"They are deceived, not me"?

Question

I asked a question about the observation that different religions believe conflicting "truths" with equal intensity and sincerity. One person responded that she believes they may feel exactly the same as she does, but this is because they were deceived.

My question is, how do you know you were not deceived if you feel the same way as others who disagree with you?

Answer 1

This is the main problem with a faith based belief system.

There is no way to measure truth. Christians claim that the bible is the one true way to measure the will of God, which sounds great, but clearly doesn't explain the thousands of denominations and millions of doctrines that have sprung out of one Holy book.

There is NO WAY to determine who's religion is based on the truth, because all religions are based on emotion and faith which cannot be measured empirically.

This is why relying on religion for belief is like building a house on sand, which according to the bible is a mistake.

Answer 2

Let's take a look at the idea of religion, particularly the Big Three monotheistic ones.

We know nothing verifiable, or testable, or conclusive about whether God exists or not. Everything everyone says about what God has done, is doing or will do; what God loves, hates or is indifferent towards is speculation. We make this stuff up.

Humans have a need to believe in something. If we do not have a set of assumptions about how the world operates, we cannot function.

Now, imagine a group of people with a particular set of assumptions based on speculations about God. These people surround themselves with people who share the same speculations and placet their lives and afterlives in the hands of the entity about which they speculate. They reinforce each other's faith in the speculation, and yet, since it's speculation, there must be a hint of doubt at the center. They counteract the doubt by affirming the "truth" of their beliefs to each other, using Creeds and that sort of thing.

This is all very well, until this group encounters a group with a different set of speculations. The doubt in each group begins to resonate. Because the members of each group have invested so heavily in their particular set of assumptions the anxiety that arises from the doubt is intense and prompts them to attack the other group, accusing them of heresy for not believing the "truth."

The only way to remain undeceived, it would appear, is to admit "I don't know."

Answer 3

This question make me thought of the time of Jesus Christ.
How many accepted him, yet many also rejected him. Is it because Jesus Christ is not good? Probably not.
Every one of us chooses our path according to our hearts.
If we look for truth, we will find truth. Yet many look for things according to the desire of their hearts, and this is where they are deceived.

Christ taught:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
(New Testament | Matthew 6:21)

35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
(New Testament | Matthew 12:35)

and in the book of Mormon, which rejectd by most christians:

11 Do ye not remember the things which the Lord hath said?—If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you.
(Book of Mormon | 1 Nephi 15:11)

If man is righteous, they will be guided by the holy spirit, and will not be deceived.

Answer 4

It all gets back to that personal relationship with Jesus. Those who have it, know they are right and nothing can turn them away from the truth. We can accuse each other of being deceived all we want,,,but it won't make any difference. That is a poor argument if you think someone is deceived any way...they are not going to listen.

What we need to be asking is, are they righteous or in right standing with God. If you ask them, if they have broken the ten commandments and they say no,,,,read them out for them...Most people are surprised to find they are not as good a person as they thought they were when they come face to face with their sin....Most will want to know what to do to make things right with God...if they don't feel repentant, no amount of telling them how deceived they are will make any difference....

Answer 5

Well, the question boils down to "are YOU the one being deceived?" To which my answer would be, "quite possibly."
Because, I don't know, at least not for sure.

Which is why I take the stance of....

Listen. And assume nothing.

Regards

Answer 6

Through a thorough understanding of Scripture, along with the proper tools of Biblical scholarship and critical thinking, one can learn to discern between truth and fable.

.

Answer 7

Read the bible yourself. There is no mention of reincarnation, ministers being capable of miraculous healings, or a little dot the size of a period spinning around and around til it explodes and creates a universe. People are ignorant. Some far more than others. If you seek truth, the Bible will guide you. If you seek God, the bible will guide you.

"You will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul" (Deuteronomy 4:29)

Answer 8

Well I expect to be decieved thats the great part.

The V commandment.

"A Discordian is Prohibited of Believing what he/she reads"

Answer 9

You make a good point....
Many thought the world was flat and accepted it, until the world learned the truth.

Answer 10

The answer is that they are all equally deceived.