A question to all religious folk

[Slootvreter]

This is an honest question to all religious folk, regardless of who you worship. How do you know that you're following the right god? Why are you sure you're not on the wrong path, and that the other religion is actually the right one that you should have followed?

EDIT: For once, Nogard, you are welcome to to comment here.

[copacetic]

I'd be interested in some simple, non waffling answers to this.

[Slootvreter]

I'd be interested in some simple, non waffling answers to this.

I fear that this is not possible

[werfie]

Simple, the god you believe in is automatically perceived by you to be the one and only true god, else you would not have believed in that god. I.e. whatever you believe in, everything else is fake and a farce.

[Slootvreter]

Simple, the god you believe in is automatically perceived by you to be the one and only true god, else you would not have believed in that god. I.e. whatever you believe in, everything else is fake and a farce.

This alone makes religion a joke in my eyes, but I am nonetheless interested in more answers.

[Rouxenator]

I fear that this is not possible

Well let's not be pessimists... although I have blind faith while saying that.

[lcbxx]

When I was little, I got taught to worship the Christian God using Dutch-Reformed practices. It was all I knew and I was also not only warned against Muslim's, Hindu's, but also against other Christian denominations, such as Catholics and even certain protestant churches. I was basically taught that they were not going to heaven as I would.

Back then, I did not know better. I did not know whether I was on the wrong path or not; I was taught that I am on the right path heaven and was taught various practices to ensure I get to heaven when I die.

Now I am grown up and have abandoned what I was taught as a child all but completely. If anything, I am angry and disappointed on how I was manipulated as a child, basically frightened into believing. It angers me that I was expected to behave negatively toward others who did not believe like "we" did. I am glad that I rid myself if that burden.

[Slootvreter]

When I was little, I got taught to worship the Christian God using Dutch-Reformed practices. It was all I knew and I was also not only warned against Muslim's, Hindu's, but also against other Christian denominations, such as Catholics and even certain protestant churches. I was basically taught that they were not going to heaven as I would.

Back then, I did not know better. I did not know whether I was on the wrong path or not; I was taught that I am on the right path heaven and was taught various practices to ensure I get to heaven when I die.

Now I am grown up and have abandoned what I was taught as a child all but completely. If anything, I am angry and disappointed on how I was manipulated as a child, basically frightened into believing.

My story is the same, grew up in a Dutch Reformed environment. But I am really not angry at anyone, it is not as if I have been robbed of something in my childhood anyway.

[werfie]

This alone makes religion a joke in my eyes, but I am nonetheless interested in more answers.

Well, I am quite religious, that being said I respect other religions as I can understand how they feel the same as I do. I think every person must have some reason for being religious other than "being brought up that way" else it all is a bit of a farce. Even though I am Christian, I myself will admit that there is now way to prove that any of these things exist, but that is the point of faith I guess. I also think people are religious as it gives them something consistent to hold on to, especially during tough times in their life. I say each to their own, no need to fight each other as there will never be a way to tell if anything exists as all these "prophacies" only ever occur after you die AS LONG AS YOU HURT NO ONE WITH YOUR BELIEFS, I say no harm done.

[Mike Hoxbig]

Well, I am quite religious, that being said I respect other religions as I can understand how they feel the same as I do. I think every person must have some reason for being religious other than "being brought up that way" else it all is a bit of a farce. Even though I am Christian, I myself will admit that there is now way to prove that any of these things exist, but that is the point of faith I guess. I also think people are religious as it gives them something consistent to hold on to, especially during tough times in their life. I say each to their own, no need to fight each other as there will never be a way to tell if anything exists as all these "prophacies" only ever occur after you die AS LONG AS YOU HURT NO ONE WITH YOUR BELIEFS, I say no harm done.

Although the question is not one of respect, but certainty. How do you know that yours is any more valid than any of the others?

[buyeye]

I am also afraid it nigh impossible to prove how a personal relationship with someone that doesn't talk back and I cannot see and only left me a book several thousand years ago to tell me about him.

But I say this my relationship with him is as real to me as my relationship with you guys.

Btw I am christian.

[Arthur]

In the classical A-T tradition there can only be one God. To posit multiple deities is to posit an illogical impossibility.

The real question is: What is the nature of this self-existing first cause of all other being, ie God? So, the OP's question is really one about the various conceptions of this one ultimate and core reality that is being-itself.

In the classical, Jewish and Christian tradition, positing a deity is not a matter of religion but a demand of right-thinking, ie reason. That is why Sacred Scripture says "The fool says in his heart there is no God". Not the unbeliever. The fool. The existence of the deity is a pre-religion question of reason, not a matter of faith. How you work out the implications of that rational conclusion eventually becomes religion, ie relation. You cannot think yourself into faith, for in the Judeo-Christian view faith is primarily a matter of trust, not primarily an intellectual act. After all, Satan believes that God is real, and it doesn't "save' him. He just doesn't trust God.

[Mike Hoxbig]

In the classical A-T tradition there can only be one God. To posit multiple deities is to posit an illogical impossibility.

The real question is: What is the nature of this self-existing first cause of all other being, ie God?

Trying to obfuscate the issue with wordplay doesn't address the question being posed by the OP.

[Slootvreter]

The real question is: What is the nature of this self-existing first cause of all other being, ie God?

No, my question is what makes your religion more valid than the next guy's.

[lcbxx]

My story is the same, grew up in a Dutch Reformed environment. But I am really not angry at anyone, it is not as if I have been robbed of something in my childhood anyway.

My problem is my long term memory. I can recall in fine detail everything said & done back then. How the rowdy kids were punished by making them pray in front of everyone on the PA system, the crap spoken about gay people, etc. The only upside was the sneaky sexual adventures that were to be had on Sunday school camps...