is personal faith the best kind of religion?

Question

Please do not quote the bible as if possible I would just like to hear opinions from the heart!

Answer 1

Best, and worst.

Best, because of the wrongs liable to occur in its absence in formal or community religion, from mere lip service and ritual performed only for social conformity through to unthinking obedience to leaders and group persecution of the outsider or designated enemy.

Thinking and believing for oneself, independently of the opinion of others makes a religion more real, and less likely to be taken over by "the madness of crowds."

But worst, where the individual, as final arbiter and authority has no check, (from society or history for example) to constrain the belief.
Argument is impossible, because the final source of truth is internal. God told you to go and murder prostitutes? (Peter Sutcliffe, taken as an example)
There are no grounds on which to appeal the unreasonableness of such a faith, because it has no external connection from which to reason. The key, the core, is internal conviction.


I don't believe as the majority do. (on poll evidence, anyway). But I do find it somewhat reassuring that some, considered sane and thinking people, have concluded similarly to me. That doesn't make my belief less personal, less mine. But I am aware that my personal belief may be wrong and that the opinions of others count for something. At its most extreme I'm not sure that personal faith allows for that.

Answer 2

I'm not quite sure I know what "personal faith" means. If it means you just made up something out of whole cloth and that's what you believe, then, no. That's hardly best.

What is best is to read. Study. Go to that wonderful bank of knowledge called a 'library' and tap the wealth of knowledge of the ages. There are no questions that you can come up with that have not already been thought of or answered. Utilize the wisdom of those who have trod this path before.

The Apostolic Fathers. The Bhagavad Gita. The Life of Gautama the Buddha. Great American Indian leaders. Communists. Atheists. St. Thomas Aquinas. The Dali Lama. A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Mahatma Gandhi.

Then you can make an informed decision.

That's how I came to Faith.

In Jesus Christ.

Answer 3

God has written his word on our hearts. Personal faith is not religion. Religion is the simple belief in God. Faith is actually our response to Gods work in our lives. Both belief and faith are parts to our spiritual walk with God that are indispensible.

Answer 4

Christianity is personal faith - it is a personal relationship with God. Through Jesus' sacrifice, I am now able to come before the throne of God.

Answer 5

Yes, because if you are a thinker and allow your faith to evolve, you have a direct connection to god. And you can update your believs as science reveals more, or books are revealed as false.

If you think you know it ALL and preach to others, you cause hurt and evil on earth, and thus are an evil person.

http://flushaholybook.com

Answer 6

that is the only TRUE faith