How do you know you're right?

[Fisher]

See, this is what I mean. You are so convinced you are right but you are not showing me any evidence that catholicism is the RIGHT religion. What if you’re wrong? What if Islam is the right religion? Do you understand what I’m saying? You’re telling me that christianity is right because ‘the bible says so’. Well of course it does! The torah says its right too, so does the quaran.

You cannot PROVE 100% that christianity is the right religion. You could be practicing the wrong religion for all you know.

Religion is the worst thing that ever happened to this world.Religion can’t save anybody!
There are many man-made religions and gods. But according to the Bible, there is only ONE true God,

Various religions have their “Holy Books” which are reported “revelations” coming through various means (e.g. dreams); But the origin of the Bible is quite different. It is rooted and grounded in history. It came from the experience of a specific people (Jews), in identifiable places, at particular times. The archaeological records have only confirmed that the places and names found in the Bible are accurate–none have ever disproved it. The Bible is not a “Holy Book” in the sense of esoteric philosophy like all other “religious” books. It is holy in the sense that it is God’s Word spoken through His people.

The Bible does not contain the characteristic untruths of other religious books. In Job, one of the oldest books of the Bible (written in about 3500 B.C.), Job wrote, “He [God] hangeth the earth upon nothing.” Back then, people believed the earth was on the back of turtles and elephants and all kinds of strange things–you will find no such ridiculous statements in the Bible. The only way Job could say that the earth was suspended in air is by the Holy Spirit of God revealing it to him.

The Bible is not a scientific book, but when it speaks about “scientific” matters, it is always correct. The Bible says that “the life of the flesh is in the blood.” This is one of the most medically accurate statements that can be made. The blood carries all kinds of antibodies, nutrients, etc. George Washington died because the doctors (I’m sure they were the best at the time), bled him to death thinking that bleeding would help his condition. They took a quart of blood at the last bleeding. They drained his life out of him–“the life of the flesh is in the blood.” Science was wrong.

When a man severed his hand in 1988, doctors could not reattach it immediately because of his internal injuries. So what did they do? They attached his hand to blood vessels in his abdomen to keep it alive and reattached it to the man’s wrist two months later. The blood flow kept that hand alive–the life of the flesh is in the blood. The Bible told us this important fact over 5,000 years ago and science has only recently agreed. Does that mean that the Bible was wrong when scientists said bleeding was the answer? No. Science simply had not caught up yet.

You don’t find truths like this in the various religious books but rather myth, superstition, and human wisdom. How could the psalmist write about the method of Christ’s death a thousand years before Jesus came down to this earth? Crucifixion wasn’t even a method of death in Israel when Psalm 22 was written. The Bible is an awesome book. If we can trust the Bible for these amazing insights, can we afford to not believe it when it comes to life and death and heaven and hell?

Concerning manuscript evidence for the Bible, there is more evidence for the Bible than ANY other ancient manuscript–including the ones we use to assemble our history books–

• Aristotle - 5 copies available for comparison
• Homer - 643 copies available for comparison
• Plato - 7 copies available for comparison
• The Bible - 30,000 copies available for comparison (includes 5000+ Greek copies and another 25,000 written in other languages). This wealth of evidence is simply staggering.
  Other interesting information–

The Bible was the FIRST book ever printed by moveable type.
The Bible is the best-selling Book of all time (press runs increase every year).
The Bible is the most circulated book in the world.
The Bible is the most translated book in the world.
The Bible is the most loved book in the world.
The Bible is the most hated book in the world.
No book is like the Bible. Millions have suffered and died for it. It has been burned. It has been spoken against; nevertheless, it still stands because Jesus said,

“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall NEVER pass away.” (Matthew 24:35)
The caretakers of the Scriptures, the Jewish people (an ancient people), are still with us today and prophesies concerning these people are still being fulfilled.

God is not a human, He is a Spirit. God does not accept our motives based on what we think to be true. A person can live their life on this earth without the God of the Bible while trying to live a good life; but this is not acceptable to God. The Bible says that without Jesus, “…all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” (Isaiah 64:6). We cannot please God with our humanistic good works. If you die trusting in those works, God will reject you. Why?–Because you rejected His Son, His Beautiful love offering given for you.

For a Bible-believing Christian like myself, the most important part of being a disciple of Jesus Christ is being saved from the wrath to come, loving my Jesus with all my heart, receiving His love, and loving others as I love myself which is a result of loving Jesus.

 

[Fisher]

Many people admire Christ’s teachings of kindness, forgiveness, and tolerance. These are good rules to live by. However, it is impossible to live up to these statutes without a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Reader, if you are unsaved, please ask God to reveal Himself to you. He can be known–

He is not unknowable like the Hindu says,
He is not unreachable like the Muslim says,
He is not a force (or non-existent) like the Buddhist says,
You are not alone in this world like the atheist says; and,
You certainly don’t have to be unsure about His existence like the agnostic says.

Come to Jesus Christ and you will never spiritually hunger, thirst or wonder again about Who God is. One of my favorite passages of scripture is:

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

—Jesus the Christ
Matthew 11:28-30

One more time. There is one God; He is the true God. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. There is none other. The Bible says so!

“I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.”

Isaiah 44:6

“Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.”

Isaiah 44:8

"I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me:

I girded thee, though thou hast not known me." Isaiah 45:5

“There is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour;
there is none beside me.”

Isaiah 45:21

“…there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.”

1st Corinthians 8:4-6

I have studied many different religions in my lifetime. As a matter of fact, I’ve been doing it for 20 years. I have yet to discover a religion that makes any more sense than the plain truth of God’s Holy Word

 

[krbray]

Listen to yourself. Just because something is written down, does not make it true. You can’t PROVE any of that happened, you can have faith in it though. That is what it is. Faith, you cannot come out and prove to me all that really happened, can you? We all know that is scientifically impossible, but if you have faith, you can ‘think’ it happened.
Thats my point, people like you just think you’re so ‘right’ without proof. At least me, as a believer in Christ, I admit that I cannot prove the bible, and that I know the bible is based ON FAITH, not scientific proof. There is no way possible that in todays world I can prove jesus was really born of a virgin. Because scientifically, that is impossible, but if you use faith, it is not impossible to ‘think’ it is true. See what I mean now?

Oh, and also too, you cannot prove the bible is the right religion. You could be wrong. It could be islam for all you know, but you believe and have faith that it is the right religion. Do you understand?

If proof is the issue, which you seem to emphasize here, then you’ll have a hard time finding the “right” religion. I’m sorry I missed the part where you stated “You cannot PROVE 100% that christianity is the right religion” but I was trying to respond to the part where you asked “Out of the thousands of religions in the world, how do you know yours is right?” What I gave you was why I believe in Christ over all other possibilities.

 

[krbray]

Oh, and a quick statement: if we were able to see somebody perform miracles like this knowing it was 100% not an illusion or magic, then it would be possible, see?

But how would you KNOW it was 100% not an illusion or magic?

 

[bjryman]

Once again, I caution you. If you attempt to talk about the bible, and draw historical references to “prove” its validity, you will fail. It is a matter of Faith…period.

Also, be very careful when you state that religion is a bad thing. Jesus not only gave us the message of personal salvation, he established the physical Church. “You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”.

Jesus meant to build a physical Church to “manage” the message…that essentially is what a Religion is.

But again, each of us chooses to believe or not…BOTH Scripture and Tradition.

Questions like this are a matter of informed Faith…no amount of scripture quoting or Magisterium direction will change that.

So…we should just all “chill out” and enjoy the faith we believe and know that others believe just as strongly as we do, something a bit, or alot different.

Only one proof folks, it will be at our death.

 

[jpaul1953]

But there are things the catholic church teaches that are not in the bible.

Blue Shadow,

What things does the Church teach that are not biblical? Could you please explain.

Joe:shrug:

 

[annieshark]

IMO faith is something everyone must come to terms with on their own - nobody can force their beliefs onto others. What you feel is right must be right for yourself, but not necessarily the next person. “Right” is a hugely subjective term.

 

[seeker57]

IMO faith is something everyone must come to terms with on their own - nobody can force their beliefs onto others. What you feel is right must be right for yourself, but not necessarily the next person. “Right” is a hugely subjective term.

I think this is the crux of the matter. Nobody can “prove” their faith, because it isn’t based on facts or figures, but on faith.

I read many people’s responses to indicate they have reached their final destination regarding faith.

I believe we are all on a spiritual journey to which there is no conclusion short of attaining oneness with God.

No, I don’t know I am right, but I don’t know that anyone else is either.

Seeker

 

[Zosimas]

Can you describe the taste of a banana? Do you know of a book that I could read, and then after reading it know what a banana tastes like? Are there logical arguments that prove the taste of a banana?

Perhaps not, but yet bananas exist.

Does your analogy imply that everything that cannot be described therefore exists? Of course not. It implies that the workings of the five senses cannot always be confined to the medium of language; something which is a neurological observation.

Neurological observations do not always support theological constructs. Sometimes, indeed, they may undermine them.

To say that a person’s life experience can prove to them the reality of religion, is like saying that there are people who are synesthetes, whose experience of music proves to them the ‘reality’ of tonal colour. Yet, synesthetes often disagree about the ‘colourings of music’, and religious people often disagree about the nature of religious reality.

 

[scottm]

… and religious people often disagree about the nature of religious reality.

These disagreements are explained well enough by the stages of spiritual development that we go through. Most people don’t reach the higher levels, but some do.

 

[Zosimas]

These disagreements are explained well enough by the stages of spiritual development that we go through. Most people don’t reach the higher levels, but some do.

In other words, religious people often disagree because some are right and some are wrong.

 

[simspt]

In other words, religious people often disagree because some are right and some are wrong.

or all r wrong

 

[Zosimas]

or all r wrong

Precisely!

 

[Valcheck]

Blue Shadow:
I assume you agree that the Bible is the divinely inspired Word of God correct? Now, how and under who’s authority were the books of the New Testament compiled and given the title Holy Bible? Who said those 27 books were inspired? Who’s decision was it to determine the book of Hebrews as the infallible, divinely written Word of God?

Christ changed Simon’s name to Peter (rock) The rock in which Christ will build HIS Church. Christ gave Peter the “keys to the Kingdom of Heaven” and AUTHORITY to “bind and loose” (see Matthew 16, cf Isaiah 22:22)

Peter becomes the first bishop of Rome. Peter dies. A new bishop of Rome shall take his office. That is called Apostolic succession. (see Acts 1:20, cf Psalm 109:8)

Christ will stay with His Church until the end of time and the gates of hell will never overcome His Church (see Matthew 16)

"…in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15)

Jesus did not leave a book, he left a CHURCH!

 

[joe370]

Hey blueshadow…

Out of the thousands of religions in the world, how do you know yours is right? I’m asking every individual that read this; how do you know you’re right on this?

Just a question.

And a very good question and a tough question to answer. For me, as the doubting Thomas that I was, it took the apparitions of Mary to convince me that Jesus was the only way to go. I needed a miraculous sign and Mary, via the power of her Son, provided those miraculous signs. For me the most compelling of all her apparitions are the Garabandal apparitions, which by the way, the CC has yet to condemn or approve. After studying those apparitions of Mary, to 4 little 11 year old girls, who proceeded to defy nature for almost 4 years, my doubts melted away. Check them out if you get the chance…

 

[Jesse_was_here]

See, this is what I mean. You are so convinced you are right but you are not showing me any evidence that catholicism is the RIGHT religion. What if you’re wrong? What if Islam is the right religion? Do you understand what I’m saying? You’re telling me that christianity is right because ‘the bible says so’. Well of course it does! The torah says its right too, so does the quaran.

You cannot PROVE 100% that christianity is the right religion. You could be practicing the wrong religion for all you know.

I think what he is trying to say is that the catholic religion is the most proven religion in the world. It is not totally proven but is the most proven. Things in the bible have actually been proven to happen, unlike the many other religions in the world. It was on the news that dead bodies of mostly first born male children were found by the thousands in Egypt at the exact time of Moses when he let gods wrath on Egypt for not letting gods people free. This was in the bible text for a long time, and they just uncovered the truth a few weeks ago

 

[StTommyMore]

But there are things the catholic church teaches that are not in the bible.

The Deposit of Faith is comprised of everything that God has revealed through the Church by Holy Scripture and Sacred Tradition. Determining what rightly belongs to the Deposit of Faith can be a tricky endeavor. First we apply the First Principle of Non-Contradiction. We know that everything in the Deposit of Faith is true, so we know that no proposed doctrine can contradict what is known to be in the Deposit. For example, we know that Arianism is wrong because it claims that the Son was created, but the Scriptures have revealed that the Son is God (John 1:1-3).
St. Irenaeus proposed the Rule of Faith to determine if a proposed doctrine belongs to the Deposit. TO do this we ask 3 questions:

1. 
   *]Is the content of the proposed doctrine consistent with the Deposit?
   *]Has there been a time when the doctrine has not been taught in essence?
   *]Can the source of the doctrine trace its roots to the APostles by way of Apostolic Succession?
   
   Nothing definitively taught by the Catholic Church fails this test. Things taought by other “churches” do fail this test, usually on more than one count.

 

[Windfish]

I think what he is trying to say is that the catholic religion is the most proven religion in the world. It is not totally proven but is the most proven. Things in the bible have actually been proven to happen, unlike the many other religions in the world. It was on the news that dead bodies of mostly first born male children were found by the thousands in Egypt at the exact time of Moses when he let gods wrath on Egypt for not letting gods people free. This was in the bible text for a long time, and they just uncovered the truth a few weeks ago

Link?

I have seen some… interesting definitions in here. I definitely wouldn’t agree with the what many of think the definition of “faith” is. The Biblical and Catholic notion of faith involves trust, and this trust is rational because we do have a basis for it. To the extent that we examine this basis, we can prove a particular religion to be true or not. Of course, before we can do that, we have to examine our presuppositions. If I am conversing with a Protestant, for instance, we both take the truth of the Bible for granted, and I can begin to persuade him by showing him proof in the Bible about Catholic truth. We can also include history. However, if I am conversing with an atheist, a few more obstacles have to be crossed.

 

[Mikeoffaith]

Blue Shadow:

Peter becomes the first bishop of Rome. Peter dies. A new bishop of Rome shall take his office. That is called Apostolic succession. (see Acts 1:20, cf Psalm 109:8)

This is what I love about Roman Catholics, you tend not to understand your own faith and doctrines. Apostolic Succession is not the line of popes and could never been confused as that since there is no direct consecration from the previous pope to the next pope. Apostolic Succession is the belief that every validly ordained bishop can trace his episcopal consecration in a direct line all the way back to an Apostle.

So if you want to keep putting this up as a necessity to your definition of church, then at least get it right.

 

[rcwhiteh]

This is what I love about Roman Catholics, you tend not to understand your own faith and doctrines.

Are you kidding? I’ve seen that quality in every single denomination, sect, and cult I’ve run across in the past 50 years.