I have decided to become religious, which religion should I choose?

Question

Please explain to me which religion is right and how I can tell the difference between the one true religion and a false ideology. Which religion teaches the truth? How can you be sure? Since all religions teach different things, they can't all be correct. So which one is best? What proof can you offer? And don't give me any of that "do what's right for you" crap. A valid religion must be valid for everyone or it doesn't teach truth. So which religion is real?

If I don't get a really good answer I guess I'll have to stay an atheist.

I should have guessed that few people would grasp the simple puzzle that this was supposed to be. No one even attempted to "prove" that one religion is better than another. Instead got a lot of people shouting, "Beleive as I do, I have the truth!" Typical.

Answer 1

Good to see that you regard truth as a primary criterion. An excellent starting point.

In order to be True, a religion must speak the truth in all things. Unfortunately it's very difficult to establish Truth *within* the teachings of a religion, because of course any religion will be internally consistent (well, -ish). So to establish a given religion's actual grasp on *real* truth it would be necessary to test its teaching against objective reality as derived from an external, disinterested source.

And the best such source is, of course, science. Many religions claim that science can't answer some question, and that these questions are the province (or magisterium) of religion. This may be true, but notwithstanding this point there are many areas where religion and science both make predictions and give explanations of common phenomena and events.

A truly True religion should therefore agree in its teachings - in at least the majority of cases - with the scientific interpretation of these common matters. A true religion should therefore align exactly with known scientific facts about cosmogony, evolution, genetics, cosmology, anthropology, physics, medicine and a host of other disciplines.

A quick check of a religion's creation myth should be enough to quickly weed out the no-hopers. A True religion should have, in its opening chapter on origins, something along the lines of:

"In the Beginning there was the Bang. And the Bang was very Big, and Singular.

"And from out of the Singularity came forth All Things in Heaven and Earth. Time and Space and Matter all came forth as One. And the Instant was the First Planck Time.

"And the Universe was in the Second Instant an homogenous Quark-Gluon Plasma, tinier than an Atom. And in that Instant came Inflation, and the Universe grew in that Instant to the size of a Large Melon.

"And in the Next Instant, the Electroweak phase was ended, and the four Forces of the Universe stood separated for the first time. Strong and Weak they were, and Electromagnetic and Gravitation. And from that Instant forward these four would have Dominion over the Universe, forming the Four Forces.

"And the Forces summoned forth the Quarks, that they should form the Matter of the Universe. Up and Down they were; and Strange and Charm; and Top and Bottom. And for that one Instant they stood alone."

And so on. If you can find something with these elements, grab it.

CD

Answer 2

The definition of a cult is "ideology over person." This is why cults have such a thing as is termed "dispensation of existence." If you don't agree with the cult's ideology, you might as well not exist.

If something is not a cult, it means that you could put any person anywhere alongside the ideology, and the person's point of view or needs would take precedence. Otherwise, if there is a group whose ideology defines it as excluding some people, then it is a cult.

Religion means "to retie." It could refer to integrating people within the system. It could refer to integrating systems. It could refer to binding up the broken-hearted. Different religions interpret it differently.

Generally, those groups which put ideology first don't have enough to go around for everybody on earth, so they just divvy it up between everyone less a few. Then they get scared about the morality of it, so they start diluting what they've got and padding it out to full size and then charge for it during the on-sell process for the time and "creative talent" spent diluting the original product.

Don't spend any money on religion!

Pray for forgiveness, as in the Lord's Prayer. This is better than therapy where you are not allowed to get angry at yourself. The therapist might say: "Don't blame yourself." The memories of the abuser that elicit anger are simply reinforcing a hypnotist/self-hypnosis set-up between the abuser and you. Everybody has been abused because human beings owe a duty of care to each other. You need to understand the role of forgiveness.

Hypnosis is no good for your brain. It changes resting blood flow which has been implicated in problems like depression, schizophrenia, epilepsy, dyslexia etc. It facilitates addictions. You don't want to share in society's guilt-sharing mechanisms whereby you play a social role of somebody who turns a blind eye to problems or downplays your own natural talents for helping and nurturing that you were born with.

Answer 3

Is this a question, challenge or a threat? No one just wakes up one day and says I want to decide to be religious but I want somemone to tell me the best one and then says if I don't get a satisfactory answer I guess I'll just have to stay an Atheist. Perhaps that is your best decision, to stay an Atheist. I'd hate to have your spiritual bankruptsy on my concsience if for some reason you woke up next week and decide you want to be a superhero and which superhero I think is the best one and if I don't give you the best answer you're going to turn into a frog.

Answer 4

I tried islam, it was enlightening... as opposed to what you see on t.v. they're actually nice people with nice traditions and a wonderful religion. (islam does not preach violence, alqaeda does).. Honestly, I chose Islam cuz it was the only religion that never changed. They still have the same book, same ideology, same beliefs, etc. Only difference is, now they're being considered some sort of pestilence by U.S. media.... just because of what small groups of them are doing. & they're always portrayed as brown people in the media, which is sort of ironic since islam has never been confined to a particular race (eg: 25% of Russians are muslims, 90% of Indonesians are muslims, etc.) I really urge u to consider Islam, watch a couple of documentaries, watch alresalah film in English (it really inspired me), watch loose change about 9/11, you will really love Islam.... come to Dubai, it's the city where modern Islam meets the west. any queries, don't hesitate to IM me. :) best of luck in your search

Answer 5

Jesus is the way! Jesus took our sin upon Himself (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus died in our place (Romans 5:8), taking the punishment that we deserve. Three days later, Jesus rose from the dead, proving His victory over sin and death (Romans 6:4-5). Why did He do it? Jesus answered that question Himself, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). Jesus died so that we could live. If we place our faith in Jesus, trusting His death as the payment for our sins - all of our sins are forgiven and washed away. We will then have our spiritual hunger satisfied. The lights will be turned on. We will have access to a fulfilling life. We will know our true best friend and good shepherd. We will know that we will have life after we die - a resurrected life in heaven for eternity with Jesus!

Answer 6

Please consider the Roman Catholic Church, for definitive answers on why please refer to CPATS.org or the Catholic encyclopedia. The Catholic church was founded by jesus christ and he left the church in the care of St Peter who was the first pope, the catholic church is apostolic and Benedict is the current pope in a long succession of teachers who give the uncorrupted version of the teachings of Jesus Christ, the Catholic church is universal and the idea is Jesus did not want dissension and false teaching in his church...no "splintering" of Christianity which sadly has happened, thousands of offshoot Protestant religions since the first man who decided that Catholics/Jesus had it all wrong, he (Luther, a priest) corrupted the message of Jesus and many others after him.The Catholic church has vast resources in regards to Christian theology if you are interested. It is fact that their have been Catholic leaders that have made mistakes but one who is faithful (unwavering) remembers that this is in fact the church that Jesus Christ established and no man can taint the teachings of Jesus Christ, there is not one religion that has congregations that are uncorrupted..this is the nature of man. I do believe in my heart that Catholicism is true and the only other Christian religion that is acceptable would be the Orthodox church, the two are in the process of reuniting after over a thousand years, please note all protestant religions were founded by men....notJesus well after Jesus founded his Holy church. I think non christian religions do not offer salvation, I want to make it clear I do not despise other religions for it is not Christian to hate and be judgemental, we believe God will be the judge of man..no one else. Why do I believe that which is is some opinions not logical? FAITH! God the father asks us to be faithful our whole life...even if it is beyond our comprehension as humans, we strive to be good and in return we hope for salvation....I love my church, please consider.

Answer 7

Historical Christianity is the place to look.
What other "prophet" claimed to be God and did the work of God? What other "prophet" said He would come back on the third day after death and did it? It keeps going. None of the others can keep up with the claims that Jesus made and lived up to.

Answer 8

The only way to Heaven is through Jesus any church that dose not teach that is not good, other than that I would say visit different churches and read the Bible, ask questions and find one that teaches the truth. God will guide you if you only ask. (Pray!)

Answer 9

First friend, No one just decides to become religious, God has to draw you first, You don't get saved just anytime you want to, Second the only TRUE RELIGION is that of the Apostles of OLD in Acts 2:38-47 & also throughout the NT. Now you ask how can I be sure, Friend it has lasted me for 37 yrs. & I would not trade it for anything.

Answer 10

ok there's one true church in the bible. the Church of God.

Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

I Corinthians 1:2
King James Version


find a pastor that teaches the whole truth in the bible because.

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

I John 4:1
King James Version

and ask their doctrines

If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

John 7:17
King James Version

He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

John 7:18
King James Version


find the old path.

Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

Jeremiah 6:16
King James Version

and if you find it.

Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

The Romans 12:9
King James Version