If religious feeling is about faith not reason ...?

Question

how can anyone "choose" to convert from one religion or sect to another? that is a rational decision among options and therefore not an act of faith!

is that not a dilemma?

Answer 1

Just because someone chooses a certain path does not mean the choice was rational.

Organized religion is the bane of mankind and anathema to a true faith.

Nevertheless, most people don't want the burden of freedom, because that means making moral judgments that are subject to scrutiny by others (and the hypocrisy of which might ultimately be demonstrated); hence the popularity of organized religion.

In short, there is great popular appeal to having a "god in a box" sort of canned faith: it eliminates the need for the proselyte to think critically and independently; indeed, such religions often strongly discourage independent, critical thought.

To the proselyte having such a canned faith, he or she is almost always automatically absolved of any moral responsibility for the actions he or she commits while exercising his or her faith.

Moreover, canned faiths institutionalize elitism. Such elitism includes not only those imagining themselves better than others, but also those conflating piety with poor self-esteem.

The commonality among religious texts is thematic, but is not necessarily proof that the theology of one faith was corrupted by another. Rather, it most strongly proves the difference between faith and religion:

Faith is what a person believes, and that faith is manifested behaviorally.

Religion is nothing more or less than systematically ritualized behavior; organized religion is the proverbial box into which man puts his deity or deities.

The notion that infidels are corrupt is a popular exclusionary belief promulgated and advanced by haters that cannot come to the knowledge and appreciation of the truth of the Divine.

The political reality of religious texts evinces attempts to reverse-engineer each religion's deity in the image of man; hence, the God of the OT is presented as an irrational, sociopathic control freak.

This is because governments, whether secular or Ecclesiastical, are comprised largely of actors obsessed with (a) directing the lives of others, and (b) exorcising their personal demons through the imposition of laws and policies.

In what I call "Churchianity," the OT theme of mass subordination to organizational power is carried through the NT, and attempts are made to structure the faith into a system of procedures which, if followed, will force God to admit into heaven the spirit of the person having faithfully executed such procedures.

All such religions, whether nominally Islam or the Jehovah's Witness movement or Roman Catholicism or Mormonism or Buddhism or Christianity or some other name, purport to teach adherents how to gain entry into heaven (or its nominal analog), but all have been corrupted.

Consider that the Christian faith is predicated on the character known in the Christian Bible as Jesus -- a person acknowledged in the pagan mythologies of Islam, the Jehovah's Witness movement, Mormonism, Roman Catholicism (and doubtless, among others).

As James observed, "show me your faith without your works, and I'll show you my faith BY my works." His point was that all the claims of persons moved by sentiment to acknowledge or "accept" a particular religious philosophy are entirely meaningless.

And, as observed in the text of Hebrews (ch. 4) in the Christian Bible, the "Word of God" reveals the character (hence, the faith) of each person.

A person (arguably against the proclaimation of John) subscribing to the notion that the Bible is the "Word of God" will tend to assume the truth of every recorded attribution to God, whether such attribution regards the direction of persons (through Law or policy) or the unilateral action of God.

The same principle applies with respect to Muslims believing the Qu'ran is the Word of Allah: the name or names of the Supreme Being are irrelevant to the actual identity of that Supreme Being. It is likely that no human has ever known the actual Name or Names of the Supreme Being, or even if that Being has a name.

Ultimately, how we regard and treat each other is the evidence of our faith. To the extent that we manifest the character of Jesus, we are Christians (and therefore, citizens of heaven); to the extent that we use laws and policies to persecute others, we are not Christians (and are therefore citizens of hell).

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Answer 2

It may be somewhat of a paradox. On the other hand it may just be social pressure, both in the form of negative pressure (punishment) from the religion cast aside and positive attraction by the adherents of the newly found religion. It would still be irrational but real and able to be explained scientifically.

Answer 3

I think not grass hopper. Is faith a dead end street and no growth afterwards. Is the understanding you have now taken on faith not something that can grow. Jesus said oh ye of little faith therefor there are measured amounts of faith, little and not so little,, therefor faith can grow and in growing can change.

Answer 4

Its not about a feeling....its about a "knowing"...you know that you know. You have to be reasonable to get there. If you already have presupposed biased beliefs about, oh say CHRISTIANITY, the Bible and JESUS CHRIST for example, then nothing will convince you....~GOD BLESS YOU AND LEAD YOU~

Answer 5

When you feel at home, then you've found your religion. Just remember, religion is a product of man, not God.

Answer 6

When I became Catholic instead of Baptist as I was raised it felt more like a Homecoming that a conversion. I found where I belonged.

Answer 7

religion is not just based on faith but also reasons. if that reason or logic is the truth and you follow it if not you ignore it. you cannot convert someone's belief. BUT ask them chose the rightous religion.

Answer 8

only christianity require faith to trust in JC to be a christian. other religon, u jusr reason it out yourself by reading their belief manual & decide to practise it.

Answer 9

God will tell you where he wants you to be, if you let Him.

Answer 10

it faith in Jesus