What is the decisive factor in determining why one person believes the Gospel unto salvation and another person, hearing the same Gospel, does not believe?
Is the difference in the person (he is not as smart or as spiritual)?
Or is the difference in God (God has not changed his heart to believe)?
Why do some believe while others do not?
(Please don't just say "free will". This does not answer the question. There must be a difference that causes one person to exercise his free will to believe while another exercises his free will not to believe.)
2006-11-22 05:19:03 · 14 answers · asked by 5solas 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Almost all religious people believe what they have been taught since birth. That's the reason religion runs in areas. Most of the West is Christian. The Middle East Muslim, and the Far East Hindu and Buddhist.
The number of converts is very small compaired to those who follow their parents in belief.
More and more people are questioning what they've been taught by their church. People are starting to wonder how could all of the things that the church teaches be true ? What is meant by one God being three different people ? How can an angel fly. He's way out of balance unless his wings are attached to the small of his back. Did Gabriel really fly down with the Koran ? Who the heck ever heard of Maroni and his Mormon gold plates ? How can a person reincarnate into a bedbug ?
When you really think deeply about all religions, you're on your way to becoming non-religious.
2006-11-22 05:41:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Every religion has a different set preachings and path to salvation. The followers of each religion believe in these rules and negate all others. The basic question is, who is right and who is wrong? Little analysis will reveal there is nothing absolute about any rule. What is truth to one may be a lie to another. All this is intelligent manipulation of mind. The zeal with which one follows his religion depends on his level of indoctrination or [to say it crudely] brainwashing to some extent. The best course of action for a logical, liberated mind is never to question any ones beliefs. Follow yours if you can. Live and let live. Most of the conflicts and terrible wars have been fought in the past just to impose ones faith and beliefs on others. Let humanity living in 21st century have some hope and not to repeat past mistakes of medieval times and reap terrible devastation due to most dangerous weapons of today which will surely take us back to stone age!
2006-11-22 05:56:19 · answer #2 · answered by openpsychy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think theres too many reasons to count but one big one I think is pride. A lot of people dont want to admitt they dont have, or can't have all the answers or that they may be held accountable for their actions even if they're not "caught" also nonbelievers tend to grab only one aspect of God and say "If God exists, and He is love, then why all the trouble in the world? If there was a God this would not exist" and stop there. Also they see the actions of some professed believers, I saw a video of a crazy christian lady on Youtube and if I wasnt already a believer, seeing someone like her would make me not want to get near Christianity.
These are just a few of my observations ;)
2006-11-22 05:26:40 · answer #3 · answered by impossble_dream 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Hi, I think of it like this ,the Word of God has the power to change a person and seeks to find an opening to enter that person, if you are rebellious and self centered then the Word cannot find it`s home in you and so moves on, those who are open and receptive to the Word of God will allow it to take root within them and these become true believers, again it really is about choice.
2006-11-22 05:25:01 · answer #4 · answered by Sentinel 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Human beings are not robots that respond only to the input we grow up with.
Genetics play a role in our personalities.
And we actually do have some measure of individualism. Within all of my immediate family, grandparends, aunts, uncles, cousins on both sides (100+ people) only two of us happen to be vegetarians, and that was a personal decision.
Your 'soul' as some call it, aka your last two inches, is not a slave to its environment, nor is it a slave to its genetics. It is your will.
2006-11-22 05:40:42 · answer #5 · answered by Ellis26 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because there are no facts to support any religious belief system. Unfortunately, I know you don't want to hear this, but that leaves it up to our free will to believe in or not to believe in what ever we choose.
Some religions have a lot of irregularities, contradictions and glorify the truth. I think its takes a lot of studying and research to choose if you are going to follow a structured religion to make sure you know the facts.
2006-11-22 05:36:55 · answer #6 · answered by grudgrime 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
the bible says that the road to death is wide and well travelled and many people find it. But the road to life is narrow and few people will find it.
Accepting Christ is not an intellectual problem it is a moral problem. Some people have there hearts so hard and don't want to be accountable to anybody that they refuse to accept unto salvation. it is all about free will.
2006-11-22 05:27:44 · answer #7 · answered by JaimeM 5 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Who is willing to deny ones self? This is really where the difference comes in to play. If one looks at what Jesus taught is becomes very clear, Putting others before yourself, treating others in the manner in which you want to be treated, to love your neighbor as yourself and to love ones enemy. Having compassion (concerned passion, concerned love) for others. These things are being selfless instead of being selfish.
The simple fact is by nature we are very selfish and start that way at an early age. At around the age of 2 kids will used the word mine. From things that are theirs to things that they want, it is always mine. We never seem to get over that. As we get older it goes from mine to always having to win. But that is not the things taught by Jesus. He said that if anyone is to follow him, that they must deny themselves and take up their cross to follow him. To be selfless over being selfish, not easy to do and something that we all have problems doing.
Many are not willing to deny self yet it is what those of the faith are called to do.
2006-11-22 05:46:13 · answer #8 · answered by Dead Man Walking 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I present to you the possibility that some simply do not love truth.
That points the spot-light on selfishness.
Some are selfish to the point wherein their attitude is 'so what', 'who cares' or 'it doesn't matter'.
God tells us to thirst for truth, to make it a priority. Proverbs 2:4.
The turning point is within the individual.
How much are we willing to put ourselves out in order to get a handle on Biblical truth?
2006-11-22 05:31:11 · answer #9 · answered by Uncle Thesis 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Most likely has something to do with being "smart" as you mentioned. My welfare mother of a neighbor is a complete drain on society and does nothing but go to church six times a week.
2006-11-22 05:24:44 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋