Religion - which do you think is correct, if any at all?

Question

I've heard numerous debates about this online, and I have formulated my own opinions, but I am still shaky on the details. When I have time over this summer break, I will read about each (major) religion.

But I am curious about everyone else's opinions.....what do you believe? Are you atheist? Are you agnostic? Undecided? Feel free to answer.

Please make plausible answers, and explain your viewpoints please.

Personally, I am agnostic. Don't let this sway your opinion, however - it is only a discussion.

friendly neighborhood atheist -
I agree with you on evolution. That to me is undoubtable. The lack of a god, no. But it is only my opinion. You may end up right.

Joan H -
No offense to you or your religion, but I was once Catholic. I became agnostic due to the fact that a god would allow for the flaw of homosexuality only to damn them for it. Obviously, there are other things that he allows us to do, like sex, theft, murder, etc, but I personally believe that homosexuality is biological. If I learn otherwise, you will be the first I apologize to.

Nevada Pokerqueen -
Yes, I am interested in doing that. My problem is time, however. Thank you for your comment. I also believe in god.

firefly_pg -
There is no tangible proof for god except miracles. And even when they happen, there's no telling what religion they are for.

I'm sorry, I'll respond to more later.

I have no idea how this got into photography......I was positive I put it philosophy......0_o

Answer 1

There are truths in all religious beliefs, but we in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints invite one and all to our meetings so they might learn even more of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

With the advent of modern revelation, the LDS Church has the primary and real advantage over Christiandom.

Answer 2

I believe in God. I am studying spirituality these last 4 years and have had amazing things happen in the process. Once you open up to the
spiritual world, you let your guides and angels communicate with you. It has been an amazing journey and I will never look back.

What some proof? Find a truste psychic/medium to help you open the door. Ask to connect with your spirit guides to see what messages they have for you. You will be surprized and will want to know more. Keep it up. Talk to another, connect to loved ones who have passed over (heaven). Read some books by Sylvia Browne.

Just try it. Then you will have absolute proof God exists. And you will know your path in live, your destiny, and why you were born at this time to this family. Once you know you have a soul and it was created by God for a purpose you life changes dramatically. Your soul has lived many times and it is eternal.
Why are you here on Earth?
For your soul to learn and grow and to become closer to God. To become the next guides and angels. What a blessing?

Answer 3

Wow... this is by far the most civilized, peaceful and well-rounded religion post I've EVER seen! Two thumbs up, you Yahooers!

Myself, I'm a Pantheist (Pan = everywhere, Theism = belief in a higher power, not necessarily an omnipotent God). In a nutshell, I see Divinity in everything around me - good and bad, beautiful and horrible, living and non-living. I believe that all people and all things are worthy - worthy of love, respect, and being.

Because of my firm beliefs, I don't engage in arguments, gossip or other forms of morality-based judgment. Well OK, the last one is tough in this society... but I really try my best ;-) I have held these beliefs since childhood, though I didn't know then it had a name. Life is good, and I am constantly grateful.

Einstein was a Pantheist.

Answer 4

I grew up very conservative southern protestant, became New Age until I realized it was even loopier than conservative southern protestant, then got tired of putting square pegs into round holes and adding epicycles and pericycles and backwards orbits to my universal model and decided that while some religions are demonstrably untrue, none are demonstrably true, and so now I'm an agnostic.

The best synopsis of the views I subscribe to are by Mark Twain. Here are some selections:

Twain: "I believe in God the Almighty.

I do not believe He has ever sent a message to man by anybody, or delivered one to him by word of mouth, or made Himself visible to mortal eyes at any time in any place.

I believe that the Old and New Testaments were imagined and written by man, and that no line in them was authorized by God, much less inspired by Him.
...
I do not believe in special providences. I believe that the universe is governed by strict and immutable laws: If one man’s family is swept away by a pestilence and another man’s spared it is only the law working: God is not interfering in that small matter, either against the one man or in favor of the other.

I believe that the world’s moral laws are the outcome of the world’s experience. It needed no God to come down out of heaven to tell men that murder and theft and the other immoralities were bad, both for the individual who commits them and for society which suffers from them.

If I break all these moral laws I cannot see how I injure God by it, for He is beyond the reach of injury from me—I could as easily injure a planet by throwing mud at it. It seems to me that my misconduct could only injure me and other men. I cannot benefit God by obeying these moral laws—I could as easily benefit the planet by withholding my mud. (Let these sentences be read in the light of the fact that I believe I have received moral laws only from man— none whatever from God.) Consequently I do not see why I should be either punished or rewarded hereafter for the deeds I do here."

Great stuff. It's available in more detail and context at the link if you're interested.

Answer 5

All religions and belief systems founded on high moral ground are valid. Religions are the creation of men who, as a whole, seek the good from the bad and good things for all men and their societies. There is lurking, in this Cosmic Mystery, a Master Designer who, out of chaos created the rules by which all matter and energy must obey. This Immortal Deity is a consciousness who doesn't live in the house next door , nor in this reality, but within the imagination of all living beings. From time to time its thoughts are heard and those few who catch the words in the wind are labeled artists, prophets, geniuses or madmen. We, as humans, are a work
in progress, to evolve untouched and undisturbed for reasons that only philosophers can begin to guess. Peace to all......

Answer 6

I am Jewish, however I hold a lot of beliefs that are common to Buddhism. I don't particularly like any of the western religions because they all have a history of violence and holy war. I prefer the eastern religions, particularly Buddhism, because it encourages to live a peaceful life, to look within for answers, and does not push their religion on others. When was the last time you saw a Buddhist monk trying to convert people of a different religion?

This is not to say that one religion is more "correct" than another, because no one really knows. Every person has the right to their own beliefs, I just prefer that those beliefs foster peace and tranquility rather than violence and forced conversion.

Answer 7

It would be a great exercise to ask yourself what you would do IF you were about to create humans.
- Would you create them to always do the right thing or give them free choice to decide which way to go?
- Would you always show yourself to them and have them fear and worship you at all times (remember, you hold the whole universe/multiverse in the palm of your hand, so anyone who comes in direct contact with you will probably have his/her brain fry)?
- Would you stay back and work through willing individuals? Which means you pretty much have to wait for such individuals to come along -- which sometimes mean wait for a long time.
- Would you immediately reward the just and punish the unjust? Or, treat all with mercy, reserving a "day of judgment"?
- Would you play out all the possible scenarios in your mind and continually choose the one that guarantees we all win in the end -- even if it means pain and suffering along the way?
- Would you sacrifice yourself for your creation so they can live eternally if they choose to do so living the way of peace and love?
- Would you work through individuals who preach gloom and doom on others and show you up as a tyrant and unforgiving megalomaniac? Or would you work through individuals who make a fool of people on TV promising healing and wealth while they reap the wealth for themselves and live in mansions?
- Would you tell your creation what is right and what is wrong and let them decide for themselves and reap the consequences?
- Would you sometimes intervene in people's lives, protecting, healing, caring? Usually again through other willing individuals?
- Would you allow pain and suffering, sickness and death? Or, would you always heal everyone who came to you like you did when you walked earth once?
- Would you force people to believe in you?
- Where will it all end if humankind decides to ignore you and follow its own path to the brink of destruction?
- Would you have a plan to intervene and set it all right and "wipe all tears"?
- Would you reject anyone?
- Would you listen and have a relationship with someone who seeks to know you more?
- Would you be that person's friend?

Truth be told, not too many peolpe seek to understand and find the Creator: "Daniel; for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard" (Daniel 10:12)

Answer 8

i am an atheist. i simply can't believe in this creator god that just decided to make a universe. i see things like deep sea creatures who never get light from the sun but glow on their own...and i can't believe that some god picked each and every creature for its purpose all at once. any time you learn about nature you see that almost every single animal has something special about it, some certain food or predator that in some way helps the world work. to me this is proof of evolution, not some being who did all this arbitrarily. it just doesn't make sense to me. the more i study the less i am able to even question the existence of god. i think that most people who devote their lives to religion are just looking to not be responsible for themselves. muslims say 'if allah wills it' and christians say 'if it's god's plan'......those just sound like excuses to me.

Answer 9

I studied a lot of religons and the only one that was truly Bible based was Jehovahs Witness,
They even show things based on sintific fact that proves the Bible is correct.
And none of them will give you there own opinon they all go on fact, witch I realy apreciate because I cant understand why any one would trust blind faith .
If you get the chanse you should talke to some of them.
I hope you find what you are looking for.

Answer 10

I am a Christian. Can I suggest you start by reading the Bible? I truly do have faith that Jesus Christ died for my sins and rose again. No other "religion" has a God that is alive and living in them! It is awesome to have a real relationship with a living God who loves me and directs my life. The bible says that Jesus is THE way THE truth and THE life, no man comes to the Father except thru Him. Also a great book by C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity. I hope your search begins and ends with faith in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.