with so many religions, how can the religious themselves not be cynical of it's credibility.?

Question

faith in there god seems to be the overwhelming answer but is this enough. people have faith in planes flying but they still crash! this may not be a relevant comparison. the point is though, is faith in god something we use just to protect ourselves from the unknown?

Answer 1

I certainly don't have faith in planes flying

Answer 2

Well, the popular answer these days goes something like this: "I believe that all people experience different aspects of the same God. There is no right or wrong religion, we all just see Him in different ways." This is religious apologetics at its weakest, and it is pretty easy to dissect:

Firstly, this statement smacks of arrogance. It implies that your God is central to all religions, and that others are merely interpreting him--incorrectly. This sentiment is made obvious by the fact that Christians who prattle off this excuse are not wandering into a church instead of a mosque by coincidence. They've made a conscious decision that they are a Christian and that they identify with the Christian God. This example can be applied to any religion.

Secondly, look at the ideas that define the religion. Any Christian will tell you that the Bible is the word of (or at least "inspired by") God. The Qur'an, from the Christian perspective, cannot be, since it advocates putting members of other religions to death--as do many other religious texts. Looked at one way, God would not write conflicting canons that would lead his followers to kill one another. Looked at differently, if religious texts were really human "interpretations" of God's will, then they have been so horribly misinterpreted as to be diametrically opposed in some examples, and so clearly cannot be called a holy work at all.

When dealing with the question of how someone "knows" their religion is the right one against lottery odds is faith, as you already mentioned. Faith, plainly put, is an answer of "we can't explain" surrounded by a "it's MAGIC!" coating. The idea, as I'm sure you're aware, is that deep down in the human soul there is a place where you can scoop up bits of certainty without having to go through the normal barriers of evidence and provability. You just, y'know, KNOW deep down inside.

Let's put it to a test: Say you don't remember where you placed your keys. Look deep into your heart for the answer. If you really, truly believe that they're in your left pocket, that's faith--and you can't go wrong with faith. Now, look in your left pocket. Not there? They're in the right pocket? Well, that's the same decision making process that drives people to fly airplanes into buildings.

My intent is not to discredit religion. I have a lot of respect for people's personal beliefs, and I think that having a set of values is important. It's the faith part of the equation that is broken--the idea that your perspective is right beyond question. People die because of it every day, but it's supposedly beyond criticism. People need to lay down their "I'm right" mentality and shift to an "I believe" mode of thought.

Answer 3

Interesting question! For some people 'blind faith' is good enough. It fits the comfort zone. Others will explore and question and find their own, often difficult, path. The author M Scott Peck has some interesting views on the subject in his book The Road Less Travelled and the other book Further Along The Road Less Travelled. I'll not talk about them here as I don't feel it is appropriate but as you asked the question I sort of feel you may benefit from reading them :-)

Answer 4

I have no faith in anything man made.

What's wrong with faith for protection from the unknown?

People are cynical of so many things, what's wrong with have a pillar, a rock, a saftey line to believe in?

Answer 5

does the fact that theres so many different categories of math and science from the stone age to now reduce their value?

does the fact that some of the sciences and maths were proven unreliable and inaccurate, change the reliability of the current ones?

I think you are going on the assumption that God is unknowable, that the superntural is fundamentally and irrevocably beyond potential perception by humans.

when really its a matter of development, understanding, layers of truth and understanding, temporary partially incorrect beliefs, held in order to allow progress more easily.

follow?

just about all religions have some degree of truth, and some degree of falsehood. and each has its value and purpose.

Answer 6

Except Quantas

Answer 7

'is faith in god something we use just to protect ourselves from the unknown?'

Give yourself 10 points.

Answer 8

The wisdom is in knowing that with truth there will always be those who reject the truth and follow a lie.

The Christian faith is a acceptance of two eventualities and following the one that leads to life

Answer 9

as christian I do question my faith because I'm educated sure other in other religions do like wise think we all use it for some self preservation but who knows as to protection don't think so your either good or bad who knows the outcome me I'm for the good side but everyone to their own

Answer 10

Col 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.