How do religious people determine that their religion is true and others are not?

Question

Children of christian parents become christians, children of muslim parents become muslims, etc. etc. People born into predominantly christian communities are likely to become christians, people born into predominantly muslim communities are likely to become muslims, etc. etc. If our religious beliefs are so strongly determined by geography and the beliefs of our parents, what reasons do people have for determining that their religion is true while all others are false. Is it really more reasonable to believe that Jesus rose from the dead, than to believe that Mohammed rode off to heaven on a winged horse, or vice versa? What do you think?

Answer 1

I think a lot of wishful thinking is involved, plus a strong biologically motivated need to trust our parents and to trust our communities. Some religious people do start to question their faith, and reasons for their belief, and some find organizations or studies that support that, such as scientific evidence for the accuracy of the scripture, or evidence that supports the young earth theory, things like that. Those who dig far enough may find they can no longer be religious, while some others find more reasons to believe the further they dig. I sometimes envy them.

Answer 2

Awesome question!
I don't fit this stereotype. I'm a born-again Christian, but my parents aren't. My dad is an agnostic/atheist, and mom believes in a higher power. I didn't grow up going to church, my folks believed as many here do, that church is full of a bunch of hypocrits, stuffed shirts and skirts, boring preachers and boring speaches. And the truth is that all people are hypocrites, no matter what you believe. And I'm no better than anyone else, I'm just as broken and messed up as anyone. But I have a peace and a joy in my heart that I never ever knew before asking Jesus to be my Savior. I felt a hole in my heart, a missing piece, my whole life, and Jesus filled it, and I've never ever felt that empty void since. I'm still broken. I'm still flawed. I still do, say, and think wrong. But I'm whole. And I have a joy that I can't even explain. So, when I talk to people about Jesus, it's because I'm so excited to share the news! Not to try and make people convert, even God allows each one of us to accept Him or deny Him! But because life is richer and wonderful now. Like if I had a baby, I'd be excited to call everyone I know and tell them the good news! No one makes me, I just want others to experience that too.

So, that's how I know. Christ transformed MY life. That's a fact, and I don't know much, I don't have all the answers, but I know that for sure. And here's the thing. Jesus says that He is the way and the truth and the life. Not a truth. He says He is THE truth. So, either He's a liar, He's crazy, or He is THE truth. If He were so evil to say that He is God when He isn't, He wouldn't be a good person at all. And the world religions agrees that at the least He was a good person. And if He were crazy, same thing. How would one crazy man be able to fool EVERYONE. All of His early followers were killed by people against Jesus as martyrs. Would they die for a lie, or for a crazy man? No. And then there is the testimony of millions of people who have experienced the transforming grace of God through Jesus. And will stake their lives on it, as I would. Jesus IS Lord! And if you ask Him to be your Savior, you can know the peace and the joy that I've found. If you don't want to, ok. But why wouldn't you want that?!

So, Christianity spread from a small region across the world by one man, Jesus, starting 2000 years ago. So, if what you're saying were true, Christianity could have never taken off. One Third of the world's population is Christian. That contradicts your hypothesis.

Answer 3

If one of the above descriptions of how one came about getting their faith then I could probably help you out a little better. I was born to an agnostic mom and an atheist dad, so I simply had to do the whole try it out and see if it rings true to you thing. I found many religions down right scary and some too staid for what I needed. Then others were fashion shows or all about the money. So what I finally did was decided that the bible made the most since to me of the texts I had read and so I have my church service in my home, praising God in my own way, and raising my children to be tolerant of all religions. Whichever one they choose when they get old enough I am sure will be fine. I also sing at different churches as a guest performer and I have done some prison ministry through singing at a local women's jail. I help others as often as I can and I try to live my life true to the scriptures.

Answer 4

It is all in their upbringing. Children should be reared in their parents religion, when those children become open minded adults, they decide for themselves which religion they wish to practice. Their should be another religion to practice although there are a lot of people already practicing it yet do not realize it, it is known as the religion of HYPOCRITES. Some attend their church one day, the next day commit sins, such as crime against humanity, getting drunk and driving to wind up killing some other human, lie and cheat at games. The best example are the politicians starting from the president on down. They are shown attending church, yet they lie or do not tell the truth about what is really happening with present issues in government. These are the people who practices the religion of HYPOCRITES.

Answer 5

People don't try to decide what religion is correct, they just believe it. If they tried to determine what religion was correct by thinking logically and critically, they would not follow any religion.

Moviegirl, you're wrong on so many levels. The muslims claim that they can prove they fulfilled prophecies in the bible, so your argument could be used by muslims just like you use it. And there are older religions than Judaism, just do a google and you can prove it to yourself. You aren't a Christian because you did your little analysis, you were one BEFORE your analysis, your analysis is just justification.

Answer 6

Religious teachings and texts. Personal experience. Tradition plays a big part as well. If you're parents are of a particular religion or profession you want to follow in their foot steps to make them proud of you.

The determining factor in your details is that people that live together as a group are more likely to learn and act like each other so that they fit in and don't stand out.

Answer 7

You can't determine that the religion of your choice is the one true religion but along with the religious beliefs of their parents, a fear of rejecting that religion is instilled. In most religions it is claimed that you'll go to hell if you quit the religion, or you will be ignored by your family or you'll be hunted down and killed. I think people are afraid to question their religion and that's one of the reasons they hold on to it. I like your question.

Answer 8

The Jewish religion is the oldest continuously practiced religion in existence.
The Christian religion came from the Jewish religion. We know the Bible is true because of fulfilled prophecy, and the Holy Spirit in our lives. We call it a relationship rather than a religion, because it's not about following rules, it's about getting to know Jesus and becoming like Him.

Answer 9

People need clarity in there lives. Every one can find a religion that sutes them. You some how feel like this is you. It's hard to explain but you will know it when you feel it. I can't say that the Wicca religion is right, but I belive it is. That is what religion is all about.

Answer 10

I have 7 good answers. I will give you one. You must ask yourself: what does the religion base its teachings? is it from god or man? (2 tim 3:16, and Mark 7:7) ask, for example, where in the bible does it teach that god is a trinity? where does it say that the soul is immortal. if you are interested in the rest, let me know.



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