A question to all religious folk

[Chevron]

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.

While I understand that, it makes sense really as most people believe whatever they got taught.

Question though is, how do you know that yours isn't right? Maybe the Greek or Viking Gods are actually real. How would you know?

I ask this because 'it was what I was taught as a child' isn't a good enough reason.

When we were kids we used to believe in the easter Bunny as well.

[werfie]

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?

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

Question though is, how do you know that yours isn't right? Maybe the Greek or Viking Gods are actually real. How would you know?

Once again simple...You don't! You don't KNOW that your religion is valid, You believe it is, that is the difference between religion and fact/science. Religion is defined as a set of beliefs, so you put faith in your beliefs (and the reason for this differs from person to person). I think there is a whole lot of different things in other religions that are plain stupid, I bet that people of that religion thinks the same about Christianity for instance.

So in it's simplest form it can be considered as a classical human difference scenario where one person believes Merc is a better car than BMW or Andriod is better than iOS or Cardio is better than Weight Training (for example). Each person have their own little repository of reasons they believe one thing is better than another from what they were thought, experience, etc, so another person would have a different set of things in their evidence bag, there is no template.

[Pr⊕phet]

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.

There is no right or wrong god

[DJ...]

Once again simple...You don't! You don't KNOW that your religion is valid, You believe it is, that is the difference between religion and fact/science.

So by extension, had you been born in Iran, you'd probably be a devout muslim, espousing the same thing about islam. Not so?

[werfie]

So by extension, had you been born in Iran, you'd probably be a devout muslim, espousing the same thing about islam. Not so?

Probably Yes........... PTA = Bulls Supporters, JHB = Lions, DBN = Sharks, etc...

[Arthur]

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

You're right. Sorry.

[Arthur]

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

Not meaning to obfuscate. I just came in on a harmonic, after being embedded in the Accounting System. My bad.

Just meaning to say: of course people believe their own view of God (or anything else like science, or Linux or whatever) is true. So many religions contradict one another about the nature of God they can't all possibly be true - either all false, or if one is true the others are false to the extent they differ. Which brings us back to the Q: so what's true?

[Naks]

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 don't get that. How do you respect another religion if:

1. It is directly in contradiction with yours; and
2. It prescribes doctrines/actions that are blatantly wrong, e.g., genital mutilation of babies, misogyny, etc.?

[DJ...]

Probably Yes........... PTA = Bulls Supporters, JHB = Lions, DBN = Sharks, etc...

So our propensity for religious conviction is actually just an aspect of xenophobia. What is the purpose then of convincing yourself each and every day, that you were NOT born in Iran?

[Arthur]

I don't get that. How do you respect another religion if:

1. It is directly in contradiction with yours; and
2. It prescribes doctrines/actions that are blatantly wrong, e.g., genital mutilation of babies, misogyny, etc.?

if there be no objective right & wrong, then your own view that baby or genital mutilation is "obviously wrong" is just a local prejudice, or more generously, a subjective belief-statement (and so we're back to grounds for belief).

[Unhappy438]

So in it's simplest form it can be considered as a classical human difference scenario where one person believes Merc is a better car than BMW or Andriod is better than iOS or Cardio is better than Weight Training (for example). Each person have their own little repository of reasons they believe one thing is better than another from what they were thought, experience, etc, so another person would have a different set of things in their evidence bag, there is no template.

Probably Yes........... PTA = Bulls Supporters, JHB = Lions, DBN = Sharks, etc...

Choosing between all of those things isabout a personal opinion and what you prefer the most, are you suggesting that religion is no different? Its all about what you like the most and not about the truth?

[DJ...]

if there be no objective right & wrong, then your own view that baby or genital mutilation is "obviously wrong" is just a local prejudice, or more generously, a subjective belief-statement.

Objectivity simply implies a purpose. That purpose doesn't have to be religious in nature. So the basis of your argument is flawed...

[Chevron]

Once again simple...You don't! You don't KNOW that your religion is valid, You believe it is, that is the difference between religion and fact/science. Religion is defined as a set of beliefs, so you put faith in your beliefs (and the reason for this differs from person to person). I think there is a whole lot of different things in other religions that are plain stupid, I bet that people of that religion thinks the same about Christianity for instance.

So in it's simplest form it can be considered as a classical human difference scenario where one person believes Merc is a better car than BMW or Andriod is better than iOS or Cardio is better than Weight Training (for example). Each person have their own little repository of reasons they believe one thing is better than another from what they were thought, experience, etc, so another person would have a different set of things in their evidence bag, there is no template.

I totally get what you're saying. But want to respond to this part:

You believe it is, that is the difference between religion and fact/science.

If you don't know your religion is correct WHY do you believe it?

I think that's the reason the OP started this thread. The WHY.

As I mentioned earlier most people follow what they were taught as kids. Is that a good enough reason for you?

[werfie]

I don't get that. How do you respect another religion if:

1. It is directly in contradiction with yours; and
2. It prescribes doctrines/actions that are blatantly wrong, e.g., genital mutilation of babies, misogyny, etc.?

With respect, I mean I don't go beating up or killing people because they don't believe in the same thing as me, regardless of weather I agree with them or not.

[Chevron]

Probably Yes........... PTA = Bulls Supporters, JHB = Lions, DBN = Sharks, etc...

So you agree that you follow the religion you do based on pure luck? Depending on where you were born you'd just follow the religion there.

Is pure luck a good enough reason for you to follow a particular religion?