Discerning what is religious truth

[dizzy_dave]

Everyone thinks they are right when it comes to their religious convictions. Catholics think they are correct, protestants think they are correct, Jews think they are correct, etc., etc. They all pray and so on. They all have valid points and can make compelling arguements. All groups can have good and bad points.

So how does one know what is truth and how does one go about this discernment?

 

[SedesDomi]

Everyone thinks they are right when it comes to their religious convictions. Catholics think they are correct, protestants think they are correct, Jews think they are correct, etc., etc. They all pray and so on. They all have valid points and can make compelling arguements. All groups can have good and bad points.

So how does one know what is truth and how does one go about this discernment?

Who do you want to answer this question: a Catholic, a Protestant, a Jew, a Muslim, a Hindu, a Buddhist, a Jain, a Sikh, a Taoist, a Confucianist, a Marxist, an atheist, an agnostic, or a Republican?

 

[DoxRox]

For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. ~James 3:16-18

…So you can start from there

Also, I’ve recently read a Coptic (Orthodox) article on discernment (it’s one in a series, so all are meant to be read), located here:

coptichymns.net/module-library-viewpub-tid-1-pid-618.html

The first four go…

1. Examine the thought to see if it is filled with the fear of God.

1. Is it filled with goodness towards every one?

1. Does it agree with the witness and actions of the Lord and the Apostles?

1. Does the thought evoke peace and tranquillity? or is it surrounded by anger, bitterness and turmoil? The most pious thoughts should be suspected if they deprive us of our inner peace. Many a time we are lead to believe that we are being moved by the zeal of the Lord while we are actually succumbing to anger, condemnation and partiality. This happens to us time and again because we neglect this important step of examining the feelings surrounding the thought. An example of how God speaks to us is given to us in 1Kings 19, God wanted to talk to Elijah the prophet, and we are told…