How do people rationalise their belief in one religion over another?

Question

I always struggled with this, belief in God is one thing but arguing that one religion is better than another seems pointless to me and appears to be in the main the result of geography, if you're born in the Middle East you will likely be a Muslim

Answer 1

By what its claims are, and if that religion has been shown to back up these claims.

And, yes, true, most likely you will be Muslim if you live in the Middle East, North Africa, and Indonesia, Hindu if you live in India, Buddhist if you live in the Far East Pacific rim, Jewish if you live in Israel, and Christian if you live in Europe, Siberia, the Americas, central and southern regions of Africa, New Zealand and Australia. However, the fastest growing religion has been Christian for centuries, such as with the Christian population boom of growth today (2,000 a day, nearing 200 million) in China, and more than half of Korea's total population. Almost 3 billion now, or almost half of the world's population, is at least nominally Christian. And, almost every people group and language spoken on earth has at least a growing minority of Christians, and a Bible written in that language. These estimations I believe are just corroborative evidence of the powerfully convincing claims of a religion that is not about an enlightenment experience nor following a method or philosophy, as the others are.

And its book, the Bible, is an account of His-story (God's story) of bringing humanity back to being with Him, and not humanity trying to reach Him through works, or some enlightenment experience, as with other religions. The story in the Bible is unique in that it is more about a person, Jesus Christ, and His redemptive mission as the One sent by God, Who is both God and man; rather than it being based on a philsophy of life that one follows. And, indeed He did come 2,000 years ago in order to begin this mission of bringing humanity back into full intimacy with their Creator, which they had before their ancestry began the ongoing rebellion that still occurs even today.

How did He, and does He continue to, accomplish this? Well, God sent to this fallen, corrupt world His rescuer, Jesus Christ, His only Son, the God/man, to die as the only legitimate representative of both God and man, in order to 1) pay for the penalty of death incurred by all humanity, 2) disarm the powers of death through being raised to newness of life via His resurrection from the dead, and 3) begin to remove all remnants of the wall of separation between God and man through His ascension into Heaven, where His Father is; so that humanity, when Jesus does return to this world in the last day to take those who believe in Him Home, could be with God again in the next world.

Now, what other religion says that its founder has not only been sent by God, but actually is God, and has been called to conquer the power of the inevitability of death for all humanity through His own accomplishments as a holy man as proof of this, rather than continuing to place the burden on humanity's absolutely fruitless attempts to somehow accomplish the unattainable for themselves via good deeds and/or attaining enlightenment, which are still powerless works and experiences over death, such as in other religions?

What other holy man has said the following; "I and the Father are One"; "I am the Way the Truth and the Life, noone can come to the Father but by Me."; and, "I am the resurrection and the life, whosoever believes in Me shall live; even if he dies."? So the Christian religion is about a person's claims, Jesus Christ, and His work in history that confirms these claims; and following Him alone.

Answer 2

Basically religion was meant to unite people under one head, but not an imperfect human leader. We are really controlled by our emotions and our reason mostly twists around until it fits. We don't learn about emotions and so are not really in charge. Emotional Intelligence pretty much handles the problem and reaches our common humanity and genius in the process. A big bang for a fun effort, if you like to learn interesting stuff. The modern findings in Emotional Intelligence and emotions, and the mind in general, could change the world. Everyone needs to find out what's happening, because in the area of emotions, knowledge is power. It requires some effort, but not that much. There is some maintenance in maintaining sanity, but the ease it creates in our life and world is well worth it. There are some websites that have easy explanations. Maybe some of the free ebooks on trans4mind might help. It answers the question why and solves the problem at one fell swoop. That's the magic of all the breakthroughs in the 21st century. What an exciting century.

Answer 3

first of all, faith isn't a "distinctive characteristic"; it relatively is a present- an organizing concept designed to concentration a believer's interest on God. it is likewise no longer "strongly believing in something"; reference previous comments. i will see the verse in Hebrews that "faith is the substance of issues was hoping for, the information of issues no longer seen" could (or is) be completely lost on you. Christian faith is supported by employing first concepts in methods no different so-referred to as concept device may even start to approach.

Answer 4

I was born in England, raised Christian, and converted to islam. The Messengers of God (Noah, Jesus, Muhammad, Abraham, Moses etc.) came to call people to the worship of God.

Answer 5

I don't claim that my religion is better than another but my belief does come from personal revelation.

Answer 6

IMO, that belief is normally 'rationalized' under the concept of 'faith'.

You ask the person WHY they beleive that religion X is the 'one true faith', why they think that, what are the reasons.

What people will say is that they 'know', and if you press harder they will just say that it is 'faith'.

Answer 7

Thus rendering the whole evangelical notion of Christianity as obsolete.

Answer 8

Your God...your business

Answer 9

Different delusions for different people.
To each their own.

Answer 10

the devil helps them what can I convince you to beleive in he asks.... they answer he creates a relgion to aborb their souls...