If Your Religion Did Not Exist

[YeshuaOrHaOlam]

If I had been alive at the time Jesus was on earth, would I have believed in him? I would like to think I would, but would I? My mother used to say your religion is an accident of birth. If we are honest, at least to an extent our parents chose our religion for us.

Great questions.

My answer would be something like this; it is my belief that truth as a category, exists. Not being a talmid Ha Yeshua my entire life, I struggled to find this truth for many years, until finding it in Him. ( Thank G-d )

If I were born in another country, or in a family where the dominant religion was that of another faith, I would hope my search for truth would not be dismayed, and that I would still have the conviction to find that truth.

Most people don’t go this route, many are comfortable with their respective faiths, which, I think, in the end, isn’t such a big problem as it could be made out.

It is my belief that, through Yeshua, G-d will save all people in His due time. So, if one is of another faith, but still lives a life of love, kindness, and meekness, I consider them to be talmidim Ha Yeshua, just under a different name in a sense.

So in the end, I don’t believe it is a “life or death” or “heaven or hell” question; when Mashiach returns, He will make His name known to every man and woman, and we will all bow down to the Lamb.

Shalom Aleichem!

 

[itullian]

Shalom my friend,

This is an important question, thank you for asking.

Other than the Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity, Islam), there are few which seem to hold out a continuance of person hood after this life.

Pantheism (Hinduism, etc) believes we will all become absorbed into Brahman and thus lose our identity, as a drop of water returns to the sea.

Buddhists too, have a similar extinguishing of the person ( though they try and explain it differently, ultimately, it is certainly nihilistic )

And even the faith I picked, Sikhism, holds a similar position to that of Hinduism; that when one has become truly holy, they will be absorbed into god. ( Some Sikhs have differing beliefs, which makes it hard to pin down )

Shalom Aleichem

then i guess im on my own as those are not very comforting or inspirational to me, if i “disappear”

 

[Waiting]

Shalom all;

If your religion ( hypothetically speaking ) did not exist, but all of the remaining except yours, did still exist; which one would you find yourself attracted to the most?

To make things simple, lets keep things under very general umbrellas ( IE; Christianity = Catholicism, Protestantism, Orthodox )

Please explain why you would choose such a faith.

Shalom Aleichem

I thank God that such a choice is not necessary, and that I was privileged to be born of good Catholic parents. I’ve had nightmares of being lost, or not being able to find where I parked my car. It’s the dead of night, and I am frightened and confused. That would be me awake and without Jesus. Your question gives me an opportunity to reflect on just how grateful I am for the kindness of God for my present circumstances. Though difficult, I have the certainty of divine help, just for the asking.

 

[ConstantineTG]

I don’t think I’d have a choice. I’d either be a pagan ancestor worshiping animist because that is the religion of my ancestors. Or Muslim, because when Magellan came Islam was fast advancing from the south and only the rule of Spain prevented us from becoming like Indonesia and Malaysia.

 

[YeshuaOrHaOlam]

“If you take one step toward God he takes ten steps toward you.”

Shalom FIU;

What a beautiful quote!

I too believe in this line of spiritual reasoning, and in fact, it can be supported scripturally in many ways.

One of my personal favorites, is from Daniel, when Gabriel visits him and lends him strength;

“O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.” … “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words.”

G-d hears us, and He does make efforts to reach us, if we, try to reach Him.

Shalom Aleichem

 

[YeshuaOrHaOlam]

Your question gives me an opportunity to reflect on just how grateful I am for the kindness of God for my present circumstances.

Shalom Waiting;

I think all of us, as talmidim Ha Yeshua, abiding in His truth, need reflect on this; every day.

Thank you for mentioning this.

Shalom Aleichem

 

[YeshuaOrHaOlam]

I don’t think I’d have a choice. I’d either be a pagan ancestor worshiping animist because that is the religion of my ancestors. Or Muslim, because when Magellan came Islam was fast advancing from the south and only the rule of Spain prevented us from becoming like Indonesia and Malaysia.

Shalom Constantine;

But if you had a free choice, are there not any religions that appeal to you outside of faith in Mashiach?

Shalom Aleichem

 

[mab23]

Hm. If Christianity was not true, the obvious answer would be the truest religion. What’s the use of believing in that which is not true?

Hm. In which case… Hm. You know, I don’t know.

Quite possibly Judaism, which professes many things about God that can be known through reason without the aid of divine revelation, that no other religion seems to claim. Like that God is all-powerful, eternal, unchanging. That all things began with Him, and that He is One, and not many. And that He is kind, merciful, and most importantly, loves His Creation. The Jewish faith teaches these things, if I understand correctly, in a way no other quite does.

Failing that… probably a lover and worshiper of God with no particular religion. I don’t know what that is called. I don’t think it’s a Deist, as a Deist knows God exists, but doesn’t worship Him.

This!

so id probably be a Jew

 

[Sneaux]

If Catholicism didn’t exsist I’d probably Lutheran or Anglican…maybe Orthodox.

If Christianity in general didn’t exsist, I’d be Jewish.

 

[YeshuaOrHaOlam]

If Catholicism didn’t exsist I’d probably Lutheran or Anglican…maybe Orthodox.

If Christianity in general didn’t exsist, I’d be Jewish.

Shalom Sneaux;

If the Abrahamic faiths did not exist?

Shalom Aleichem

 

[YeshuaOrHaOlam]

then i guess im on my own as those are not very comforting or inspirational to me, if i “disappear”

Very true; I agree with your sentiment my friend, not much hope or direction outside of Yeshua.

Shalom and be glad!

 

[504Katrin]

If the Abrahamic faiths did not exist?

Shalom Aleichem

If the Abrahamic faiths didn’t exist I would belong to that native indian tribe and its religion that I’ve heard of a long time ago. I would probably continue with the teaching that I remember I was taught as a child, when I was told that G-d is everything, hence everywhere. There’s that one native indian tribe that doesn’t worship idols, but every river, every tree and mountain, every pebble - just because. Just because they exist and are what they are. They also equal human and animal souls which is very important for me also. Basically their teaching is to respect nature, and to not hurt anyone (animals included) else. They eat animals, but they kill them in a way that doesn’t hurt too much… arrghhh…I just don’t believe that those poor creatures can be killed without feeling pain. But that’s where you would find me

 

[YeshuaOrHaOlam]

If the Abrahamic faiths didn’t exist I would belong to that native indian tribe and its religion that I’ve heard of a long time ago. I would probably continue with the teaching that I remember I was taught as a child, when I was told that G-d is everything, hence everywhere. There’s that one native indian tribe that doesn’t worship idols, but every river, every tree and mountain, every pebble - just because. Just because they exist and are what they are. They also equal human and animal souls which is very important for me also. Basically their teaching is to respect nature, and to not hurt anyone (animals included) else.

Shalom Katrin;

Interesting! One more count for Native spirituality!

Shalom Aleichem

 

[Rudy_Baga]

If the Abrahamic traditions did not exist, I think I would either be Taoist or subscribe to the Hermetic philosophies. Taoism has central to it’s teachings love, compassion, moderation and self-control. Hermeticism believes that a single truth exists which God has given out to all religions. It also taught a basic morality.

 

[YeshuaOrHaOlam]

If the Abrahamic traditions did not exist, I think I would either be Taoist or subscribe to the Hermetic philosophies. Taoism has central to it’s teachings love, compassion, moderation and self-control. Hermeticism believes that a single truth exists which God has given out to all religions. It also taught a basic morality.

Shalom Rudy;

Many Taoist’s actually came to faith in Yeshua because they recognized all of the truths they held as self evident were revealed in Him.

There is a book, I believe from an Eastern Orthodox perspective which is all about that connection;

amazon.com/Christ-Eternal-Tao-Hieromonk-Damascene/dp/0938635859/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Shalom Aleichem

 

[Patavium]

If Catholicism didn’t exsist I’d probably Lutheran or Anglican…maybe Orthodox.

If Christianity in general didn’t exsist, I’d be Jewish.

How can you be Lutheran? Anglican? They are sons of Catholicism. One cannot be Lutheran if Catholicism doesn’t exist.

Orthodox neither… Protestantism, and Orthodoxy come from a common root Catholicism.

 

[YeshuaOrHaOlam]

How can you be Lutheran? Anglican? They are sons of Catholicism. One cannot be Lutheran if Catholicism doesn’t exist.

Orthodox neither… Protestantism, and Orthodoxy come from a common root Catholicism.

Points of truth, friend.

Shalom Aleichem

 

[peter26]

If the CofE didn’t exist, the reformation never happened, and that would make me a Catholic.

If Christianity didn’t exist, I guess that would make me Jewish, since I believe in the LORD (“Yahweh”) and trust in his laws.

If the Abrahamic traditions did not exist, I guess I’d just believe in trying to do the right thing.

 

[Lokabrenna]

Well, if Heathenry wasn’t revived/rediscovered/reinvented in the 70s, I’d probably be Wiccan.

But more broadly, if the modern Pagan movement never came about, I’d probably be part of a NeoGnostic group like the Ecclesia Gnostica Mysteriorum.

 

[YeshuaOrHaOlam]

Well, if Heathenry wasn’t revived/rediscovered/reinvented in the 70s, I’d probably be Wiccan.

But more broadly, if the modern Pagan movement never came about, I’d probably be part of a NeoGnostic group like the Ecclesia Gnostica Mysteriorum.

Shalom Lokabrenna;

I was rather hoping a person of non Abrahamic faith would opine; thank you for your contribution.

Very interesting.

Shalom Aleichem