is all faith valid?

Mike182 · Oct 4, 2005

this was started in another thread, so to stop us from going off on a tangent, i started this

basically, if i believe one thing, and someone else believes another thing, is one of them invalid? if so, why is one valid and the other invalid? can you give evidence to disprove the validity of someone elses faith other than your own personal beliefs?

Aqualung · Oct 4, 2005

Good thread C_P! I was thinking ours was going off topic. I believe that my faith is valid. I don't beleive all other beleifs are valid. I beleive that some may have their bits of validity. I don't have to accept some one else's beleif as valid just because someone else thinks it is. I don't know why one is more valid than the other. I would say, because my faith is the one that Jesus actually recognises as his church. But some faiths don't even beleive in Jesus. That's actually a really tough question to answer.

The Black Whirlwind · Oct 4, 2005

He, no.

Mike182 · Oct 4, 2005

Aqualung said:
Good thread C_P! I was thinking ours was going off topic. I believe that my faith is valid. I don't beleive all other beleifs are valid. I beleive that some may have their bits of validity. I don't have to accept some one else's beleif as valid just because someone else thinks it is. I don't know why one is more valid than the other. I would say, because my faith is the one that Jesus actually recognises as his church. But some faiths don't even beleive in Jesus. That's actually a really tough question to answer.

i think you can dismiss certain beliefs as invalid to you, but i don't think anyone can have the right to dismiss anyone elses faith as being invalid

if that makes sense......... im sure thats a contradicition

michel · Oct 4, 2005

Nasty one ! Of course, my Faith is the right one........FOR ME. I think that is the important angle - religion and faith is subjective.

My 'connection' with God, through prayer is very subjective; I could never compare it to either yours (C.P) nor yours (Aqualung) - because I don't know what yours 'feels' like.

I think that probably does qualify all faith as valid - as long as the faith is built on a foundation of recognizing that there is a God ( multiple Gods for some ) , that the faith is based on trying to do 'good deeds', and live as pure a life as is possible whilst being an imperfect human.

Aqualung · Oct 4, 2005

corrupt_priest said:
i think you can dismiss certain beliefs as invalid to you, but i don't think anyone can have the right to dismiss anyone elses faith as being invalid

if that makes sense......... im sure thats a contradicition

I have the right to dismiss whatever I want as whatever I want. You don't have a right to tell me that I have to think your beleifs are valid. Just like you don't have a right to tell me that I think such-and-such a movie is funny (or whatever). What I think about certain beleifs are my own business.

The Black Whirlwind · Oct 4, 2005

if i believed i had to murder people at least once a day to gain favor with Agugu the Warrior Goddess, does that make it valid. Everyone here would say no, but then i would say, "well, it may not be valid for you, but it is valid for me, so there". Not all faiths are valid. probabally a lot of them aren't. i am plenty within my rights to say someones faith is invalid.

Terrywoodenpic · Oct 4, 2005

My faith is totally valid for me.
For a reason I do not understand, God has given other people other faiths.
These must be equally valid for them.
For this reason I respect them, but have no need or reason to follow them.

Terry__________________________-
Blessed are the gentle, they shall inherit the land

Mike182 · Oct 4, 2005

i think i would distinguish between a religion that is orientated towards love and a religion that is orientated towards sacrificing other humans

in the example of a religion orientated towards love, i think that for me, if i was to judge another persons faith as invalid because it doesn't fit in line with my own faith, it would be a judgement based upon my own prejudice and bias. both are things i try to not let get the better of me

with my own faith in mind, i try to not judge others for their beliefs or actions, as i do not think this is what Christ would do, i think jesus would actually love another person for their diversity of belief, and would listen to what they think of things - and i think this would be showing the validity of anothers faith to that other person

C_P

Terrywoodenpic · Oct 4, 2005

We have laws in place to deal with faiths that cause harm,hurt, and other dangers.

Faiths should not be involved in the policing of other faiths, though they should have a moral input to the nations opinion and Government of their own country.

Terry___________________________
Blessed are the gentle, they shall inherit the land

robtex · Oct 4, 2005

Aqualung said:
Good thread C_P! I was thinking ours was going off topic. I believe that my faith is valid. I don't beleive all other beleifs are valid. I beleive that some may have their bits of validity. I don't have to accept some one else's beleif as valid just because someone else thinks it is. I don't know why one is more valid than the other. I would say, because my faith is the one that Jesus actually recognises as his church. But some faiths don't even beleive in Jesus. That's actually a really tough question to answer.

But the constraints you use to accept your religion are based on faith and the constraints used for other religions are also based on faith. Nothing more nothing less. If the constraints were different or more or less I could see a variance in validity but as faith is the contingent parameter across the board I would assess them all equal validity irregardless if it was one god, a tribune god, a space ship situation or polytheism.

Feathers in Hair · Oct 4, 2005

I agree. Everyone is within their rights to think another's faith is invalid. However, people deserve not to have their religion attacked or ridiculed, especially if it's not doing any harm to them or anyone else. You may not see the validity of another religion. I see the validity in most religions. Both of us are entitled to our beliefs, and neither of us is wrong in doing so. Something interesting I heard in a ceremony held for Katrina relief was that, in decreeing that 'ours is the only correct path', we are essentially suggesting that the Great Spirit was not wise enough to allow for everyone. That really spoke to my heart.

I think all faiths, including atheism, are valid and worthy of respect, as long as they don't harm anyone, mentally, spiritually or physically.

Aqualung · Oct 4, 2005

robtex said:
But the constraints you use to accept your religion are based on faith and the constraints used for other religions are also based on faith. Nothing more nothing less. If the constraints were different or more or less I could see a variance in validity but as faith is the contingent parameter across the board I would assess them all equal validity irregardless if it was one god, a tribune god, a space ship situation or polytheism.

Yes, they're based in faith. That doesn't dimish the fact that I think my faith is more valid. And just because it's based in faith doesn't mean that I can't have a view that others' are less valid. (you like that sentence, spinks?

)

FeathersinHair said:
I agree. Everyone is within their rights to think another's faith is invalid. However, people deserve not to have their religion attacked or ridiculed, especially if it's not doing any harm to them or anyone else.

Exactly. I can accept others' in their religious beleifs without critisizing them, but still not think their religion is valid. They deserve respect, but they aren't "valid."

Katzpur · Oct 4, 2005

corrupt_priest said:
this was started in another thread, so to stop us from going off on a tangent, i started this

basically, if i believe one thing, and someone else believes another thing, is one of them invalid? if so, why is one valid and the other invalid? can you give evidence to disprove the validity of someone elses faith other than your own personal beliefs?

Why don't you start by defining what you mean by the word "valid." To me, it means, "supported by evidence." Therefore, if someone believes something I don't see as being supported by evidence, it's not a valid belief. I also use the word "valid" to be "accurate" or "correct," but maybe that's an invalid use of the word.

On the other hand, if I believe it's valid, does that make it so?

world nonpotent · Oct 4, 2005

The question perhaps is: "Is all faith justified?" So much is not justified beyond and within religious means (the second needs explanation and to be worked upon). The faith which is not justifed is in the midst of Nature. For this reason I believe that the immigrated relgions would be demanded of MORE justification.

Katzpur · Oct 4, 2005

michel said:
Nasty one ! Of course, my Faith is the right one........FOR ME. I think that is the important angle - religion and faith is subjective.

My 'connection' with God, through prayer is very subjective; I could never compare it to either yours (C.P) nor yours (Aqualung) - because I don't know what yours 'feels' like.

I think that probably does qualify all faith as valid - as long as the faith is built on a foundation of recognizing that there is a God ( multiple Gods for some ) , that the faith is based on trying to do 'good deeds', and live as pure a life as is possible whilst being an imperfect human.

On the other hand, if something "feels right," does that make it true? As Abe Lincoln once said, "How many legs does a dog have, if you call the tail a leg?" The answer, of course, is "Four. Calling the tail a leg doesn't make it a leg."

I believe there is relative truth, but I also believe that there is absolute truth. Very few people come to know the absolute truth about God and things of a spiritual nature during their lifetimes. However, that doesn't mean that such truth doesn't exist.

robtex · Oct 4, 2005

Aqualung said:
Yes, they're based in faith. That doesn't dimish the fact that I think my faith is more valid. And just because it's based in faith doesn't mean that I can't have a view that others' are less valid. (you like that sentence, spinks? )

Why not? Same exact constriants? faith. Nothing more nothing less. It may be accurate that you have faith that your belief is true as opposed to the others which you assess as false based on your faith. But with the equalliy afforded by the exact parameters used to measure each belief system, that of faith, how could you say one is more or less valid than the other?

lilithu · Oct 4, 2005

corrupt_priest said:
this was started in another thread, so to stop us from going off on a tangent, i started this

basically, if i believe one thing, and someone else believes another thing, is one of them invalid? if so, why is one valid and the other invalid? can you give evidence to disprove the validity of someone elses faith other than your own personal beliefs?

No, not all faiths are valid, imo.

As a religious liberal, I believe that all humans have inherent worth. This belief is the basis for my general openness towards religious pluralism and religious uncertainty. So you may believe one thing about God and I may believe another and someone else may say there is not God and I have no problem with any of that. Basically, I think that ultimate reality or whatever one wants to call it is too big for any one worldview to capture.

However, the belief that all humans have inherent worth also constrains my openness. I cannot believe any faith valid that demeans human beings. I cannot accept as valid any faith that would say one race is better than another, or one gender or one sexual orientation, or age or physical ability. I cannot accept any faith as valid that teaches us to turn our backs on our fellow human beings. I cannot accept any faith as valid that teaches us to feel small and mean.

So no, not all faiths are valid. But that certainly doesn't mean that there's only one right religion!

Jaymes · Oct 4, 2005

Lilithu, I wish I could have said it as well as you.

Mike182 · Oct 5, 2005

lilithu, a very good post

katzpur, i will define valid as: something able to be used or accepted

something that is invalid is: something that caonnot be used or accepted, like an out of date passport

is all faith valid?

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