My faith allows bad faiths to exist

[devonsams]

Hi, first of all I’d like to apologize, cause I’m a brazilian, and I don’t speak english very well ;/

I have a big struggle here, which is that everytime that I ask myself about my faith, I think that I allow bad faiths to exist.

Because if I have the right on my Country to have a faith, and be respected for it, than I allows anybody to have a faith on their religion. It is like, if I have the right to be a catholic, then i have to allow the right of the others to be part of some Evil Churches, which steal money from the people. I have to allow that some hatred muslims exist. And so many others evil faiths.

It is like, if my faith is a good one, then I have to allow bad ones to exist, because that’s the way that democracy works.

But if my faith is true, then I do not have to worry that bad ones exist, because the fact that it is true, worth everything, even if there are many other bad ones.

It is like, I feel that allowing faith and religion to exist, it is just like Being Condescendent with it. I think they are confusing tolerance with condescendence. It is like: “Okay, you can believe that, there’s no problem.” I think one day will come that people will get tired with it, and they won’t respect religion anymore, because there are many evil faiths one, and it wont worth the fact that there is a good one.

And that’s my problem, I want to know if my religion is true, and I always pray for that, and I believe on it, but I always get myself asking when I pray: “Don’t belive in something because it is comfortable, try to find a way to discover if it is true” because if it is, then I won’t have to struggle anymore about it, because it is true.
But if it is a lie, I can see that Allowing Faith to exist might be a dangerous thing.

I wanna know if you guys can understand me? Thanks.

 

[cmforte]

Hi, first of all I’d like to apologize, cause I’m a brazilian, and I don’t speak english very well ;/

I have a big struggle here, which is that everytime that I ask myself about my faith, I think that I allow bad faiths to exist.

Because if I have the right on my Country to have a faith, and be respected for it, than I allows anybody to have a faith on their religion. It is like, if I have the right to be a catholic, then i have to allow the right of the others to be part of some Evil Churches, which steal money from the people. I have to allow that some hatred muslims exist. And so many others evil faiths.

It is like, if my faith is a good one, then I have to allow bad ones to exist, because that’s the way that democracy works.

But if my faith is true, then I do not have to worry that bad ones exist, because the fact that it is true, worth everything, even if there are many other bad ones.

It is like, I feel that allowing faith and religion to exist, it is just like Being Condescendent with it. I think they are confusing tolerance with condescendence. It is like: “Okay, you can believe that, there’s no problem.” I think one day will come that people will get tired with it, and they won’t respect religion anymore, because there are many evil faiths one, and it wont worth the fact that there is a good one.

And that’s my problem, I want to know if my religion is true, and I always pray for that, and I believe on it, but I always get myself asking when I pray: “Don’t belive in something because it is comfortable, try to find a way to discover if it is true” because if it is, then I won’t have to struggle anymore about it, because it is true.
But if it is a lie, I can see that Allowing Faith to exist might be a dangerous thing.

I wanna know if you guys can understand me? Thanks.

I understand. I agree with this part:

But if my faith is true, then I do not have to worry that bad ones exist, because the fact that it is true, worth everything, even if there are many other bad ones.

-Chris

 

[TheOne33]

In a way, yes. But it’s not what you think. In every opinion, idea, or group, there’s going to be an opposition. The same goes for religion. Remember when our Lord was here on Earth, people persecuted Him. Did he persecute them and criticize them? No, he was kind and compassionate. He understood their choices and allowed them to make them. In fact, if God isn’t sinning by allowing us to CHOOSE to practice any kind of religion, then neither are we. Unless we directly support another religion, then we are not sinning and you shouldn’t worry.

 

[St_Francis]

The Catholic Church has always taught that it is wrong to force conversions–some have done so, but that was against the teaching of the Church.

Thus, people have what is called in Dignitatis Humanis (sp?) a *civil *right to freedom of religion as long as it does not cause a lot of social disruption.

However, people have a *moral *obligation to search for the Truth, which is found in the fullness of faith in the Catholic Church.

I think one day will come that people will get tired with it, and they won’t respect religion anymore, because there are many evil faiths one, and it wont worth the fact that there is a good one.

Here you do bring up a really good point, which is the question of indifference. We Catholics must struggle, esp in this day and age, not to think that what one believes does not matter. I read something really good about this in Heresies, By GK Chesterton, and if I find it I will write it in, but in the meantime, here is a page of talks by John Rao, who in The Dangers of Pluralism addresses this issue. If you are more comfortable reading English than listening, here is a page of his writings, search for pluralism and you will get 4 listings: try the the last two first. I have not read them, so I am not sure how thorough they are.

Overall, it seems that in the effort to avoid religious conflict, people began to ignore religion, esp in the US, where it was proposed in the 1800s that Catholics downplay some of the “odder” aspects of Catholicism (which was condemned as a heresy by Pope Leo XIII). The idea that leaving religion as a private matter would reduce conflict–remembering that these conflicts caused a lot of battles and war in Europe-- seemed to be a good solution, but an unintended side-effect has been that Catholicism, which is a very encompassing religion, has suffered.

 

[Birdguy1979]

I understand. I agree with this part:

-Chris

I must ask how you know yours is real. There are many religions and all have believers that care swear to having experiences and knowing the creator. They can quote from their holy books, as I am sure you can. So, I ask again. How do you know that yours is the right one, other than your parents and the adults in your life when you were a child drilled it into your head that it is true?

 

[arabic99]

Great question Birdguy!!

 

[thenobes]

I must ask how you know yours is real. There are many religions and all have believers that care swear to having experiences and knowing the creator. They can quote from their holy books, as I am sure you can. So, I ask again. How do you know that yours is the right one, other than your parents and the adults in your life when you were a child drilled it into your head that it is true?

Birdguy,

Have you read the Confessions of St Augustine (who lived about 390AD?) I hear it can answer your questions.

peace
steve

 

[fhansen]

Hi, first of all I’d like to apologize, cause I’m a brazilian, and I don’t speak english very well ;/

I have a big struggle here, which is that everytime that I ask myself about my faith, I think that I allow bad faiths to exist.

Because if I have the right on my Country to have a faith, and be respected for it, than I allows anybody to have a faith on their religion. It is like, if I have the right to be a catholic, then i have to allow the right of the others to be part of some Evil Churches, which steal money from the people. I have to allow that some hatred muslims exist. And so many others evil faiths.

It is like, if my faith is a good one, then I have to allow bad ones to exist, because that’s the way that democracy works.

But if my faith is true, then I do not have to worry that bad ones exist, because the fact that it is true, worth everything, even if there are many other bad ones.

It is like, I feel that allowing faith and religion to exist, it is just like Being Condescendent with it. I think they are confusing tolerance with condescendence. It is like: “Okay, you can believe that, there’s no problem.” I think one day will come that people will get tired with it, and they won’t respect religion anymore, because there are many evil faiths one, and it wont worth the fact that there is a good one.

And that’s my problem, I want to know if my religion is true, and I always pray for that, and I believe on it, but I always get myself asking when I pray: “Don’t belive in something because it is comfortable, try to find a way to discover if it is true” because if it is, then I won’t have to struggle anymore about it, because it is true.
But if it is a lie, I can see that Allowing Faith to exist might be a dangerous thing.

I wanna know if you guys can understand me? Thanks.

If all religions are lies, then they’re all worthless. If one, two, or three, etc, are true, then it/they are valuable. Our job, in a world of ignorance about where we came from, what we’re doing here, and where we’re going is to do the best we can to earnestly seek the truth. And then, in my experience, God answers, and little by little He increases, refines, and hardens that faith, not without our cooperation.

The Church teaches that we all have the right to pursue truth-or not pursue it- as we will, and that we’re not to act against our own consciences, let alone anyone else’s; faith cannot be forced upon anyone; it wouldn’t be genuine faith anyway. Remember that God is, fortunately, patient with us all; none of us as individuals have fully arrived or possess perfect knowledge and most religions are at least imperfect expressions of faith, faith in something “bigger” than ourselves.

Anyway, it seems to me you’re second guessing too much. Forget about everyone else for now and concentrate on your own walk, on seeking God first and everything else will fall into place.