This seems more like a power seeking ploy fabricated by man than spirituality to me.
Please - NO Bible/Koran/Torah/etc quotes. You have a brain, use your own words.
2006-09-12 05:57:34 · 49 answers · asked by Alex62 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
That is what they were told to believe. And they accept that as dogma ("gospel") without every considering the alternative.
Some do it out of fear, because they are told that if they don't toe the party line, they will be punished (now and later) for it. Some do it because they honestly can't see from any other perspective but their own.
It's actually interesting to look at the history of the religions that have adopted the One True Way™ model. They tend to be the only religions that engage in holy wars, crusades, jihads, etc. The religions that accept other paths as valid tend to be more peaceful.
2006-09-12 05:59:34 · answer #1 · answered by coragryph 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
In a sense you are correct. We all have or own way of percieving things and incorporating those perceptions into a belief.
Everyone does this, even those who choose not to believe in a God.
The "ploy fabricated by man" you suggested is often done by those that do not take the time to realise that NO ONE can ever percieve the same situation 100% exactly as another, thus the belief can never be exactly 100% the same.
Those who tell others that THEIR religious beliefs in God are the only way, are just claiming that an opinion in which they have formed as a result of their own perception as that of Fact. When in reality any religious belief we hold is only and can only be that of an opinion.
To understand this, you must look at the definition of FAITH:
firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2) : complete trust
So, being that there is no 100% proof either way of the existence of God, there is no 100% proof that what you, I, or the next guy believes is THE ONE true religion.
It's a matter of personal preference.
I happen to believe in God, and if I had to classify myself by a certain religion, I would have to say Christian. But to say someone elses beliefs are wrong would be stating a FACT that I am unable to back up, thus making a false claim.
Perception leads to Belief which leads to Faith in a certain religion.
This is my own personal opinion, and I DO NOTprofess to know more than you or that my opinion is better than yours.
2006-09-12 06:17:58 · answer #2 · answered by Kelly S 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Judaism was the true religion in the beginning. When their followers started to corrupt the books God sent Jesus (peace be upon him) as a new prophet. Jesus (pbuh) was given a new religion by God. Therefore Christianity was the true religion at the time of the Jesus (pbuh). After his death, his followers like St.Paul started corrupting the Bible and writing their own letters and include them in the Bible. So God sent another prophet, and he was the Noble Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be upon him). And he was given a new religion (Islam) and a book (Quran) as well. So now at this point in time Islam is the true religion.
Every time there was a new religion sent down to earth, some people followed and some didn't. The ones who followed said this is the true religion, the ones who didn't said no mine is the correct religion - your religion is man made. And thus till today this argument continues....
But the fact is that God says, whoever seeks will find the Truth. So why wait, start your research now!
2006-09-12 08:32:12 · answer #3 · answered by ATK 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We must study the Bible in order to find out God's plan. The Bible should be studied with an open mind. If we believe that it is inspired by God, we should also believe that He is capable of delivering His Word without error or contradictions, despite the different languages, writers, translations, geographic locations, and time frame. Although many people refer to a building when they say the word church, in the Bible, the church refers to the followers of Christ. There is only one church, the body of Christ. There are many congregations, but all follow the same doctrine - the Bible (the word of Christ). According to the Bible, one does not simply join the church. God adds people to His church when they believe, repent, confess, and are baptized into Christ. The church is the body of Christ. Christ is the head, and the individual believers make up the members of His body. In the first century, the followers of Christ were called Christians, saints, brethren, disciples, the church, the body of Christ, etc. They were never given exalted names like "reverend" or "father". They were never named after denominations or their practices because there were no denominations in the first century church.
2006-09-12 06:47:23 · answer #4 · answered by K 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most believe their own way is always the only way. I am a Southern Baptist, we believe strictly by the bible, so we think we are right. I have friends that are Assemby of God, I haven't found that much difference in our beliefs, and the things that are different make sense both ways. I want to be clear it's not a life and death difference, just little differences in the way we read the scripture. I disagree completely with the liberal churches because I believe they are weakening the Gospel, which is the Truth of God. I really am not trying to be hard headed, or arrogant, but sometimes you have to hold to and defend what you believe to be the truth.
2006-09-12 06:44:37 · answer #5 · answered by Grandma Susie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Power seeking ploy... Undeniable some, if not all, religions have had individuals or groups of indiviuals use their religion as that. However, most of the religions today are monotheistic or one god, and it's pretty hard to accept that a single deity would tell different things to different people. It's strange that you disallow quotes from given books as that's where most of the one god/true religion stems from. Understand, I'm not saying that a given religion is the true one, just that each book declares it to be.
2006-09-12 06:14:54 · answer #6 · answered by Pirate AM™ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I am sorry (because I am going to start by quoting the bible), but for one, Jesus says in the bible, I am the way, the truth, the light. So, if Jesus says he is the truth, and I believe Jesus is who he says he is, than I believe he is the truth. Now, can two thoughts that don't lead to the same conclusion both be true, and be different at the same time, no. So if I believe Jesus is the truth, and other religions don't believe the same, than I must believe that Christ in the only true God/Belief. Therefore, I believe that Christ is the one true belief.
2006-09-12 06:31:08 · answer #7 · answered by Steve M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have always wondered this myself. Having been raised a Lutheran, I can tell you that the church convinces you that the path you're on is the right one. My pastor always tossed us garbage about how anyone who wasn't a christian was a sinner and that they would basically go to hell. Now an adult with a mind of my own, I don't know that I buy into the whole heaven and hell bedtime story. I guess I believe that if you are living your life to the extent that you want, while considering that others will do the same, then let that be it. We'll find out when we die!
2006-09-12 06:01:37 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree that alot of the religion is a power play to control people.
But, I cannot feel that my religion is the best-the true- for everyone. It is for me. I am a Jew.
I have great respect for Islam, Buddhism, and I do not know alot about many other religions. I am sure they are right for the people who follow them.
The one religion I cannot understand at all or understand how people follow it, is Christianity. And, I was raised in a Christian home. I converted to Judaism. To me G-d is G-d. G-d is One. And, my G-d would never come to earth in human form. But, that is just my belief.
2006-09-12 06:11:24 · answer #9 · answered by Shossi 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately every religion happens to think they are the ones who have it right. I say people use the Bible to their advantage and what is more of convenience to them. We read the Bible and take things literally when in fact that is not the way it should be read, example:" An eye for an eye" is one that many people think means "if you hit me I can hit you back" when in reality it means that what goes around comes around in its own terms. I have always said "as long as you believe in GOD or a superior power it doesn't matter what religion you believe in, more power to you"
There are a couple of things I don't agree with in my religion, but most of it I do. Peace and Love your way.
2006-09-12 06:07:12 · answer #10 · answered by wonderwoman 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋