for people of strong religious beliefs please...?

Question

i was just wondering, as a person trying to find her own religious identity, what do people base their religious beliefs on? is it what you've been told, what you've witnessed, and it can't just be what you believe because the belief had to come from somewhere. where are they coming from?

Answer 1

Books and conversations with people. I have had my own ideas confirmed by some authors i respect (Louise Hay) and I have received new ideas, largely from fiction (particularly Robert Heinlein's stories and view of the world). I have spoken to people about their own beliefs and the beliefs of others and I have watched people who really try to walk the walk and only rarely have to talk the talk.

i mean as much as I may disagree with Christianity, I know some wonderful people who are christians and they believe that they are as they are because of their faith and the things it teaches. What is really interesting is how the core beliefs - the real nitty gritty of every religion I have encountered is so similar. That message of follow love and shun hate. Do no harm. The Golden rule. And always "a way home" - a way to reunite with the creator.

Well, I could go on and on here, really - the point is its the exchange of ideas with individuals (people I know, authors and characters I come to know, etc.) that has most strongly developed my religious beliefs.

Peace!

Answer 2

I base my beliefs upon what I have drawn together from my own conclusions. I listen to what other people say, read books and articles, browse the internet...

I spend time away from other people as far from "civilization" as I can, and listen to that, too.

Then I take all this information and I filter it down. Does this make even the slightest bit of sense based on what I already know to be true? Is this at all possible (improbable, maybe, but possible)? Does this have a logical foundation?

Of course, the best information you can get is from yourself. What do you FEEL? However, it is most difficult to determine what it is you feel unless you have something specific have feelings about. That is why I ask others: in person, on the internet, etc. I then ask myself how I feel about that, do some research if I feel necessary, and adapt my beliefs to fit.

My beliefs grow and change as I grow and change, and that's the way they should be. I know a lot more now than I did when I was, say, 8, so my beliefs should be different today than when I was 8. You can't just understand everything at once. The truth will be revealed to you as you become ready for it.

Answer 3

My beliefs come from my personal experiences with the Holy Spirit as I have asked questions. The Bible states that if we have a question, we can ask God for an answer. I took this literally and started to study and pray for answers. So much of what I was being told by others was confusing and conflicting so turning directly to the Holy Spirit for answers was really my only choice. I have found that things I learn from Him through prayer never change and never contridict in any way. Thanks to my prayerlife and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I have a very sound and steady walk. My walk only became that way when I stopped looking to religion and mankind for answers. It can be hard to turn to God for answers but the journey is very rewarding and will lead to a lot less confusion than any other source.

Answer 4

Religion in general is based upon experiences, information passed down from others, from revelation(s), from factual evidence, God, etc. It is a trust in a higher power, other people, expectations of the future, & your identity. Some religions have various rules. Rather than searching for a a particular religion, I believe we should seek the best relationship we can have with God, as well with other people. I would ask you, why can't religion be about what a person believs?

Answer 5

My religious beliefs were instilled in me the day I was born. I was always taught right from wrong and good from evil and I was taught about Jesus Christ and his salvation. Since I have accepted Jesus Christ, I have witnessed some miracles in my own life that there is no way in the world I could have done on my own. I had the help of the Lord and I thank Him for bringing me through a very horrible financial situation, as well as a pretty stressful health situation.

Answer 6

My parents raised me as a Muslim. But they didn't pressure me, they just did what they thought was right. I had the freedom, and stil do, to explore other people's thoughts and ideas, and make up my own mind. I know my parents and I have very differing views on Islam, but I am still what they raised me to be. That is because I not only had a good foundation, but was allowed to ask questions, get to know other religions (I've attended a Mass and two Bat Mitvahs), and more importantly read.

My Islam is rather radical. I tend to focus more on the essence of Islam, what is reaches out for to the human spirit, rather than obsess over do's and don'ts. I read the Qur'an objectively and spiritually, and each time I glean one more layer to my belief. I'm also open enough to understand that not all of my fellow Muslims portray the true Islam, and that it is really a personal journey to finding one's perspective on a belief system. You really just have to have the courage and intellect to know what is out there and prove it to yourself. No one else can force you to truly carry such beliefs in your heart, to drive you to tears when you listen to the Message that you have faith in, to place your trust in something Unknowable.

Answer 7

Read the Bible and see for yourself what God says. Try reading Romans 1:18-23, where it talks about things that all men can see that point to God.

Let me give you a bit of background: There are three major religions that believe in one God (religions that believe in multiple strange gods don't make a lot of sense to me). We have Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. All these religions accept the Old Testament as at least mostly accurate, Christianity and Islam except the New Testament, and Islam alone accepts the Koran. Try reading these scriptures and ask God to show you the truth in His Word.

Notice that the Old Testament, which is accepted by all three religions, predicts the New Testament (with the coming of the Messiah) hundreds of times. The Koran is never predicted anywhere.

I can personally base my beliefs on my experiences as well. I have seen the truths of the Bible demonstrated time and time again in my life, and I have even seen prophecy fulfilled and miracles granted.

If you have any other questions at all, please, please, email me: I would love to answer them for you. If you could find someone you know with a strong Christian faith to talk to, I am sure they would love to talk with you as well.

May you find the love of Christ.

Answer 8

I am a Christian and my beliefs come from personal experiences. Religion should be a very personal thing. Sometimes belief is hard to come by and I am sure this is true for all religions but once your see something for yourself then there is no question as to what is true and what is not.

Answer 9

Independent investigation - how else can one be satisfied unless there has been a personal investigation of the truth and not just the acceptance of what others believe? Personally - it has to be a satisfaction of both the mind and the heart since God has given us both of them to use to find Him. When something "feels" right and there are solid answers for the questions about God, purpose of religion, why we exist, etc then one is probably on the right track.

Answer 10

It started by my grandmother( God rest her soul) but for me it's just that I have to believe because what's the alternative. Once you die you rot in the ground. I couldn't sleep at night if I felt like that. Another reason I truly believe is because I have a wonderful life that sometimes I feel I don't deserve. A sick man once said this & it stuck in my head "there is a reason for everything but you won't know why until you go to Heaven" I hope I helped