If organized religion did not exist, would people still come to find so-called "revealed truth" on their own?

Question

I'm an atheist, and I believe what I do because after years of questioning, I've come to my own conclusions about what I belive about the origins of the universe and the earth and everything on it, based on what makes sense to ME. But in today's world, if there were no "Christianity," for example, with its churches and preachers and centuries of influence, would people be able to pick up the Bible and honestly say, "Yes! This makes perfect sense to me! Of course, this explains everything," and from then on live as Christians, accepting Jesus as their lord and saviour and all that? Or is it necessary to have that establishment there to explain it?

Answer 1

Let's say that all the atheists migrated to another planet, and the Earth and the believers were destroyed. After many generations in which the Atheists had lived apart, and all traces of religion left their society, and gradually people forgot that there had been people who worshiped God. Then one day these 5th generation atheists (they probably would not have this label in a pure atheistic society), came back to Earth and found a copy of the Bible, they would think it was ridiculous.

So yes, after making that scenario I would say you certainly need some explaining to understand the Bible.

Answer 2

I'd say both. People can and do get personal revelation through the Bible all the time. But we need the structure of religion because each of us cannot be sure that the revealed truth isn't our own desire or even Satan.

Having the established authority teach about the divine revelation that has been known and adhered to for 2000 years is necessary. It gives us kind of a home base...someplace to look for our foundation.

I do think that even if organized religion did not exist...then we would still be able to read the Bible and receive divine truth from it. God is not bound by religion.

Answer 3

According to the bible, the church is not there to replace every person's personal journey, it is there to provide an avenue to worship God and encourage one another once we have found the truth. And the "revealed truth" is revealed through the scriptures, not through what other people have interpreted to say.

In Phillipians 2:12, Paul told the people in Phillipi to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." So we are all responsible for finding the truth, and we are not being true Christians if we allow churches and preachers and centuries of influence to tell us what to believe.

Of course, I cannot deny that it is difficult to lay aside all pre-conceived notions and biases when studying the bible (or any other thing for that matter) but it is what we have to do. And I believe that we will all answer to God for the steps that we took in our lives to find the truth.

I am a Christian, but if something was brought to my attention to show me that the truth is actually Judaism, or Islam, or Atheism... then I would convert in an instant.

Answer 4

The Truth is not reveal by just reading the Bible or a preacher telling you, It's revealed by the Holy Spirit.

When you receive the Holy Spirit and read the Bible or listen to a preacher, then everything starts to make sense.

Before I was born-again nothing in the Bible made sense to me. The few times I went to church, I didn't understand what the preacher was talking about.
But now the Truth has been revealed to me through the Holy Spirit.

Answer 5

Good question.
I pondered this last night. Once upon a time religion explained everything from the sun to the moon. Science is just another word for yesterdays "magic". A lot of things in most ancient religions is really outdated. I often wonder if the Divine's give up the information we are ready for. I mean seriously, if evolution was brought up in the bible how many thousands od years ago, would people have beenr eady to accept that?? It doesn't make it less true.
As I have stated over and over I don't think the bible was ever meant to be the center of religion. It was meant to bring all the Christian sects together, but that is it. So no, I think if we didn't have all the chruches and most of all if we didn't have the bible, I don't think people would be exclaiming its the truth and the way. I don't doubt that people will believe Jesus is thier savior for a long long time. But I also think if Christianity doesn't adapt to modern science, that it will begin to collapse.

Answer 6

The first aphorism of Vedänta-sütra is athäto brahma jijïäsä, i.e., meaning, that now, when we have this human form and only when one has finished the business of mundane inquiries in the marketplace of sense gratification can one make relevant inquiries regarding about, the AbsoluteTranscendence Truth. Every human, must be inquisitive and search about the Truth. That is natural, other wise, what is the different between animal and man?
One can come with different conclusions. We are born in ignorance and besides that we are cover by illusion, we are imperfect and we easily can be cheated. No necessary our conclusion can be right. Therefore, in every human society, there is always a guidance from some one else,someone who is considered wise. For example the evolutionist, follow Darwin, they come to the conclusion that yes, he is right. In any case, we need books of knowledge and some one who can explain them, according with previous teachers. But when some explain them in their own way it becomes difficult for common people to understand and to follow them. Jesus came trying to save the ignorance mass of people. But who and where is the qualify person representing him? There are so many Bibles and so many who explain the text in different ways, to whom believe? And by our own is very difficult to understand the Bible. And if that is the case, still we must keep searchig, and in this way one can become atheist of can find a really genuine book and genuine representative.

Answer 7

Nothing is revealed. It is simpler than everyone tries to make it. If you read the word of God, church isn't necessary. People have been saved before without stepping foot into a church. A church is there to guide and support, but it is not necessary to salvation. If you read the Bible, the answers are all laid out for you. ( Look at Acts 2:38)

Answer 8

Some people are uncomfortable with introspection and for them, organized religion gives answers. Others must find their answers on their own, as you and I have. If there was no organized religion, then the myth surrounding the Bible would not exist and so that book might have more relevancy than it does now. It has been translated over and over, there is no telling what it originally said.

Answer 9

I agree!!!! Why continuously this completely, basically Jews the chosen human beings, or, basically via Jesus Christ the Christians, and basically the Muslims being the actual toddlers of god, something are Infidels. If we've been all accepting of each and every others Religions, such as you reported, and depart out the " MY way basically, or chosen basically" etc. we would start to check to get alongside and according to danger see that according to danger we at the instant are not all so different in spite of each and every thing. it fairly is that this ELITE mentality that has brought about lots hatred and dying international.

Answer 10

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