Why do people believe what they believe?

[Kathryn]

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.

That's good to know. I have had both cats and dogs and every one of them has been very different.

 

[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.

And one more thing - you don't know what surprises may be awaiting us one day and neither do I.

 

[Alien826]

That's good to know. I have had both cats and dogs and every one of them has been very different.

Agreed. I think dogs demand more in our interaction with them. Not just walks and so on, but they tend to be outgoing, I find. That appeals to me as I want as full a relationship with the animal as I can get. Cats can be very interactive, but in general they are less so I think. I used to have Burmese cats (the British variety) , which are very dog-like in many ways.

 

[Trailblazer]

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.

You have that totally wrong. That is not what my faith is. My faith was revealed by God to a messenger of God called Baha'u'llah.
I believe that He is the messenger for this age, but the Baha'i Faith is not a new age construct with no real basis in fact or evidence.
In fact, there are more facts and evidence to support the Baha'i Faith than there will ever be for Christianity.

Since you do not know what the Bahai doctrines are you cannot say they are not comparable to Christianity

There is no question that Baha'u'llah walked the earth, no serious historian disputes this. Not only that, what He did in His life and during His 40 year mission from God has been chronicled by those who knew Him personally. Not only that, we have His original Writings penned in His own hand.
We have none of that for Jesus.

What we have for Baha'u'llah alone sets it apart from all other religions.

Jesus was not God so God never walked the earth.

All you have is a book that says that Jesus was witnessed by thousands performing miracles, written by men who never even knew Jesus.

According to Jesus, salvation is not by grace alone, it is also by righteousness.

Matthew 25:45-46 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Paul practically destroyed the foundations of Christianity with his false teachings.
Even if salvation was by grace alone, why would that be a positive thing to tell people they don't have to do anything to be saved?

With all due respect, your religion is built on sand and passes no serious scrutiny.

 

[Trailblazer]

And one more thing - you don't know what surprises may be awaiting us one day and neither do I.

I fully agree, and since I don't like knowing what the future holds for me I'm glad.
With my life such that it is I am lucky to get through one day, let alone worry about the future.

 

[TransmutingSoul]

All contain some elements of truth, but only one can be completely true, the fundamental differences are not compatible.

I see what you may call the fundamental differences are not of God, they are man's interpretation of scriptures.

The fundamental foundation of all true Faiths will be Love, Unity, Virtues and Morals. They will all fight the good fight, calling us to change for the better, to serve each other, to Love God, loving all our fellow human sisters and brothers.

That the Faiths appear to differ is because the requirements for the age and peoples that Message was delivered to. These can change from age to age. God Annoints a Messenger, known by a New Name, they bring a new creation, a new heaven and earth, the New Word of God and the Laws.

Our One God, is known by many Names and Attributes, but they are all a reflection of the One God.

This change of mind, this frame of reference immediately sees One God in all Faiths, as we now look for the Good that is of God and see the differences for what they really are, they are our own misconceptions, our own misunderstanding of what God has given us.

Regards Tony

 

[Trailblazer]

Agreed. I think dogs demand more in our interaction with them. Not just walks and so on, but they tend to be outgoing, I find. That appeals to me as I want as full a relationship with the animal as I can get. Cats can be very interactive, but in general they are less so I think. I used to have Burmese cats (the British variety) , which are very dog-like in many ways.

Persian cats are also very dog-like in that they are interactive and they often demand attention.

Below is an excerpt from a message I sent to a friend this morning. He has been following my daily struggles and my cat stories.

I'm not usually glad to get up and face the world but I was this morning. Then Busia came up on my bed as she does not often do. It was like she sensed something was wrong with me. After I went into the kitchen she followed me and Ellie was already there on the kitchen counter wanting attention. It is usually Princess who follows me all around but Ellie and Busia have also been doing that lately.

Male cats generally demand more attention than females but my male cats are bonded together so not all of them demand attention. However, Carl is the first one on my bed when I lay down and he is there all night. I finally got him to lay on my feet instead of right next to me so I could get some sleep!

 

[Alien826]

I tend to agree with you, but I do not believe that the One religion that is completely true is Christianity.

"The one religion that is completely true is MY religion".

 

[Link]

There are many ways towards different falsehoods. The truth, that takes a bit of work, for starters, one needs to become aware of the dark magic of Satanic forces and begin to fight it off.

 

[Alien826]

Persian cats are also very dog-like in that they are interactive and they often demand attention.

Below is an excerpt from a message I sent to a friend this morning. He has been following my daily struggles and my cat stories.

I'm not usually glad to get up and face the world but I was this morning. Then Busia came up on my bed as she does not often do. It was like she sensed something was wrong with me. After I went into the kitchen she followed me and Ellie was already there on the kitchen counter wanting attention. It is usually Princess who follows me all around but Ellie and Busia have also been doing that lately.

Male cats generally demand more attention than females but my male cats are bonded together so not all of them demand attention. However, Carl is the first one on my bed when I lay down and he is there all night. I finally got him to lay on my feet instead of right next to me so I could get some sleep!

Years ago when I had cats, they would sleep with us. Cats love to be warm and enclosed, so they would burrow under the bed clothes to sleep. You know how cats will flex their claws sometimes? Imagine that on your tender regions!

 

[Trailblazer]

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.

It is interesting to note that before I came to this forum I was posting on other forums where I made friends with several men who were atheists.
Not a one of them was a dog lover. All of them were cat lovers.

But now, whenever I see men on dating sites, they are always dog lovers, never cat lovers. Go figure.

 

[firedragon]

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?

So "who" makes that argument that "the existence of God to be self-evident"? Can you quote some books or philosophers who make that argument as simple as that? If not, you are just making it up.

 

[Trailblazer]

Years ago when I had cats, they would sleep with us. Cats love to be warm and enclosed, so they would burrow under the bed clothes to sleep. You know how cats will flex their claws sometimes? Imagine that on your tender regions!

I had one cat that used to get under the covers but she is no longer with me.
Even if a cat got under the covers I'd be okay since i wear pajama bottoms!

Princess is always by my side in my bed and she flexes her claws.
Carl has no claws because the previous owner had him declawed.

 

[Trailblazer]

So "who" makes that argument that "the existence of God to be self-evident"?

Not me.

Can you quote some books or philosophers who make that argument as simple as that? If not, you are just making it up.

As I said before, I am not making an argument. Why do you turn what I say into an argument?

 

[firedragon]

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

So you don't believe God revealed anything to human beings? Like the Qur'an and/or the Kithab al Akdhas?

Also, if God only knows the absolute truth, why are you claiming subjective truths are objective? That's a blatant contradiction.

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

I also think that people living today will not get those surprises until they die.

We both know that's the truth. We've discussed it many times.

 

[Tony B]

You have that totally wrong. That is not what my faith is. My faith was revealed by God to a messenger of God called Baha'u'llah.
I believe that He is the messenger for this age, but the Baha'i Faith is not a new age construct with no real basis in fact or evidence.
In fact, there are more facts and evidence to support the Baha'i Faith than there will ever be for Christianity.

Seriously, that's absurd, most people haven't even heard of it.

Since you do not know what the Bahai doctrines are you cannot say they are not comparable to Christianity

There is no question that Baha'u'llah walked the earth, no serious historian disputes this. Not only that, what He did in His life and during His 40 year mission from God has been chronicled by those who knew Him personally. Not only that, we have His original Writings penned in His own hand.
We have none of that for Jesus.

Some guy claims he's a deity and writes some stuff, seriously? it's the oldest con trick in the book, how many examples would you like?

What we have for Baha'u'llah alone sets it apart from all other religions.

Jesus was not God so God never walked the earth.

All you have is a book that says that Jesus was witnessed by thousands performing miracles, written by men who never even knew Jesus.

Crikey, it's difficult to know where to start on this level of ignorance, do some research on how the scripture was written and compiled at least. All the disciples bar one died terribly because of their faith, give me another example of this in your or any other faith? Christianity literally brought down the Roman Empire at the time etc etc. Christians have been persecuted and died for their faith throughout the ages, there's a reason for that.

According to Jesus, salvation is not by grace alone, it is also by righteousness.

Matthew 25:45-46 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

No, that isn't what that verse means.

Paul practically destroyed the foundations of Christianity with his false teachings.
Even if salvation was by grace alone, why would that be a positive thing to tell people they don't have to do anything to be saved?

Wait a minute? you just claimed it wasn't? You know that is the doctrine obviously, and what it means is that although we are all sinners Jesus paid our fine, as an act of love and sacrifice, but it's our choice to believe it or not. Good deeds are what we should do, but it does not save us, no-one who understands scripture properly would say otherwise.

With all due respect, your religion is built on sand and passes no serious scrutiny.

Try and construct an argument that resembles some truth at least.

 

[Link]

So "who" makes that argument that "the existence of God to be self-evident"? Can you quote some books or philosophers who make that argument as simple as that? If not, you are just making it up.

I was listening to a prayer taught by Imam Ali (a) to humanity, in it we are taught to say "O my God, you are the proof and I am the perplexed and who will have mercy on the perplexed except the proof".

God's light and proof is by how we know anything about value and meaning. It's how we truly know ourselves. He is a proof for not only himself, but is what manifests the reality, rank, and beauty/ugliness of every soul.

 

[Trailblazer]

So you don't believe God revealed anything to human beings? Like the Qur'an and/or the Kithab al Akdhas?

To me, absolute truth means all truth. Only God has all truth.
I do not believe that any holy book is the absolute truth. It is only part of the truth.
Also, since truth can be lost in human interpretation and translations, no holy book can ever be the absolute truth.

Also, if God only knows the absolute truth, why are you claiming subjective truths are objective? That's a blatant contradiction.

I am not claiming that subjective truths are objective.

 

[Heyo]

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