The truth in religion?

Question

I'm not expressing my religious viewpoints when I say this, but if all religions claim that theirs is the "absolute truth", then how in the world is someone supposed to find out which one really is? 8(

Will I go to Naraka if I believe in Christ? Or Hades if I believe in only Krishna?

This is where the confusion takes hold.
Could someone be kind enough to explain?

*Again, no offense to any religion out there. And don't assume I'm an Atheist because of this question. It has always been on my mind, and I wanted to share this with Yahoo answers users.*

=]

Re: pestie58
"The answers are in the bible"? Not in the Qu'ran or any other religious book?

Re: chocolate_sateen
Nice. I like your description of religion. =] I guess it almost can be compared to a drug. Not saying I do them, haha.

Re: baba
"Doubtful." Your one word assessment of my ideas. That's cool, that's cool. But I'm not doubtful, I'm only pointing out a fact and asking for a response to it: the claim of an "absolute truth".

Re: "Ski"
Thanks for saying it's a good question. =] But "ask him" and "ignore religion". That's an oxymoron. God is part of religion. I respect your faith, but you're just proving to me that all religions claim that they are the one true religion.

This sure is a touchy subject, isn't it? =] A number of answers have become almost defensive.

Answer 1

Very good question ane a dilemma am sure many face, thanks for posting it.

As I see it there is only One absolute truth, and that is God itself.

What religions interpret as "their absolute truth" is but a fraction lesser than the absolute itself. so in theory none of the claims are true.

You must have heard of the story of blind men feeling an elephant and interpreting it each in his own way. the same applies here. the interpretations given by various religions about the absolute truth are close but are not absolute truth in themselves.

Human mind is equipped with the ability to find explore and discover this absolute truth and God itself. What an individual experiences is something only he/she can feel. To put one's such feelings into words and explain it to others shall definately have some kind of loss of feeling, incompleteness in terms of relating and making others feel the same thing one felt through words, actions, or speech.

One can find the absolute truth onself only, religions are mere pathaways towards it. All religions lead to teh same absolute truth, so which religion you follow really doesnt matter as long as you are true to your pursuit.

thanks

Answer 2

Language is only a symbolic representation of thought, and human thought, however abstract, basis its premises on its experience in the natural world. Any attempt to express an understanding of supernatural reality is bound to fall short. To keep our thoughts straight, we have to give names to some ideas, realizing those names will limit and distort the truths they point to.

Philosophically, we realize that IF there is supernatural consciousness in the universe, it must be benevolent, because a malevolent consciousness would devolve into chaos and isolation, if it could ever develop at all. We sense from our own experience that compassion and altruism leads to greater human progress than selfishness and defensiveness. So our gods must be similar.

Because we are limited in awareness, knowledge, and therefore wisdom, we imagine our supernatural heroes as equal or better than us. And because they are heroes, they will make an effort to help us overcome our limitations, such as ignorance and mortality. We may not have the details, methodologies or the names right (Nirvana, Valhalla, moksha, heaven?), but we "know" that, if ANYTHING exists, it would have to be a better, less limited realization of life. And we understand that the way to achieve it best is to be our best possible selves here and now.

People who claim that theirs is the only valid "way" are protecting their insecurities by building walls to keep out uncertainty. A supernatural deity would not even consider the significance of trivial creeds. Faith should be about relationship, with "God" and with fellow creatures. The rest translates easily between metaphors. What counts is sincerity and practical results, not getting the names and dates right.

Find a faith that is virtuous for you, and follow it. The rest will sort itself out.

Answer 3

Sorry, there's no easy way. You have to study the materials available, filter them through your good sense and judgment, and decide for yourself. It might be worthwhile to take philosophy of religion, psychology of religion or anthropology of religion if you are a college student. Or maybe you would learn a lot by examining religious art.

There are many, many realms of study, and the longer you keep an open mind, the better your decisions will be.

You might also include observation of the particular religion's effect on its members. Do they become more sensible, competent, compassionate? Are they respectful to others and patient with those who disagree with them?

It has been said that by their fruits ye shall know them.

Answer 4

If you truly meditate on love with all your heart you will be able to find who is God . God is love and when you go nearer to god . god will come nearer to you.

If you are a Hindu = I know a Hindu friend who told me that in the Vedas the true religious scriptures of the Hindu people it talks about the son of Man (Christ ) prajapathi who has the attributes of Christ and dies in the manner as told in the Vedas and my friend told me that he found the answers to all the questions in the four Vedas in the bible

Check this link for more answers

http://www.acns.com/~mm9n/hind/Chapter%20Six.htm

If you are a Muslim = A different friend told that there is a chapter in the Holy Koran called Suriya mariam where it talks about the birth of Christ and in the full of the Holy Koran Christ is the only healer .

So Christ is the true answer to your question .

Answer 5

I feel all religions hold some of the truth, but none have all of the truth. This makes it difficult to understand or know what to believe. I feel if a particular religion helps you become a better person and promotes your spiritual progression, then its the right religion for you.

Answer 6

Religion is also a way of social control... a way of controlling the masses.... A way for the rich to make the poor satisfied with mediocrity so they would not push to gain higher status...because they are expecting to get such in another life...and no one even knows if that exists.

Its like a drug...the opium of the masses.

It sort of numbs your mind from your problems....

Answer 7

Doubtful. There is religion in truth as truth it self is religion[real] but may not be vice versa because who teaches religion and wishes to learn religion may not be true in them self as the world is materialistic and it affect the character of a person.

Answer 8

Reminds me of the "confusion" quote in 'The Seventh Sign'. Good solid question. :)

As mentioned already, read literature about religions and see where you would like to go from there. Be wary though, some are chocolate covered mind poison. Keep your mind free and unbound to find your own personal truth that works well.

Answer 9

Seek first the truth. The answers are in the bible but you must study with your eyes opened to know the difference between what the bible says and what the churches teach , and pray for gods help.If you really want to know you will find the true path.

Answer 10

Truth itself. Truth got nothing to do with any religion. It is it. But all religions should say Truth. Hence truth is the basement for any religion.