People who believe their religion is the only true religion

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you tell me what religion does not teach that it is correct?

They all do. The problem with posters here is Christianity, not religions that think they're correct. And Christianity is open to all who will believe, so it's on you whether to accept it or not.

Christians believe that Jesus Christ is God Himself. If that's true (you can believe it or not, but it's true or not regardless of what you believe) -- if Jesus is God -- then to reject Christ is to reject God. There's no way around that.

No. You're just rejecting the Christian's version of God, you're not rejecting God.

I don't understand this statement. Of course, you are entirely free to reject Christianity. However, if Christianity is true and Christ is actually God, then rejecting Christ is rejecting God. It's a simple matter of logic.

Christians have examined the matter and concluded that Christ is God. This, like many other religions, becomes a matter of there being an actual truth that does not have other options available. But again, if Jesus is God and when you die you go to meet Him, you're not going to be able to say, I rejected you but not God.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why bother believing in a religion if you do not think it is the right one?
If another religion or faith is right, then why are you wanting your time with that one instead of the other

My middle school religion teacher said something that has stuck with me all this time.
We're all just people wandering through the forest, hoping to find our way out without getting eaten by bear or something. We have a map - our religion's teachings. We are confident that this map is correct, and if we follow this map we'll end up out of the woods and into heaven.
But just because we firmly believe our map is right, and we will continue to follow our map, that doesn't mean that other people's maps are wrong. Some people (ie, other denominations of Christians, in our case), seem to be walking on nearly identical paths and trails through the woods. Other people (even some with a map labeled the same as mine!) seem to be walking in circles or backwards.
I can, and should, share my map with anyone who wants it - and even invite people to follow me and my map, especially if they seem lost in the woods.
But it's really not my place at all to be snatching maps from other people or to be denigrating other maps.
I'm deep in the woods. I can't see the exit. Maybe their maps get to the exact same place, just on a different path. Maybe there path is more direct and easier. Maybe it's more circuitous and harder.
All I know if that I believe my map will get me out of the woods, so follow my own map, invite anyone who wants to join me on my trails, and leave everyone else to follow their own map without my making things harder for them.

No. You should not share your map unless someone asks for your map.

The very next words after what you bolded are "with anyone who wants it"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why bother believing in a religion if you do not think it is the right one?
If another religion or faith is right, then why are you wanting your time with that one instead of the other

My middle school religion teacher said something that has stuck with me all this time.
We're all just people wandering through the forest, hoping to find our way out without getting eaten by bear or something. We have a map - our religion's teachings. We are confident that this map is correct, and if we follow this map we'll end up out of the woods and into heaven.
But just because we firmly believe our map is right, and we will continue to follow our map, that doesn't mean that other people's maps are wrong. Some people (ie, other denominations of Christians, in our case), seem to be walking on nearly identical paths and trails through the woods. Other people (even some with a map labeled the same as mine!) seem to be walking in circles or backwards.
I can, and should, share my map with anyone who wants it - and even invite people to follow me and my map, especially if they seem lost in the woods.
But it's really not my place at all to be snatching maps from other people or to be denigrating other maps.
I'm deep in the woods. I can't see the exit. Maybe their maps get to the exact same place, just on a different path. Maybe there path is more direct and easier. Maybe it's more circuitous and harder.
All I know if that I believe my map will get me out of the woods, so follow my own map, invite anyone who wants to join me on my trails, and leave everyone else to follow their own map without my making things harder for them.

No. You should not share your map unless someone asks for your map.

The very next words after what you bolded are "with anyone who wants it"

But there is someone sharing their map because they THINK maybe someone would want it. Or they share because someone explicitly ASKS for the map. Don’t try to guess. Wait for someone to ask you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you tell me what religion does not teach that it is correct?

They all do. The problem with posters here is Christianity, not religions that think they're correct. And Christianity is open to all who will believe, so it's on you whether to accept it or not.

Christians believe that Jesus Christ is God Himself. If that's true (you can believe it or not, but it's true or not regardless of what you believe) -- if Jesus is God -- then to reject Christ is to reject God. There's no way around that.

No. You're just rejecting the Christian's version of God, you're not rejecting God.

I don't understand this statement. Of course, you are entirely free to reject Christianity. [b]However, if Christianity is true and Christ is actually God, then rejecting Christ is rejecting God. It's a simple matter of logic. [/b]

Christians have examined the matter and concluded that Christ is God. This, like many other religions, becomes a matter of there being an actual truth that does not have other options available. But again, if Jesus is God and when you die you go to meet Him, you're not going to be able to say, I rejected you but not God.

And I was trying to say that not all Christians believe that literally. There are 8 billion people on earth and probably as many views about what God is or is not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In Hinduism, it is stated in the most ancient Rig Veda text “There is one reality, the wise call it by many names; there is one Truth, reached by many paths.”

It is not a proselytizing religion, some don’t even view it a a religion but as a way of living. It’s a you do what’s right for you and I’ll do what’s right for me way of thinking.

You can believe or not believe but God is still with you, you are still a part of God, so you are not doomed either way.

+1. The Truth is unchanging. You can access it through multiple paths (multiple religions, multiple practices, etc).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you tell me what religion does not teach that it is correct?

They all do. The problem with posters here is Christianity, not religions that think they're correct. And Christianity is open to all who will believe, so it's on you whether to accept it or not.

Christians believe that Jesus Christ is God Himself. If that's true (you can believe it or not, but it's true or not regardless of what you believe) -- if Jesus is God -- then to reject Christ is to reject God. There's no way around that.

No. You're just rejecting the Christian's version of God, you're not rejecting God.

I don't understand this statement. Of course, you are entirely free to reject Christianity. However, if Christianity is true and Christ is actually God, then rejecting Christ is rejecting God. It's a simple matter of logic.

Christians have examined the matter and concluded that Christ is God. This, like many other religions, becomes a matter of there being an actual truth that does not have other options available. But again, if Jesus is God and when you die you go to meet Him, you're not going to be able to say, I rejected you but not God.

Sure, you can say it, but it gentle Jesus, meek and mild, will respond by sending you straight to hell. He has no choice, now that you've made your choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know some very intelligent people who are Christian and believe that Christianity is the only religion that is “right”. — all other religions are wrong and followers of those religions are going to hell. How can anyone honestly believe this? It seems incredibly ethnocentric to me given so many ancient religions, billions of people who follow other religions, and the fact that there is no proof that any religion is superior. I respect those who have faith and believe that all have the right to their own beliefs, but why so judgy? What makes your book more credible than other texts?

I'm a Christian. I believe that Christianity is the most "complete" religion but that many religions offer truth and that Christianity as it is understood currently in American society is limited. I believe in heaven but think there will be people there from all parts of history, geography, etc. I think that we are all accountable for the knowledge we do have. A baseline for me (and I may be wrong) is recognizing that there is a loving creator, that we live in a "broken" world, that we need God and that there is hope for us as individuals/humanity/earth.

When you say that people from all geographies and parts of history will be in heaven do you include people from other faiths?

I am a DP, but I am specifically Eastern Christian and believe the same.

Essentially, my belief is that to those who have been given more, more will be expected.

In other words, those who have the 'map' will have the most expected of them when they reach the awesome judgement seat of Christ. Those who do not have a map will be judged based on how well they understood the love of God imprinted in their hearts (even if they did not understand it) and acted on it.

Also-- when we say that Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and that no one goes is saved except through Him, that is because He is the one who conquered death. God became man so that man can become like God. The only way any of us reach Heaven is because of Christ's sacrifice. He opened the gates for us all, including those who never heard of Him, He made it possible for anyone to reach heaven.

We want to welcome people into the Church because the path becomes easier to understand and maintain through the lens of Christ, thus making it easier for them to reach Heaven. That does not mean someone who has never heard of Christ, or (for example) had a terrible experience with Christians who made it impossible to see the true love of Christ, will not be able to reach heaven.

? But what about Muslims and Jews, for example. They don't believe Jesus is the way, the truth and the Life and no one can be saved except thru him. Can they get into Heaven, yes or no?

I'm the poster from 00:35. Yes. I think people from all geographies and throughout history, including those from different religions will be found in heaven. However, I would guess that they would adhere more/less strongly to certain tenets of their religions, that they would have a sense of something beyond, be humble about how "right" their religion is, and be in spiritual/internal communion with God.

That said, I think Jesus came to show us life here on earth as well as life beyond it. And I think that Jesus is the best way to know God.

Jesus who washed the feet of his disciples as his last act of leadership.
Jesus who said not my will but yours be done (I think this is the crux of the problem of humanity, that we want to be the center of our universe rather than God).
Jesus who said whatever you have done unto the least of these you have done unto me.
Jesus who said that he without sin should be the first to cast a stone.
Jesus who shows us God's love and forgiveness, which enables us to show the same to others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know some very intelligent people who are Christian and believe that Christianity is the only religion that is “right”. — all other religions are wrong and followers of those religions are going to hell. How can anyone honestly believe this? It seems incredibly ethnocentric to me given so many ancient religions, billions of people who follow other religions, and the fact that there is no proof that any religion is superior. I respect those who have faith and believe that all have the right to their own beliefs, but why so judgy? What makes your book more credible than other texts?

It's people out here who believe their choice of toothpaste is the only dentrifrice that is "right"...who cares.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Christianity is the only religion that is fundamentally based on faith instead of works

Jesus Christ was all about works. I don't understand your statement.

Your works do not earn you a place in heaven

RIght, you can be the most helpful person on earth -- always doing for others -- but if you don't also believe that Jesus is the son of God, you are hell-bound, according to Christian doctrine.

Oh yay. Yet another non-Christian poster telling Christians what we should believe. I’ll add my voice to the other Christians here who think there are many paths to heaven, and I know priests who think the same. But you’ll continue to ignore all of us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you tell me what religion does not teach that it is correct?

They all do. The problem with posters here is Christianity, not religions that think they're correct. And Christianity is open to all who will believe, so it's on you whether to accept it or not.

Christians believe that Jesus Christ is God Himself. If that's true (you can believe it or not, but it's true or not regardless of what you believe) -- if Jesus is God -- then to reject Christ is to reject God. There's no way around that.

No. You're just rejecting the Christian's version of God, you're not rejecting God.

I don't understand this statement. Of course, you are entirely free to reject Christianity. However, if Christianity is true and Christ is actually God, then rejecting Christ is rejecting God. It's a simple matter of logic.

Christians have examined the matter and concluded that Christ is God. This, like many other religions, becomes a matter of there being an actual truth that does not have other options available. But again, if Jesus is God and when you die you go to meet Him, you're not going to be able to say, I rejected you but not God.

Sure, you can say it, but it gentle Jesus, meek and mild, will respond by sending you straight to hell. He has no choice, now that you've made your choice.

Have you read anything other Christians here have written? Apparently not.

[Anonymous]

Religion has been used to control and domesticate people since the beginning. It’s the fear that something terrible will happen in case you don’t that keeps you in line. It makes you from even allowing yourself to doubt your faith because you don’t want to suffer the consequences. And the consequences, no matter how kind, all loving and pure the god may be, is always cruel and extreme.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Religion has been used to control and domesticate people since the beginning. It’s the fear that something terrible will happen in case you don’t that keeps you in line. It makes you from even allowing yourself to doubt your faith because you don’t want to suffer the consequences. And the consequences, no matter how kind, all loving and pure the god may be, is always cruel and extreme.

Could you please take your atheist proselytizing elsewhere—that’s not the topic of this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Religion has been used to control and domesticate people since the beginning. It’s the fear that something terrible will happen in case you don’t that keeps you in line. It makes you from even allowing yourself to doubt your faith because you don’t want to suffer the consequences. And the consequences, no matter how kind, all loving and pure the god may be, is always cruel and extreme.

Could you please take your atheist proselytizing elsewhere—that’s not the topic of this thread.

Oh yeah, I forgot. This thread is just for the religious proselytizing folks! But actually, the topic was about one believing their religion is the one and true religion. I was pointing out that this is in each religion’s own design, in order to keep people from deviating or questioning their faith. So I am very well within topic. Not that I need you to police what I say.

[Anonymous]

On the first day, the Flying Spaghetti Monster separated the water from the heavens; on the second because He could not tread water for long and had grown tired of flying, He created the land—complemented by a beer volcano.

Satisfied, the Flying Spaghetti Monster overindulged in beer from the beer volcano and woke up hungover. Between drunken nights and clumsy afternoons, the Flying Spaghetti Monster produced seas and land (for a second time, accidentally, because he forgot that he created it the day before) along with Heaven and a "midget", which he named Man.

Man and an equally short woman lived happily in the Olive Garden of Eden for some time until the Flying Spaghetti Monster caused a global flood in a cooking accident.

These are facts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Religion has been used to control and domesticate people since the beginning. It’s the fear that something terrible will happen in case you don’t that keeps you in line. It makes you from even allowing yourself to doubt your faith because you don’t want to suffer the consequences. And the consequences, no matter how kind, all loving and pure the god may be, is always cruel and extreme.

Could you please take your atheist proselytizing elsewhere—that’s not the topic of this thread.

Oh yeah, I forgot. This thread is just for the religious proselytizing folks! But actually, the topic was about one believing their religion is the one and true religion. I was pointing out that this is in each religion’s own design, in order to keep people from deviating or questioning their faith. So I am very well within topic. Not that I need you to police what I say.

Get a life. And lose the hate—it’s clearly poisoning you.