Why haven't any of the believers really tried to answer my question? Is it that they don't know?

Question

Here is my question:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AjZ1Tdzzn6qU4g2JHTYZg0Lsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071116081921AAAqdfN

After 13 responses, I really didn't get a believer who answered the question.

I'm not trying to make fun of anyone. I just want to know.

JC and Green: I know you both answered my question. Thank you.

And Green, I thought yours was really the only honest answer.

ecterbob: very honest - thanks

ecterbob: very honest - thanks

Laney: fair enough.

angela: everyone takes their own inventory so, no, you did not.

Diciple: I think you may need to read up a bit on Hinduism.

Marji: not much to say, you really just didn't answer the question except that you don't do anything differently.

Jeancomm: you need to read the details of the question - everyone believes their book has the most accurate prophecies.

Anthony: everyone believes they have authentic experiences with God.

Bobby: everyone has faith that THEIR scriptures are correct.

Marji, people of other faiths would claim they've done the same. And there are several other religions that believe you will go to a kind of hell for not believing in them (e.g. Muslim and Viking religions).

Anthony: you didn't study very hard. Both Hinduism and Buddhism tell you that COMMUNION with God is possible - that beats a relationship any day.

seed: that's fine if it's what you believe. Just as long as you are then willing to admit that a your beliefs are just as likely to be true as a Hindu's.

Answer 1

Sorry; I skipped that question because I thought it was just another attempt to start a fight. See now you're genuine. I know what I believe, but I'll just go with the guy who said if he had all the answers, he wouldn't be here.

Answer 2

I didn't answer it because I didn't see it until just now.
I'll venture to guess that you're not gonna like the answer I give - and that it'll probably raise more questions, but the answer is I didn't "do" anything.
From what I can deduce from Scripture, it isn't a matter of intellect or reasoning (although reasoning may be a tool that is used - it was in my case for sure). It's not a matter of being a "better person" than others - especially since we tend to forget that, according to the Bible, the standard of that measurement isn't other people - it's God Himself.
It's simply a matter of God's drawing you to Himself - and the only explanation He gives as to why He draws some and not others is (paraphrase) "Doesn't the one who creates have the right to make what he chooses?" (Romans 9: 20-21)

OK - bracing myself for the onslaught.

EDIT:
You know what - you're right. The question was "what have I done to make sure I'm not deluded?" and my answer only vaguley touched on that - my bad!
So - what have I done? Continually questioned and sought for answers, weighed the arguments pro and con - kept myself open to the possibility I could be wrong (it has actually happened on occasion).
To this point, as hard as it is for some to believe, the arguments for the claims of Christianity have far more weight than the arguments for other beliefs systems or the non-existance of God - and I've heard about all of the "classics" - though it's always fun to revist on occasion.

EDIT PART DEUX:

You asked what "I" did. People of other faiths DO claim they've done the same. I'm not denying this. All any of us can do is, again, weight the strength of the arguments as objectively as possible (I don't want to go into the whole presupposition/noetic system thing) and determine which, if any, is the most consistant.

Answer 3

In answer to your last question, the thing that is different about Jesus is that you have to experience Him. If He is imaginery then you will know. If He is real then you will know. Faith is what you need to experience Him. I could put faith in Santa Claus but, I will soon find out that he is not real and my faith in him will die. All of the other religions follow their books but lack God living in them as proof of their religion. Many Christians follow the Bible but don't have God living in them and therefore it is simply a religion and not a real experential relationship with a LIVING GOD. I studied the Koran, Judaism, Hinduism, Catholicism, Buddhism and a couple other religions. Non of them tell you that you need an authentic experential relationship with God. Only true Christianity tells you this. I don't care about denomination either. A Catholic could be saved but the percentage that are is very low.

Not true Skeptic. As a matter of fact non of those religions tell you that a relationship with God is possible. I studied them so I know.

Answer 4

I'll match the prophets of the King James Version Holy Bible to any Koran truths, Book of Mormon truths or Hindu, Buddha, Krishna, Mason, New Age, Scientology.


The prophets of the Holy Bible are the true prophets because their prophesies have come true and are coming true today.
There is more written about Jesus Christ than any of their gods and goddesses. Because of these Bible prophesies and because Israel after over 2,000 years is back in their homeland, a nation born in one day and speaking the old Hebrew language and coming back on wings of eagles.

Jesus Christ was considered of such importance that time was split B.C. and A.D. for Christ.

If you want to know the difference between my God and all the other gods, it is the Jews my friend being back in their homeland. It is the Six Day War fighting 5 or more nations and winning the war.

Have you read in the KJV Bible Isaiah 30:25 "....in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall."

You people are reading and listening to the wrong people. You need to be reading the Word of God

Answer 5

I believe in God, so i qualify. I didn't even see Your question the first time. As for what have i done differently?

I do not dismiss any sincere presentation of God's word. If one of them seems to disagree with another, so what? It's nothing new to someone who has read through the Bible several times.

Is that different enough?

Answer 6

Your question is too complex to be reasonably answered in a forum such at this. However, I think your question might boil down to the simple question of why Christians think they worship the correct God.

Simply put, our faith tells us in scripture that our God, Savior, Redeemer, and Lord is Jesus Christ. The one thing that sets Jesus apart from all the other gods of all other faith systems is that He became man, died for our sin(s), and by many reports in scripture and other sources, rose from the dead.
Jesus remains alive, abiding in heaven until His promised return.

The gods of all other religions are dead.
(Jesus is the God of the Old Testament.)
(Allah is not the God of the Bible.)

Answer 7

For me, the question isn't appropriate so I can't argue anything. I'm a believer but I don't consider myself "christian." And, I don't believe that everyone else is deluded. I think all religions are founded on someone's profound personal experience and for the people that their teaching make sense to, they associate themselves with that religion. I don't really concern myself too much with what other people believe or don't believe. I have my personal experience and my understanding and I feel pretty secure in my understanding. But, it doesn't really matter to me what anybody thinks about it because everyone is entitled to their opinion. I subscribe to the "what other people think of me is none of my business." So, while you are not trying to make fun of anybody, your question was sort of worded in a way to seem like it was baiting an argument. That's all.

Answer 8

All the religions you have mentioned have a common thread, they all believe in Moses, the 10 commandments, and the 613 laws. But Jesus told you that Moses worshiped the serpent, the red dragon, the devil, Satan, but you do not hear His Words, the Words of God the Father who arts in heaven..

Jesus told you "Salvation is of the Jews". "Moses gave you not that bread from heaven". "All that were before Me are thieves and robbers".

"I come in My Father's name and you believe me not another shall come in his own name and him you shall believe".

Read all the bad things Jesus said about Moses and the Prophets.
Then read Revelation 13:10-18, who is this person ? You know, you just won't believe it.

Answer 9

Of course it's not that they don't know! This is just a very uncomfortable topic for them to think about, because it makes them confront the fact that they either didn't truly choose their religious belief for their own self (i.e. were indoctrinated by their parents from a young age) or it makes them confront the fact that they chose arbitrarily, and they have no more proof of their correctness than do those they decry as being on the wrong path.

Answer 10

The main thing that I do to help with that, because we are all deluded in one aspect or another, is to take only my OWN inventory. Also to love the essence of all religions or non-religions. Did I answer your question?