Religion v Religion

+Xausted · Jun 4, 2008

Why is one religion more right over another. Since the basic premise of religion is to lead a good life(strip them all down and they all share the common moralistic elements), then does it matter in which doctrine/God/belief structure one follows? Why is your faith the one "True Faith"

BruceDLimber · Jun 4, 2008

Greetings!

+Xausted said:
Why is your faith the one "True Faith?"

It's not!

I quote from the Baha'i scriptures:

"That the divers communions of the earth, and the manifold systems of religious belief, should never be allowed to foster the feelings of animosity among men, is, in this Day, of the essence of the Faith of God and His Religion. These principles and laws, these firmly-established and mighty systems, have proceeded from one Source, and are rays of one Light. That they differ one from another is to be attributed to the varying requirements of the ages in which they were promulgated."

--(Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 13)

Best,

Bruce

tariqkhwaja · Jun 4, 2008

Assalamualaikum.

BruceDLimber you are right. But that is not the complete truth ... there is more to it than that.

Apart from requirement of ages changing there is also the fact that religions deteriorate over time due to human interpolations.

Also note that the Quran states that
Chapter 2 : Verse 63
Surely, those who believe and the Jews and the Christians and the Sabians - whichever party from among these truly believes in Allah and the Last Day and does good deeds, shall have their reward with their Lord, and no fear shall come upon them, nor shall they grieve.

But the reason that God keeps sending new religions is because while the old road from Washington D.C. to New York might still lead you to your destination, it is filled with dangers and digressions that one has to be pretty lucky to avoid. So for someone who is earnestly searching for God and obviously wants to get there fastest is told to take the new road ... as in the latest religion of God.

Which is why for someone who doesn't get the new and improved message, following the old message is okay ... but someone who rejects the new message after it has been accurately conveyed to him then things are bad for that person.

sandandfoam · Jun 4, 2008

My faith is only the one true faith for me. I've felt infinity, Christianity, particularly the early Celtic Christians such as Eriugena and Pelagius provide a framework that I'm comfortable with to try and make sense of it.

Ulver · Jun 4, 2008

+Xausted said:
Why is one religion more right over another. Since the basic premise of religion is to lead a good life(strip them all down and they all share the common moralistic elements), then does it matter in which doctrine/God/belief structure one follows? Why is your faith the one "True Faith"

Religion divides, like all culture does, those in the group and those outside of the group. So of course religions will often make a point of picking enemies because it helps keep the group inside more strongly connected.

A cultural example outside of religion is how war is great in causing emotionally uprisings of Patriotic/Nationalistic feeling, which results in the demonizing of those not part of the nation and mythologizing the leaders and warriors of the nation.

BruceDLimber · Jun 5, 2008

Greetings!

tariqkhwaja said:
Apart from requirement of ages changing there is also the fact that religions deteriorate over time due to human interpolations.

Indeed!

Which is precisely why God periodically sends (and will always send) new Divine Messengers to update and renew religion!

Best,

Bruce

logician · Jun 5, 2008

+Xausted said:
Why is one religion more right over another. Since the basic premise of religion is to lead a good life(strip them all down and they all share the common moralistic elements), then does it matter in which doctrine/God/belief structure one follows? Why is your faith the one "True Faith"

From an atheistic viewpoint, none are right, there is no correct "path", because you're not going anywhere but here. Moralistic questions are outside the scope of this statement, since one can be "moral" within atheism or theism.

BruceDLimber · Jun 5, 2008

Greetings.

Ulver said:
Religion divides, like all culture does, those in the group and those outside of the group. So of course religions will often make a point of picking enemies because it helps keep the group inside more strongly connected.

Save, of course, that not all religions are like this!

Mine has no enemies--not even those who persecute us--, and does everything possible to foster unity, love, and harmony!

Further, the only distinction between members and non-members is that members are expected to follow additional laws that don't apply to others.

Peace,

Bruce

Ulver · Jun 5, 2008

BruceDLimber said:
Greetings.

Save, of course, that not all religions are like this!

Mine has no enemies--not even those who persecute us--, and does everything possible to foster unity, love, and harmony!

Further, the only distinction between members and non-members is that members are expected to follow additional laws that don't apply to others.

Peace,

Bruce

Christians would claim the same as well. Regardless, I think its safe to say even your faith establishes a sense of community and by doing so it defines those that are not within the community. The major difference for your belief of course is that it's a community that doesn't have much political/military power behind it.

People need to have enemies just as much as they need friends. Both define who you are and this dynamic is easily used by cultural institutions, like religion and government, to gain power and influence.

trinity2359 · Jun 5, 2008

+Xausted said:
Why is one religion more right over another. Since the basic premise of religion is to lead a good life(strip them all down and they all share the common moralistic elements), then does it matter in which doctrine/God/belief structure one follows? Why is your faith the one "True Faith"

For believers your basic premise is false. The reason for religion is not to lead a good life, but to worship *insert diety here *. Living a 'good life' is incentidental and a consequence of worship - not the main attraction. Since there are so many faiths to chose from, one gets emotionally invested in their choice and tend to want to convert others. Either they were born into it and consider it the 'right way to do things' or they converted and have a 'born-again' enthusiam: both of which can explain their adherence and passion, if you will. Therefore, a believer will establish by their set of criterea that their faith this the 'Truth' or else they will seek another.

Storm · Jun 5, 2008

+Xausted said:
Why is one religion more right over another.

None of them are. They all have pearls of wisdom buried in massive midden heaps of cultural baggage. The trick is finding the one that's right for you.

Since the basic premise of religion is to lead a good life(strip them all down and they all share the common moralistic elements), then does it matter in which doctrine/God/belief structure one follows?

Nope.

Why is your faith the one "True Faith"

It ain't. It's my best guess, no more, no less.

trinity2359 said:
For believers your basic premise is false. The reason for religion is not to lead a good life, but to worship *insert diety here *.

Please don't presume to speak for all believers. The purpose of my religion is not to worship God, but understand it. The purpose of Buddhism is to lead a good life, with the goal of eventually attaining nirvana. Your way is not the only way.

Living a 'good life' is incentidental and a consequence of worship - not the main attraction. Since there are so many faiths to chose from, one gets emotionally invested in their choice and tend to want to convert others.

I have no interest in converting anyone. Neither do Jews, Hindus, neopagans... in fact the only two religions I can think of who give a flying flip about conversion are CHristianity and Islam, and it numbers among their most despicable traits, imo.

McBell · Jun 5, 2008

+Xausted said:
Why is one religion more right over another. Since the basic premise of religion is to lead a good life(strip them all down and they all share the common moralistic elements), then does it matter in which doctrine/God/belief structure one follows? Why is your faith the one "True Faith"

"One true Faith" is an incomplete statement.

Theocan · Jun 5, 2008

They are all connected in some way.

+Xausted · Jun 5, 2008

Mestemia said:
"One true Faith" is an incomplete statement.

That may be, however yours does not clafify a trajectory, so I win!

+Xausted · Jun 5, 2008

trinity2359 said:
For believers your basic premise is false.
The premise in theory may be false however if re read my full statement you will note that I maintain that is what all religions hold true and across the board. So the worship od said deity, when these vary almost for me become incidental. When all religions withhold the same moralistic guidelines, that seems to be the mreging factor.

The reason for religion is not to lead a good life, but to worship *insert diety here *. Living a 'good life' is incentidental and a consequence of worship - not the main attraction. Since there are so many faiths to chose from, one gets emotionally invested in their choice and tend to want to convert others.
Leading a good life i am afraid is never incidental to religion. On that theory you you just rendered religion pointless and supported a self serving God.

+Xausted · Jun 5, 2008

logician said:
From an atheistic viewpoint, none are right, there is no correct "path", because you're not going anywhere but here. Moralistic questions are outside the scope of this statement, since one can be "moral" within atheism or theism.

Yes moral do apply outside of religion, however one can not argue that they have no bearing upon religion and religious beliefs. That is naive

Magic Man · Jun 5, 2008

+Xausted said:
Leading a good life i am afraid is never incidental to religion. On that theory you you just rendered religion pointless and supported a self serving God.

I disagree. Leading a good life is often incidental to religion. Do you think you'd still be a good person if you were part of a religion? Now, do you think the opposite about, say, Christine? (Sorry, Christine to single you out, but I think you're a perfect example of someone who'd be a good person regardless of religion)

+Xausted · Jun 5, 2008

mball1297 said:
I disagree. Leading a good life is often incidental to religion. Do you think you'd still be a good person if you were part of a religion? Now, do you think the opposite about, say, Christine? (Sorry, Christine to single you out, but I think you're a perfect example of someone who'd be a good person regardless of religion)

Sorry, i did not make myself clear, my bad(that will be the wedding alcholol). What I meant was, yes morals are evident in the non religious sphere without a doubt. However you can not take moral out of religion.

logician · Jun 5, 2008

+Xausted said:
Yes moral do apply outside of religion, however one can not argue that they have no bearing upon religion and religious beliefs. That is naive

I didn't imply that, I said it had no bearing on my post.

Kcnorwood · Jun 5, 2008

Why does there have to be a RIGHT religion? :shrug:

I personally believe that Each person needs to find his/her own path. I do no believe one religion to be right I do believe that each person needs to find what works for them.

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