If all religions think they are the only way to salvation how can we decide?

Question

Every religion swears theirs is the only way. how can anyone in modern society make a rational choice? there is no evidence in any direction which one is right, and each one tries to scare you into thinking that rejecting a specific religion will cause you to have a bad afterlife. Well, that is your choice to make.....but you better chose right! cause ours is the only way! and if you don't chose it you're going to hell for the rest of your life!!!!!!!

......Now okay, having told you that, come to a "rational" conclusion.

Answer 1

All religions claiming to be correct is like the movies Spartacus. When they all stand up and all claim to be Spartacus. Only in the case of religion, Spartacus doesn't exist.

Answer 2

Not all religions are that exclusive. Some go almost to the other extreme and declare the search for spirituality is an individual path (validating offensive personal choices?) or declare that the truth is in all religions, attempting a syncretic approach (editing out or ignoring specific teachings that cannot be reconciled)?

Baha'i might approximate to this, or the Unitarian Universalist church in a somewhat different way.

It all adds to the mix, but most still acquire their beliefs from their immediate family, society and geography.
Which makes it likely it's a cultural and psychiological thing more than a question of cold truth assessed from the outside, *at least for most*.

If one finds oneself outside of religions or faith, the "what is true?" question is free from bias but has immediate trouble with a methodology, for assumptions about truth, and evidence of truth also come with particular cultural attachments. .

Answer 3

Sorry, it can't be done when you stick the word "rational" in there.

Faith is, by definition, not rational. Believing in something that cannot be proven is not rational, it's emotional and instinctual.

That doesn't mean it is wrong or stupid, it just isn't based on cold hard logic and rationality.

So, with rationality taken out of the equation, choosing a religion is clearly a matter for the gut, not the intellect. People choose the religion that feels right. Of course, oftentimes, it's the one their parents indoctrinated them into as children, which makes the choice pretty easy.

Answer 4

I think at the heart of all religions is the same message - do good. If we do that in a truly pure altruistic sense then heaven/enlightenment etc is ours. Religion was always suppose to be a way to understand our lives and act as a guide book to how we live our lives and treat our world; somewhere along the way we have used religion as yet another tool to mark out differences instead of our own personal belief system. I believe God is merciful and generous and will forgive our erring ways provided we have listened to his voice within us all - our conscience.

Answer 5

Start reading the early Church Fathers. Cardinal Newman, a convert, said "to be steeped in history, is to cease being a Protestant" Read Justin Martyr. Read St. Augustine or something by St. Ambrose. Or St. Bernard of Clairvoix. He was more recent. He evangelized during the Inquisition. A little spouted fact is that he was sent to counter the nastiness of the guy who did all the things that was not condoned by the Pope. He traveled all over Europe and stopped and taught at many monasteries.

Answer 6

That's easy honey...
Anyone that exalts itself above God and DOES NOT recognize Jesus as the "Son of God born from a virgin"
And that Jesus died on the cross because He loved us so much He give His life for our Sins...

That is the one you want to stay away from... the one that does not recognize and the ones that don't LOVE...they are haters and Mockers of the Lord Jesus..and His followers.


I usually don't answer these..because I don't like the argue thing...I just don't argue...if one is blessed enough to believe the Bible...they are alot better off...and prepared for the coming Holocaust.

Answer 7

There is evidence--it's in the way people live--so ask,
Who follows Christ's teachings? to be no part of this worldly system ?and
those that take up the sword will perish by the sword...
Who goes to war and who does not?...
Who looks to our Creator, Yahweh(Jehovah) God in all aspects of their daily life?...not to man made governments which only lead to corruption and death.
Who follows the commission in the Bible to go out and preach and teach from door to door?
Who trusts only in God? and not in man to whom salvation does not belong.
Who puts God first in their lives and who loves Him with their whole heart and soul and mind and strength?
Who knows that salvation belongs to God?
Who loves their neighbor? and who does not smoke or swear or get drunk or cheat or fornicate or steal or lie?
You might say only a perfect one could do that, but not true because these ones have God as their saviour in Jesus' name always and they rely on God's great Holy Spirit to strengthen them. Yahweh God is our helper and we HAVE the TRUTH.

Answer 8

Not all religions claim that or use those tactics. I'd just research them and keep looking until you found the one that feels right to you. Who says you have to have any religion at all?

Answer 9

READ THE BIBLE FOR YOUR SELF AND YOU MAKE THE DECISION. Sometimes churches do take or add to what it says in the Bible but I don't believe it should be that way. When you read God's word it will tell you how to worship and what to believe.

Answer 10

Its a mere escape, into their own fantasy, or just to feel good out of the bloom, but then u dint came to full consious for self salvation