If I wasn't

[teancum79]

I thought some speculation on what we might be if we where not in our current religions might be interesting. So basically:

“If I wasn’t a (insert current religion) I’d be a __________, because”

 

[dhgray]

“If I wasn’t a Catholic I’d be a RCIA Canidate, because”

I search all over and practiced most of the main stream relitions and faiths and found the Catholic Church to be where God wants me to be.

 

[Verisimilitude]

“If I wasn’t a (insert current religion) I’d be a __________, because”

If I wasn’t a Catholic I’d be a Jew because even if I didn’t think Jesus fulfilled OT Scripture the Word is still true.

 

[Sepharad]

I started a thread like this months ago…I never answered it myself though!

If I were not a traditional Jew, I think I’d be a Deist. But then maybe not, because they believe God created the world and then left it to its own devices. I don’t believe that.

I guess if I were not a traditional Jew, I’d just be a person who believes in One God, who has a personal relationship with Him (as I do now), but does not belong to any organized religion.

There are things I admire about Buddhism (compassion for all sentient beings, nonviolence, etc) but I have a problem with their other practices (idolatry being a biggie!)

 

[LutheranDK]

I thought some speculation on what we might be if we where not in our current religions might be interesting. So basically:

“If I wasn’t a (insert current religion) I’d be a __________, because”

Guess the answer depends on what kind of detail you want to go into

But let’s try:

1: If I wasn’t a Christian, I’d be a Jew, or just follow the Noahide commandments, but hopefully the former, since I’ve always been more interested in truth than comfort. (and no - this was not an invitiation to start talking about how the RC has the truth)

Because if I did not believe that the Messiah had come in Jesus of Nazareth, I would await his coming eagerly.

2: If I wasn’t Lutheran, I’d be…hmm… either RC or Anglican, probably the latter.
Because much of my beliefs co-incide with both of these - although I do not like the Anglican take on Holy Communion (at least from my understanding of the Anglican view)

 

[Kaninchen]

I thought some speculation on what we might be if we where not in our current religions might be interesting. So basically:

“If I wasn’t a (insert current religion) I’d be a __________, because”

I suppose that it’s natural that one considers religions that have a kind of basic similarity to one’s own (I’m Jewish). I’d think it could be ‘Sikhism’ (monotheistic with what appear to be fairly similar concepts of God) - partly on the grounds that, when I did the Beliefnet quiz on beliefs, it came up near the top and, partly, because I’ve known some very nice Sikhs!

 

[Sepharad]

I suppose that it’s natural that one considers religions that have a kind of basic similarity to one’s own (I’m Jewish). I’d think it could be ‘Sikhism’ (monotheistic with what appear to be fairly similar concepts of God) - partly on the grounds that, when I did the Beliefnet quiz on beliefs, it came up near the top and, partly, because I’ve known some very nice Sikhs!

When I did the Beliefnet quiz, it said I was mostly Orthodox Jewish (no shocker there), and the next under that was Islam, followed by Seventh Day Adventist.

 

[RAR]

I thought some speculation on what we might be if we where not in our current religions might be interesting. So basically:

“If I wasn’t a (insert current religion) I’d be a __________, because”

If I wasn’t a Catholic, I’d be an agnostic because I was so confused about religion with all the denominations and religions available.

I became Catholic at 23 and at the time I was very frustrated by the conflicting claims of different religions and the many Christian denominations. I may have assumed a philosophy, like Buddhism, but I don’t know that I would have joined a religion. I would likely still be very confused and angry.

RAR

 

[Kaninchen]

When I did the Beliefnet quiz, it said I was mostly Orthodox Jewish (no shocker there), and the next under that was Islam, followed by Seventh Day Adventist.

I scored quite highly on Islam which, after all, is another ‘high performance’ religion but, like Christianity, I find it ‘unbelievable’.

 

[Sepharad]

I scored quite highly on Islam which, after all, is another ‘high performance’ religion but, like Christianity, I find it ‘unbelievable’.

I know what you mean…I’ve read both the NT and the Quran, and truthfully, the NT in many parts does sound inspired to me, and parts are quite beautiful (though maybe that’s because I’ve grown up in a Christian society and am used to hearing it)…but the Quran, which I have also read, just sounds…silly! I mean no offense to anyone who is Muslim, but it does not READ to me like something inspired or Godly. Even the Bhagavad-Gita to me sounds more profound than the Quran.

(Gee, I sure hope I don’t have a fatwa pronounced on me for saying that!)

 

[Kaninchen]

I know what you mean…I’ve read both the NT and the Quran, and truthfully, the NT in many parts does sound inspired to me, and parts are quite beautiful (though maybe that’s because I’ve grown up in a Christian society and am used to hearing it)…but the Quran, which I have also read, just sounds…silly! I mean no offense to anyone who is Muslim, but it does not READ to me like something inspired or Godly. Even the Bhagavad-Gita to me sounds more profound than the Quran.

(Gee, I sure hope I don’t have a fatwa pronounced on me for saying that!)

I’ve always rather liked the ‘glass darkly’ bit from 1 Corinthians 13.

I think you probably have to understand Arabic and Arabic poetry to really appreciate the Qur’an.

 

[teancum79]

Well I guess I should put in my own 2 cents.

If I was not LDS I’m not sure.
Deism has it perks, but the whole God is not involved with us anymore does not set well.

I’m far to found of pork to be a faithful Jew, but like the bulk of it.

I’d probably go very nondenominational Christian.

 

[ralphinal]

I’ve said it before: I’d start my own church. I’d make money, fall form grace, end up in prison, make a come-back, start a compound…all the fun stuff

 

[strngrnrth]

If not Catholic, I’d be Orthodox, because they believe the same things all in all. If neither were possible somehow, I’d be Methodist so as not to be Episcopalian, which I don’t want to be because I think it started as a personal retaliation and ended as a grab bag of theologies. If I couldn’t be Methodist I’d be Non-denominational so I could go to whatever church I wanted until I got comfortable. If that weren’t an option I just don’t know; I guess I could be Pentecostal again. There are so many kinds I might find a church I liked. The pastor would have to be humble and well-grounded in learning and knowledge, and of course I wouldn’t go UPC; they’re not Trinitarian.

 

[Verisimilitude]

I’ve said it before: I’d start my own church. I’d make money, fall form grace, end up in prison, make a come-back, start a compound…all the fun stuff

I think you have to be gay at some point in that plan don’t you?

 

[AMDGtoo]

When I was in elementary school, I used to think “If I wasn’t Catholic, I’d be an orthodox Jew”, but there is no way in all creation that I could give up Jesus. And after studying my Faith, I have come to realize that Jesus is the Messiah who the orthodox Jews were looking for. And so I am so happy that I am Catholic with the ability to receive Jesus Himself at every Mass, and can call the rich history of 2000 years and the extended family of all of God’s children my own. I can’t imagine wanting to be anything else. I only wish that I was able to pass on this rich legacy of love (like Lois, Timothy’s grandmother in the Bible, was able to do.)

 

[hamba2han]

If I wasn’t Muslim, my outlook on life would then be → Live and let live, the rest of the world be damned!

What religion would that be?

 

[Sepharad]

I’ve always rather liked the ‘glass darkly’ bit from 1 Corinthians 13.

I think you probably have to understand Arabic and Arabic poetry to really appreciate the Qur’an.

1 Corinthians 13 to me, is absolutely beautiful. I’ve often quoted it, in fact (when appropriate), to the shock and consternation of fellow Jews.

I also love Hebrews 11:1: “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”. Look at the play on words Paul does there…he refers to faith as a substance, and things not seen as evidence! He is showing how vital it is to believe we already have something from God, before we actually get it.

When I safely delivered my last child (after four late term stillbirths), I used that verse to give to my (Christian) OBGYN…he was so sure I would lose that baby too, and I had kept telling him that I had faith in God that she would survive, and she did.

I teased him, saying, “But Dr, doesn’t your own faith teach you what it says in Hebrews 11:1?”

 

[teancum79]

If I wasn’t Muslim, my outlook on life would then be → Live and let live, the rest of the world be damned!

What religion would that be?

I think you could do that as an agnostic. Or less involved member of almost any church.

 

[hamba2han]

I think you could do that as an agnostic. Or less involved member of almost any church.

An agnostic, you say?

Here is my take on atheists, agnostics and other non-Muslims in general, using the analogy of a motor car with manual transmission:

Agnostics are in neutral or in other words, they are forever stationary and are not headed anywhere in the ultimate journey of life.

Deists are generally in 1st gear but some of them do pray in their own way and so they would be in 2nd gear. Unfortunately for deists, this is a most inefficient way to drive and this means that they just do not have enough fuel in their tank to last them the whole journey.

People who follow an organized religion like Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs etc. would be in anywhere from 3rd gear to overdrive depending on the strength of their belief.

Non-Muslims however, although they may be in overdrive in their zeal towards their faith, are simply headed in the wrong direction and they are very likely to end up going over the edge and into the abyss rather than their intended destination.

Atheists are the most unfortunate group of all for many of them do not even realise that they are in reverse gear.

Therefore, Muslims who faithfully adhere to the teachings of Islam are in the best position of all to enter Paradise because not only are they headed in the right direction, they also are adequately fueled to last the whole journey as they cruise towards their destination in overdrive.