Religious mix and match, am I being disrespectful?

[SteveGrayFTW]

I also think you are too worried about what other people will think. UU and Quakers seem to have (from my readings, not direct experience) a strong Christian core. However, that's not to say they are Christian denominations. If I wanted to be part of a religious community, would I find a UU or Quaker community that was diverse enough and familiar with eastern religions that I'd feel comfortable? I don't know, but there may be some.

I have a few other UU congregations around me that I can try out, so I think that is something I may have to do. The one I've frequented is much more Christian-esque than I expected when I first started exploring the religion. Not that this is a bad thing, since this is where their roots lie, but it's not really what I need at this time.

:yes: It can be, but not everyone is cut out to adhere to any single doctrine.

I absolutely agree, but it's still a pain in the ***

 

[Vinayaka]

Nobody sincere person likes to see confusion in another. "Mix and match' is all fine and dandy unless it creates confusion.

 

[SteveGrayFTW]

Nobody sincere person likes to see confusion in another. "Mix and match' is all fine and dandy unless it creates confusion.

Confusion in who? The worshipper himself, or others in one of the particular religions being mixed into his belief structure?

 

[Caladan]

Religious mix and match, am I being disrespectful?

If you are blessing and serving wine, pork chops, and veal medallions to your friends from Isfahan, Mumbai, and Jerusalem for an inter-faith Sabbath grill, then you might be overdoing it.

 

[StarryNightshade]

As long as you are not "confused" (I'm not a fan of that term), and as long you are not being blatantly disrespectful to the religions you mix (although I get the feeling that you are a very sincere seeker ), then I see nothing wrong with "mixing" religions.

Hell, I do it myself. With elements of Non-Dual Shaivism and Mahayana Buddhism.

 

[Vinayaka]

Confusion in who? The worshipper himself, or others in one of the particular religions being mixed into his belief structure?

The individual. I've seen it. Trying to hold two opposing beliefs at the same time. I'm not suggesting that is you. I just think there is far less likelihood of that if you can pick an existing religion, or have one that you naturally adhere to 98% of its tenets.

 

[SteveGrayFTW]

The individual. I've seen it. Trying to hold two opposing beliefs at the same time. I'm not suggesting that is you. I just think there is far less likelihood of that if you can pick an existing religion, or have one that you naturally adhere to 98% of its tenets.

Ahh...I understand. Thank you for clarifying.

And you're right, it's more easily avoidable if I pick a religion, but I think certain aspects different religions can complement each other quite nicely. In my case, I'd be largely combining aspects of (Agnostic) Deism and Naturalistic Paganism, so I don't think there would be any issues there.

 

[SteveGrayFTW]

As long as you are not "confused" (I'm not a fan of that term), and as long you are not being blatantly disrespectful to the religions you mix (although I get the feeling that you are a very sincere seeker ), then I see nothing wrong with "mixing" religions.

Hell, I do it myself. With elements of Non-Dual Shaivism and Mahayana Buddhism.

Thank you for the kind words

I would absolutely do to the best I can to treat the individual religions with respect.

 

[Vinayaka]

Ahh...I understand. Thank you for clarifying.

And you're right, it's more easily avoidable if I pick a religion, but I think certain aspects different religions can complement each other quite nicely. In my case, I'd be combining aspects of (Agnostic) Deism and Naturalistic Paganism, so I don't think there would be any issues there.

Probably not, from what little I know.

 

[JayJayDee]

Thank you for shedding a little more light on the one religion/government issue. As I mentioned, I wasn't too familiar with the topics.

I believe that this is the crux of all religious confusion. You really need to make informed decisions, not ones based on what you 'think' you know. Take your time...examine everything from all angles. Ask questions of all faiths and evaluate their responses, otherwise it becomes a very hit and miss affair. Sometimes the important stuff is in the detail.

I guess at the end of the day it all comes down to whether or not one looks at the Bible is inerrant or infallible.

Do you view the Bible as the word of God or the word of men?

What parts of the Bible do you find are causing you to doubt its authorship?

If you believe in an all powerful Creator, (and you haven't said you do,) do you believe that he lacks the will or ability to communicate his will to his intelligent creation via the written word?

While there are many aspects of Christianity and the Bible that are to be respected, I am not able to accept this.

May I ask you to give specific reasons for your position?

 

[SteveGrayFTW]

Do you view the Bible as the word of God or the word of men?

I believe that while man may have inspired the idea of God, the Bible is, at the end of the day, the work of man.

What parts of the Bible do you find are causing you to doubt its authorship?

For starters, sections of Leviticus, such as the infamous 18:22. Now, admittedly, as gay man, I may be a bit biased here, although my homosexuality is not why I stopped considering myself a Christian (there are plenty of gay-friendly sects of Christianity I could have joined).

I did not choose to be gay. I am just am. I was created this way. And God thinks that if I choose to act on who I am, I am condemned? Yeah...no. I cannot believe that the all knowing, almighty creator of everything would create individuals, such as myself, and have the deck stacked against us right from the getgo.

I'd really like to avoid having this thread become about gay rights, but that is major issue.

If you believe in an all powerful Creator, (and you haven't said you do,) do you believe that he lacks the will or ability to communicate his will to his intelligent creation via the written word?

I believe there is "something greater", whether that is an energy force, or a God, or a Goddess, or Gods, or Goddesses, or just really smart aliens, I don't know. I do believe there is something that was involved in the creation of the universe. I choose to refer to this "something greater" as God.

Do I believe he lacks the will or ability to communicate his will via written word? Of course not, but I honestly do not see why he would have bothered. We're microbes floating in a very big pond, and we're insignificant in the grand scheme of things. I also believe that if God did choose to communicate his will, he would communicated it to everyone at once, instead of relying on a few men, in one approximate geographic area, to spread the message.

May I ask you to give specific reasons for your position?

I think my reasoning above pretty much addresses this. All in all though, I am an agnostic. I believe in God (as I described above), but I do not know what this "God" is.

I also believe there is just as much of a chance of the Abrahamic God being the "true God" as there is of the Greek or Norse (or Egyptian or Mayan, etc...etc...) Pantheons being the "true Gods." The prominent religions of the planet seem to depend on the flavor of the time. Who knows, two thousand years from now, Scientology could be viewed as the true religion.

You may scoff, but no one thought Christianity would catch on 2000 years ago.

However, I think it is even more likely that there is no God, than there is a God that humanity has been able to clearly define so far.

Is there any truth to any of the religions of the world? I don't know. I'd love to know, but I don't. I believe they are all looking for the same truth though, in the best way they know how, which is why I think they are worthy of respect. And I hope this post doesn't sound too inflammatory towards Christianity to make me hypocrite in that regard.

 

[Jainarayan]

SteveGrayFTW,

In my recent musings, meditations and contemplations, I have come across philosophies you may want to look into: Eckankar and Hermeticism, specifically the prisca theologia aspect of Hermeticism, not necessarily the magical or Hellenic/Egyptian aspects.

These are variously deistic/theistic/henotheistic/polydeistic, depending on the leanings of the practitioner, but most definitely monotheistic. They are not as weird as one might think. They are either deliberately or unintentionally heavily influenced by Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism, and even Jesuism without the trappings, rituals, prescriptions, scriptures and contradictions of other religions. They seem to be a ready-made blank canvas to superimpose details of personal beliefs onto.

 

[SteveGrayFTW]

SteveGrayFTW,

In my recent musings, meditations and contemplations, I have come across philosophies you may want to look into: Eckankar and Hermeticism, specifically the prisca theologia aspect of Hermeticism, not necessarily the magical or Hellenic/Egyptian aspects.

These are variously deistic/theistic/henotheistic/polydeistic, depending on the leanings of the practitioner, but most definitely monotheistic. They are not as weird as one might think. They are either deliberately or unintentionally heavily influenced by Hinduism, Buddhism, and Taoism, and even Jesuism without the trappings, rituals, prescriptions, scriptures and contradictions of other religions. They seem to be a ready-made blank canvas to superimpose details of personal beliefs onto.

Thank you for bringing these to my attention. I had not heard of them before, but I am definitely intrigued, especially with Hermeticism and the Prisca theologia (from what I've read from their Wikipedia pages, anyway).

I have to admit, the Prisca theologia catches my attention the most, since it speaks of "a single, true, theology...which threads through all religions, and which was given by God to man in antiquity." While that isn't 100% of what I believe, it's pretty dang close, and it's nice to see that there is some historical merit to my views on God and religion.

 

[Jainarayan]

Thank you for bringing these to my attention. I had not heard of them before, but I am definitely intrigued, especially with Hermeticism and the Prisca theologia (from what I've read from their Wikipedia pages, anyway).

I have to admit, the Prisca theologia catches my attention the most, since it speaks of "a single, true, theology...which threads through all religions, and which was given by God to man in antiquity." While that isn't 100% of what I believe, it's pretty dang close, and it's nice to see that there is some historical merit to my views on God and religion.

Ah, you're welcome.

I'm drawn to prisca theologia also, because I am a universalist at heart. You know, ekam sat viprah bahudha vadanti, "One Truth the wise know by many names" (Rig Veda 10.164.46). However, I also am not a fan of God-revealed religions or scriptures. I can justify prisca theologia and the Vedas by saying they were not revealed, as in the story of Moses or Mohammed, but rather, they are truths that have always existed and will always exist, but there were people (i.e. the rishis) who were enlightened enough to understand this Truth and pass it on. I think there's room enough for prisca theologia to go either way. Remember Jaki rahi bhavana jaisi prabhu murat dekhi tin taisi, "everyone sees God in their own way". Kind of a corollary to "ekam sat...".

 

[JayJayDee]

I believe that while man may have inspired the idea of God, the Bible is, at the end of the day, the work of man.

Do you not think it strange that virtually all humans have an inner spiritual need that seeks expression in religion? It's in the multiplicity of religious expression where problems begin. This doesn't really create diversity as much as it creates division.....sometimes even murderous division.

For starters, sections of Leviticus, such as the infamous 18:22. Now, admittedly, as gay man, I may be a bit biased here, although my homosexuality is not why I stopped considering myself a Christian (there are plenty of gay-friendly sects of Christianity I could have joined).

Do you think that "gay-friendly" and "non-gay friendly" sects can ALL call themselves "Christian"?
Do you believe that Lev 18:22 is an illegitimate law because it discriminates against homosexuals? Isn't it true that God's laws only discriminate against those who cannot keep them?
The very next law in Lev 18 was concerning bestiality....do you disagree with that law as well?
What about the sexual abuse of children or child pornography? Would you seek to give that activity free expression to those with that orientation? It's all part of a similar 'wiring' problem as far as I can see.

It is the expression of one's sexual leaning that is offensive to the Creator, not the sexuality per se. Imperfection manifests itself in many other ways, not just sexually.

But if I asked you should a woman deliberately give birth to a baby in a sewer? What would you answer? Should life be given its start in a place that is completely inappropriate?

Male homosexual sex means depositing the seed of life in a sewer outlet. (I am not saying that to cause offense, but to illustrate a point) It is against the laws of nature to use an orifice designed to eliminate waste from the body as a receptacle to receive something sacred, like the seed of life. Sex is designed to produce children, the fact that it is pleasurable was a bonus. Sex for the sake of it was not it's primary objective....reproduction is the reason why sex exists to guarantee the perpetuation of all species, including us. Males cannot produce children with other males, nor can females without a third party. Since scriptural marriage cannot take place between same sex couples, then any sexual activity between them is classified as Biblical "fornication". The Bible is very clear about how God feels about such things. (1 Cor 6:9-11) That scripture lists various activities that God condemns and says "that is what some of you were"...past tense. One cannot practice these things after becoming aware of how he feels about them and still have his approval.

These days when homosexual partnerships are generally accepted as a normal part of 21st century life, (even by some Christian churches) it seems as if God's requirements are old fashioned and unreasonable. But it is man who changes his attitudes towards many things.....look at the standards of morality these days and compare them with the way things were a hundred years ago. So much has become common place today that would have caused shock and outrage back then. The thing we have to remember is that God does not change. His standards have been the same from day 1.
Life to the Creator is sacred and we cannot change his views on that.

I did not choose to be gay. I am just am. I was created this way.

Well, it wasn't God who created you this way. It was the imperfect genetic input from both your parents who created you. Imperfection is in all of us, so its all we have to pass onto our children. (Rom 5:12) We don't do it on purpose, it is out of our control.

And God thinks that if I choose to act on who I am, I am condemned? Yeah...no. I cannot believe that the all knowing, almighty creator of everything would create individuals, such as myself, and have the deck stacked against us right from the getgo.

It wasn't God who stacked anything against anyone. The stacking was all done by others, but we are stuck with the results for now. A rescue mission was launched right back in the garden of Eden, but God is not bound by earth time. The first rebel was not human, so everything has to be worked out in universal time; in the time frame relevant to spirit beings.

 

[JayJayDee]

I'd really like to avoid having this thread become about gay rights, but that is major issue.

I understand the issues and I understand the frustration of monogamous same sex couples who just want to live together as their inherited nature dictates. The trouble is, the practice of their sexual orientation is against God's law. There is no circumventing that.
God doesn't hate homosexuals....he hates what they practice. This is echoed all through scripture.

I believe there is "something greater", whether that is an energy force, or a God, or a Goddess, or Gods, or Goddesses, or just really smart aliens, I don't know. I do believe there is something that was involved in the creation of the universe. I choose to refer to this "something greater" as God.

God isn't a "something"...he's a "someone". He is the giver of life and the maker of the rules concerning that life. We have the choice to obey his rules or not to. There is a consequence to each of those choices. We can't 'shop' for a religion that allows us to have our cake and eat it too.

Do I believe he lacks the will or ability to communicate his will via written word? Of course not, but I honestly do not see why he would have bothered. We're microbes floating in a very big pond, and we're insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

If we were so insignificant, then why not just snuff us out when we caused him trouble? Who would have known, who would have cared?

When God looks down on the earth in its present condition, how disappointed he must be in those whom he assigned as caretakers. He has already determined their fate. (Rev 11:18)

I also believe that if God did choose to communicate his will, he would communicated it to everyone at once, instead of relying on a few men, in one approximate geographic area, to spread the message.

This fails to take into consideration the reasons why humans left God and need to hear his message in the first place.

All in all though, I am an agnostic. I believe in God (as I described above), but I do not know what this "God" is.

Is God interested in how we label ourselves? He invites you to get to know him. To put down the labels and search for the truth.
The trouble is an opposer has published a hate campaign against him and most have swallowed the propaganda, hook, line and sinker. This too was foretold. (John 15:19, 20)

I also believe there is just as much of a chance of the Abrahamic God being the "true God" as there is of the Greek or Norse (or Egyptian or Mayan, etc...etc...) Pantheons being the "true Gods." The prominent religions of the planet seem to depend on the flavor of the time. Who knows, two thousand years from now, Scientology could be viewed as the true religion.

I don't honestly believe that the human race can sustain life on this planet for even another hundred years. We are drowning in our own greed and short sightedness. Mother earth is already groaning.

You may scoff, but no one thought Christianity would catch on 2000 years ago.

The fact that it survives despite being overtaken by the "weeds" that Jesus foretold is a testimony to the power of the one behind the message.

However, I think it is even more likely that there is no God, than there is a God that humanity has been able to clearly define so far.

According to the Bible, there is ONE true God and one pretender who goes under different guises in different cultures. Humanity almost always looks for the god who pleases them; they want an easy way to satisfy their spiritual side, whilst indulging the desires of their flesh....they see no necessity to please the one who has rules and seemingly wants to spoil their fun.

According to the Bible, there are only two roads. One difficult road leads to life, and a broad and easy road leads to death. (Matt 7:13, 14) We have to choose one because there is no fence to sit on.

Is there any truth to any of the religions of the world? I don't know. I'd love to know, but I don't.

If it meant living a difficult life would you still want to know? If it meant sacrifice and hard work, would you be willing to take that on in exchange for the promised reward? God promises that it will be worth it, but most want to do things "their" way and have it all now.

I believe they are all looking for the same truth though, in the best way they know how, which is why I think they are worthy of respect. And I hope this post doesn't sound too inflammatory towards Christianity to make me hypocrite in that regard.

Most are looking for something that suits themselves. Very few really care whether it suits God. Belief systems with fancy titles that sound cool and important are a dime a dozen, but these are all just different paths that satan has constructed to lead us away from the true God. He's the 'Pied Piper', playing whatever tune we want to hear as long as it leads us in the wrong direction.

I believe that the time for accounting is upon us. We will all answer to the Creator for the choices we have made in this life.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Each religion Believes that it is true.
few would argue that they know the "whole" truth.
Reason would dictate that the thousands of religions can not all be true or even mostly true.

What could be true is that a majority of religions contain a kernel of truth. They can be paths to a greater truth, even if they exist in a world view based on ignorance or isolation from other world understandings.

Most believers perceptions are wider than the narrow concepts of a single religion.
A majority of religious leaders understand this, and either enforce conformity by the threat of banishment and fear. Or they accept a more liberal and non judgmentally attitude and embrace such difference as healthy and real.

 

[SteveGrayFTW]

Do you not think it strange that virtually all humans have an inner spiritual need that seeks expression in religion? It's in the multiplicity of religious expression where problems begin. This doesn't really create diversity as much as it creates division.....sometimes even murderous division.

I think virtually all humans feel a need to be protected, and to answer questions that they don't have the answers to yet. Religion does this. Yes, it can create division, yes, it can create murderous division (Christians aren't exempt from this either), but it can also unite families and communities, and create beautiful traditions and stories, almost all of which revolve around the honoring the God. This is something to be admired, not something to be condemned.

Do you think that "gay-friendly" and "non-gay friendly" sects can ALL call themselves "Christian"?

If the Church chooses to call itself Christian, then yes, they have every right to.

Do you believe that Lev 18:22 is an illegitimate law because it discriminates against homosexuals? Isn't it true that God's laws only discriminate against those who cannot keep them?

Do you eat shrimp, or lobster? If so, do you do so because you believe it is an illegitimate law (Lev 11:10)?

If you had a daughter, and she was raped, would you force her to become the rapists wife in exchange for money? If not, would it be because this is an illegitimate law (Deuteronomy 22:28-29)?

The very next law in Lev 18 was concerning bestiality....do you disagree with that law as well?

Of course not, but any rational human knows it's wrong to have sex with someone who cannot give their consent. Animals can not give consent.

What about the sexual abuse of children or child pornography? Would you seek to give that activity free expression to those with that orientation? It's all part of a similar 'wiring' problem as far as I can see.

Seeing as how children are not able to give informed consent, then no, this is not okay.

It is the expression of one's sexual leaning that is offensive to the Creator, not the sexuality per se. Imperfection manifests itself in many other ways, not just sexually.

But if I asked you should a woman deliberately give birth to a baby in a sewer? What would you answer? Should life be given its start in a place that is completely inappropriate?

Male homosexual sex means depositing the seed of life in a sewer outlet. (I am not saying that to cause offense, but to illustrate a point) It is against the laws of nature to use an orifice designed to eliminate waste from the body as a receptacle to receive something sacred, like the seed of life. Sex is designed to produce children, the fact that it is pleasurable was a bonus. Sex for the sake of it was not it's primary objective....reproduction is the reason why sex exists to guarantee the perpetuation of all species, including us. Males cannot produce children with other males, nor can females without a third party. Since scriptural marriage cannot take place between same sex couples, then any sexual activity between them is classified as Biblical "fornication". The Bible is very clear about how God feels about such things. (1 Cor 6:9-11) That scripture lists various activities that God condemns and says "that is what some of you were"...past tense. One cannot practice these things after becoming aware of how he feels about them and still have his approval.

Homosexuality occurs naturally. It is not chosen. It may be due to variety of reasons, but it still a natural occurrence, and thus a part of nature.

These days when homosexual partnerships are generally accepted as a normal part of 21st century life, (even by some Christian churches) it seems as if God's requirements are old fashioned and unreasonable. But it is man who changes his attitudes towards many things.....look at the standards of morality these days and compare them with the way things were a hundred years ago. So much has become common place today that would have caused shock and outrage back then. The thing we have to remember is that God does not change. His standards have been the same from day 1.
Life to the Creator is sacred and we cannot change his views on that.

Refer to my previous postings about shrimp, and daughters marrying rapists. Refer to the passages regarding slavery or indentured servitude (Exodus 21:2-6). I'm sorry, but some of "God's" requirements are downright old fashioned, unreasonable, as well as ridiculous and disgusting.

As for a hundred years ago...women could not vote, discrimination against African Americans was (even more) rampant, and heroin was sold in stores. You may think our morality has degraded in the past century, but I think we're doing okay, all things considered.

Well, it wasn't God who created you this way. It was the imperfect genetic input from both your parents who created you. Imperfection is in all of us, so its all we have to pass onto our children. (Rom 5:12) We don't do it on purpose, it is out of our control.

You are right, none of us are perfect, which is why I find it hard to believe that we should we willing condemn some people for their imperfections.

It wasn't God who stacked anything against anyone. The stacking was all done by others, but we are stuck with the results for now. A rescue mission was launched right back in the garden of Eden, but God is not bound by earth time. The first rebel was not human, so everything has to be worked out in universal time; in the time frame relevant to spirit beings.

Genesis 2:17. God chose for to place the Tree of Knowledge within Eden, and have it be easily accessible...but he expected us to not eat from it, and thus remain willfully ignorant and naive. If God created us in his image, then he has to be a curious and knowledge seeking being. How is this NOT stacking the deck against us?

 

[SteveGrayFTW]

I understand the issues and I understand the frustration of monogamous same sex couples who just want to live together as their inherited nature dictates. The trouble is, the practice of their sexual orientation is against God's law. There is no circumventing that.
God doesn't hate homosexuals....he hates what they practice. This is echoed all through scripture.

I believe I did a pretty good job of addressing this in my previous response.

God isn't a "something"...he's a "someone". He is the giver of life and the maker of the rules concerning that life. We have the choice to obey his rules or not to. There is a consequence to each of those choices. We can't 'shop' for a religion that allows us to have our cake and eat it too.

I don't think anyone is looking to "have their cake and eat it too." You can know morality without knowing religion, and you can follow societal laws without knowing religion. Regardless of your religion, you are going to face the same hardships of life as everyone life.

If we were so insignificant, then why not just snuff us out when we caused him trouble? Who would have known, who would have cared?

As I said before, we are microbes in a vast ocean that is the universe. What would be the point of snuffing us out? Who says we are causing him trouble? You don't think God would have bigger fish to fry elsewhere?

When God looks down on the earth in its present condition, how disappointed he must be in those whom he assigned as caretakers. He has already determined their fate. (Rev 11:18)

Humans have free will. They can decide their own fate. God gave us this, I don't believe he would just give us the illusion of free will.

Is God interested in how we label ourselves? He invites you to get to know him. To put down the labels and search for the truth.
The trouble is an opposer has published a hate campaign against him and most have swallowed the propaganda, hook, line and sinker. This too was foretold. (John 15:19, 20)

You say to put down the labels, and yet, if not I am not a Christian, I am not doing it right?

I don't honestly believe that the human race can sustain life on this planet for even another hundred years. We are drowning in our own greed and short sightedness. Mother earth is already groaning.

I think you have little faith in your fellow man. True, we aren't making this easier for ourselves, but some of us are trying, and I believe that as species we can persevere.

The fact that it survives despite being overtaken by the "weeds" that Jesus foretold is a testimony to the power of the one behind the message.

It soldiers on...but the number of Church attendees is declining, and the number of self proclaimed agnostics and atheists are on the rise. I don't think Christianity is going anywhere anytime soon, but whose to say what the future will hold?

According to the Bible, there is ONE true God and one pretender who goes under different guises in different cultures. Humanity almost always looks for the god who pleases them; they want an easy way to satisfy their spiritual side, whilst indulging the desires of their flesh....they see no necessity to please the one who has rules and seemingly wants to spoil their fun.

Then why has the "one true God" not revealed himself to other cultures and regions of Earth. Why did the Middle East get a monopoly on his teachings? Why did he wait so long to make his message known? The oldest parts of the Bible are only 3500-4000 years old, yet humans as we known today have been around for 200,000 years, with other races of humans, such as Neanderthals, being around for longer.

According to the Bible, there are only two roads. One difficult road leads to life, and a broad and easy road leads to death. (Matt 7:13, 14) We have to choose one because there is no fence to sit on.

Being a religious seeker, or being conflicted about your beliefs, is not an "easy life." It's scary, lonely, and is filled with uncertainty. Would that not be the best road to take, as it allows you to discover the truth on your own terms, and of your own will, instead of relying on the word of men from antiquity?

If it meant living a difficult life would you still want to know? If it meant sacrifice and hard work, would you be willing to take that on in exchange for the promised reward? God promises that it will be worth it, but most want to do things "their" way and have it all now.

Yes, absolutely. There is power in knowledge, and if I knew what was going on, and what was at stake, I would embrace it. But...perhaps we aren't meant to know, at least not yet, which is why everyone has to find the truth as best they know it.

Most are looking for something that suits themselves. Very few really care whether it suits God. Belief systems with fancy titles that sound cool and important are a dime a dozen, but these are all just different paths that satan has constructed to lead us away from the true God. He's the 'Pied Piper', playing whatever tune we want to hear as long as it leads us in the wrong direction.

You think they are different paths to Satan, while I believe they are different paths to God. We know so little about the universe, our own planet, and even ourselves as a species, and yet we are expected to know everything about it's creator? I can not accept this.

I believe that the time for accounting is upon us. We will all answer to the Creator for the choices we have made in this life.

When the time comes, if there is judgement involved, then I hope God will see me for what I am: a good son, grandson, brother, cousin, nephew, friend, and eventually husband and father; a caring and responsible pet owner; a hard worker; a charitable person; and someone who cared enough, and was honest enough to seek him out in the best way they knew how.



If you don't mind me asking, JayJayDee, how did you come into Christianity?

Did you convert (and if so, why?), or were you born into this path?

Were you born into a particular denomination, or did you convert (and if so, why?)?

What made you decide the Bible was the word of God, as opposed to the Torah, the Koran, the Rig Veda, etc...?

Do you ever have doubts, or at least questions?

 

[SteveGrayFTW]

Each religion Believes that it is true.
few would argue that they know the "whole" truth.
Reason would dictate that the thousands of religions can not all be true or even mostly true.

What could be true is that a majority of religions contain a kernel of truth. They can be paths to a greater truth, even if they exist in a world view based on ignorance or isolation from other world understandings.

Most believers perceptions are wider than the narrow concepts of a single religion.
A majority of religious leaders understand this, and either enforce conformity by the threat of banishment and fear. Or they accept a more liberal and non judgmentally attitude and embrace such difference as healthy and real.

I agree with this wholeheartedly, and I don't think it's fair to ourselves or to God to force constraints on our beliefs if we do not believe them to be true.