A question for all religious believers -- why is your religion more true than any other?

[Quintessence]

I don't see religious worldviews as qualitatively different in that regard from non-religious ones. Everyone thinks their worldview is right and others that contradict them are wrong.

Everyone? Everyone?

I guess I and many others are no ones then.

 

[MikeF]

It is not really that hard. Anthropology and other human sciences have long achieved a good functional understanding of religion.

Sure, there is a lot indeed of controversy, but that is nearly entirely a matter of politics and social taboos.

Well, it is my (erroneous?) assumption that the percentage of Anthropologist in any given culture is small. So when you say that there is the confused notion of what religion even is in those cultures, are you specifically referring to the Anthropologists in the affected cultures?

If you are not referring to Anthropologists but to believers in general, what criteria determines which religious beliefs constitute a clearer notion of religion, and clearer to whom?

 

[Vinayaka]

I think the idea of 'I'm right and you're wrong,' exists in certain people in many aspects of life: politics, and religion being the main two. Others like nutrition, use of drugs, sexuality, etc. also have self appointed experts. But for this thread, just as some theists are guilty of what's stated in the OP, others do similar things. Some hard atheists makes the same claim of 'I'm right and you're wrong" but with the opposite viewpoint. Same attitude.

 

[Vinayaka]

Everyone? Everyone?

I guess I and many others are no ones then.

Better to be a no one than a part of the 'everybody'.

 

[Quintessence]

Better to be a no one than a part of the 'everybody'.

Haha... there might be something to that.

I mean, the things I go "I'm right and you're wrong" about are things like tea. If you do not like tea, there is just something wrong with you, full stop. Not liking tea is akin to not liking water, sheesh!

 

[Trailblazer]

However, if the Christ returns soon, some of the beliefs of Christians will be proven. However, I think the Christ will contradict some of their beliefs after he returns -

If you are referring to Jesus Christ, He is not going to return, not unless the Bible is incorrect, in which case there would be no reason to trust any of it.

John 14:19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

John 16:10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more.

John 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

John 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

 

[Vinayaka]

Haha... there might be something to that.

I mean, the things I go "I'm right and you're wrong" about are things like tea. If you do not like tea, there is just something wrong with you, full stop. Not liking tea is akin to not liking water, sheesh!

I hate tea. (Not really.) Off hand, I can't really think of anything where I would say everyone else is wrong. I'm a better driver than Boss, but she would readily admit that.

 

[McBell]

Everyone? Everyone?

I guess I and many others are no ones then.

Are you saying that your worldview is wrong?

 

[Trailblazer]

The return of the Christ may change some atheists' minds, but I think many will continue to say that he is a fake (or a magician if he performs some miracles). I personally believe this event will happen soon - this year or next, so we don't have that long to wait.

Notwithstanding the fact that Jesus said His work was finished here and He was no more in the world, how would anyone know it was Jesus if Jesus returned?

If Jesus returned to this world, how would you know it was Jesus?

Most Christians are waiting for Jesus to return, although they do not all agree on when or how He will return, but if a man came claiming to be Jesus how would you know it was really Jesus? After all, there are no photos of what Jesus looked like when He walked the earth 2000 years ago...

www.religiousforums.com

How many people recognized Jesus when He appeared the first time?

How many Jews became Christians in the first century?

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

I don't see religious worldviews as qualitatively different in that regard from non-religious ones. Everyone thinks their worldview is right and others that contradict them are wrong.

Then there are those of us (speaking for me, really) who read the news from reliable sources carefully, who study and try to learn what they can, when they can, so far as they are able, so that our worldview may better conform to the reality beyond our own skin. I think -- and this is my opinion, nothing more -- that true skeptics aren't so much disbelievers as people prepared to adjust their world-view to fit "the facts," so far as they can discern them.

 

[Quintessence]

Are you saying that your worldview is wrong?

Sure, whatever you say. It is whatever you decide to say that it is, if you think it makes sense to regard something like a worldview as "right" or "wrong" somehow. I do not understand how such assessments apply. A worldview simply is. It's something everyone has, barring significant cognitive impairment. It just is. Like having feet, or a hair color, or thoughts just in general.

 

[McBell]

Sure, whatever you say. It is whatever you decide to say that it is, if you think it makes sense to regard something like a worldview as "right" or "wrong" somehow. I do not understand how such assessments apply. A worldview simply is. It's something everyone has, barring significant cognitive impairment. It just is. Like having feet, or a hair color, or thoughts just in general.

Interesting hostility over such a simple question.

You know, had you provided the above information in the post I replied to, I would have had no need to ask.

Hopefully your above response has helped alleviate some of the built up... whatever it is.

 

[Left Coast]

Everyone? Everyone?

I guess I and many others are no ones then.

Sorry, you don't think your views about the world are correct?

 

[Left Coast]

Then there are those of us (speaking for me, really) who read the news from reliable sources carefully, who study and try to learn what they can, when they can, so far as they are able, so that our worldview may better conform to the reality beyond our own skin. I think -- and this is my opinion, nothing more -- that true skeptics aren't so much disbelievers as people prepared to adjust their world-view to fit "the facts," so far as they can discern them.

I would bet many religious folks would say they employ much the same reasoning to form their own conclusions about the world.

 

[McBell]

Sorry, you don't think your views about the world are correct?

So it appears that I am not the only one who thought to ask as much....

 

[Dao Hao Now]

Sure, whatever you say. It is whatever you decide to say that it is, if you think it makes sense to regard something like a worldview as "right" or "wrong" somehow. I do not understand how such assessments apply. A worldview simply is. It's something everyone has, barring significant cognitive impairment. It just is. Like having feet, or a hair color, or thoughts just in general.

Do you believe all worldviews comport with reality equally?
Or independently of a person who may believe them?

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

I'm unfamiliar with how Quaker assemblies are run generally (outside of unprogrammed meetings). Everyone celebrated Hanukkah? I'd love to hear more.

Well, we didn't hold Quaker assemblies per se at Pickering, although I did visit a couple of Quaker meeting houses during meetings, especially the very beautiful Sharon Temple close to the school.

A Quaker meeting can seem odd to outsiders, I think because generally very little happens. There is nobody "leading a service;" no ministers or creeds. The members gather and greet one another, spend time in quiet contemplation to quiet their minds, and in that stillness, open their hearts and lives to new insights and guidance. Occasionally, someone will feel moved to speak on one topic or another, completely their choice. A meeting for worship usually lasts about an hour. And that really is about it!

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

I would bet many religious folks would say they employ much the same reasoning to form their own conclusions about the world.

I suppose that they might say that -- but then, that seems to be profoundly contradicted the moment a congregation recites their "creed."

 

[vulcanlogician]

A Quaker meeting can seem odd to outsiders, I think because generally very little happens. There is nobody "leading a service;" no ministers or creeds. The members gather and greet one another, spend time in quiet contemplation to quiet their minds, and in that stillness, open their hearts and lives to new insights and guidance. Occasionally, someone will feel moved to speak on one topic or another, completely their choice. A meeting for worship usually lasts about an hour. And that really is about it!

Yeah. I was surprised when I realized that that's what a Quaker meeting was. But it's good for the soul to just spend an hour in silence, I think. If such a thing is compulsory, then it might qualify as useless. But otherwise... IDK... I wonder if an hour of silence might not solve some of the world's ills.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

Yeah. I was surprised when I realized that that's what a Quaker meeting was. But it's good for the soul to just spend an hour in silence, I think. If such a thing is compulsory, then it might qualify as useless. But otherwise... IDK... I wonder if an hour of silence might not solve some of the world's ills.

I strongly doubt that it would hurt...