what proof do believers have that their ideology isn't borrowed from older myths?

Question

i only read defensive answers from christians. have you nothing more than rheotric.

Answer 1

Unique ideologies that have no influence from previous belief systems do not exist....

Answer 2

This is a very interesting question to me as a Jew. This was a topic of discussion recently since we started reading Genesis again and Genesis 2 clearly borrows a lot of style and substance from Babylonian mythology. There are even things referenced (the Tree of Life, apart from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil) which have no role in the story at all. The story of Noah, also, is quite close to primitive mythologies. Scientifically speaking, it is indisputable that a great deal of these stories are borrowed from older myths.

The Conservative Judaism doesn't shy away from this reality, instead saying yes, the story, setting and most of the characters are quite similar, but look what is different: instead of a bunch of warring gods, there is just one, and where the old story is about the gods but humans play a very minor role, the new story is about man and his relationship with G-d. The new story has a moralistic substrate that was entirely absent from the original: it's about ethical behavior and good and evil.

So if you are reading the stories allegorically, all of the new messages are right there, and they weren't before. If you're reading them literally then you are seeing the similarities in the setting but missing out on the innovation, which was the start of ethical monotheism.

To me, these stories are a bridge between what was old and what was new. Other stuff in Torah is more unique, but you have to start somewhere, and these myths were the culture of the audience.

Answer 3

What's the big deal about "proof"...I just don't understand the weight the people place on this particular word.

What proof do you have that the sun will come up tomorrow? What proof do you have that the person approaching the red light will actually stop for you? What proof do you have that a friend/spouse/significant other is being honest and faithful? What proof do you have that your entire existence isn't some computer generated fantasy like the Matrix?

Proof is a silly criterion to use for any decision...if you sit around waiting for proof, you would never do anything! What constitutes proof for one person isn't the same as another person's perception of the meaning of that word. I trust my instincts. I can think of any number of reasons why the sun might not come up tomorrow...but I trust that it will or I'd be paralyzed with fear. I've seen and experienced what can happen when someone doesn't stop for a red light...but I trust that they will or I wouldn't be able to drive a car. I know that people cheat and lie, but unless I want to live my life totally alone, I have to trust other people. My entire existence could be a lie, but I choose to have faith that my perception is accurate.

In terms of my spiritual beliefs, I trust the relationship I have with God through Jesus. Proof is irrelevant...though I have plenty of evidence that my beliefs are true. I trust that God has revealed the truth to me because I have sought the truth (seek and you shall find)...just as I trust that the sun will come up because of my experience watching it happen for several decades! I trust that other drivers will obey the rules of the road and that my friends/family are telling me the truth...but that doesn't mean I don't look for evidence to the contrary. I trust that the Matrix is just a movie...for if it isn't, my life is pointless anyway. My relationship with God is the same...my years of experience have revealed a consistency in him that I can count on...I don't blindly trust that everything I think may be true is true, I test my assumptions and keep my eyes open so I can see things that I may be wrong about...I believe that he has a wonderful purpose for my life and if I'm wrong about that then my life is pointless anyway!

I don't expect you or anyone else to accept my evidence as proof for I believe that the proof comes from within us. I can't prove to you that my beliefs are true and real just as you can't prove to me that they are based on a myth.

Answer 4

I think every single religion "borrows" idea's and such from other religions, there IS proof of this.
Take the catholics and the "old religions" (pagans), many of the catholic symbols that are used today, where originally from pagan beliefs. The catholics pushed/forced many to take on thier own beliefs and worship, many pagans were killed if they didn't. Pagans were forced to build churches and such and in doing so they secretly incorperated thier own symbols into the buildings, or plainly were taken from them.
There is proof of this.
Just an example.
Look at the hindu beliefs,one of their religious symbols were taken by the nazi's of all people.
If you get right down to it, all organized religions now days have "borrowed" a lot of their idea's and symbols from the "old religions".

Answer 5

What proof does anyone have that blue is blue and not simply purple. Perhaps that too is a myth that was perpetrated in the beginning of time to explain away the tellers true love of ble and dislike of purple. They simply expounded upon it and it has been retaught over time until we have all been indoctrinated to the irrational belief that is the color wheel. My oh my...what a quandry society is in if we cannot trust science to be teaching us the truth of such a simple oddity as color and color variances. Gasp!!

Answer 6

They don't have any proof. Thats why they avoid the question.

There is much evidence that does say they did borrow from older myths.

Answer 7

Islam and Christianity borrowed a lot from the Greeks, Hindus, Romans and Chinese.

The facts arwe carefully concealed from these people so they think that their religion is right

Answer 8

The only proof is the belief itself. Remember that you don't have to believe, bu you only chose to believe.
God bless you.

Answer 9

I have had all the proof I need, but it is hard to tell those who haven't, and even if you try to they will only turn round and scoff you

Answer 10

that is why you are to believe in god and not in religion.take time to pray,talk to god by meditating,look inside yourself..that's where you find god,not in religious traditions.i believe in god.don't believe in religion,just trust god.
may He bless u :)