Last night my son asked me 'how do we know we have the right religon?" " Some people worship stones and animals how do we know we have the right religon? I am a Christian and Iam spazzing out that he asked this. But please help me answer this for him. I was dumbfounded. Keep in mind please he is only 9 years.
2007-08-13 07:52:10 · 33 answers · asked by songbird s 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Please only other Christians help me with this one. And I do know this religon is right just having a tough time finding the right words.
2007-08-13 08:03:16 · update #1
There were eye witnesses that said Jesus resurrected. Jesus said he was the Son of God, that he was God. By his resurrection, he proved what he said to be true.
By faith, we believe this to be true.
2007-08-13 08:03:05 · answer #1 · answered by Gui 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I think it's normal for kids to have this question. I think it's a good thing also, because they need to have their own faith and not just copy it from their parents. I think it's also a good thing he's asking now instead of after he's left the house and you aren't there to help answer.
The hard part is being able to be brief and explaining it well at the same time. I don't think I can do an adequate job without writing a book. If you or your son is up for reading, Josh McDowell has some great books that address this type of thing - why we believe in the Bible and why we believe Jesus rose from the dead etc. "More Than A Carpenter" is one of them.
My son is 6 and I've been taking it piece by piece and have been for a few years now. Showing the strengths and weaknesses of evolution. Showing the differences between religions and explaining how they are different from the Bible.
If he's going to Sunday School, this would be a great topic, so maybe ask his teacher to have a series on these things - a comparison of religions, strengths and weaknesses of evolution etc. I'm sure other kids his age are being taught evolution in school and stuff by now and it's good to have a balance.
You could also ask your pastor for some answers or good reading material.
As far as the stones and animals answer, we worship the creator and not the creation. It's kind of a simple answer though.
p.s. You might check out answersingenesis.org. It is a good website also.
2007-08-13 08:32:56 · answer #2 · answered by MikeM 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I honestly have asked myself this before, but I always find a way to get rid of my doubt. Just try explaining to him that God simply is the right answer. Jesus says "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."John 14:6. No other religion can provide evidence that what they believe is accurate. At 9, your son wouldn't really understand all of the facts and statistics that prove we have the right religion. But, think about it yourself. Evolutionists believe we came from rocks that were rained on for billions of years. Other people believe other things.Try Google and search Kent Hovind. He gives seminars with leaders of all religions and debates with them, and always has answers. See if something he says will help you with your son's question. Hope I was of some help at least.
2007-08-13 08:08:14 · answer #3 · answered by t g 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you can't answer the question for him, perhaps you should reexamine why you believe, yourself.
EDIT:
I'm sorry that I can't provide you with the answer you're looking for, but I don't think the answer you're looking for is the right one. I'm not mocking or insinuating that your beliefs are wrong. I'm just saying that a canned apologetic is not the appropriate answer for you OR your son. It will only lead to more questions with decreasingly satisfying answers.
Maybe you could talk it over with him and the two of you could come up with an answer together? Whatever you decide, I encourage you to think about your own motivations for believing. How DO you know that you have the right religion? How does anyone? If you are able to answer that question, it can only lead you to greater faith. If you are unable to answer it, it can only lead you to greater knowledge. Either way, you and your son both come out ahead.
Good luck!
2007-08-13 07:58:52 · answer #4 · answered by marbledog 6 · 7⤊ 0⤋
I think we all have asked ourselves this question at some point or another. My personal opinion is that you will know if you are following the right religion if you seek the Lord for guidance at all times. It's a personal relationship between you and the Lord. Nobody can for sure tell you "Yes, ____, you and your son are following the right religion". If you read your Bible and ask God for an answer, he will provide an answer in one way or another. But the fact of the matter is that there is only one God and one religion. I personally don't believe that God intended for everybody to be going in different directions as far as religion is concerned.
2007-08-13 08:02:02 · answer #5 · answered by Hoping he will bless me with #1 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
We could all be wrong about Allah,Krishna,The FSM,Invisble Pink Unicorn,and thousands of more. The most significant problem with trying to justify any belief on faith may be the fact that there is no good reason for only allowing a single religious group to use it. This evidence therefore suggest a multitude number of gods.
2007-08-13 07:58:27 · answer #6 · answered by 8theist 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
He's right. You might not have the "right" religion. Time to get started on a close look at the doctrines you say you believe. You may even have to take a couple of steps back to philosophy in order to find out for yourself.
2007-08-13 08:32:18 · answer #7 · answered by ccrider 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is ONE who rose from the dead, and His empty tomb is still visited by the faithful.
Not only are there other religions, but the Judeo-Christian history is full of false "messiahs" who could not save themselves, let alone you!
Jesus is THE WAY to heaven, like a bridge across the great divide. Trust no substitute. He alone has proven His deity!
2007-08-13 08:08:39 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jesus is the only way of salvation because He is the only One who can pay our sin penalty (Romans 6:23). No other religion teaches the depth or seriousness of sin and its consequences. No other religion offers the infinite payment of sin that only Jesus Christ could provide. No other “religious founder” was God become man (John 1:1,14) – the only way an infinite debt could be paid. Jesus had to be God so that He could pay our debt. Jesus had to be man so He could die. Salvation is available only through faith in Jesus Christ! “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
2007-08-13 08:25:10 · answer #9 · answered by Freedom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you're old enough to be a parent, and can't defend the basis of your Christian faith, then it needed to be challenged. If in fact this isn't a troll-posed question, then get busy and find the answers.
2007-08-13 08:00:50 · answer #10 · answered by Graham 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The only way to be certain that your religion is correct is to be completely ignorant to the rest of the world, and that is a VERY BAD thing.
Tell him that you CHOOSE to believe in Christianity because you believe it is true, and that other people have the right to choose other religions if they believe theirs is true. There is no absolute answer.
You're boy is very bright. Let him choose his own path.
2007-08-13 07:59:02 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋