What's your Religion?

lol!!

 

Oy.... I really need to keep up with this thread! I'll keep my comments limited this time as I don't have time to quote every single one of you.

Thanks, hoosier!

Maybe, maybe not. I don't know about those other religions but just because someone is born in "the west" does not at all mean they are a Christian.

When someone becomes a Christian in a country where it is socially rejected and even persecuted, you can know for a fact that their faith is real. I wonder how many American so-called "Christians" would deny their faith when a gun is put to their head.

Christianity is neither cultural nor regional.

(In addition to Ben's answer) The telephone game is also a terrible example because translators do not translate off of other translations. The traslations of the Bible go back to the original document.

We can speak the languages it was written in: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek...

It has been translated a lot but each one came for the same source (there are only a few exceptions..... such as the NJKV and NASV)

Believing in a concrete, never-changing truth trumps believing in a fluid, evolving concept of individual truth anyday IMHO...

Are you trying to equate your invisible dragon with God? If so, then where do you see the effects of your dragon?

You can see the effects of God.

What is the proof of a painter? The painting itself. What is proof of a builder? The building. What is proof of the Creator? Creation.

Dead fish float down stream...

lol I would agree that some Catholics are Christians, but in no way are all Catholics Christians!! Sorry... But it's religion and tradition vs. faith in most cases.

Look at the Protestant Reformation.....

 

http://youtu.be/SdwTwNPyR9w

Saying we can't imagine how it evolved doesn't prove anything.

Figure out how it evolved is science.

 

You can see the effects of god but you can't see the effects of allah. You can look at the creation and know your creator did it and not Krishna, Mithru or the 1000 other gods we've invented. You can believe with no evidence whatsoever the word of the bible and simultaneously reject every other religion for lack of evidence.

You can apply logic and critical thinking to every god and every religion but one. You can shine a spotlight upon every explanation of who we are and how we came to be but when it comes time to shine that light upon your own ancient beliefs it grows dim. I would bet you can label the claims of other religions as incredulous while still believing in the virgin Mary, water into wine, global floods, Adam and Eve, resurrections, etc...

Every reason you can give to reject any other religion that exists or has existed applies to your religion too.

 

Well said sir.

 

If you look at the evidence, there is are massive differences. So yes I can reject other religions.

I do apply logic and critical thinking when considering all worldviews. I think the main reasons for parallel stories in different religions is 1) The stories were actual, historical events seen from multiple perspectives. (ex: Noah v. Gilgamesh) Some versions were passed down through generations without being written down which would inevitabley lead to evolution in their version of the story. (Like the game "telephone".) haha 2) Many of the stories in the Bible were adopted by others later on and claimed as their own. (ex: Moses v. Sargon.) In every case the Bible comes out on top.

There is one HUGE difference between every single religion out there and Christianity. That is the idea that humanity is evil in nature and an individual cannot get to heaven by his own acts or beliefs. Period.

 

That doesn't make it more real to me, or somehow on top.

 

Ok... It wasn't specifically meant too. I'm simply saying there is in fact a difference--Christianity is unique among all worldviews.

 

The bible adopted many stories from previous religions and claimed them as it's own, it's what religions have been doing for thousands of years.

In every case the bible comes out on top?

Look at the parallels between Jesus, King Horus, Mithra and Krishna. The list is too long to go through here but the similarities are uncanny. And those are just 3 other man-gods similar to Jesus, they aren't the only ones.

Christianity does have some unique traits. I'm not sure that the idea that mankind is inherently evil and needs help getting to heaven is unique only to christianity though. I'd have to research it but heaven isn't solely a christian idea nor is sin.

But again, you didn't offer anything that can't be turned around and used for or against any other religion out there.

 

The Bible is not a source of evidence.

 

As are all religions, so what?

 

I shall have to look at the specific cases you mentioned. But of the cases I've researched so far, the Bible has been the source.

I know that heaven and sin aren't inherent to Christianity, but I think you'll find that the nature of man is unique.

 

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I fail to see where I did use it as evidence...

Not in regards to the nature of man.

The way someone views the nature of man dictates his view of the world and how he should act in it. It's a big deal...

 

Not a big deal, you say it is somehow unique and better, but it's not really.

 

I can see what you're saying here, however that's a poor example. You can watch a painter paint, or a builder build. You can WATCH them create that which you call proof of their existence. Who saw God do he creation act?

 

I was raised Catholic, That is probably the BIGGEST reason I am more Agnostic with a soft spot for Buddhism...

 

Triumph? What Triumph? Because he denounced his religion specifically Islam? I am muslim, and an american. I've also been on tour in Iraq because I believe what this country stands for... FREEDOM. Look at all the other so called great countries i.e. China, Russia, India etc. If you don't look (Chinese, Russian or Indian) you will NEVER get ahead in life and be successful living in those countries. In India they still have a cast system which they go by, but here in America you can be dirt poor (which I was when I was growing up) and can make a name for yourself if you work hard. WHO WOULDN'T FIGHT FOR THAT REGARDLESS OF RELIGION. There are a lot of bums (Osama and his crew, Tim Mcveigh etc) who have used religion for their own ridiculous causes but don't take this out on the people who truly live by their faith and follow it the way God meant us to follow it bro. We as Americans REGARDLESS of religion need to stick together and stop these divisions that are being created. Stop believing what the media says. Going back to your quote you can find MANY people who have read books and changed their perspective on life like the example below. You can find many videos of people (Muslim, Christian, Atheists etc.) who read books and start to believe in something else. Everyone is entitled to do whatever they want after all it's their life. In the end, we are all the same regardless of our color and religion. That's what makes America great, we have equality which MANY people living in other countries do not have. It's such a huge melting pot filled with great people of all religions and cultures. We can learn so much from each other, I love the fact that my neighbors are so different, it's proof God isn't boring! Let's stop hating on people and try to make a change especially now. We have something really great in the States, it's something to truly die for and to be proud of.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYMKQKSV0bY

Peace and blessings my brothers and sisters.