Bob the Unbeliever
Well-Known Member
Since they are all false? Well... they must therefore all be evil as well?
Good! Progress!
Prove me wrong: Have a GOD show up and say Hi!
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Is no religion better than religion?
- Thread starter Dawnofhope
- Start date
Since they are all false? Well... they must therefore all be evil as well?
Good! Progress!
Prove me wrong: Have a GOD show up and say Hi!
74x12
Well-Known Member
Well I wish I knew a "magic" formula for finding God or whatever. But the fact is that it happens differently for different people.
CG Didymus
Veteran Member
I think it's strange that people in different religions have experienced "God"... But, they all define God differently. So it kind of sounds like they are seeing or "experiencing" whatever they think is true. But, since they contradict, they all can't be true. Even the Baha'is say that all the beliefs of other religions that don't agree with their beliefs are false and have been added into the different religions. Which means that those things weren't from God but from men. So all those other religions are teaching false things, which could make them all "evil".
But, that leaves one religion that is absolutely, perfectly true... and that is the Baha'i Faith... at least that's what Baha'is are saying. But, what's strange, is they also support and believe in the "truth" of the other religions, which they also say have false beliefs and traditions mixed in? Of course, the Baha'is are the only ones that know which things in all the other religions are true and which are false. But, even though they say that, they also say that they have no intention of getting rid of those other religions... that people are to free to believe in any religion.
But since some of the other religions are working hard to convert others away from the different religions, including taking them away from what they would say are the "false" beliefs of the Baha'is, the fighting and arguing about the "truth" of God will never end. That truth that says that God is an all-loving, all-knowing invisible being... and that no one can prove exists? Except for those that believe in Him. They have felt His presence. They have seen Him working in the world. And they swear that their religion knows who God is and what God wants.
Only problems is that what God wants and is going to do is disagreed upon by all the different religions, and even within religions. In another thread I mentioned that the Bible says that God is not the author of confusion... If He's not the author of it, then He certainly has allowed it to happen. So what's the difference? And, with the addition of his supposedly new revelation, the Baha'i Faith, He sure hasn't done a very good job at alleviating the confusion with in all the religions. We have another religion that thinks it has the "best", most "up to date" truth from God that supersedes all the other "truths" from God.
So no... no religion is not what is needed. It is one religion, the Baha'i religion. Is it? It claims to have all the answers. That it has the plan to lead the world into peace and harmony. Can it and will it? What do you see as some things that might be problematic with them?
The consideration is has Baha'u'llah given the elixer for this age or not?
Is unity needed, or not?
Are the elimination of prejudices needed or not?
Can we acheive all we need to acheive without the co-operation of all Nations or not?
If all the answers to these elixers are yes, then what path seems most lilely?
No one gives up any of God's Faiths in accepting Baha'u'llah, but one does embrace them all. All it takes is a change in ones frame of reference and One can Love all of Gods Prophets.
Are you at all surprised we got it so wrong? Prophecy said we would, it just more confirmation that we can not go it alone without God.
It was all offered by Baha'u'llah, the Baha'i just share that Message and each has the choice to decide if it is right, or it is not, plain and simple. The world will make this choice as the years unfold. We have but a blink in time.
Regards Tony
Earthling
David Henson
I'm asking you. How long were you a believer? Just answer or at least tell me it's none of my business.
CG Didymus
Veteran Member
You can say Baha'is embrace all the prophets, but they don't embrace what most followers of the different religions believe. Things very clearly stated in the NT are made to mean something else. Like the healings, like bringing a couple people back to life, like walking on water and, of course, Jesus rising from the dead. That is the "Holy Book" of the Christians. If that is not the word of God truth, then what is it? Baha'is make it sound that is so obviously meant to be taken symbolically. No, if those things didn't happen, then it seems more likely to me that the writers were making things up.
And that happens with all the other religions too. What they believe is not the truth. What the Baha'is say is the truth about all the other religions becomes the real truth. So all the other religions cannot be followed or believed in any traditional way. They have to be let go of and believed the Baha'i way.
And, when you say prophecy "said we would"... you are talking about the Baha'i interpretation of prophecy. I'm not convinced by most of the Baha'i interpretations of Christian prophecies, let alone prophecies from all the other religions. Much of the terrible things in the Book of Revelation could still be on their way. Like the three "Woes". I don't see them being Muhammad, The Bab and Baha'u'llah. For me, that explanation doesn't work. So, I'm still checking things out and asking questions. But, thanks for taking the time out of your busy work schedule to give a reply to my questions.
That is the history of Faith, a new one born out of the Old. The only people that accept that are the followers of the renewed Faith.
The entire Abrahamic line tells this story over and over, yet people still query this obvious theme?
The answer to this given many times as the twofold nature of Gods Faiths.
Regards Tony
My guess.the world has not long to wait. Yes some Biblical Prophecy still has to unfold. Baha'u'llah as Christ and Muhammad before fullfills prophecy, but the Bible covers many events, some yet to happen.
I expect that at least 1/3 of mankind will perish in what is to come. Whenever that may be. The Northern Hemesphere will suffer the most from what will happen.
Meanwhile we will still try to foster Unity in our diversity.
Regards Tony
Vancouversailor
Member
For me the whole question of religion is fairly simple. I grew up in a devoted Christian family but already as a teenager I started to question certain fundaments of Christianity. That grew more serious as I aged and as a result my father put out a shunning order on me to all family members, something that suited me just fine. It proved my theory that Christianity is not a religion of love and forgiving but of judging other people, of hatred and of arrogance.
One of the fundamental tenets of Christianity is the existence of hell as a horrible place of punishment ruled by a Satanic figure with horns. Well I have to give those medieval monks who invented our images of hell credit for imagination. However, In biblical times the word hell, taken from Greek, meant purely and simply grave. So people were not condemned to eternal torture in a place call Hell but to an eternal rest in their grave.
Secondly once people believed the hell mumbo jumbo they needed a counterpart so they invented heaven and God, which are no more real than hell and the devil.
On that premise the whole of Christianity is one of the biggest hoaxes in history and one I was very pleased to rid myself of.
If anyone can show me an iota of proof of the existence of God, heaven, Satan or hell I'll revise my thinking. But over 2000 years nobody has been able to do that, just a lot of mumbo jumbo about faith.
One of the fundamental tenets of Christianity is the existence of hell as a horrible place of punishment ruled by a Satanic figure with horns. Well I have to give those medieval monks who invented our images of hell credit for imagination. However, In biblical times the word hell, taken from Greek, meant purely and simply grave. So people were not condemned to eternal torture in a place call Hell but to an eternal rest in their grave.
Secondly once people believed the hell mumbo jumbo they needed a counterpart so they invented heaven and God, which are no more real than hell and the devil.
On that premise the whole of Christianity is one of the biggest hoaxes in history and one I was very pleased to rid myself of.
If anyone can show me an iota of proof of the existence of God, heaven, Satan or hell I'll revise my thinking. But over 2000 years nobody has been able to do that, just a lot of mumbo jumbo about faith.
Bob the Unbeliever
Well-Known Member
Indeed it does-- in fact? There appears to be a direct correlation between the culture in which one is born, and which (or no) god a person believes in (or not).
How amazing is that? It just so happens that each god believer is somehow automatically born in exactly the correct location, to learn about the One And Only Real God?
Bob the Unbeliever
Well-Known Member
More than 40 years. Trained in religious studies, etc, etc. Taught sunday school for 7 years, watched the youn'uns grow to adulthood and beyond. Regular volunteer for youth programs for even longer. Taught adult classes too, sang in the various choirs.
I did the whole shtick.
But then? I got better. Being a newt is most unpleasant; all that guilt, you see.
But the worst part? None of that guilt is real! It's all, 100% bs, fake, contrived, nonsense!
What sort of evil, messed up godling would heap great piles of guilt onto a newborn babe?
So how does an Australian come to beleive in the Baha'i Faith, which was born out of Persia (Iran).
Why is it people in Iran persecute Baha'i?
Must be more to acceptance than nature and nurture!
Regards Tony
74x12
Well-Known Member
Yet many people from all areas of the world find the true God as Jesus predicted. (Matthew 8:11)
Earthling
David Henson
Now we're getting somewhere. Are you better? And what guilt are you referring to?
Bob the Unbeliever
Well-Known Member
Here's a clue: Gods never seem to talk to **anyone**. It is always, and has always been humans.
The fact that it's always a human who has to "explain" god to other humans?
Is proof there are no actual gods.
A REAL god would be self-evident to everyone from birth. To do anything less, is immoral.
Since, at least according to all the self-appointed "god experts", the consequences are so...
... dire.
To answer your question: First, one is indoctrinated into the ludicrous idea that belief in any god is not irrational, but is "normal".
That opens the door.
Next? An individual becomes dissatisfied with his culture's god(s), but the first condition is not alleviated-- so, that individual falls into the trap of an Imported God.
Viola!
Bob the Unbeliever
Well-Known Member
See my previous post: Once infected with the very irrational idea that belief in a god is NOT crazy?
Many folk are easy prey to Import Gods.
Yet-- your god isn't even the most popular god on the planet! Not by a long-long shot.
You are protestant, yes? So we can NOT include Catholics in your measure.
Thus, less than 15% or so believe in YOUR brand of "god". (and I bet I'm being very generous at 15%..... in fact, odds are, the number who believe in YOUR exact flavor of 'god' number in a scant fraction of fraction of a percent...)
Imagine that? (and no-- you do NOT get to include all the bible-people here-- I've seen how christians react to christians NOT in their brand, and it's ugly. )
Bob the Unbeliever
Well-Known Member
Absolutely better. No nightmare dreams of Jayzus coming to cleanse the earth of evil-doers... (for example).
If you don't understand that Xianity is 100% guilt-based? Well... one cannot fix the willfully blind.
You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot *make* him think.
Earthling
David Henson
What in the world is nightmarish about Jayzus, as you say, coming to cleanse the earth of evil doers? Even if I were an evil doer I would have to admire that prospect. If I weren't an evil doer then I would be even more happy with the idea.
Modern day apostate Xianity, as you call it, is mostly pagan nonsense and Greek philosophy. The immortal soul, hell, trinity, cross, Christmas, Easter, rapture . . . all nonsense unsupported by scripture. Traditional pagan myth.
Get down to the nitty gritty and it seems to me that your guilt was most likely based upon your own guilt, or ignorance? God's existence, it would seem to me, had nothing to do with it. Also, the notion that it was all made up by humans to instill guilt or control doesn't really add up either, if you think about it.
On of the greatest prejudices is religious prejudice.
Prejudices can blind us to many things and what you have said has little to do with the way Faith unfolds in peoples hearts.
If we make our heart receptive to God, our frames of references can also change.
Have a great and fun life.
Regards Tony