Is one religion better than the other.. and if so....

[Quintessence]

Apologies for not seeing this sooner, @Segev Moran - busy weekend, busy start to the work week, and I think the notification of your response got lost.

They make a lot of social claims.. yet when you learn their claims and study their argument a bit deeper, you come to realize that the basis of their claims is religious

Could you elaborate on what your understanding of the term "religious" is? I actually agree with this depending on how you are understanding that word. A "religious" claim can simply be a claim that is made with great passion, zeal, or conviction. Usually when one culture is wanting to assert its ideas over another culture, they have to be pretty darned religious about it, or convinced that their way is right and the other culture is doing it wrong.

Can you give me an example of arguments your culture makes to justify their way that are not religious or spiritual?

Yes or no, depending on your understanding of "religious." I suppose I can list some examples of things that some people consider "not religious" that I see my country preaching around the world, and you can decide whether or not you consider those to be "religious" instead: capitalism, democracy, human rights, environmentalism, feminism, and secularism come to mind. We seem to consider these "good" things that everyone else should be doing too and come up with all sorts of rationalizations for imposing these ideas on other cultures. Like I said, whether or not you consider those "religious" arguments or not depends on how you see that term.

 

[Muffled]

So, people are "saved from sin" by merely having a politically-correct belief about Jesus?

Nah, I'll propose that it's probably not anywhere near that simple, especially since Jesus puts far more emphasis on moral actions versus one p-c belief.

I believe I never said anything about a pc belief in Jesus. Jesus either is saving you or He isn't. He certainly is saving me. Moral actions proceed from Jesus not from me.

 

[metis]

I believe I never said anything about a pc belief in Jesus. Jesus either is saving you or He isn't. He certainly is saving me. Moral actions proceed from Jesus not from me.

I would suggest that moral actions must proceed from one who believes in Jesus and not just about Jesus.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

I would suggest that moral actions must proceed from one who believes in Jesus and not just about Jesus.

Any thoughts about Matthew 12:33-34; Matthew 12:35-37 ?

 

[The_Fisher_King]

Life is a blessing

I'm not sure we can say that of everyone's life in this world...

as is the beauty and glory of heaven and earth

What do you mean by the glory of earth?

Animals and plants add to our enjoyment of life

They can also take away! If I'm in the middle of the jungle fearful of whether a tiger (say) is stalking me, of the snakes and spiders around me, and seriously annoyed by all the midges and mosquitoes biting me (some of which may be passing on a nasty disease), I'm not sure those animals at least are adding to my enjoyment of life...

As to why I believe there is a Creator

That's not where I was going. What if the Creator is not the true God?

and that the Bible is his communication to mankind, I have carefully researched the available evidence

Glad to hear it!

something I highly recommend, rather than gullibly accepting the word of so-called experts.

I quite agree!

 

[meghanwaterlillies]

Is that a challenge , then embark with us on a journey from the iron age to The Golden Age.

there are way to many parallels. And to people and to us what's relative almost becomes "truth" hence worded as sheep then even so they say be different again but that also becomes a relative term for the "sheep" to ponder I guess like "change" (how true then?)? , which means they would have to deny certain truths in order to go along with what's relative at the "time". Thus some truth and lying. But I'm................

 

[meghanwaterlillies]

Every time there is someone opening their mouth another is lying and sometimes they cant even see the hypocrisy or laugh at themselves. But as Jesus said in a kind of sarcasm wisdom is "justified" by all "her" children.
However even so the books don't have it, those stated don't have all and it partially skips your attention to what it's really about and its mostly about ............

 

[Segev Moran]

I believe Christianity is the best and the only way to be saved from sin but other religions can be helpful if they don't get in the way of believing in Jesus.

Okay.. Kinda LoLing.. because i think you weren't sarcastic...

I believe there are no good people. There are people saved from sin and people who are not.

Wow.. I find it really sad..
Why do you think there are no good people?

 

[Segev Moran]

Apologies for not seeing this sooner, @Segev Moran - busy weekend, busy start to the work week, and I think the notification of your response got lost.



Could you elaborate on what your understanding of the term "religious" is? I actually agree with this depending on how you are understanding that word. A "religious" claim can simply be a claim that is made with great passion, zeal, or conviction. Usually when one culture is wanting to assert its ideas over another culture, they have to be pretty darned religious about it, or convinced that their way is right and the other culture is doing it wrong.



Yes or no, depending on your understanding of "religious." I suppose I can list some examples of things that some people consider "not religious" that I see my country preaching around the world, and you can decide whether or not you consider those to be "religious" instead: capitalism, democracy, human rights, environmentalism, feminism, and secularism come to mind. We seem to consider these "good" things that everyone else should be doing too and come up with all sorts of rationalizations for imposing these ideas on other cultures. Like I said, whether or not you consider those "religious" arguments or not depends on how you see that term.

Well.. when i say religious i mean that the source of the claim is based on scriptures.

Take marriage for example...One of the religious arguments is that monogamist relations is the best thing for a culture...
while the basis for that claim is of course the word of God / Jesus or the likes...

While in practice, It might be that this is a better practice.. but I don't think there is a valid survey that can claim one way or another...
I know couples married for years and are happy and live good life, I Know couples that are more "open" in their relations and live happy lives...

I see it as something that is purely subjective.

The more problematic aspect of this to my opinion.. is of course the ability to force a religious based culture on a population.
I Live in Israel for example...
Here, it's forbidden to open businesses on Sabath (not everywhere.. but a lot of places)...
We have almost no public transportation...
No public services work (besides emergency services)...

I Can't see why there should be a restriction on someone based on beliefs.

To go to the extreme, you can take an example of "woman's modesty" so there is a whole culture of limiting woman just in the name of religious claims.. I think this is mostly what I have issues when i say culture habits based on religious POV.

 

[metis]

Any thoughts about Matthew 12:33-34; Matthew 12:35-37 ?

Just that it confirms the necessity of moral behavior. Do you read these any different?

 

[Satans_Serrated_Edge]

Hi All,

I Was wondering what you think about the various religions and religion streams in the world.

Do you think that God is really in favor of one religion? If so, Which one and why?
Please try to avoid using scriptures as arguments as all religions are eventually based on scriptures and this is not a valid argument IMO.

If you think that one religion is indeed the "right" one, do you believe that following the wrong religion is a "Sin" or on the lighter case, Not the way to salvation.
Please note I'm asking those question out of interest and not because I look for a religion to follow (I personally think they are all false).

I Raise this question because it seems that no matter who i debate, their religion is always seems to be the truth and the valid way to win God's favor.

Also, If indeed one religion is better than the other, Is it better to be a Good person believing the wrong religion or a Bad person believing the right religion?

And I'm not talking about Good and Bad in a sense of following traditions or Mitzvot..

For example:
For Jews, the Sabath is one of the holiest things..
So is it better to be a thief that keeps the Sabath or A decent honest person who sees Sunday as a holy day?

Regards All, and Happy Rosh hashana

Honestly, the best religion is pastafarianism.

No really, hear me out.

•nobody has ever killed anybody for their pastafarian beliefs.

•Nobody has ever killed anybody in the name of pastafarianism.

•It has made millions of people laugh.

•It has made millions of people think.

•Both pasta and meatballs are delicious.

Find me another religion with that resume.

 

[Segev Moran]

Honestly, the best religion is pastafarianism.

No really, hear me out.

•nobody has ever killed anybody for their pastafarian beliefs.

•Nobody has ever killed anybody in the name of pastafarianism.

•It has made millions of people laugh.

•It has made millions of people think.

•Both pasta and meatballs are delicious.

Find me another religion with that resume.

Lol... Actually.. there is one.. Called Jainism... Its Indian religion... Very peaceful and loving... It has zero violence or worship or any texts that call for any type of violence and it is an actual religion

 

[The_Fisher_King]

Lol... Actually.. there is one.. Called Jainism... Its Indian religion... Very peaceful and loving... It has zero violence or worship or any texts that call for any type of violence and it is an actual religion

Yeah, but what about the meatballs?

 

[Segev Moran]

Yeah, but what about the meatballs?

That's a good point.. a religion with no meatballs is no religion!

 

[Rick O'Shez]

I think all religions are man made, they really have nothing to do with what they call God, God or the Source of all cannot be reduced to a mere religion, and to think so in my opinion is ignorance.

Clearly all religions ARE man-made. But I am curious about your idea of a "Source", can you describe what it is like?

 

[Rick O'Shez]

That's a good point.. a religion with no meatballs is no religion!

You need oddballs for a religion.

 

[Unification]

Hi All,

I Was wondering what you think about the various religions and religion streams in the world.

Do you think that God is really in favor of one religion? If so, Which one and why?
Please try to avoid using scriptures as arguments as all religions are eventually based on scriptures and this is not a valid argument IMO.

If you think that one religion is indeed the "right" one, do you believe that following the wrong religion is a "Sin" or on the lighter case, Not the way to salvation.
Please note I'm asking those question out of interest and not because I look for a religion to follow (I personally think they are all false).

I Raise this question because it seems that no matter who i debate, their religion is always seems to be the truth and the valid way to win God's favor.

Also, If indeed one religion is better than the other, Is it better to be a Good person believing the wrong religion or a Bad person believing the right religion?

And I'm not talking about Good and Bad in a sense of following traditions or Mitzvot..

For example:
For Jews, the Sabath is one of the holiest things..
So is it better to be a thief that keeps the Sabath or A decent honest person who sees Sunday as a holy day?

Regards All, and Happy Rosh hashana

When all of the lies are weeded out, there are no outward religions remaining.

When one of the inward sees the day of the light and becomes awake, that is the day of mental wholeness. Many will keep their minds whole, many will be led astray. Many will stay honest, many will begin telling lies again.

 

[Rick O'Shez]

Honestly, the best religion is pastafarianism.

No really, hear me out.

•nobody has ever killed anybody for their pastafarian beliefs.

•Nobody has ever killed anybody in the name of pastafarianism.

•It has made millions of people laugh.

•It has made millions of people think.

•Both pasta and meatballs are delicious.

Find me another religion with that resume.

Dudeism is pretty cool as well.

http://dudeism.com/

 

[Muffled]

Okay.. Kinda LoLing.. because i think you weren't sarcastic...

Wow.. I find it really sad..
Why do you think there are no good people?

I believe it because God said so.

 

[Muffled]

Honestly, the best religion is pastafarianism.

No really, hear me out.

•nobody has ever killed anybody for their pastafarian beliefs.

•Nobody has ever killed anybody in the name of pastafarianism.

•It has made millions of people laugh.

•It has made millions of people think.

•Both pasta and meatballs are delicious.

Find me another religion with that resume.

I believe it can't save anyone from sin and might even invite gluttony.