Do you believe, as I do, that any and all dogma is false, since the truth of reality is unknowable?

Question

Agnostic here not trying to convert anyone.
I hear a lot of people in my life who say they believe in God. They base their believes primarily on a book, and from what I can tell is an expirience that I am not sure if it is God or a hallucanation.
People say they pray, yet if someone prays to the other guy's God it becomes a coincidence. One woman told me she prayed to Jesus and got a new car.
What causes this in people. What if that same woman were born in my home. And I taught her the gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. If she had a hallocentic expirience would she attribute it to His Noodly Appendage. Would she pray to the Flying Spaghetti Monster and get a new car.
Is authentic belief in God or the Flying Spaghetti Monster possible?

I've been defending Christians saying I believe there are some wierdos but mainly it can be authentic. I have only read agnostics defend an authentic belief in a Flying Spaghetti Monster. Why?

Why do Christians not defend Pastafarians ever?

Answer 1

Jim,

you know that you ask some of the best questions on this site. You have a knowledge of the Bible that even many Christains don't have and in many cases a much better understand that they have of their own word.
Dogma or doctorine is based solely on mans rules and are not the same as that of God. Man tryies to make his own importance the sames as that of God, in some respects trying to make the himself equial to God. Saying that they are the only true answer to finding God and Heaven. But many times they rewrite what has already been written, and changing what they claim to believe.

Many claim to pray for many different things, and when they get or don't get what they are praying for. They either praise God or they blame him. Yet when you find out why they were praying, the real truth comes out. Sometimes that can be quite condemning.

You know that I claim Faith in Jesus and why.

I don't know if defending Flying Spaghetti is something that I can really do, I mean I had spaghetti sor supper and that would be, well, unspeakable.

Answer 2

Dogma is the sincerest form of ignorance. As for my beliefs, since I classify myself as a Scientist / Spiritualist, the only text I read are the latest scientific theories and results of experimentation. That's what is most appealling about science, it is always challenging itself for the ultimate truth. It cannot do that with dogmatic theory. However, I found for myself that I cannot go through life feeling that I KNOW that I'm responsible for all that happens to me. I pray for the inspirational effects from BELIEVING. As long as I pray for the strength, wisdom, and spiritual guidance to do good to others and make the right choices for myself, then I FEEL that it COULD be related to a power that we are not aware of yet. As it has been estimated that we consciously use 10 to 15% of our brain capacity, who knows what more perceptive ability may reveal if we are to learn how to use more of our capacity. Personally, I would love to KNOW for sure whether there is a God or not. But until I do, I will feel that I am powerless over a great many things. But religion does not explain my universe in any way. It's too dogmatic and/or narrow-minded.

Answer 3

To assume that all dogma is false and that we are being led astray is also assuming that each individual is the smartest,most "in tune" person out there. While I do beleive that I have some intelligence,I'm far from knowing it all.Therfore if I don't know everytrhing then someone must know more than I. I'ts just that I choose (free will) to believe in the Catholic faith. Does that make me right? Time will tell. As for the Pastafarians...well I already think the Pizzafarians have a better belief. Who doesn't love a Gooey Cheese Goddess?
Peace....

Answer 4

I'm agnostic but believe we are all connected to the universe. I tend to think that we all create reality as much as the next guy and thoughts mold reality. Intention is important. Since prayer often includes desirable outcomes, it pulls at the strings of the universe and can help propell people to get what they need.

Try reading these books (not religious at all) The Luck Factor by Richard Wiseman and The Magic of Believing by Claude M Bristol (rather old book but quite insightful). They talk about how positive thought and people who are positive, tend to get what they need.

May you be touched by his noodly appendage.

Answer 5

I believe in a power greater than myself. I choose to call that power God, not sure why. I am not in the belief that if i pray I will receive material goods. I think praying for material goods is a self seeking motive. God is not here to provide us with material goods. Praying helps center my mind, so I can be of use to those around me. When I am doing what I am supposed to be doing, and not try to control the results, things just seem to take care of themselves. I have everything I need.

Answer 6

"truth of reality is unknowable"?

Well, some dogma is indeed false.

But Jesus is truth, and it will be knowable reality.

When he arrives on the cloud, it will be known and talked about within mankind for infinity.

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Answer 7

In my opinion, when it comes to who is correct about god, that is like fighting about what color the tooth fairy's dress is. It would be good to prove god exists, before building details from it to make religion.

Answer 8

Well of course you may already know that Swedenborg wrote the doctrine of the New Jerusalem. Now that is authentic. You should read it instead of posting FSM hoopla - but thanks for bloggin and sharing.

Answer 9

Dogma has no biblical proof, just intuitions

Answer 10

"The truth of reality is unknowable."

That's a pretty dogmatic statement.