There are about 1000 gods. Is that evidence against God?

[Nivek001]

You mean like "Don't be a jerk, treat other people with kindness," that sort of thing?

You do realise that Christianity is far from the only religion that says that, right?

And what about the other claims that Christianity makes. Pray for a mountain to move, and it will move. Or that true believers can drink poisons and get bitten by venomous snakes and they'll remain unharmed? You know lots of true believers have died from that, right?

So it seems that these things you want me to try out are either general pieces of good advice which are taught by lots of religions (and so when they work, they can't be taken as evidence that Christianity is true - and besides, I'm sure people were able to figure that stuff out on their own) or specific things pretty much unique to Christianity that fail miserably when people actually put them to the test.

In either case, there's nothing to suggest Christianity is correct.

What is there to suggest that Christianity is not correct? Also, where do you get that I want you to try general pieces and not any specific unique pieces?

As stated in James 1:5-6 Where there is lack of wisdom to ask of God It does not specify general beliefs only apply.

 

[blü 2]

Great abundance of Gods and not great abundance of evidence. No evidence shown that there truly are 1000 or 1000 plus Gods and if it’s believed there is one God who gives an open ended challenge to try to find truth by acting on faith it does seem reasonable to at least give it a try and see personally if there is that one God.

It's not as if I haven't >tried that<.

 

[Nivek001]

It's not as if I haven't >tried that<.

What have you tried? How far have you tried? Do you think that not finding all the truths is worse than finding no truths?

 

[Tiberius]

I get that "Relgious Method" is neutral and just solution. It encourages to search and to find the truth with self research/study. Right friend, please?

Regards

And science is the best way to do that.

 

[Tiberius]

What difference does it make how many who say their own brand of belief is the only way to go?
Truth is truth despite how many prevailing POV’s there are.

Except you are saying that your brand of belief is correct and other brands of belief are incorrect, despite the fact that the people who hold to those other brands of belief have just as much justification to make the same claim about their religion.

Also, while not all religions are fully alike does not mean there no commonly shared beliefs between beliefs. If a belief that is commonly shared between religions is true then it shows that those religions have at least some truth.

Except I think you'll find that the only similarities that exist are the bits that say to be good to each other.

Now in order to find out which one has the most truth then it would be good to find out just what belief or beliefs that make that one religion unique and try out what makes that religion unique if there is an invitation to try it out and then see what happens. If what is unique within that religion is tried and one experiences that it’s true then search is complete.

Like the praying to mountains to move thing from the Bible? That's been tested and it failed.

But I'm guessing you don't want to accept that, right?

 

[Tiberius]

What is there to suggest that Christianity is not correct? Also, where do you get that I want you to try general pieces and not any specific unique pieces?

As stated in James 1:5-6 Where there is lack of wisdom to ask of God It does not specify general beliefs only apply.

Stop twisting my words.

I didn't say there was something to show that Christianity is not correct. I said there was nothing to show that Christianity IS correct. It's a subtle but important difference.

For example, saying that there's no reason for me to think there's a cat on my front door step does not mean there's a reason for me to say there can't be a cat on my doorstep. Please try to understand the difference.

Also, please feel free to give me some claim that is completely unique to Christianity and I'll put it to the test.

 

[Nivek001]

It's not as if I haven't >tried that<.

If you haven’t found all the truth is that worse than not finding any truth whatsoever?

And science is the best way to do that.

How is science the best way to that?

What science proves or disproves a belief in a God who wants us to rely on faith instead of relying on evidence that science can look at?

If science cannot determine if there is such a God it could very well be due to that God withholding scientific evidence on purpose. After all, how could one rely on faith if the scientific evidence is there?

You are not making any sense.

 

[Nivek001]

Stop twisting my words.

I didn't say there was something to show that Christianity is not correct. I said there was nothing to show that Christianity IS correct. It's a subtle but important difference.

For example, saying that there's no reason for me to think there's a cat on my front door step does not mean there's a reason for me to say there can't be a cat on my doorstep. Please try to understand the difference.

Also, please feel free to give me some claim that is completely unique to Christianity and I'll put it to the test.

Again, what difference does pointing out nothing to suggest anything matters when there is also no evidence pointing out to suggesting the opposite?

Also, what other religions outside of Christianity teaches that in order to gain eternal happiness in this life and afterwards one must believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ and in order to determine if Christ is divine or to gain that wisdom one studies all the teachings, tries to apply them, and even prays for assurance if all of that Gospel is true. Which religion outside of Christianity does that?

 

[Tiberius]

How is science the best way to that?

What science proves or disproves a belief in a God who wants us to rely on faith instead of relying on evidence that science can look at?

If science cannot determine if there is such a God it could very well be due to that God withholding scientific evidence on purpose. After all, how could one rely on faith if the scientific evidence is there?

You are not making any sense.

Who said anything about finding God or not? You spoke about finding the truth. When it comes to finding the truth about the universe, science has a proven track record. Christianity does not.

 

[Nivek001]

Except you are saying that your brand of belief is correct and other brands of belief are incorrect, despite the fact that the people who hold to those other brands of belief have just as much justification to make the same claim about their religion.



Except I think you'll find that the only similarities that exist are the bits that say to be good to each other.



Like the praying to mountains to move thing from the Bible? That's been tested and it failed.

But I'm guessing you don't want to accept that, right?

Like I said, when others claim their way is right and it’s just their word vs. mine there is one way to find out if my way is right vs. others by taking a leap of faith in trying out what I believe by study, practicing the teachings and pray for assurance if truth.

All you do is just say that others claim similarly that their POV is right over mine but you fail to establish that you can settle the question who is right between my beliefs and others by putting my beliefs to the test by studying those beliefs, practicing those beliefs, and praying for assurance if those beliefs are true.

It’s an open ended challenge. What are you afraid of?

 

[Tiberius]

Again, what difference does pointing out nothing to suggest anything matters when there is also no evidence pointing out to suggesting the opposite?

Again, I will point out that a lack of evidence for something is NOT the same thing as evidence that the thing doesn't exist.

Also, what other religions outside of Christianity teaches that in order to gain eternal happiness in this life and afterwards one must believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ and in order to determine if Christ is divine or to gain that wisdom one studies all the teachings, tries to apply them, and even prays for assurance if all of that Gospel is true. Which religion outside of Christianity does that?

And how do you propose to put that to the test?

 

[ameyAtmA]

Atheists often cite the great abundance of gods.
In my opinion, this is not evidence against God.
I believe, it rather shows that God allows other beliefs to happen, for some time at least.
.

There is One ultimate eternal Truth, extremely pure, subtle and with infinite potential. We call that Truth Brahman, and the major and minor Divine forms are expressions of Brahman, roles in Brahman.

(i) Either, in its purest form, Christianity refers to Brahman, and Oneness
or
(ii) What many Christians worship or rather, what the bible presents is most likely a perception of a Deity that is MONOLATROUS.

Christianity is not monotheism , it is Monolatry, IMO.

Either it is Oneness in its purest form, or it is Monolatry. for the greater masses.

Thou shalt have no gods before Me means "I dare you to show devotion to another form of Brahman". [not that other gods or divine beings do not exist]

This is monolatrous as opposed to henotheistic.

Whereas this para below is henotheistic:

There is a verse in the Bhagavad Geeta: : " Those who worship other gods for obtaining benefits, are actually worshiping Me indirectly, because I am the One actually bestowing the fruits/results / benefits of that worship , through those gods.
However such worship is improper.
Worshippers of gods go to the gods, whereas My devotee reaches Me (eternal).

Here again, the highest Brahman is saying we have to understand and know Brahman as the absolute and not stay attached to lower divine forms, especially for selfish reasons, without seeing the larger picture, the absolute source of and principle behind them.

It does not mean other Divine forms do not or cannot exist ontologically speaking. If you and I exist, why can't they? They are not mutually exclusive, they overlap in Oneness, principle and purpose and are the same ultimate Source at the absolute level.

Just like we wear multiple hats in and out of home to play different roles for a different purpose.-- Father/Mother, son/daughter, brother/sister teacher, principal, CEO, aunt/uncle, nephew/niece, sports volunteer coach, scuba diver, mountaineer, president of a non-profit, trustee...

I am all of them or at least some of them, but within, it is really just me. Thus the Oneness is seen...

 

[MonkeyFire]

The number of gods in Heaven is absolute infinity, the then there is God and his angels.

 

[Nivek001]

Who said anything about finding God or not? You spoke about finding the truth. When it comes to finding the truth about the universe, science has a proven track record. Christianity does not.

Science has a proven track record at finding ALL the truths about the universe? Where is your proof of that?

Unless you can show that science has specifically a proven track record when it comes to finding out the truth about whether there is a God who wants us to rely on faith instead of evidence, your point about science is really pointless.

Since you have failed to prove how science is applicable when it comes to the faith-based teachings in Christianity, it would not hurt to try acting on faith by study, practice, and prayer and at least see what happens on a personal level.

 

[blü 2]

What have you tried? How far have you tried? Do you think that not finding all the truths is worse than finding no truths?

Didn't you read my link? >Here< it is again.

 

[McBell]

Science has a proven track record at finding ALL the truths about the universe?

Who made the claim that science has found !00%?
I mean other than you just now in your strawman....

Unless you can show that science has specifically a proven track record when it comes to finding out the truth about whether there is a God who wants us to rely on faith instead of evidence, your point about science is really pointless.

WTF does this have to do with the fact that science has a much better track record at finding out truths about the universe than religion?

Since you have failed to prove how science is applicable when it comes to the faith-based teachings in Christianity, it would not hurt to try acting on faith by study, practice, and prayer and at least see what happens on a personal level.

Faith is accepting that which your intellect would normally reject.
Otherwise, there would be no need for faith.

 

[Nivek001]

Again, I will point out that a lack of evidence for something is NOT the same thing as evidence that the thing doesn't exist.



And how do you propose to put that to the test?

If you are pointing out that a lack of evidence is not the same the same thing as evidence that the thing does not exist then it’s possible that one can actually find truth without having evidence to present, which means it’s possible that one can obtain truth by acting on faith. There is one way to find out if that is the case when it comes to Christianity.

 

[Nivek001]

Who made the claim that science has found !00%?
I mean other than you just now in your strawman....


WTF does this have to do with the fact that science has a much better track record at finding out truths about the universe than religion?


Faith is accepting that which your intellect would normally reject.
Otherwise, there would be no need for faith.

What?

What does science covering areas of studying the universe that religion does not have any bearing on what religion does cover which is about God and our eternal potential?

You are not making any sense. Religion is not science but it’s about believing what is true. Science does not cover all truths. And you emphasizing that science covers some truths is irrelevant when it comes to validating Christian beliefs BECAUSE science does not cover anything concerning whether or not there is a God who wants us to rely on faith.

 

[Subduction Zone]

Science has a proven track record at finding ALL the truths about the universe? Where is your proof of that?

Ooh, bad form! That was not his claim.

Unless you can show that science has specifically a proven track record when it comes to finding out the truth about whether there is a God who wants us to rely on faith instead of evidence, your point about science is really pointless.

That was not his point. Why doesn't a belief in God come close to doing what science has done?

Since you have failed to prove how science is applicable when it comes to the faith-based teachings in Christianity, it would not hurt to try acting on faith by study, practice, and prayer and at least see what happens on a personal level.

Faith based teachings are quite often demonstrably wrong or immoral. Science would appear to be the winner over that.

 

[Clara Tea]

yeah well.....there can only be ONE Almighty

choose

Some religions believe in more than one God. Surely all of those religions couldn't all be wrong?

Instead of insisting that we are right and everyone else is wrong, perhaps we should not judge...lest we be judged. After all, only God is the judge.