a solstice, or various rites of passage as people go through the stages of life... lots of things. It seems to me that calling these sorts of things "right" or "wrong" is a touch odd. For many, religions also provide a framework for expected behaviors, like virtues and morals. We can probably argue about "rightness/wrongness" of those in a sense, but I'm personally reluctant to be ethnocentric and condemn a religion as "wrong" because it doesn't encourage my particular set of virtues. And then of course we can't forget the community and social aspects of religion. Perish the thought of calling a religion "wrong" for encouraging normal and healthy human social interactions!

Hopefully this illuminates where I was coming from in that earlier comment.

 

[lovesong]

Do you think that God is really in favor of one religion? If so, Which one and why?

I believe that each god favors those who worship, or at least believe in, them. This would mean that Ra, for instance, favors Kemetics and especially loves those who worship him specifically, Hermes favors Hellenics, ect. I do also believe that the gods favor some religions over others. I think that (most of) the gods much prefer polytheists to monotheists, for example, as they're at least in the right (according to my beliefs, please don't get on me about this word) ballpark.

 

[idav]

There must be one truth (period).

I am sure it is.

 

[idav]

Hi All,

I Was wondering what you think about the various religions and religion streams in the world.

Do you think that God is really in favor of one religion? If so, Which one and why?

God doesn't appear to pick favorites, which happens to be scripturally sound as well.

 

[Vorkosigan]

I think your English is fine - I should explain where I'm coming from in more detail here, because what I am getting at is definitely not a semantics issue, but a a matter of understanding what religion is and more importantly what it does within persons and cultures.

What you seem to be focusing on here is a small portion of what religions are and what they do - explaining the nature of the cosmos/universe/nature. Not all religions put much if any emphasis on this, or at the very least, the manner in which this approached is pretty distinct from that of the sciences. In explaining the nature of things, religions are often more concerned about the meaning of a particular story about the universe, and the stories are a way of articulating particular values or perspectives about the universe and the human relationship with it. In that, the stories being "factually true" is not particularly important, though there are some persons in particular religions that fixate on this as a point. Similarly, since these are matters of perspective and values, we have to be careful making the sort of statement you made earlier that diversity in perspectives and values means religions are "wrong" somehow.

Setting aside that particular piece of the religion framework, there are many other pieces of religions that don't have much to do with explanatory things at all, and ascribing "rightness" and "wrongness" to these other natures and functions doesn't make much sense. For example, as articulations of values, religions often have celebratory rituals to honor those things that they value. It could be honoring the birthdate of the religion's founder, some natural event like a solstice, or various rites of passage as people go through the stages of life... lots of things. It seems to me that calling these sorts of things "right" or "wrong" is a touch odd. For many, religions also provide a framework for expected behaviors, like virtues and morals. We can probably argue about "rightness/wrongness" of those in a sense, but I'm personally reluctant to be ethnocentric and condemn a religion as "wrong" because it doesn't encourage my particular set of virtues. And then of course we can't forget the community and social aspects of religion. Perish the thought of calling a religion "wrong" for encouraging normal and healthy human social interactions!

Hopefully this illuminates where I was coming from in that earlier comment.

Yes, it does bring some light, thank you for the clarification.

My bias is that I can’t automatically think of a religion without a god. And if a religion says there is a god (creator of the universe), then it’s making a claim about the nature of the universe.
In fact this god is the foundation of the religions I am familiar with (+50% world's population).
Claims about the afterlife are also common, and one only needs to turn on the TV to realize the consequences believing in that can have.
So first of all, I can’t really see that as a “small portion”, and second, even if it was small, the consequences are enormous.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Well

Do you think that God is really in favor of one religion? If so, Which one and why? Please try to avoid using scriptures as arguments as all religions are eventually based on scriptures and this is not a valid argument IMO.

The god of Abraham? No. He is just in favor of people worshiping him only. Before Christianity, god was never a person and never wanted to be dictated as an physical representation of himself. So, any religion of Abraham that depicts god in a psychical way is, well, committing idolatry. It's very simple, really. He doesn't prefer a specific religion just the worship of him and many people have found their own traditional ways of doing so. Whether it's true or false, I wouldn't know. I was reading the posts and one person said religion isn't meant a for that but to see values in the stories and traditions presented in the faith. So, I think "right" religion is looking at religion the, uh hum, wrong way.

If you think that one religion is indeed the "right" one, do you believe that following the wrong religion is a "Sin" or on the lighter case, Not the way to salvation. Please note I'm asking those question out of interest and not because I look for a religion to follow (I personally think they are all false).

Sin is a transgression/action against god. So, if you are worshiping god in a manner not to his liking (whichever god-religion interprets what "his liking" is), then yes, it's a sin. As for salvation, if you don't believe in Jesus as God's Son who saved you by his Passion, then you (general "you") won't be saved. If I hand you a lolly pop, and you don't take it, then of course, you won't benefit from the packed sweetened lickable stick.

Also, If indeed one religion is better than the other, Is it better to be a Good person believing the wrong religion or a Bad person believing the right religion?

Actually, instead of right and wrong, since those have to do with values and values are not dangerous to ones well being, I'd prefer to say healthy and not healthy.

If one is good (however defined?) and believes in an unhealthy (wrong) religion, then I think that's worse than being a bad person and believing in a healthy (right) religion

because

a healthy religion is supposed to support and help you in your walk in life. So if you are a bad person believing in a healthy religion, then hopefully that religion helps you to be a good person. It's a life long journey.

When I was in Christianity, I was (if one likes) a good person following a bad religion. It made me have conflict of the heart where I had not had before. It made me feel I had a tug of war with myself. That's unhealthy-and I see that as wrong.

However, if I were a "bad" person but I believed in my ancestors (which I do heavily), then I know I can go to them for help and be a good person. That is the right religion to me.

I see right and wrong as healthy and unhealthy. Morals are defined based on culture and family upbringing. I wasn't raised in a highly ethical family; so, if the religion is damaging a person at their basic survival needs from psychological to physical (as I see and read about indoctrination), that is wrong. Again, though, it depends. The Church I went to was wonderful, they had a wonderful support, priests where very nice, and there wasn't a pressure to believe. God works at his own pace, type of thing.

It depends on the person and their values. Nothing is objectively right and wrong. So, of course, you'll get multiple answers.

 

[Rick O'Shez]

This is the best religion, smooth, dark and magical!

 

[Quintessence]

My bias is that I can’t automatically think of a religion without a god. And if a religion says there is a god (creator of the universe), then it’s making a claim about the nature of the universe.

There are quite a few non-theistic religions out there. Just to list a few examples, Buddhism is the one that most readily comes to mind, and there's also non-thesitic Unitarian Universalists and non-theistic contemporary Pagans. It's also worth noting that amongst theistic religions, the gods are not necessarily creators in the same sense as is understood in the classical monotheist religions. The notion of some transcendent creator god separate from the universe is specifically characteristic of classical monotheist theology. Perhaps more importantly, taking such stories literally (aka, making factual claims about the nature of the universe) is particularly characteristic of a somewhat recent anti-intellectual backlash within Evangelical Christianity. As far as I'm aware, at any rate. I'm hardly an expert on the history of Christian religions.

In fact this god is the foundation of the religions I am familiar with (+50% world's population).

Yeah, it is not uncommon for folks to think and talk about religions and theologies with very Biblical, Abrahamic, and monotheist assumptions. As someone who is none of those things, I can't help questioning those assumptions and getting tired of them dominating the conversation. Beg your pardon.

Claims about the afterlife are also common, and one only needs to turn on the TV to realize the consequences believing in that can have.

Haha! When I turn on my television, I get nothing. I haven't had TV in years, and when I did, I definitely didn't see what you're seeing. Man... why on earth were you voluntarily watching televangelist channels?!

So first of all, I can’t really see that as a “small portion”, and second, even if it was small, the consequences are enormous.

For some individuals, I guess the consequences are "enormous." I look at American culture, though, and in spite of the majority religion being Christianity, I can't say I see that reflected all that much, certainly not to an "enormous" degree. Maybe that depends a bit on what part of the country you live in? What I do see is a lot of worship of what seems to be the real god of this country, and that is Capitalism and Money Spirit.

 

[Segev Moran]

Thanks for your answer and that's was not the purpose of this post but...

@Segev Moran
I see you are an atheist.

Thanks

I understand that as it's the easy way to not believe and explore religion and search for spiritual truth.

I have three problems with this statement of yours:
1. You don't really know me so you don't really know where my choices came from
2. Most Atheists became atheist because they actually did explore religion and discovered that is far from being a truthful understanding of the universe
3. Strikes me odd... As i see it.. being responsible for my own actions..( not pretending that someone else makes the shots) seems a lot harder. understanding that there is no guard or savior.. sounds easier to you? who is accountable for your actions?

There are at least 33,000 denominations of Christians all reading the SAME BOOK.
Go figure.

I Can't

Personal study, prayer, meditation, is key to spiritual understanding.

Says who? What you are describing is also a stream of religion...
I Understand what you are saying here buy You can't disregard all the billions of other religious that are in complete disagreement with you...
I Mean.. even you... Do you interpret the bible based on you own thought only? I Assume you support the main traditions of your religion.. If not.. you are practicing a different religion.. which only makes it harder to understand if its true or not.

Is one religion "better" than another?
Well I hesitate to use the word better but I posit that there are a few that understand the Bible much better than others.

What makes you think that all religions have anything to do with the Bible???
There are enough religions that predates the Bible.. in fact, a lot of stories in the bible have great resemblance to previous religions.

Having a spiritual leader preach church dogma is like have another person eat your meals for you.

On that we agree

 

[Segev Moran]

Considering the number of religions that exist and have existed along history, isn’t it reasonable to think they are most likely all wrong?

duh

 

[Segev Moran]

If there is a true God, and I believe there is, it follows that his standards and commands constitute the one true religion. So I believe the first step to finding the right way to worship God is to find this true God, our Creator and Lifegiver.

I Actually agree with part of your answer.. and you are the first to ever admit that he is yet to have found God... (Not saying it in sarcasm or something.. I Actually mean it)
But I have only one problem with that statement...
Why do you assume that God requires worshiping?
Do you require your kids to worship you?
And what about billions that claim they have found the true God... ? How can you say they are wrong if you believe there is a God?

it is evident to me based on the abundant blessings of life that the true God is not only infinitely powerful and wise, but also warm and loving.

Wow... I Guess we really do live in different worlds
Last time i checked humanity is at one of its worst decades..

 

[Segev Moran]

This is the equivalent of saying "considering the number of cultures in the world, isn't it reasonable to think they are all wrong?" How is it "wrong" for peoples to have unique cultural expressions of their values that inform life's meaningfulness? Might as well start calling diversity "wrong."

Because no culture claims to be the one truth and answer...
A Culture is a preference.. religion is supposedly objective truth

 

[psychoslice]

I think all religions are man made, they really have nothing to do with what they call God, God or the Source of all cannot be reduced to a mere religion, and to think so in my opinion is ignorance.

 

[Quintessence]

Because no culture claims to be the one truth and answer...
A Culture is a preference.. religion is supposedly objective truth

LOL. Various cultures can absolutely claim to be the best/right culture and then try to impose that on other cultures. My own country is notorious for this - thinking that every country should in some way emulate our values and practices... and then in one way or another proselytizing or forcing that where it isn't wanted. Culture probably should be a preference. Just like religion done right is also a preference (it certainly is for me... I don't know of any Pagan religion that claims to have the "objective truth" or of any religion outside of particular groups of Abrahamic ones that do this to be honest).