Are philosophies with "catch all" tenets and beliefs realistic in today's society?

Question

What do catch all's, that don't allow for personal reflection and thought say about religion.

For example:

In Psalm 14:1 we read, "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.'"

I've also heard others on this board say, "God is good. So every thing he has done is good. End of story." "It's only truth if it has come from God. Everything else is lies."

Now this may seem like a purely anti-christian question, however, christianity is the religion I'm most familiar with and personally see this from the most. I'm sure other religions have similiar catch alls. I'm sure similiar belief systems outside of religion have these catch alls. But for the sake of the question, please believe that I'm not inherently trying to be anti-christian. Everyone is entitled to believe as they believe.

Ok, correction, everyone is entitled to their own personal religious/non-religious/philosophical/spiritual beliefs.

Answer 1

These kind of "catch-alls" are a way to isolate members from the real world and brainwash them into thinking that their "holy book" and their "holy leaders" have the only truly true truth.

Answer 2

I believe Psalm 14:1 is absolutely correct.
Sorry if that offends you.
Not just because I have been taught it is true, but because I have had to deal in my life many times with people who say there is no God.
I have witnessed it to be true many times.

Jesus said I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the father except by me.
I believe it to be 100% truthful.
Since I gave my life to Christ, my life has been peaceful.
I am not bothered by the many things that bothers others.

Is everything else a lie?
Only if it contradicts the word of God, so many things may be true if it does not contradict the word of God.

grace2u

Answer 3

The "personal reflection and thoughts" about religion is a post-modernist perspective that rejects absolute truth. You have to decide whether or not absolute truth exists. If you reject that concept, then go for whatever makes you feel good; it only matters that you believe it. However, if you accept that there are absolute (or universal) truths, then growing in faith is growing in understanding of truth.

Undestand, thought, that I'm not trying to suggest that you either say "the Bible/Koran/whatever" is a nice set of stories or that it must be interpreted word for word. If you accept that there are universal truths, you must understand the context of the stories, who they were written for and their worldview. You must also trust that the Holy Spirit or meditation will help you understand the truth, as opposed to "lead you to it".

Choose wisely.

Answer 4

They have never been realistic.

Anything that attempts to stifle personal reflection and the application of logical thought is just nonsense to be ignored.

There is much good in the bible and the scripture of the other religions. They are intended to assist us in thinking for our selves.

Many have seen this as dangerous and added ideas like you are speaking of to try to tell us what we should be thinking.

This is just nonsense and it should be ignored.

love and blessings Don

Answer 5

They're realistic in the fact that there will always be "fools" that believe there is no God and several other things, many examples found in Proverbs, that fall into this category. You can only influence the world as you are lead by God...you can't MAKE people into what YOU want them to become.

Answer 6

It was going very well until the last sentence. If somebody says they believe they can fly, and climbs on to a roof, what should I do?

I do agree though that "one size fits all" tends not to be realistic either.