In the abscense of empirical evidence for any religious belief, wouldn't all FAITH be equal?

Question

Agnostic, don't want to convert anyone.

Someone just asked why is it so hard to believe without proof. Without proof its a potential trap, leading to belonging to the "wrong religion". South Park last night illustrated this quite well, showing that the Mormon religion might be made up, but Mormons today follow what they think is right and they learn in their religion about love and family. The stan charachter didn't want to be friends with the Mormon cause he was "lied to". But in the end the kid said I believe on faith that Joseph Smith talked to God and only offered you friendship. Stan's friends thought he was cool.

I am of the belief when I die my soul will journey throughout the solar system observing planetary orbits and join with souls of loved ones.

I have no empirical evidence. I have faith. I never ask anyone to belief what I do since I have no hard evidence. I tell them in my belief you will be with me when I die anyway.

Without evidence are all faiths equal?

Answer 1

I believe that all faiths are equal.

My goddess of Nature is your christian god, is your solar system of planetary orbits, is your allah. They are all the same with different names.

If I called you Bob, and someone else called you Rachel, wouldnt you still be the same person to both of us, just with two names?

Answer 2

Sure, without evidence all faiths are equal. That's why I'm so glad that there is so much evidence to support my Christian faith. For some reason people seem to think that either you have to have evidence that can be repeated in a laboratory or of the kind that comes about from a video tape when it comes to believing in Jesus Christ. But every day in courtrooms across this nation peoples lives are changed when a jury concludes that the weight of evidence has proved a person to be either innocent or guilty.

The evidence that supports the accuracy and authenticity of the New Testament accounts of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth far exceed that of other historical records of other events that went on right around that time.

Someone might ask a question like "Well what about Islam and the historical evidence supporting the "prophet" Mohamed?". The thing about that is that it's similar to asking about the evidence supporting Julius Caesar. Sure, we can believe both men lived and to some extent we can have confidence in the historical accounts of their lives. But both of those men died and were buried and were never seen again. Neither of those men did things like raise the dead and give sight to the blind something that even Jesus' foes in the Jewish nation admit that He did. They just claim that He performed these miracles by the power of evil and not of God.

Answer 3

Jim, you ask a really important question. Let me try my hand at an answer.

The question you pose was the same question posed more than 150 years ago by the Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard. He reasoned that religion cannot be proven or disproven, so there's no point in arguing the "fact."

We can never know the truth; BUT, Kierkegaard said, we can know "untruths." How? Truths lead to the integration of the personality, while untruths lead to the disintegration of the personality. So if you want to know the answer, ask how peoples' beliefs affect the way they behave.

Almost 30 years ago, in the jungles of Guyana, the man calling himself "Minister" Jim Jones led close to a thousand followers of his so-called "Peoples' Temple" to commit mass suicide.

As I looked at the hundreds of corpses rotting in the tropical sun, I rememberred what Kierkegaard said about the disintegration of the personality. Do I know what the truth is? No -- haven't got a freaking clue. But what I do know is whatever those people believed in was a lie; their bloating corpses were all the proof I needed. So, no, all faiths are not equal. We can make judgements based on the consequences of behaviors inspired by the faith.

Consider Osama bin Laden's "Faith Based Initiative" of flying jetliners into office buildings. His faith sanctions the ruthless murder of innocent people. It's unbalanced, disintegrative, and therefore "untrue." This isn't a refutation of Islam; it's a refutation of whatever faith bin Laden is "calling" Islam. Just because someone calls himself something doesn't mean he is what he claims. Self-serving hypocrisy and fanaticism can be found everywhere -- you know that. So critical distinctions can, and must be made. As with Jim Jones, I don't have to know the truth to know that whatever animates bin Laden is a lie. The "integrated" leads to life, and the "disintegrated" leads to death. These are observable, empirical conclusions. Okay?

All faiths are not equal. And remembering what Kierkegaard had to say will help you to spot the phonies and prevent you from being taken in by those who would "shuck-and-jive" you into an early grave.

Now, look at this from another angle and ask yourself a further question. Can a Mormon lead a balanced, integrated life of love, compassion and decency? Then his religion is not "untrue." Can a _________ (fill in the blank) do the same? Same answer, then. And that's all the judgement its safe for any of us to make. The "fact" is unknowable; the integration or disintegration is as far as we can go.

There's no point in trying to find "The Truth;" it can never be proven. So instead, you have to find the truth that is true for you --the truth that leads you to a balanced integrated life with yourself, and with the rest of your fellow human beings. If you can do that -- man, you're miles ahead in the game.

Hope this answer helps.

Answer 4

You are absolutely correct. There is no evidence to support the existence of the thousands of gods that humans have invented. Of course your question and what I said above does not apply to the Jewish or Christian religions which are based on facts. The facts recorded in the Bible. Facts which have been verified over and over again. The Apostle Paul even said this in First Corinthians chapter 15. So yes, you are correct. Except that you have the wrong definition for "faith". Faith is defined in Hebrews chapter 11 verse 1. If you are a Christian and you don't understand what I'm saying please read First Corinthians chapter 15 and if you still don't understand, ask.

Answer 5

no, some faiths if truely believed state that they are the one true religion and whereas other religions might cause you to lead a moral life which is not bad, you would still be lacking. An example is that there is a mountain where at the top is god. to say that all faiths are equal is to say that any path up the mountain is just as good as another. Some faiths state that they are the one true faith and while other faiths may lead you up the mountain, the true faiths path is nevertheless the correct and true one

Answer 6

All faiths are faiths. However, they are not all equal. Just like all men are created equal, but they are not the same. Some faiths are not aligned with a creator, some are. If a creator exists, it is likely that some signs were left to find a path to belief.

I'd look to see which faiths provide the deepest spiritual guidance that matches with living life to the fullest, so that I reach my human potential, the reason I was created.

Answer 7

Most Christians consider the Bible and creation itself as evidence enough. The knowledge of both of these, combined with faith creates the religion. In order to take the Bible seriously, you do have to have faith that it is the word of God. I can see your point of view and I think that maybe it does make many religions similar because pretty much all of them require faith in something you can't see. But I do believe many things can make religions differ as well, especially in Christianity. Like how closely or loosely they follow what the Bible says. But again, anyone claiming to be Christian should have faith that the Bible is God's word, not just parts of it.

Answer 8

You are assuming that there is none evidence. You have not faith because you are not seeking God ! Mormonism is man created,just like Catholicism, and Muslim, and Buddaism and anything else with a "ism". a "Religious belief and "God" are different entities and are not the same !

Answer 9

I missed that south park, but got to see the other 3 episodes. I feel people need to have their beliefs, and keep them as their beliefs. Sure they can put the stuff out there for other if they want to join. I just think everyone should be able to have their religion, and not be told it is evil, etc.

Answer 10

Quite possibly. I do feel that South Park is in many ways the epitome of knowledge both malignant and benign. I am sad that that you would chose to float for eternity rather than believe that there is a purpose for us even after this short stint is over, but I am going to be respectful of you faith or lack there of if you prefer and leave you be.

Answer 11

Yes, without evidence, all faith is equal.

Being a Christian, I'm subjective. I believe there is enough physical evidence to prove the God of the Bible.