If everyone grew up with a particular religion, and believe it to be right...then how is one religion right or wrong?

[ShotgunSteven]

Well, I know for a fact that my bosses' religion is wrong. Not sure about the other billion variants out there.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

<< If everyone grew up with a particular religion, and believe it to be right...then how is one religion right or wrong? >>

If you believe a religion enough to give your life for it and it specifically states that any other religion is "devil worship" then you'd better believe that part as well.

nik

 

[zimmie6576]

<<

<< While it's possible that both of those religions are wrong, it isn't possible that they are both right. They are exclusive belief systems. The whole "right for you but not for me" is the biggest philosophical fallacy of the last century. It's irrational. >>



Since there is not one religion that has a substancial majority of the human race as members, are you saying that God would set most of us up to fail? Doesn't seem fair at all. >>



Not set up to fail, gave freedom of choice. Most have chosen incorrectly.

 

[StageLeft]

<< isildur >>

I think you're greatly overcomplicating the issue.

 

[Beau]

<< Not set up to fail, gave freedom of choice. Most have chosen incorrectly. >>



Again, doesn't seem fair. All religions have many good points, and bad points. It's impossible to choose "correctly" based on evidence that all religions say their own is true. Again, religion is made by man, written by man, and controlled by man. It's just another way for man to have power over one another.

 

[joohang]

<<

<< Not set up to fail, gave freedom of choice. Most have chosen incorrectly. >>



Again, doesn't seem fair. All religions have many good points, and bad points. It's impossible to choose "correctly" based on evidence that all religions say their own is true. Again, religion is made by man, written by man, and controlled by man. It's just another way for man to have power over one another. >>


My favourite definition of a religion:
"A system which explains the otherwise unexplainable, predicts the otherwise unpredictable, and prevents the otherwise unpreventable."

 

[Beau]

<< religion: "A system which explains the otherwise unexplainable, predicts the otherwise unpredictable, and prevents the otherwise unpreventable." >>




LOL

 

[Maetryx]

<< [Since there is not one religion that has a substancial majority of the human race as members, are you saying that God would set most of us up to fail? Doesn't seem fair at all. >>



The truth isn't a democracy. We don't vote on it and then majority rules.

 

[joohang]

<<

<< religion: "A system which explains the otherwise unexplainable, predicts the otherwise unpredictable, and prevents the otherwise unpreventable." >>




LOL >>


Well.. it is supposed to be a serious academic definition, but if you got a good laugh out of it, not a problem.

 

[rubix]

yes yes, this is just one of many questions that should lead any unbiased person to the conclusion that at the very least religion is full of it and at the very most that there is no god.

but, most everyone is biased so they will use what i like to call "religious borg assimilation." this entails taking anything that goes against their belief in god and incorporating it into their religion. example: everything revolves earth. it is disproven and now incorporated. other examples include religious people trying to hinder science on numerous occations only to much later accept the medicine created from it to save their asses. no doubt george bush will be using stem cell benefits one day.

evolution? no problem. just say god created it, even though at first people like to deny it, and some still do. multiple gods/religions? no prob. didn't you know, maybe god is just has many forms so their are many religions based on him. duh! that's the most cop out answer of them all.

must assimilate all contradictions to ease my mind about my little magical thoughts of non-existsent happiness.

 

[Beau]

Just laughing cuz it makes sense and is so true.

 

[Maetryx]

<< yes yes, this is just one of many questions that should lead any unbiased person to the conclusion that at the very least religion is full of it and at the very most that there is no god >>



Especially if you were born to atheist parents.

 

[Ameesh]

<<

<< So how is it they people have gotten so pig-headed? >>

If enough people tell it to you and you try hard enough in time you'll swear the sky is green. >>




I see four lights!

 

[joohang]

<< Just laughing cuz it makes sense and is so true. >>


hehe

It is a definition coined by one of my professors.

I like it a lot because it is much broader than most definitions out there. For example, some definitions mentioned "faith" even though there are many religions that emphasize rituals over faith. Some associate "God" with religion, but this is bothersome too for some religions that are monotheistic, polytheistic and/or atheistic. (there are some that are combinations of those, although they sound contradictory)

Without all the flamefest, religious study is very interesting.

BTW, I like to study religions but I'm not affiliated with any. I did go to a Presbyterian church for about a year, though.

 

[rubix]

i wasn't born to athiest parents. i don't even know what my parents are exactly. i believe my mom is a christian and my father is an athiest or a more likely an agnostic. i do know i had to go to church for a few years with them, but it wasn't a bad experience (just incredibly boring compare to nintendo) and i wasn't brainwashed in either direction by them.

 

[lebe0024]

Religion Schmaligion. Think of it in terms of "belief". I believe the sky is blue and God is real. You don't. We both can't be right.



"Every natural man, upon hearing of hell, flatters himself that he shall escape it." - Jonathan Edwards (My favorite dead guy.)

 

[SmackdownHotel]

<< all religon is silly as hell, they are both wrong >>




Agreed.

 

[JC]

Since most children are indoctrinated in their parents' religion, it would be interesting to see the beliefs of children raised neutrally, allowed to make their own choices when they are mature enough
to make them, without the strong influence that the parents have.

JC

 

[Nefrodite]

was probably easier way back when travel was hard and the world as people saw it was where they lived

 

[Nefrodite]

course the weird thing is how can you believe something and ignore other conflicting beliefs without dismissing them? it almost seems like a fundamental conflict.

ah well as others have said its not as if you choose your religion ussually. indoctrination. and now any ol person can read their religious text and come up with their own interpretation for better or worse. generally used to be that only religious leaders could do that hmm.. i'm babbling...



religion would probably be better if it were perfected in the future and sent back in the time since religion is so hard to change i mean how can you really say you were wrong without losing credibility

 

[GiGoLo]

being a christian, i don't wanna sit here and say why one religion is better than another... but what i will say is why i believe that a God exists

I heard this example used by Cliff Knechtle, a well known public evangilist who goes to universities and college campuses to attract followers.
100% of the time in my experience, everything i see or own is made by some sort of intelligent mind or being. a shirt comes from a tailor or fashion designer, a car from a mechanic or engineer, whatever it is, there is always a higher intelligence behind it. in addition to that, which makes more sense.... life comes from life (plants, animals, humans reproducing), or life comes from non-life?? (big bang theory). when looking at the balance of nature, the existence of emotions, guilt, right and wrong, how could we possibly conceive that these things come from non-life? how can 2 rocks colliding together, or 2 energy masses colliding together, create feelings, emotions, living breathing creatures. this is why i have no doubt in my mind that a God exists and i chose to put my faith in Jesus Christ. but we won't get into that part

 

[lebe0024]

You haven't been in OT long, have you?

 

[Nefrodite]

course gigolo by that intelligent designer theory a super god would have created god and on and on and on...



u might ask why smashing atoms can create such huge chain reactions and awesome power. you might ask why does something "need" a magical explanation if you cannot think of an explanation yet

 

[lebe0024]

<< course the weird thing is how can you believe something and ignore other conflicting beliefs without dismissing them? it almost seems like a fundamental conflict. >>

That's OK. You can trash on my beliefs whenever you want Just as long as you don't say "whatever is right for you."
Personally, I don't thing false beliefs are "right" for anyone.


<< ah well as others have said its not as if you choose your religion ussually. >>

Everyone always chooses what to believe. This is without exception. However, the ideas people give you may be limited.

 

[lebe0024]

Actually Nephro, the point is that something must be eternal. And, judging from the universe, that something is a designer. (as the fiddle faddle goes.)