There are so many to choose from, they all have their own dogma, their own holy texts, they all think they're the only true religion and that all others are man-made. By what method can I figure out which one is correct?
2006-09-12 05:44:24 · 61 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Being rational you should be able to figure that one out.
2006-09-12 05:45:56 · answer #1 · answered by Lizzard 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
All you can do is read, study, investigate and then follow your own conscience. If there ever was a true religion, it has certainly changed over centuries of time and only a fool would think that a religious system in the control of imperfect men could remain true and uncorrupted in this world.
I notice a couple of Jehovah's Witnesses on here that think they have all the answers and that theirs is the True Religion. Actually, the idea that there is a True Religion would have been considered apostacy by the Watchtower Society a few decades ago. This is a quote from one of their publications.
" 'Religion' is defined as a belief in..some higher power, and which belief is based on the teachings of men handed down by traditions from one generation to another;...and which...is induced and put forward by God's adversary the Devil in order to turn men away from God. For this reason religion is a snare of the Devil....To live, one must avoid religion and truly follow the lead of Christ Jesus."
But guess what? The end of the world didn't come immediately like Judge Rutherford thought it would, and so now Jehovah's Witnesses are themselves a 'religion' and more importantly, an 'organized' religion. They have certainly departed from their humble beginnings. This is what their founder, Charles T. Russell, had to say about the necessity - or more to the point, the UN-necessity of organized religion:
"Beware of 'organization'. It is wholly unnecessary. The Bible rules will be the only rules you will need. Do not seek to bind others' consciences, and do not permit them to bind yours. Believe and understand God's word to-day, and so continue growing in grace and knowledge and love day by day."
Apparently that was good advice, as long as it didn't apply to them.
2006-09-12 08:31:02 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Reason alone is not enough to answer this question.
You have to take in as much information as you can - last I heard this was called "education" - and then you are faced with an adult decision which will impact everything in your life, for the rest of your life.
How to decide is highly individual. Some people will defer to their upbringing, or to the surrounding culture. Others may value only the critical thinking they learned in school, and choose atheism or agnosticism. Or you may be an iconoclast who is looking to make themselves known with an unusual choice of faith. And the goal isn't merely happiness (that would be hedonism), or even fulfillment. The goal is Truth, and a belief system which is right for you. Even atheism is a belief system, and requires an act of faith, since no one can know everything.
Nobody is entitled to tell you what beliefs are right or wrong FOR YOU. It must come from within. You can listen to proselytizing if you want, but as a rational person, the decision is only yours.
Final answer: 1. Learn as much as you can, about everything. 2. Understand yourself as best you can, which is a lifetime task and requires courage. 3. Have regard for the beliefs of your family and friends, but don't be ruled by them. 4. Be an adult, make your decision, and accept the consequences.
There are many roads to truth. Yours is as valid as anyone else's.
2006-09-12 18:00:24 · answer #3 · answered by KALEL 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A true religion would be the one that does not think they are the only true religion. There is a few like that out there eg. Buddhism, Hinduism, Paganism etc. Religions that claim they are the only true religion are man made and false. Beware of religions that claim they are the ONLY way, they are created as political weapons and not a means to search for spiritual wellbeing).
2006-09-12 05:54:37 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
the one true religion? there in none...
...but there is a God! ... that should be your first assumption, otherwise... you stay as an atheist.
(the way to know God though is not through any religion... ill get to that point in a minute)
what method to take?
put every religion/belief system into your own screening test...
simple rational thought will completely eliminate a lot, but don't go by that, seek out each of the truths that each are holding on to...
do not lump separate religions into 1 huge 1, research what is it that makes each one the same & makes each one different.
do it as a scientist who just found out that the universe & life is so complex that there is no doubt that there is some sort of a designer.
when you find one belief system, that is rational enough... concentrate on that... if that leads you to God.... then you found what you have seeked out all your life... (im talking about the belief system, not the religion)
about organized religions leading you to God,... each religion were made by man to reach God... (it makes you wonder though that each generation/culture, how ever primitive has that instinctive knowledge of good & evil, & a way (usually by sacrifice) to appease/talk to a supreme being.
but God (the designer of you, me & everything else) is not that simple that you can reach. rather God is constantly reaching out to you... you just need to find how & connect...
2006-09-12 06:28:30 · answer #5 · answered by 4x4 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
With so many contradicting opinions today, it is sometimes difficult to know what the truth is. The only way to know the truth is to open the Bible and listen to God. Faith and belief are commonly interchangeable terms. In the Bible, the words mean not just an acknowledgement but rather confidence, trust, and obedience.When we listen to a sermon we must be sure we evaluate what the speaker says in light of God's Word, not in light of our predispositions. Society may tell us that homosexuality is just an "alternative lifestyle," but that doesn't make it so. The Supreme Court may tell us that abortion is about a woman's right to privacy, but that doesn't make it so. Public opinion may tell us that it is alright for the President to commit adultery with his intern as long as the economy is doing well, but that doesn't make it so. The will of God has not changed and it will not. When you hear the word of God preached, don't ask yourself if that's what USA Today said, ask yourself is that what God said. Do Not care what any man says, if it was not in accordance with the Word. The only way to know the truth is to open the Bible.
2006-09-12 05:59:10 · answer #6 · answered by K 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
By comparing their principles and practices with known facts. Start with Christianity: is the bible internally consistent? It is not. Does it agree with evidence from other sources? No. Does its basic premise make sense? No. Try Islam: do the prescriptions for behavior there make sense? Mostly, but not entirely -- and mostly isn't good enough. Continue with whatever others you please. But the more salient question is: why believe in any religion at all? Actually, NO religion can be proved correct -- if it could, it wouldn't be religion, it would simply be fact. It makes much more sense to simply ignore them altogether -- in the long run, you'll be better off.
2006-09-12 05:52:41 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I too have thought about this and the answer is: you can't.
The way I have tried to deal with it is that I learn as much as I can about all religions and I pick and choose the best parts of all of them and try to make my own personal religion. I think people are smart enough to think for themselves and do not need to be told what to believe
2006-09-15 11:33:02 · answer #8 · answered by qballer1120 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your method would be to speak to a theologists and find the oldest recorded religion. Would that not be the "true religion"?
No religion is wrong per say, but I guess your quest would be to find the originator. It may at this point no longer be able to be practiced but you'll have found the beginning.
2006-09-12 05:56:10 · answer #9 · answered by joe b 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
What religion do you espouse that says there is "One True Religion"? Why not a thousand? Why not none? Oh you're the rational one alright!
Rumi says, The man of God is not an expert made by books. Read one book or ten thousand, not the one or the ten thousand will make the slighest difference. You imagine that you can approach the throne based on your exalted opinion of your intellect, it ain't about intellect wise guy it is about openess. You don't have to digest a library, just ask and you will receive.
2006-09-12 05:55:12 · answer #10 · answered by Kantos Kan 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋
I have never seen any religion that wasn't man made. Faith in Christ is NOT religion. It has no dogma no acceptable conduct rules. No one to tell you what God wants from you. It's you and God that's it. You get to deal with Him directly. Jim
2006-09-12 06:47:14 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋