Why do people believe what they believe?

[Jimmy]

Sure it can. It is all the time.

One can’t ignore truth. However it can be replaced with non truths.

 

[Tony B]

As a former Christian, I'm relieved to know that Christianity is declining in some areas. Personally, I think this is encouraging news.

And these articles are also encouraging to me.

In U.S., Decline of Christianity Continues at Rapid Pace

Decline of Christianity Shows No Signs of Stopping

"In a new study out today, Pew projects that in 2070, Christians will likely make up less than half the US population."

The good news is that much of the rest of the world is bucking the trend so not everywhere will become a moral cesspit where babies are murdered for body parts and the elderly and sick are encouraged to kill themselves etc. Enjoy that secular 'morality' where anything and everything goes...

 

[Dan From Smithville]

One can’t ignore truth. However it can be replaced with non truths.

People do it all the time. It's called denial.

In most cases, we don't know what the truth is and have no way to claim it even if it is recognized. The best that we can do is show that something is logical and consistent.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

One can’t ignore truth. However it can be replaced with non truths.

I agree with your latter claim. We can substitute what is clearly not truth.

 

[firedragon]

The list goes on. We all have different desires and preferences so why would that not apply to the religion we choose to believe in?

Because there is a fact called "absolute truth". Just because your theology tries to equalize all theologies while there are fundamental conflicts in each, without addressing them making this fleeting statements don't make what you says "absolute truth". I understand this is the effort of the Bahai faith to make everyone feel good about themselves and draw them in to your own theology but it's absurd.

Before humans discovered the Everest was the tallest mountain from the level of the sea, it was still the Everest. Even if their subjective knowledge was ignorant or not. Before humans discovered its heliocentric the fact remained even though subjective truths were conflicting. A conflict of subjective truths does not mean it's objective truth.

You are making one of the most absurd arguments.

 

[Trailblazer]

Of course, evidentially and doctrinally it stands above all others.

That is only your personal opinion. We all have those.

Sorry, no actual evidence or explanation there that I can comment on.

There are many explanations within my religion, the Bahai Faith, and below are some.

"The Purpose of the one true God, exalted be His glory, in revealing Himself unto men is to lay bare those gems that lie hidden within the mine of their true and inmost selves. That the divers communions of the earth, and the manifold systems of religious belief, should never be allowed to foster the feelings of animosity among men, is, in this Day, of the essence of the Faith of God and His Religion. These principles and laws, these firmly-established and mighty systems, have proceeded from one Source, and are the rays of one Light. That they differ one from another is to be attributed to the varying requirements of the ages in which they were promulgated."

Bahá'í Reference Library - Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, Pages 287-289

"The All-Knowing Physician hath His finger on the pulse of mankind. He perceiveth the disease, and prescribeth, in His unerring wisdom, the remedy. Every age hath its own problem, and every soul its particular aspiration. The remedy the world needeth in its present-day afflictions can never be the same as that which a subsequent age may require. Be anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in, and center your deliberations on its exigencies and requirements."

Bahá'í Reference Library - Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, Page 213

Why would God promote multiple religions to demonstrate his presence? especially religions with multiples deities? that makes no sense at all.\

There are multiple religions because the remedy the world needs in every age is different. The remedy that is needed in the present day is not the the same as what was needed in the past. Hinduism, as religions with multiple deities is 5000 years old. The people living in those times were not yet ready to understand that there is only one God.

There is only one eternal Religion of God, but that religion needs to be renewed in every new age. The passage below explains why renewal is necessary.

"It is, therefore, clear and evident that the Religion of God does not maintain its original principles among the people, but that it has gradually changed and altered until it has been entirely destroyed and annihilated. Because of this the manifestation is renewed, and a new religion established. But if religions did not change and alter, there would be no need of renewal.

In the beginning the tree was in all its beauty, and full of blossoms and fruits, but at last it became old and entirely fruitless, and it withered and decayed. This is why the True Gardener plants again an incomparable young tree of the same kind and species, which grows and develops day by day, and spreads a wide shadow in the divine garden, and yields admirable fruit. So it is with religions; through the passing of time they change from their original foundation, the truth of the Religion of God entirely departs, and the spirit of it does not stay; heresies appear, and it becomes a body without a soul. That is why it is renewed."

Bahá'í Reference Library - Some Answered Questions, Pages 164-166

Christianity is the largest religion in the world, whilst the West embraces secularism and descends into depravity it is exploding elsewhere, in countries like Iran and other countries tired of their empty existence under false Gods.

Christianity is the largest religion in the world right now, but it will soon be the second largest religion as it is surpassed by Islam.

AI Overview
Learn more…

According to Pew Research Center, Islam is expected to surpass Christianity as the world's largest religion around 2070. This is due to a number of factors, including:

• Population growth: The world's population is expected to increase by 35% between 2010 and 2050.
• Muslim fertility rate: Muslims have a higher fertility rate than Christians, averaging 2.9 children per woman compared to 2.6.
• Rapid growth: Islam is growing more quickly than any other religion in the world.

In the United States, the Muslim population is also growing rapidly. Pew Research Center projects that Muslims could become the second-largest religious group in the U.S. by 2040.

 

[Kathryn]

I personally believe that we are all in for some major surprises some day.

 

[Trailblazer]

Is that a theistic philosophical argument that theists have always made or you just think that is? I have never heard this "obvious" argument just like that. I believe you are making a strawman.

I said: Why do some people consider the existence of God to be self-evident while others think that belief in God has no basis?

I am not making an argument for the existence of God.

 

[Trailblazer]

I personally believe that we are all in for some major surprises some day.

So do I, but I personally believe in different surprises than you believe in.
I also think that people living today will not get those surprises until they die.

 

[Tony B]

That is only your personal opinion. We all have those.

There are many explanations within my religion, the Bahai Faith, and below are some.

"The Purpose of the one true God, exalted be His glory, in revealing Himself unto men is to lay bare those gems that lie hidden within the mine of their true and inmost selves. That the divers communions of the earth, and the manifold systems of religious belief, should never be allowed to foster the feelings of animosity among men, is, in this Day, of the essence of the Faith of God and His Religion. These principles and laws, these firmly-established and mighty systems, have proceeded from one Source, and are the rays of one Light. That they differ one from another is to be attributed to the varying requirements of the ages in which they were promulgated."

Bahá'í Reference Library - Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, Pages 287-289

"The All-Knowing Physician hath His finger on the pulse of mankind. He perceiveth the disease, and prescribeth, in His unerring wisdom, the remedy. Every age hath its own problem, and every soul its particular aspiration. The remedy the world needeth in its present-day afflictions can never be the same as that which a subsequent age may require. Be anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in, and center your deliberations on its exigencies and requirements."

Bahá'í Reference Library - Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, Page 213

There are multiple religions because the remedy the world needs in every age is different. The remedy that is needed in the present day is not the the same as what was needed in the past. Hinduism, as religions with multiple deities is 5000 years old. The people living in those times were not yet ready to understand that there is only one God.

There is only one eternal Religion of God, but that religion needs to be renewed in every new age. The passage below explains why renewal is necessary.

"It is, therefore, clear and evident that the Religion of God does not maintain its original principles among the people, but that it has gradually changed and altered until it has been entirely destroyed and annihilated. Because of this the manifestation is renewed, and a new religion established. But if religions did not change and alter, there would be no need of renewal.

In the beginning the tree was in all its beauty, and full of blossoms and fruits, but at last it became old and entirely fruitless, and it withered and decayed. This is why the True Gardener plants again an incomparable young tree of the same kind and species, which grows and develops day by day, and spreads a wide shadow in the divine garden, and yields admirable fruit. So it is with religions; through the passing of time they change from their original foundation, the truth of the Religion of God entirely departs, and the spirit of it does not stay; heresies appear, and it becomes a body without a soul. That is why it is renewed."

Bahá'í Reference Library - Some Answered Questions, Pages 164-166

Christianity is the largest religion in the world right now, but it will soon be the second largest religion as it is surpassed by Islam.

AI Overview
Learn more…

According to Pew Research Center, Islam is expected to surpass Christianity as the world's largest religion around 2070. This is due to a number of factors, including:

• Population growth: The world's population is expected to increase by 35% between 2010 and 2050.
• Muslim fertility rate: Muslims have a higher fertility rate than Christians, averaging 2.9 children per woman compared to 2.6.
• Rapid growth: Islam is growing more quickly than any other religion in the world.

In the United States, the Muslim population is also growing rapidly. Pew Research Center projects that Muslims could become the second-largest religious group in the U.S. by 2040.

So essentially what your faith is, is one that appears to be set up by the New World Order to usher in the 'one world religion'. It's simply a new age construct with no real basis in fact or evidence. It's not even remotely comparable to Christianity, evidentially or doctrinally. There is no question that Christ walked the earth, no serious historian disputes this, this alone sets it apart from all other religions, an actual deity walking the earth, witnessed by thousands performing miracles, the other things that separates Christianity from all other religions is salvation through grace alone. With all due respect, your religion is built on sand and passes no serious scrutiny.

 

[Trailblazer]

Of course it is, but if you think you have something more truthful then explain.

Christianity is just as truthful as my religion, the Baha'i Faith.
It is not a matter of which religion is more truthful, it is a matter of which religion is more pertinent to the age we live in.

 

[Tony B]

Christianity is just as truthful as my religion, the Baha'i Faith.
It is not a matter of which religion is more truthful, it is a matter of which religion is more pertinent to the age we live in.

Sorry but that's absurd, truth is not subjective, and time does not determine the truth. Christianity is applicable to all time, it's not something that can be changed or moulded, it is the absolute truth, demonstrably so.

 

[Trailblazer]

Then obviously you need to posit the one you think does, and we can see what the evidence tells us.

I believe that the Baha'i Faith is completely true.

 

[Jimmy]

When you know the truth, you know the truth.

 

[Tony B]

I believe that the Baha'i Faith is completely true.

I'm sure you do, but there's nothing to support that.

 

[Trailblazer]

Because there is a fact called "absolute truth".

Only God has the absolute truth, and we are not privy to it.

 

[Vinayaka]

Experience.

I find it interesting that this answer is usually from Hindus. For me, it also includes experiences from past lives. The question also serves as a great example to the diversity of human experience.

 

[Alien826]

Do you think that we choose our preferences in cats versus dogs?

I have had both cats and dogs (separately), and liked both at the time. In my case it was determined by the likes and dislikes of the person I was with. I have a dog now and prefer dogs for various reasons, but I still don't dislike cats.

 

[Tony B]

Only God has the absolute truth, and we are not privy to it.

He gives it to us via the Bible, so yes we are.

 

[Kathryn]

So do I, but I personally believe in different surprises than you believe in.
I also think that people living today will not get those surprises until they die.

I don't know what sort of surprises we are all in for. I bet you don't either.