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How did you end up with your religion?

Milton Platt

Well-Known Member
1. Christianity: 2.1 billion
2. Islam: 1.5 billion
3. Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist: 1.1 billion
4. Hinduism: 900 million
5. Chinese traditional religion: 394 million
6. Buddhism: 376 million
7. primal-indigenous: 300 million
8. African Traditional & Diasporic: 100 million
9. Sikhism: 23 million
10. Juche: 19 million
11. Spiritism: 15 million
12. Judaism: 14 million
13. Baha'i: 7 million
14. Jainism: 4.2 million
15. Shinto: 4 million
16. Cao Dai: 4 million
17. Zoroastrianism: 2.6 million
18. Tenrikyo: 2 million
19. Neo-Paganism: 1 million
20. Unitarian-Universalism: 800 thousand
21. Rastafarianism: 600 thousand
22. Scientology: 500 thousand

Major Religions Ranked by Size

Well, I'm an atheist, so no religion. But it is interesting to see that some here arrived at their religion by a similar process. It would be an interesting discussion to find how and why we diverged.
 

Muffled

Jesus in me
That is probably why you are neither a Taoist nor a Buddhist.

My point exactly, although you obviously reached the opposite conclusion from that.
I believe I have no trouble identifying reality so why is it my testimony is not enough for you to acknowledge it? Are you going to say that your lack of evidence is more relevant than my evidence?
 

LuisDantas

Aura of atheification
Premium Member
I believe I have no trouble identifying reality so why is it my testimony is not enough for you to acknowledge it?
It is your business alone if you believe in the God of the Bible.

Still, you can hardly expect me to be convinced to share that belief simply because you assure me that it corresponds to reality.

Are you going to say that your lack of evidence is more relevant than my evidence?
When it comes to the existence of that God?

Why, of course it is.
 

Muffled

Jesus in me
It is your business alone if you believe in the God of the Bible.

Still, you can hardly expect me to be convinced to share that belief simply because you assure me that it corresponds to reality.


When it comes to the existence of that God?

Why, of course it is.

I believe God has a habit of getting into other people's business. For Him it is a matter of love to not leave you to your own devices.

I believe I realize that one must be able to trust a source. For instance my physician I trust to go by the book but he never tells me anything from experience. That is like someone trying to tell you something from the Bible but I can tell you things from my experience. As for my truthfulness it would have to be discerned from what I have said in the past. Still usually it is fairly clear if someone is trying to obfuscate or confuse you by the language he uses and I believe my language is clear and to the point.

I believe It boggles my mind that you think nothing is worth more than something.
 

LuisDantas

Aura of atheification
Premium Member
I believe It boggles my mind that you think nothing is worth more than something.

There are downsides to belief in God. All the more so when it is expected, pressured or somehow "pursued" as opposed to arising spontaneously (as happens with some people).

So yes, surprising as it may seem to you, a "nothing" may easily be worth more than "something" if the "something" side expects me to... pretend to be a theist, if I understood you correctly?
 

Muffled

Jesus in me
There are downsides to belief in God. All the more so when it is expected, pressured or somehow "pursued" as opposed to arising spontaneously (as happens with some people).

So yes, surprising as it may seem to you, a "nothing" may easily be worth more than "something" if the "something" side expects me to... pretend to be a theist, if I understood you correctly?

I believe that puts it in the area of preference that whatever evidence there is ought to be ignored.
 

Muffled

Jesus in me
Well, I'm an atheist, so no religion. But it is interesting to see that some here arrived at their religion by a similar process. It would be an interesting discussion to find how and why we diverged.

I can tell you what the process ws for my granddaughter. She was raised in church but school taught her that evolution meant that the Bible was wrong. I was able to explain to her why that isn't so; so she changed from being an atheist to being an agnostic.
 

jeager106

Learning more about Jehovah.
Premium Member
I was bludgeoned into it by PopeaDope.
I have rejected reality and substituted my own.
Actually I have no denomination but claim to be Christian.
Why?
Well.......................................because.
 

jeager106

Learning more about Jehovah.
Premium Member
Well, I'm an atheist, so no religion. But it is interesting to see that some here arrived at their religion by a similar process. It would be an interesting discussion to find how and why we diverged.


Oh, I know, I know, I know.
Because of diversity.
It'd be boring if Christians were all of the same denomination.
After all there are at least 33,000 DIFFERENT denominations of
Christians ALL READING THE SAME BOOK!
Nuts ain't it?
Jehovah's Witnesses couldn't go door to door preaching.
Baptists would have to settle on one Baptist dogma instead of
dozens all different.
Catholics would have to stop regarding the Pope as a living God.
(They can eat meat on Friday now which makes one wonder what
happened to all those that sneaked a burger and went to hell.)
Westboro Baptists would stop carrying signs & picketing
"God hates ****".
Mormons would have to give up a bunch of wives.
Islam would stop murdering Christians and each other.
Can you imagine just ONE religion world wide and we'd all
have to get along?
Ain't gonna happen.

Why the arms industry alone would go broke!
 

Rival

Si m'ait Dieus
Staff member
Premium Member
On a more serious note, I began asking questions about Christianity and its relationship to the Tnach. I had already a firm belief in the Biblical God and at this point nothing can shake it, but I had issues with Christianity mostly to do with:

-Jesus claim to Messiaship
-Hell
-Satan
-Conflicting theological ideas (can someone die for your sins? etc)

None of the answers satisfied me, the Tnach and Gospels didn't seem to match and I was put off by the antisemitism in the Christian writings. So if Christianity wasn't right and Jesus wasn't even a prophet, this also rules out Islam, Baha'i etc. So I came to be a Noahide. This was with @Tumah's help and answering of my questions, etc. He didn't blackmail me; he's lovely and been great :)

I still respect Christians though, at least if they are harming no-one.
 
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