HOW can you be so sure? please read entire question?

Question

I have read the Bible, I have studied Philosophy, Science, History, languages, prayed , and the more I use my critical thinking skills the more I get doubts , I am very skeptical about organized religions especially 2 of them, I have many doubts about the Bible or Qur'an for that matter . How can you NOT have any doubts about what you believe in with so many religions and beliefs? it is just a mess.How did you get that faith that is telling you the religion you are following is the right religion? do not tell me to pray, because I do that, do not tell me to read the bible, because I did do all that and it is not working for me and obviously if there was JUST ONE WAY TO REACH OUT TO GOD there would NOT be so many religions in the world, and do not tell me that Satan is confusing people.For those who believe such a thing how can you be so certain he is not deceiving you instead of the others? How do you have that certainty about it? I see many verses of the bible that contradict one another, God appears in many verses as a spiteful God, while I want to keep the idea of a GOOD GOD, and I should follow just what is good, and reject what brings fear and violence. I went to SO MANY DIFFERENT Churches Catholic,Baptist, , Mormon, Jehovah Witnesses just to name a few , and the list goes on and on...I saw so much hypocrisy, mostly people following this or that religion no because OF LOVE, the message that I would think God wants for us to have, but because of FEAR , or because they want a reward from GOD.
I still believe there is a God, something that has created us, an intelligent designer, but as far as what he really wants from us I really cannot understand based on what a few religions say. Why should I be punished according to some religions if in all my heart I have been trying to reach out to God, but I do not feel in my heart that I should cling onto any religion?
I cannot force myself to believe this or that religion, and the more I think and the more I follow my heart I get convinced that LOVE is just all I need.
PEACE.

Answer 1

wow well said ... and i have nothing to add but ..
big hugs xx

Answer 2

It is all very confusing, isn't it? I have a theory that every religion in the world contains at least one piece of truth and one piece that is false. You are Seeker. This is good; it means that your mind and heart are open.

In the study of world religions we talk not about "God" but about "Ultimate Reality". And when people who have had the experience of being touched in some way by this Ultimate Reality describe the experience it is always the same. On the mystical level all of the religions are the same. It is when the culture of the person and interpretations begin that we have all of these differences in religion.

You are on the right path. God, by what ever name or concept that you know, is a God of Love. If you stay with that idea and come to understand the law of Love, that is IMO, all you need to do. Others here will disagree with this. But it does say in the bible that you will be judged by how much you loved. To learn more about Love read the gospel accounts of Jesus' life and see the way he thought and lived. Look at the life of all of the great saints of all religions, what can they teach you about love?

I find it easiest to be in touch with God in nature. Perhaps this will be helpful to you. Take a walk in a woods or park where it is very quiet and just sit on a log or bench and listen to the sounds of nature. Feel the breeze, the sun or rain or snow. See the harmony of all of life. Be open and let God know that you are seeking to be in his presence. Do this for 20 minutes once a day. Over time you will be at peace and what you are seeking will find you.

Peace.

Answer 3

Maybe you can learn from my example. I was not influenced in any way by my parents while I was growing up. I did go to Christian churches with friends, and that's pretty much the only religion I ever knew of. I think it was when I started learning a bit about Astronomy that I really started to question things. But I still didn't want to let go of the hope that maybe we do go somewhere better when we die and there really is someone great waiting for us. But as I kept learning more and more about the universe and about all the different religions and their very different beliefs, and especially about cultural anthropology and how anthropologists have found when religion began, I started to gradually let go of that hope. It's like quitting smoking. Once you're over it, you feel so different and you don't understand what kept you stuck in that place for so long.

We're taught from a very young age, through so many aspects of our lives - school, friends, media, family - to believe in something. In America, it's usually Christianity. After years of believing that there's something to look forward to in the after life, and that you have a reason to do good, it's so hard to let go. But if you really think about things logically, it will all make sense.

I do think religion helps people sometimes. Some people need to have hope and faith in order to be more satisfied and confident in life. Without it, some people feel empty and like they're living a pointless life. But there are some people out there who can find that satisfaction within themselves and don't have that void to fill. It sounds like you are a logical person like me. Just keep studying Astronomy and Anthropology and Philosophy and you'll soon be able to figure things out on your own.

And you have to remember that you'll always have unanswered questions. No one knows how the universe came into existence. Absolutely no one. Perhaps someday we will, though. For now, you'll have to be satisfied with believing you know what has happened since then.

Some good books to read are: "The God Delusion", "An even Briefer History of Time", "The End of Faith", and "The Origin of Species". Good luck!

Answer 4

Moroni 10:4-7
4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.
6 And whatsoever thing is good is just and true; wherefore, nothing that is good denieth the Christ, but acknowledgeth that he is.
7 And ye may know that he is, by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God; for he worketh by power, according to the faith of the children of men, the same today and tomorrow, and forever.

That is how I know. I cannot tell you how you should find out - it is personal. I have my own testimony. But I had to gain it, it didn't just happen over night. I didn't wake up one day and say "oh I guess the LDS church is true". It takes work and effort and prayer and sincerity and humbleness. I know you said don't tell you to pray, but honestly, that is the best way. For the spirit will not lie to you. Also, sometimes we have to know "how" to pray or what to ask for. Like I wouldn't just pray "tell me which church is true" I would search out these different religions, find the one that you most agree with, that you believe will lead you to eternal happiness...then ask the Father if that church is true. If it is, you will get a comforting answer, if not, you will get nothing. I doubt you would get an answer like "no that's not true" more like just an empty feeling.
That is how I know the LDS church is true, it is comforting and peaceful feeling coming from the Lord that this truly is his church. He is the head of it and the Prophet is his mouthpiece.
Anymore questions, contact me...

Answer 5

I have done my share of studying as well. The question is a valid one. If you look at salvation and getting in contact with God, all the faiths of the world can be broken down into 2 buckets.
The first bucket is the people who try to reach out to God and earn their salvation. (This includes Muslims, Hindus, Bahai, Catholic, JW and Mormons to mention the ones you mentioned.)
The other bucket is where people recognize that it is impossible to reach God and that He must reach us. This is what the Bible says. This is the Historic Christian church and it includes people from Baptist, Alliance, Mennonite and others who believe the same.

Churches are imperfect places. You may have noticed that. The people there desire to reach out to God in their culture. It is possible to see several different Baptist churches in a town. It is possible to see churches that originated in England, Germany and Sweden. They had differences in language when they first came here. Now that the second generation is speaking English, some of the churches are in the process of amalgamating because they believe exactly the same things.

Answer 6

If you are going to be putting all religions or beliefs on an equal standard, and assume that they are all ways to heaven, then you will get confused! Christianity may be confusing at times, even seem extremely illogical, but study and help from, say, a pastor, can clear these things up, trust me. Could you show me verses that are supposedly contradictory? Mormons and JW's aren't even Christian, and Catholics, unfortunately, have a few issues. The whole of Christianity is about LOVE! Love is why God provided a way for us to be saved through His Son. Hope this helps, God bless!

Answer 7

You sound like a very intelligent human being. I'm glad to hear you recognize the existence of a Creator. Creation is too beautiful and organized to an accident. You also observe the hypocrisies of the innumerable religions of the world. You are absolutely right. But it is important that you understand why. There is no perfect religion. Religion is man-made. People are not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. I also want you to understand that the Bible is inerrant. I would like to personally challenge you to present any contradiction you perceive in the Bible to me and I would be more than glad to search out an answer out of God's infinite wisdom. I would guess that you have a great deal of difficulty understanding the Bible and some things appear to be outright mysteries. This is in part because you lack the key to the code. God is a God of love. The Bible tells us that God is love and all good gifts come from the father above. 2,000 years ago Jesus Christ, God the Son, humbled himself and lived on earth as a man. He lived a sinless life and died to pay the penalty for that sin. "For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God" Roman 3:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23. I trust that you recognize the sinfulness of humanity and now the penalty for the same. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Romans 10:9. All you have to do is acknowledge your flaw, put your faith in Christ and accept his free gift of salvation. The Holy Spirit will then come into your heart. He serves as a comforter, a new conscience, and a source of guidance in your new life. This is what it means to be born again. Your spirit is reborn and become new. I pray you make this decision today, just as I did eleven years ago. It absolutely changed my life. It gave me a peace I had never known and a personal relationship with my Creator. I'd love to talk to you more about this. Feel free to email me.

Answer 8

Thanks for your question. How can you know that you are following the right faith with the right intentions? I agree with a lot of what you said. Believing any religion takes faith, some of them require more faith than others. But how do you know which one is right? The Bible says that if you search for the one true God with all your heart, you will find him. Christians can be hyprocrites but so can anyone in other faiths as well. Stop looking at people and all their mistakes. No one is perfect and no one on Earth ever will be except for Jesus Christ. If your heart is after seeking the one true God, you will find him because God honors a true heart and he will come through for you. Seek him like you would for hidden gold in your house. I guarantee that God will come through for you.

Answer 9

One main concern should be that you are looking completely inward for truth, you won't find it there. It is a mistake for any individual to be believe that all truth, and the answers to everything can be found within themselves.

Real truth comes from God, and it is in his word that you will find it.

As far as the hypocrisy, be certain you are not confusing sin with hypocrisy. Christians make mistakes just like the rest, that doesn't make them hypocrites in itself.

A hypocrite will lie to a friend, then turn around and condemn his neighbor for doing the same. Notice the word condemn. Telling his neighbor lying is wrong, even though he is a liar himself doesn't make him a hypocrite as long as he admits his own shortcoming.

Religion for the most part isn't real. God doesn't see the world as a number of varying religions but as one body who together believe and follow Him. Again, look to his word, find truth within it, and then look for a body of believers who fit what you have read....doesn't get any simpler than that.

Answer 10

that is a really good question! Jesus said test them by their fruits.
If they are rich and it is all about the money, isn't that what Jesus comdemed the pharasees for? Do they go along with politics and what the rulers want?
What did he destroy them for before? Say, the flood?
Genesis 6:6 We are not predestined, God felt regrets he had made men in the earth why? What did they do that he would destroy a whole world of people?Genesis 6:13 He tells why, because the whole world was full of violence because of them.
See when you give someone free will you take the chance that they will go the wrong way. But, God felt it was important for people to choose to love him. Not do it at the end of a sword.
So if religion forces people to worship god that is Satan.
See Satan has to force people to worship him.
Then in Sodom and Gamorrah, why did he destroy them?
Because they were sex worshippers and homosexuals.
along with temple prostitutes. Even wanting to have sex with the good looking angels. He rained down fire and sulfur probably an astroid, and destroyed them all. So he wouldn't like that.
What if your religious leaders told you to do something that God didn't want you to do? Would they be from God?
What if your government told you to do something God didn't want you to do? would that be doing God's will?
Wouldn't God want us to use our thinking capacity?
Many governments have came and gone, many religious leaders have come and gone. But the one thing that is constant is God.
Think what would he want me to do? What religion teaches that?

Answer 11

Well faith is called faith for a reason. Faith is without question so this is how many people of faith live.
I myself am not to sure. I've read about many beliefs and I liked some and others I didn't care for so much. The whole believing thing is what got me. I can no more believe in a religion then I can being an atheist. Because of that I finally settled on agnostics and I'm comfortable with that. I don't believe or disbelieve in anything regarding religion. The possibilities are endless and when my time comes I will find out the truth.