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

[CG Didymus]

It does seem to me that all of the religious people I know accept that their creed, their religion's essential beliefs, are correct, while all others -- because they obviously don't agree with the central tenets of their sect, must be somehow lacking.

Yes, different religions an different sects within a religion have different beliefs.

This thread is meant to be a great opportunity for believers of all kinds to engage -- to write apologetics in defense of their beliefs. I'm hoping to see significant essays!

Since each probably believes theirs is correct, why is it that they think that? Easy question.

My religion is not better, more superior or truer than other religions.

As you know, I was going to Baha'i meetings and even went with Baha'is to some of their "mass teaching" events. I was taught that it is the true message from God for today. None of the other religions have this new information. That kind of makes the Baha'i faith better and truer, if not even superior to all the others... if what they claim is true. Why do you believe that the Baha'i Faith is not better, truer, or superior to the other religions? Especially, when another Baha'is gives us reasons to believe it is?

God gives and renwews all the Messengers who bring the Religions. All religions from God have been given for us to find Love in a unity of purpose and service to each other.

Religions also have seasons and are renewed approximately every 1000 years. Thus all Faiths will have a winter of decay before the spring of a new Message unfolds. They, one and all, after the spring of renewal and growth, will all have an apex of summer before autumn eventually sets in bringing about the winter of their decline.

Some embrace the new and the religion grows to the potential of the capacity of those that have embraced it. All religions have the capacity to unite all humanity.

Some are not able to let go of the past and say with the older religions.

This is the Baha'i message I always heard. It's a message I disagree with. A new religion didn't always renew another. Maybe, for some, Buddhas teachings renewed what some Hindus believed. Then the Christian message renewed the beliefs of some Jews. But for many years, and maybe even centuries, most of the people in the world never heard of some of these religions. So, how could they renew anything?

Did the teachings of Krishna renew the teachings of Moses? Or vice a versa, depending on who Baha'is believe came first. Same with Christianity, how did it renew the teachings of the Buddha?

Now, with world-wide communications, this new message of the Baha'i Faith can be heard by people the world over. But before that, new religions were too localized to have any effect on most of the other religions.

So the Truth is found in the God given religion applicable to the age we live in, the standard humanity needs to find will be its teachings and its laws. The highest aspirations that are possible, that will bring about unity and the peace and security of all humanity, would have already been given.

Which makes it hard to believe that any new religion was now supposed to be the new and correct teachings for a new age. But the new religions didn't necessarily bring peace and security to humanity... They brought fighting and conquering and forced conversions.

And with a religion like Christianity, when do Baha'is say was their spring and summer? And when do Baha'is believe that Christianity ever taught the real truth? They believe in hell and Satan... in the resurrection and that Jesus was God. All things that Baha'is say are not true. Yet, Christian spread this message as if it was the new truth from God.

And don't Baha'is believe their winter was already happening when Muhammad came? Since Baha'is believe he was the one that God sent to renew religion. But Christianity kept growing long after that. Then it renewed itself with the Protestant Reformation that went back to the basics of belief based on the teaching in their Scriptures. Which still included beliefs that Baha'is say are not true.

I don't think the Baha'i model is accurate in how it explains the different religions. So, can you support your beliefs? Or...

You made quite a number of very explicit claims in the post I responded to, and I can see you have no intention of supporting them.

Maybe not. Is this true? You have no intention of supporting them?

Actually, a lot of us here have already heard the "support" Baha'is offer. And like most other religions, it is based on a certain interpretation that works for some but not for others. It depends on faith and a belief that your prophet, Baha'u'llah, is telling the truth and is the promised one of all the other major religions.

Big claim. But how can Baha'is support it? You know people in some of the other religions are going to reject it. You know that as soon as you say, "God said", that Atheists will reject it.

All you can say is why you believe it. Which all comes down to you saying that your beliefs are true, and the beliefs of others are wrong in some way.

 

[muhammad_isa]

I do not believe God is a tyrant. He offers eternal life to everyone. He can't be faulted if people reject the offer..

Well, we more or less agree on that point..

I believe that may happen but it is not guaranteed as it is for Christians..

What is not "guaranteed"? The fire of hell?
That is what I was replying to..

I doubt what Muslims believe has much validity..

..then you are ignorant of others' creeds.
Muslims and Jews believe more or less the same thing.
Do you also tell us that Jews belief has no credence?

 

[TransmutingSoul]

This is the Baha'i message I always heard. It's a message I disagree with. A new religion didn't always renew another. Maybe, for some, Buddhas teachings renewed what some Hindus believed. Then the Christian message renewed the beliefs of some Jews. But for many years, and maybe even centuries, most of the people in the world never heard of some of these religions. So, how could they renew anything?

Did the teachings of Krishna renew the teachings of Moses? Or vice a versa, depending on who Baha'is believe came first. Same with Christianity, how did it renew the teachings of the Buddha?

Now, with world-wide communications, this new message of the Baha'i Faith can be heard by people the world over. But before that, new religions were too localized to have any effect on most of the other religions.

From my understanding up until the Bab, no two Messengers had walked the earth at the same time.

So each of the previous dispensations would have annulled the Message of the previous dispensations. The issue is, we as humanity were not looking for this, and still are not.

This is a new concept that we are yet to embrace as a united humanity.

Regards Tony

 

[ElishaElijah]

Here is a good one:

Paul Thomas on Instagram: "Subscribe to my YouTube channel for more biblical truth, click the link in my bio."

13K likes, 641 comments - jesuschristisrisen12 on February 4, 2024: "Subscribe to my YouTube channel for more biblical truth, click the link in my bio.".

www.instagram.com

 

[osgart]

Truth is to be in accordance with virtues. My religion is true because it stands up to experience, taught me self control, and humbles me toward all life and not just in or out groups. The more I learn the less I realize that I know. Ideals can make one absolutely humble or totally unrealistic and egotistical.

If truth doesn't humble a person, it's not the truth.

 

[Maninthemiddle]

Yes, different religions an different sects within a religion have different beliefs.

Since each probably believes theirs is correct, why is it that they think that? Easy question.

As you know, I was going to Baha'i meetings and even went with Baha'is to some of their "mass teaching" events. I was taught that it is the true message from God for today. None of the other religions have this new information. That kind of makes the Baha'i faith better and truer, if not even superior to all the others... if what they claim is true. Why do you believe that the Baha'i Faith is not better, truer, or superior to the other religions? Especially, when another Baha'is gives us reasons to believe it is?

This is the Baha'i message I always heard. It's a message I disagree with. A new religion didn't always renew another. Maybe, for some, Buddhas teachings renewed what some Hindus believed. Then the Christian message renewed the beliefs of some Jews. But for many years, and maybe even centuries, most of the people in the world never heard of some of these religions. So, how could they renew anything?

Did the teachings of Krishna renew the teachings of Moses? Or vice a versa, depending on who Baha'is believe came first. Same with Christianity, how did it renew the teachings of the Buddha?

Now, with world-wide communications, this new message of the Baha'i Faith can be heard by people the world over. But before that, new religions were too localized to have any effect on most of the other religions.

Which makes it hard to believe that any new religion was now supposed to be the new and correct teachings for a new age. But the new religions didn't necessarily bring peace and security to humanity... They brought fighting and conquering and forced conversions.

And with a religion like Christianity, when do Baha'is say was their spring and summer? And when do Baha'is believe that Christianity ever taught the real truth? They believe in hell and Satan... in the resurrection and that Jesus was God. All things that Baha'is say are not true. Yet, Christian spread this message as if it was the new truth from God.

And don't Baha'is believe their winter was already happening when Muhammad came? Since Baha'is believe he was the one that God sent to renew religion. But Christianity kept growing long after that. Then it renewed itself with the Protestant Reformation that went back to the basics of belief based on the teaching in their Scriptures. Which still included beliefs that Baha'is say are not true.

I don't think the Baha'i model is accurate in how it explains the different religions. So, can you support your beliefs? Or...

Maybe not. Is this true? You have no intention of supporting them?

Actually, a lot of us here have already heard the "support" Baha'is offer. And like most other religions, it is based on a certain interpretation that works for some but not for others. It depends on faith and a belief that your prophet, Baha'u'llah, is telling the truth and is the promised one of all the other major religions.

Big claim. But how can Baha'is support it? You know people in some of the other religions are going to reject it. You know that as soon as you say, "God said", that Atheists will reject it.

All you can say is why you believe it. Which all comes down to you saying that your beliefs are true, and the beliefs of others are wrong in some way.

I don’t say any Religion is wrong, I follow my Religion and don’t concern my self with the beliefs off others.

 

[Muffled]

I believe most Muslims likely believe what you believe has no validity as well.

I believe that is because they lack the Truth.

 

[Muffled]

That's good for you.

I believe it is good for everyone.

 

[Muffled]

Truth is to be in accordance with virtues. My religion is true because it stands up to experience, taught me self control, and humbles me toward all life and not just in or out groups. The more I learn the less I realize that I know. Ideals can make one absolutely humble or totally unrealistic and egotistical.

If truth doesn't humble a person, it's not the truth.

What is your basis for that. I believe it is not a tautology.

 

[JustGeorge]

I believe that is because they lack the Truth.

They probably believe you lack the Truth as well.

 

[Kathryn]

I chose what works best for me. I am not inclined to force my beliefs on anyone else. Maybe something else works best for them, I don't know. However, if I am asked why, for instance, I am joyful, I will tell them what works best for me, and why. That being said, I think we are all in for some surprises at the end of time as we know it. Myself included. I know I don't have things all figured out. I adjust my thinking as I get older and accumulate more wisdom.

 

[Muffled]

They probably believe you lack the Truth as well.

I believe people who are wedded to falsehoods tend to think that.

 

[muhammad_isa]

I believe that is because they lack the Truth.

You "believe" .. that just about sums it up.

..but you cannot say WHY you believe that, I suppose .. just "a feeling" ..
..the same as the Jewish Sanhedrin had about Jesus, eh??

 

[osgart]

What is your basis for that. I believe it is not a tautology.

Ego is overestimating one's nature and abilities and having self confidence not rooted in truth and actuality. Arrogance is different because it's a feeling of superiority without any desire to justify it, nor does it care what is true; according to my definition of truth. Everyone must deal with facts, but truth is more than facts.

Virtues are principles, character traits and also ideals. Truth is in accordance with virtues. The human plight is that nothing is ideal, and people struggle with their biological nature, desires, and environment. Humanity has the capacity and potential to do good, even though many are not in a position to help others. Virtues if properly understood and defined can humble a person because human nature and existence will never be ideal.

Virtues are truth values. Perfect character is unattainable. There are degrees of virtue, as well as vices. Humans can do good, but they can do great harm with ignorance, and stupidity. Evil outright defies virtues in favor of arrogance.

It's not easy to see the forest from the trees. Accepting virtues as truth is humbling. Ego draws one to arrogance, but is not arrogance. Virtue draws one to humility if they accept it upon realizing it.

However existence isn't built on virtues. Humans have made civilization from the wild nature of reality. That is also humbling. Coexistence with others has always been a struggle, and often enough a war. A war against nature, existence, self, others.

 

[The Hammer]

I believe it is good for everyone.

If it was id have stayed Catholic.

 

[walt]

think about a painter does he at any time get assistance to paint the picture from nobody? If there is 5,000 strokes of the brush involved, is even one stroke accomplished by the means of nobody? Did nobody make the frame and the canvas? Did nobody assemble the canvas and frame onto the easel? Did the paints show up by themselves to assist the painter? Who made the paint brushes? Nobody? Everything that is accomplished to paint the picture is always accomplished by somebody, nobody assists the painter in any way! Even if a robot assisted the painter to paint the picture the robot is designed and built by somebody. I worked at many jobs for over 50 years and I never got any assistance to build anything from nobody! If the painter cannot acquire the assistance of any kind to even the smallest degree, even one stroke from nobody who does something as complicated as a human body? Who designs it? Who creates it? It took man how many years to create automobiles like we see today? The human body is much more complex than an automobile. If a person cannot get assistance to build anything to the smallest degree how does life that we see on earth exist? If you want to see what life would look like with the assistance of nobody look at any other planet.

Thank You for the like. If a painter or any worker makes something, does he get assistance for even the smallest step? Does any steps happen all by themselves? There is over a million alveoli in each lung, which we need to breathe in the first second of life.

Have you ever experienced any steps being accomplished all by themselves in your lifetime?

 

[Banach-Tarski Paradox]

It does seem to me that all of the religious people I know accept that their creed, their religion's essential beliefs, are correct, while all others -- because they obviously don't agree with the central tenets of their sect, must be somehow lacking.

As a non-believer in any religion, I am curious how it is, what evidence, what logic, leads you to suppose that your particular religion/denomination/sect got it right, while the others did not.

This thread is meant to be a great opportunity for believers of all kinds to engage -- to write apologetics in defense of their beliefs. I'm hoping to see significant essays!

It’s a long story.

 

[Muffled]

Well, we more or less agree on that point..


What is not "guaranteed"? The fire of hell?
That is what I was replying to..


..then you are ignorant of others' creeds.
Muslims and Jews believe more or less the same thing.
Do you also tell us that Jews belief has no credence?

I believe that was God's mercy as the color coding indicated.

It was a general statement. I believe everyone knows at least something but the possibility of being right diminishes with the lack of the Holy Spirit as guide.

 

[Muffled]

I don’t say any Religion is wrong, I follow my Religion and don’t concern my self with the beliefs off others.

I believe God in me, is love for people which is why I speak the truth to those who will hear it.

 

[Trailblazer]

It does seem to me that all of the religious people I know accept that their creed, their religion's essential beliefs, are correct, while all others -- because they obviously don't agree with the central tenets of their sect, must be somehow lacking.

As a non-believer in any religion, I am curious how it is, what evidence, what logic, leads you to suppose that your particular religion/denomination/sect got it right, while the others did not.

This thread is meant to be a great opportunity for believers of all kinds to engage -- to write apologetics in defense of their beliefs. I'm hoping to see significant essays!

The Baha'i Faith does not claim that we 'got it right' and all the other religions got it wrong. Our only claim is to be the latest and most current that was revealed by God through a Messenger of God. We also believe that all the elder religions have already fulfilled their purposes so they and what was revealed is not what humanity needs in this age. The spiritual teachings of all the religions -- faith, certitude, justice, piety, righteousness, trustworthiness, love of God, benevolence, purity, detachment, humility, meekness, patience and constancy -- are still as valid as they ever were , but the social teachings and laws of the older religions are outdated and the message is outdated.

For example, the message of Christianity, that we are saved and forgiven by the cross sacrifice of Jesus is old news. Everyone on earth has heard it, so we do not need to hear it over and over and over again. Moreover, Jesus did the work that He came to do on this earth and then He ascended to heaven. It is all history. Jesus has no more work to do in this earth, He said so, but Christians cannot face that reality because they want Jesus and only Jesus to come back to earth.

From a Baha'i perspective it is time for humanity to move on and recognize the latest Messenger of God, His teachings and laws and His message that all religions are one, from the same God, and that humanity is all one people. Until that happens we are going to be a world divided, each religion believing they are the correct one.

As I see it, Christianity is the main culprit since it teaches that Jesus is the only way to God and that there has never been any other true religion.
There is nowhere for humanity to go with that, it is like a dead end street. Such a belief which is held by one third of the human population is holding back the progress of humanity. What makes it all the worse is that so many Christians are still waiting for Jesus to return and fix everything that is wrong in this world, so they really don't have to do anything but wait and wait and wait and wait. I don't know how any logical person cannot se the problem with that.