Upon doing some reading (following an accidental viewing of a few moments of one of the "Left Behind" movies), I've learned that Christians fear the idea of a religion that unites the entire world. In fact, they associate this concept with the anti-christ and the end of time. Why?
If there were a "one true faith", wouldn't it most likely be unifying, something that all of mankind could come together under, instead of something that causes war and conflict?
Why is this idea so scary?
By the way -- I don't think there should be an established faith. I'm a big fan of freedom of religion. I just want to discuss why the idea of the whole world coming together, unified through a belief, should be so frightening. So don't get up in arms about freedom of religion, you're preaching to the choir!
2007-08-20 07:02:19 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Here are my concerns about a one world religion.
In a one world religion, we are forced to basically abandon the idea of worshipping our own God and relegating him to equal status with those God's we do not believe in or do not choose to worship. It means that we relegate him to something very insignificant in our own lives in order to make others happy.
It's one thing to say that everyone has the right to choose their own beliefs. However, it's quite another to say that you MUST worship all Gods equally.
To me, it's kind of like putting a prayer up in the wind and trying to hope that someone anyone will listen, instead of being able to pray to the one I know who listens and cares about my needs.
One of the basis of my faith is the commandment that I will have no other Gods, and although I respect your right to worship whomever or whatever you choose, and even for you to choose not to worship anyone, please don't expect myself or anyone else to just abandon a faith that is very near and dear to us.
While I'm sure that there are many who will read this and say (yeah, but your God is hateful, your religion causes these problems, etc etc, etc. - that is your opinion and not mine). For those of us who want to serve and to love God, we do not want to ever be told we cannot love our God and exalt him over another God.
2007-08-20 10:31:10 · answer #1 · answered by Searcher 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's a name given to the prophecies in the bible when Jesus will return in the clouds with a loud trumpet blast and send his angels around the world to take the Christians with him leaving people against God to stay behind. Just ask your minister/priest to explain it to you. It's talked about all through the bible, just "rapture" is what we refer to it as. It's Jesus' second coming. And we won't be "zapped" we will go willingly and leave all others behind. It's part of all Christian religions and not from any cults. Here is what Jesus said about it: Matthew 24:27-31 (New Living Translation) 27 For as the lightning flashes in the east and shines to the west, so it will be when the Son of Man[a] comes. 28 Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near.[b] 29 “Immediately after the anguish of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.[c] 30 And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.[d] 31 And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world[e]—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven. It's also in Isaiah 13:10 & 34:4, Joel 2:10, and Daniel 7:13
2016-05-18 00:23:11 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, the problem with your question is that if there ever is one religion in the world, it will NOT be a "TRUE" faith. It will be a government-regulated, government-chosen thing that will have nothing to do with TRUTH. As you describe it, it will be something "that all of mankind" would AGREE ON. That has, and never will, happen without spiritual intervention and God doesn't say that the one 'religion' will be His, so that leaves the other side....
Revelation 13:11 -- "And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, AND CAUSETH THE EARTH AND THEM WHICH DWELL THEREIN TO WORSHIP THE FIRST BEAST..."
Does that sound VOLUNTARY to you?
2007-08-20 07:18:41 · answer #3 · answered by lady_phoenix39 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't find it "frightening", just ridiculously unrealistic. History has shown that attempts to "unite" people under a common belief often come out rather bloody.
If there are Christians who are opposed to the idea of making one "universal" religion, I imagine their reasons are the same as they'd be for adherents of other religions: they don't want to compromise their beliefs. Being "universal" means you pretty much have to water something down to the point where it won't "offend" anybody, and by then it's so vague that it's useless.
2007-08-20 07:10:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
It is because they believe what the Bible says literally. If we had only had 1 religion since the beginning of time, this wouldn't be an issue.
However, through the misinterpretation of the Bible (which meaning has been altered) they fear this and think it's from the devil. Fear incites wrong thoughts.
2007-08-20 07:22:30 · answer #5 · answered by Soul Shaper 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm Christian and accept the concept of one world faith, as found in scripture that states "One Lord, one faith, one baptism." However, given human frailties, pride, and such, many would resist a faith that could unite the world. What they'll do to resist it is the scary part (violence). And by resist, I do not at all mean that conversion need come by coercion. Conversion should be a personal and beautiful revelatory experience.
2007-08-20 07:15:16 · answer #6 · answered by RickNY 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's terrifying to anyone with a sense of self-preservation!
I doubt anything billed as "one true faith" could also be unifying or good for human rights. Haven't enough religions claimed that already? And have they ever done anything GOOD for everyone? No, they just use it to justify de-humanization and repression.
2007-08-20 07:10:36 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
the one world religion will be a forced one. right now we
enjoy freedom of faith, in the end times this will not be so.
please read revelations. the new world order will Force a
faith on those whom are left behind. one will Not have the
right to say No. YESHUA forces No one to believe in HIM.
the anti-christ will.
2007-08-21 04:17:06 · answer #8 · answered by Judy E. T 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because no matter what, you are always going to have dissent. And if it's a state, or worse, globally sponsored thing, well, all the better to oppress you, dear. That and the obvious threat of that religion needing to be at least semi founded and logical automatically puts Christianity out of the running. Nobody likes competition.
2007-08-20 07:11:11 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Some are because they are afraid it won't be their particular church's form of Christianity.
If they were sure it *would* be, they'd be in favor of it.
Of course, this would certainly cut down on the wealth of people they can feel superior to.
But I'm sure that those who have a need for that could find them in the "one true" religion that we all were forced to follow.
2007-08-20 07:25:08 · answer #10 · answered by Praise Singer 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋