Why should I believe in your religion and faith?

[Katzpur]

Hi Katzpur,

I'm somewhat familar with Mormons because I have friends from the Mormon Faith. They are warm and wonderful family oriented people. They also seem to really care for other Mormon families, quite a close knit community of faith.

Actually, we don't just care for our own, but for whomever needs our help. I don't know to what degree you would be impressed by our worldwide humanitarian service, but for a Church that comprises a mere 15/100ths of 1% of the world's population, we do far more than what most people would concede to be "our fair share" to alleviate world hunger, disease and poverty. To me, that alone is evidence that the fruits of our faith are very, very sweet.

I just want to know the truth if that's possible. How would I know if the Mormon Faith is true and the other religions in the world to be false?

It would be impossible for you to ever know that, because that statement itself is false. We believe there to be truth in the vast majority of the world's religions. It's a matter of degree. Our stance has always been to invite people to hear our message, to weigh our beliefs against what they believe and what they want to believe, to pray to God for guidance and then, when He has answered their prayers, to cling fast to all of the truths they already have and then to let us add even more truth.

Is there some kind of religious standard or guide to make an informed choice? I don't think pluralism can be correct when trying to find the truth. When you say that your have a strong convicton as to the truth of your beliefs, are you saying that you know the truth, and other religions have missed the truth?

All I'm saying is that my faith is what works for me. The God I believe in is the God who, from all I can tell, answers my prayers. Pluralism doesn't work for me either. Two contradictory doctrines can't both be right, and I believe that God does want us to figure out what's true and what's false. That's why I believe He answers prayers and that when He speaks to us through the Holy Ghost, we can't deny what we've heard Him say. I realize that's all very subjective, but that's how it is with spiritual truths. I've never been very good at claiming that while my spiritual experiences are valid, everybody else's are nonsense. I have embraced LDS doctrine because it is able to address the questions that are important to me. I find no contradictions or inconsistancies within my theology, and for me personally, that is extremely important. To me, believing that there is more to my existance than being born, living, dying and spending eternity floating on a cloud, strumming a harp is what makes the whole of my life experience worthwhile. I know where I came from, why I'm here, and what lies ahead after death. I know that I have a Heavenly Father who knows me personally and loves me. I'm not really sure that I could find that conviction within any other faith but Mormonism.

I'm sorry, that probably wasn't what you were looking for at all. (I shouldn't even try to answer posts once I've taken my Ambien. I can't remember anything I wrote the next morning. )

 

[Fish-Hunter]

Actually, we don't just care for our own, but for whomever needs our help. I don't know to what degree you would be impressed by our worldwide humanitarian service, but for a Church that comprises a mere 15/100ths of 1% of the world's population, we do far more than what most people would concede to be "our fair share" to alleviate world hunger, disease and poverty. To me, that alone is evidence that the fruits of our faith are very, very sweet.

It would be impossible for you to ever know that, because that statement itself is false. We believe there to be truth in the vast majority of the world's religions. It's a matter of degree. Our stance has always been to invite people to hear our message, to weigh our beliefs against what they believe and what they want to believe, to pray to God for guidance and then, when He has answered their prayers, to cling fast to all of the truths they already have and then to let us add even more truth.

All I'm saying is that my faith is what works for me. The God I believe in is the God who, from all I can tell, answers my prayers. Pluralism doesn't work for me either. Two contradictory doctrines can't both be right, and I believe that God does want us to figure out what's true and what's false. That's why I believe He answers prayers and that when He speaks to us through the Holy Ghost, we can't deny what we've heard Him say. I realize that's all very subjective, but that's how it is with spiritual truths. I've never been very good at claiming that while my spiritual experiences are valid, everybody else's are nonsense. I have embraced LDS doctrine because it is able to address the questions that are important to me. I find no contradictions or inconsistancies within my theology, and for me personally, that is extremely important. To me, believing that there is more to my existance than being born, living, dying and spending eternity floating on a cloud, strumming a harp is what makes the whole of my life experience worthwhile. I know where I came from, why I'm here, and what lies ahead after death. I know that I have a Heavenly Father who knows me personally and loves me. I'm not really sure that I could find that conviction within any other faith but Mormonism.

I'm sorry, that probably wasn't what you were looking for at all. (I shouldn't even try to answer posts once I've taken my Ambien. I can't remember anything I wrote the next morning. )

Thank you for taking the time to share your faith and convictions. I would like to hear more when you have time. I was hoping to find more objective evidence because religious people can be sincere, but believe in contradictory religious concepts. Could you please tell me how the Mormon Faith started? What are the main differences between a LDS Christian, Roman Catholic Christian, Orthodox Christian, and an Evangelical Christian? Do all of these faiths worship a different Christian God? It almost seems by your statement that absolute truth cannot be known in this world.

 

[YmirGF]

I want to explore spiritual things that cannot be seen. The universe is too big to believe that spiritual things do not exist. There are so many religions and I don't know where to start. Why is your particular religion or faith more truthful than another one?

Hiya Fish-Hunter, my path is a solo path and isn't for the faint of heart. You say you want to explore spiritual things that cannot be seen, but I would toss that back to you and say that with the right perspective not a lot remains unseen -- for long. I understand and appreciate your sentiments that religions may hold answers for you but I would appeal to your sensiblities and ask why you think they can tell you things you cannot discover on your own. Would you be content with "off the shelf", second-hand answers or would you prefer to get your feet wet or a bit of dirt under your nails?

In regards to truth -- well, I am not a big trumpeter of alleged "truth" as I firmly believe that so-called "truth" is relative to the viewpoin taken and the information that is at hand. Further to this, I believe that once one settles on "truth" one only succeeds in limiting their experience. Me? I am content in not knowing for sure what everything is all about, as there is majesty in the mystery and the adrehenelin of the chase. I am also not terribly concerned about what other human animals both know as and fixate on called "morals".

Lastly, my vision of what human animals call "god" is something quite beyond mere words. There is no possible way to describe it, but it is still There to be seen and experiened. Mine is perhaps one of the first, non-religious views of "god" to emerge. I simply see it like Lego blocks upon which, reality is constructed, both within you and without you. My vision of "god" does not require or seek any form of worship but it is not opposed to simple friendship. It is a little beyond elementary Master/servant role playing. I actually have the temerity to name this new form of "god" and the name I have settled on is "you".

 

[camanintx]

Why would an atheist not support an ex nihilo creation of the universe?

You would have to as tomspug that question. He is the one who thinks atheists have to believe in an eternal universe.

 

[Hema]

Truth is one, paths (religions) are many.

 

[Fish-Hunter]

Truth is one, paths (religions) are many.

Thank you,that is a very interesting and thought provoking statement! If I understand your statement, truth is one (obejective and just IS). However, there are many paths to that one objective truth. Do you believe truth can also be a supreme being too? Could you please explain what you mean by truth is one?

If spiritual people are on a pligrmage through different paths, where are spiritual people trying to arrive and why? Why should I be on a spiritual path, and for what purpose? If many paths lead to that one truth, does it really matter what path I should take?

 

[Draka]

This seems very similar to eastern oriental religions. Is that correct?

Depends on which ones you are talking about. There are some similarities with other religions. Hinduism, actually, shares many of the same basics of what I believe. The differences lie in the practices, the worship, the "little things that aren't so little". There's the "big picture" that some religions share, then there are the different colored glasses we look at it through and the angles from which we view it. We interact with the picture differently. Does that make sense?

 

[Fish-Hunter]

Depends on which ones you are talking about. There are some similarities with other religions. Hinduism, actually, shares many of the same basics of what I believe. The differences lie in the practices, the worship, the "little things that aren't so little". There's the "big picture" that some religions share, then there are the different colored glasses we look at it through and the angles from which we view it. We interact with the picture differently. Does that make sense?

Thanks Draka... your posting does make sense. Does your personal variations of similar religions make that particular religion less accurate, and your beliefs more right? I think you stated the "little things that aren't so little" can be interperted as being very important variations. Do you think the different glasses that someone looks through can distort the truth of what we are trying to look at?

 

[Gentoo]

I want to explore spiritual things that cannot be seen. The universe is too big to believe that spiritual things do not exist. There are so many religions and I don't know where to start. Why is your particular religion or faith more truthful than another one?

Who says that one religion is more truthful than any other?

 

[Fish-Hunter]

Who says that one religion is more truthful than any other?

"What is truth?" - Pilate

Check out this quote I found this morning in the Christian Bible. I think Pilate's question is the first question we need to explore before we can answer your very good question. What is truth?

 

[Gentoo]

"What is truth?" - Pilate

Check out this quote I found this morning in the Christian Bible. I think Pilate's question is the first question we need to explore before we can answer your very good question. What is truth?

Indeed, what is truth?

 

[Fish-Hunter]

Indeed, what is truth?

LOL...I was hoping to find an answer to that question. I came to this website to find out truth. Do you mind sharing me your answer to "what is truth?"

 

[Gentoo]

LOL...I was hoping to find an answer to that question. I came to this website to find out truth. Do you mind sharing me your answer to "what is truth?"

Truth is subjective, to me there is no underlying "Universal truth", only our perceptions of outside stimulus.

 

[Fish-Hunter]

Truth is subjective, to me there is no underlying "Universal truth", only our perceptions of outside stimulus.

Is the truth that 'truth is subjective or is truth objective, coming outside of ourselves'? What makes something true, because the truth IS, or because enough people believe it to be true; therfore it is true. If a tree fell in the forest and nobdy was there to observe the fallen tree, did the tree actually fall? My answer would be yes. The objective truth is that the tree fell, apart from human observation. How about using gravity as an example of absolute truth? If we jump from the top of our roof, the truth of gravity will cause us to fall, regardless if we believe in the truth of the law of gravity. The objective truth is the law of gravity. Our belief or lack of belief is subjective to the objective truth of gravity. Do I make sense, or am I thinking incorrectly?

Truth

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other uses, see Truth (disambiguation).
The meaning of the word truth extends from honesty, good faith, and sincerity in general, to agreement with fact or reality in particular.[1] The term has no single definition about which the majority of professional philosophers and scholars agree. Various theories of truth continue to be debated. There are differing claims on such questions as what constitutes truth; how to define and identify truth; the roles that revealed and acquired knowledge play; and whether truth is subjective, relative, objective, or absolute. This article introduces the various perspectives and claims, both today and throughout history.

 

[blackout]

In more comprehensive dictionaries there are upwards of 15 potential definitions of "truth".

If the very word "truth" has so many possible meanings,
how can the idea/meaning of "truth" itself be anything but subjective?

Funny. My brother pointed this out to me in a phone convo.
not two hours ago.

I thought it was a great point.

 

[Wandered Off]

Funny. My brother pointed this out to me in a phone convo.
not two hours ago.

Yeah but since he's your brother, it's OK for you to smack him.

 

[blackout]

Yeah but since he's your brother, it's OK for you to smack him.

Now why would I wanna go and do that?!

I agree with the Nihlist/Athiest nincompoop!

(I'm tryin' ta get him to come to RF as well.
Then you can smack him for yourself.):slap:

~Vi~

 

[Fish-Hunter]

In more comprehensive dictionaries there are upwards of 15 potential definitions of "truth".

If the very word "truth" has so many possible meanings,
how can the idea of "truth" itself be anything but subjective?

Funny. My brother pointed this out to me in a phone convo.
not two hours ago.

I thought it was a great point.

I think we are mixing up our understanding of truth which is subjective and truth itself. Our personal observations, definitions, or perception of truth never changes the fact of objective truth.

I learned the tree analogy in college many years ago in Philosophy 101. When a tree falls in an isolated forest with no people around, did the tree actually fall? The truth is the tree fell. Now put 15 people in the forest, and the tree falls. We now have 15 potential versions of how the tree fell, when the tree fell, which tree fell, what kind of tree fell, if the tree actually fell, etc...different versions of the fallen tree. A person's perciption of the fallen tree does change any of the facts of the fallen tree, even though all 15 people did not get all the facts right of the fallen tree.

My quest is to find the objective truth in regards to religion and faith by diligently searching all the possible evidence that is out there. It is quite a task ...but I think many on a religious website can relate to what I am attempting. I believe truth is objective, but can truth be known through evidence of some kind? That is why I am exploring the different perceptions of truth on this site to actually find the truth (if that's possible).

 

[Draka]

Thanks Draka... your posting does make sense. Does your personal variations of similar religions make that particular religion less accurate, and your beliefs more right? I think you stated the "little things that aren't so little" can be interperted as being very important variations. Do you think the different glasses that someone looks through can distort the truth of what we are trying to look at?

When viewed like that I don't think it can be said that any particular religion is "less accurate". If you and your friend stand in two different spots in a room and both admire the same painting on a wall, is either of your views "inaccurate"? No. You may stand in different positions, hold your heads differently, appreciate different things about the painting, you may even have differing opinions about what the painting represents or what the artist may have been trying to convey,BUT... neither view can be determined as "inaccurate". Merely different.

Much the same when "viewing" Deity. Several different religions may be viewing the same concept of deity, they just merely view it from different standpoints and with different traditions and practices they bring to the table. If you take this view of religion you realize it is not about what is "right" and "wrong", but more about what view you are most comfortable looking through. Whether you prefer standing to the left of the painting, outside, at 12 am, with the full-moon beaming upon you and candles lit all around you, OR kneeling to the right of the painting, at 8 am, holding a small statue in its likeness, with the sun streaming in on your back...you are still looking at the same painting...just in the way that feels best for you to view it in.

 

[3.14]

if you want a religion just to have one i suggest cristianaty or islam = lots of people
if you want a religion for lifestyle like emo i suggest nihisism = bit depressing
if you want a religion for stress i suggest boeddhisme = (yoga and calm religion)
if you want a religion wich will make people think your bat**** crasy try scientology
if you want one for fun thy the church of cheese or the one of the flying spagtti monster


but overall i suggest that you find a way to live with what you yourself believe religions are just guidelines