If faith in God will cause him to reveal himself to you, will it work with all of the other gods as well?

Question

I keep hearing how atheists don't have faith to believe in God, you have to have faith before God will reveal himself to you, etc., etc... These same people say that there is/are no god(s) other than God.

Well, how do you know? Have you tried to put your faith in Siddhārtha Gautama, Vishnu, Brahman, Thor, Baosheng Dadi, Tu Di Gong, Khepera, or Santa? Have you truly devoted as much energy and faith into trying to believe the other religions as you have your own, or did you just stick with the religion that everyone else in your neighborhood adheres to because you figure it must be right if everyone else you admire believes it and no one at your church believes otherwise?

In other words, what makes your experience real and everyone else's false? How do you know if you've never actually tried?

p.s. please, no holy book quotations, there are several holy books that are over two millenia old with millions or billions of adherents to this day.

Warriorpooflinger, my point exactly.

Answer 1

Hindu gurus and siddhis spend a lot of their time in a state where they are directly experiencing the divine. Buddhist monks are too, (but they would probably refer to it in a different way).

The gods of Voudon, (or "loa", as they are known), not only reveal themselves to their priests and priestesses, they actually are channeled through their priests and priestesses so that they can interact with their adherents.

Islamic Sufis also believe that they experiences a "divine unity".

Almost every religion has some form of mysticism that adherents can use to try and attempt to feel the presence of "God".

Most Christians that talk about their "personal relationships" with their god probably have a lot weaker experience than any sort of practicing mystic. In fact, I would be willing to bet that most of the Christians on here that claim that they can "feel" their god probably have never experienced anything at all. They may have deluded themselves into believing that they have "felt God" simply because they believe that they are supposed to have that sort of experience. However, a lot of them are also probably just lying outright.

According to the Christian bible, if these people had felt anything from the Holy Spirit, they should show it by developing "fruits of the spirit". These fruits are supposed to be love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. I've met very, very few Christians that exhibit any of these traits. Moreover, the Christians that are most vocal and insistent that they have "experienced" their god tend to be the ones that are least likely to possess any of these traits.

In fact, I've met some Buddhist monks that have exhibited all of the Christian "fruits of the spirit" in huge amounts. But almost no Christians at all that have the "fruits of the spirit".

Answer 2

While I cannot answer for atheists for I actually believe in something I can answer a few of you other questions.

I agree with a previous post that Siddhartha and others are not considered gods they are still spirits of actual people who lead a great example and taught philosophies that we should all take into consideration when living a better life. However while they are not gods they are still spirits that can be contacted and consulted for further wisdom.

Your belief in the existance of spirits and the afterlife is required to be able to contact those whom have passed on, otherwise you will not be able to see through the lack of your own ability, not because they don't exist. The same goes for anything else you may have encountered, gods and goddesses alike will not present themselves due to the fact that you are not ready to be presented to. If you are ready you will have the capabilities to see, hear and feel their existance then communication is better aquired. It's like trying to make a phone call to an omish person who refuses to use new technologies such as electricity. Or sending an email to someone in a third world country that doesn't own a laptop. (not that every american does either)

My point is that any spirit or entity can present themselves to those that believe, many interact with you daily but you don't reconize it for the mere fact that you don't believe.

Answer 3

There is only one God, people interpret God in different names and forms. God is the Origin and Destination of the Universe and is beyond life and death. All religions of world teach human way to get close to God. You give your Best, God will give thy Best. Ask God for help and forgive, God will help and forgive you. Pray; Worship and Thank God for everything. Remember wherever there is Happiness in Life, there will be Sorrow. To get Happiness, you must master Sorrow. For Success in Life; Believe in Self and God, Learn from Past, Concentrate in Present, Plan for Future. Have control on, be the master of, not the slave of your body, senses, and mind. Purpose of this Life is to Gain and Share utmost Knowledge and Experience to differentiate and choose Right, Good, God against Wrong, Bad, Devil. Set your Desire level perfect or OK to be brave, no low to be coward, no high to be cruel. You have rights of Survival, Self Defence, and Freedom.

Answer 4

When Yahweh said "You shall have no other gods before me" in Exodus, he doesn't say that other entities don't exist. He simply says that you must not worship them, whatever or whomever they might be. A similiar thing was said by Jesus: He said that no person comes to Yahweh except through him. He never said that there are no other entities other than Yahweh.

Most Christians would assert that Satan is a supernatural entity that does not require "faith" to activate; whereas Yahweh, on the other hand, most certainly requires it.

Think about it.

Answer 5

True Buddhism doesn't regard Siddartha as a god and the Hindu religion regards him as an avatar of Vishnu which is part of the Hindu version of the Trinity; Brahman, Vishnu, and Shiva; so I really don't have a point I guess. :) And I see Santa all the time.

My experiences with Buddhism and Essential Taoism deliver what they promise. They just don't have an idea of God as a personified entity but rather a force, an energy, the greatest law of natural meta-physics.

Answer 6

Matthew 7:7 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

You will never find that peace and joy in anything or anyone else but God, the creator of everything we see and dont see. Think about it, nothing satisfys our souls. People think money will, but it never does, some think friends will, but what about when those friends are gone, others thingk its popularity, but that doesnt do it either, look and those in hollywood, some try to find it in alcohol or drugs, but they are never fully satisfied, only temporarily, thats why the go back for more. Nothing will fill taht emptyness in our hearts but Jesus Christ.

Matthew 11:28-29 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

And there might be other books that people claim to be millions of years old, but there is only one book that is true, And that is the Bible.

Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of God stands forever.

Jesus Loves you, its all a matter of accepting it and believeing in Him.

Answer 7

I could give you the Christian answer and say there is only one God but why, everyone will believe what they want to believe regardless. Why does it really matter anyway. I consider myself a Christian but, I do not see what I believe superior over anyone else it is just my faith.

Answer 8

No..it will not work..Those are false non-existant gods (Little g)

In Christianity There is a knowing of a knowing of a knowing, that no other relifion can match regardless of what credibility anyone assigns to it.

When a person is saved..there is something that happens that transends all other religions..No it is not an emotional event..it is not anything that YOU will use to describe it..no words in any language can adequately do that regardless of what you think.

A person is saved by in the moment he/she accept Christ..Is just for a moment..Touched by God..No other religion does that regardless of what you or any other religion{s} say.

Answer 9

1 John 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols (false gods)--[from anything and everything that would occupy the place in your heart due to God, from any sort of substitute for Him that would take first place in your life]. Amen (so let it be).

Answer 10

The God who has revealed Himself to me and His word has made it clear that He is the only God.

I don't care if you don't want a verse, your reasoning for not having one does not impress me.

Deuteronomy 4:35
To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD Himself is God; there is none other besides Him.