Why pick one religion over another?

[Ahimsa]

Buddhism rejects the concept of an eternal soul

That’s not necessarily so: it depends upon how one defines “soul” and “eternal”.

Judaism reject the notion of kharma

Hasidic Jews believe in reincarnation.

or the concept of enlightenment coming from within, instead of from God.

Quakers (Christians) believe in the divine spark within Man, the Light within.

Christianity also rejects the buddhist tenet of the individual attaining heaven or nirvana by themselves.

In Buddhism, no one attains heaven or nirvana alone.

 

[MrZetterlund]

Ummmm, no, you can’t be a buddhist and a Christian, or a buddhist and a Jew. Buddhism rejects the concept of an eternal soul, and Christianity and Judaism reject the notion of kharma, or the concept of enlightenment coming from within, instead of from God. Christianity also rejects the buddhist tenet of the individual attaining heaven or nirvana by themselves.

I’ve met a Buddhist Christian. Buddhism is so generic, it doesn’t conflict with any other religions.

 

[CMatt25]

The one that you have researched, that you feel called toward, and that you feel that God has lead you into… God will reveal himself to all that look. Sometimes that can mean different denominations, in my opinion, sometimes I will go as far to say it can be different religion entirely. I have no doubt that God works through Jimmy Bobo, the God of tissue, of the African tribe way out in the middle of nowhere that anyone knows about or goes. no that is not a real God that I know of, simply saying some far off God that is worshiped and teaches good

uch: :bowdown: Wait a minute while I get off the floor. I can not believe I just read these words from another Catholic on CAF. This is still CAF? :hypno: :doh2: I guess God does work in mysterious ways! :grouphug:

 

[Eris_Discordia]

This site Seems to be capable of bringing you a little further towards Truth.

I already have my counter-arguments planned out, but it’s going to take a solid hour to type out everything… and it’s almost 2:30 AM, so I am going to sleep. Night all.

 

[blazerdave]

I didn’t pick my religion. It was chosen for me before all worlds

 

[Vile_Servant]

It seems so relative… all the major religions have their holy books, their morals, their assertions that they are right… How can you then pick one and stick to it so closely, when you could have picked the wrong religion anyway?

Eventually, we will all end up in the religion that we choose out of our own free will as well as the guidance of our conscience and the promptings of the Holy Spirit, even if we each had different starting points in life, or believed differently in the past. Saul of Tarsus was one such example.

 

[Jehoshua]

Well in regards to me.

I chose to ascend from the pit of juvenile indifference to religion because once i started looking into it, the Catholic Church stood out to me to be the most moral, just and correct path. Of course this is just to my view of the world, but i found concepts in other religions seriously flawed, such as the generally atheistic bhuddist worldview, several Islamic teachings, the exclusivity of Judaism etc etc.

And within Christianity the Catholic Church stood out to me as a beacon where so many protestant communities were movable in their teachings and morally were lacking in some cases (gay marriage in some groups for example). So I found within the church a light, that called to me in way unlike any other and led me to becoming a “true” catholic, instead of just nominal membership.

 

[Zundrah]

It seems so relative…

Does it?

all the major religions have their holy books,

…yes, the written word of God. He has given us his word to follow or to rebel against.

their morals,

Morals; very important.

their assertions that they are right…

Well of course! If we really believe that it is the word of God then really we have no choice other than to assume it is correct!

How can you then pick one and stick to it so closely,

Because if you seriously and deeply study the others, you will clearly see that something is so very very wrong…

when you could have picked the wrong religion anyway?

As I say, look at the others very indepthly and you will see why I have stuck with mine.

 

[T_More]

Buddhism is so generic, it doesn’t conflict with any other religions.

I think you need to read what John Paul II wrote about Buddhism in his book, Crossing the Threshold. It makes it quite clear the Church’s stance on Buddhism. They are not compatible.

 

[Glassman96]

It’s not a matter of picking one religion over another, but what does matter is picking up your cross and following Jesus. Jesus is the way, the truth and life. Jesus will guide you as long as you listen to Him. One should not choose a religion for things like, entertainment, or who tickles your ears better, you like the church’s format and so on. The main thing is, is are you being fed the truth? This is where Jesus and The Holy Spirit come in to help you discern truth. In time, Jesus will give you the Spirit of Truth to be with you forever. John 14: 15-17

 

[Bill_Pick]

It seems so relative… all the major religions have their holy books, their morals, their assertions that they are right… How can you then pick one and stick to it so closely, when you could have picked the wrong religion anyway?

Because Our Lord Jesus Christ started ONE Church MK 16;18-19 and not the other 32,000

 

[PJM]

=Lethe;6385624]That’s a bit circular, though… I’m sure the Koran says within its own pages that it is the right and only religion…

That remind me of this:

How do you know God exists?
The Bible says He does.
How do you know the Bible is true?
It’s the word of God.

Friend, God only allows me me to share His truth. He creates it. Either accept it or not; is between you and the God [whom you cannot prove to not exist].

If you really want to know How I know God exist; ask and I’ll share the information, which too you can ignore but not refute.

Love and prayers friend

 

[Lethe]

How do we know who built the Pyramids?

How do we know about Alexander the Great?

How do we know about any kind of historical event from many, many years ago?

I don’t know for sure, but I also don’t base my life on it, or expect other people to.

 

[Lethe]

In terms of religion preference, what you miss is that ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ are also relative. You seem to think that there is a fixed ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ religion.

I don’t think that, otherwise I wouldn’t be asking this question! I just see that a lot of people DO think their religion is right, and are willing to fight for laws that follow their religion (I’m not talking just Catholicism, but especially Muslim countries and such) - which, when it discriminates against others, shouldn’t be allowed.

 

[humblelurker]

I don’t think that, otherwise I wouldn’t be asking this question! I just see that a lot of people DO think their religion is right, and are willing to fight for laws that follow their religion (I’m not talking just Catholicism, but especially Muslim countries and such) - which, when it discriminates against others, shouldn’t be allowed.

I’m glad to hear this. Don’t underestimate morality, a little logic, and the difference between faiths. For me the Golden Rule is essential: Treating others as you yourself would want to be treated, or don’t treat others as you yourself would not want to be treated. Now as a rule of faith I think it is essential, and it should remain a rule of faith to live by and live up to. Think about how many times throughout history people suffered and died because they were treated as others thought they should be treated and not as they, the persecutors, would want to be treated themselves. I can even see modern examples of this reading the news. Can we say that all faiths and all cultures throughout all of human history have the golden rule as an official guide (even if individuals break it)? I think this would narrow the search down a bit, and it would be a good beginning to start from if you are looking. Not all faiths are the same, and knowing the difference can make a big difference to those searching. That is just what I humbly believe, but I’m only human.

 

[PJM]

=Inego de Loyola;6386076]This site Seems to be capable of bringing you a little further towards Truth.

Actually I do know right from wrong. What is Morrally good and bad as absolute fact. To pretent this is not NOT true is plain and simply denial of God. A postion that lacks creedence, fact. logic and truth.

God allows you to choose what you will. That no way implies that He will tolerate it or in the long term, permit it.

But your freewill [by the way how and where did you get this freewill?] allows you to pretend to know more, and know better than God. Your not the first, nor the last to do so. But all of you have a common ending and you’ll have lot’s of time to rethink your position.

May God grant you wisdom. understanding, pardon and peace!

Love and prayers,
Pat

 

[Palaeologos]

It seems so relative… all the major religions have their holy books, their morals, their assertions that they are right… How can you then pick one and stick to it so closely, when you could have picked the wrong religion anyway?

Well, we just sort of stick a pin in the Big Religious Diagram, and wherever we end up, that’s what we stick with.

 

[humblelurker]

I’m glad to hear this. Don’t underestimate morality, a little logic, and the difference between faiths. For me the Golden Rule is essential: Treating others as you yourself would want to be treated, or don’t treat others as you yourself would not want to be treated. Now as a rule of faith I think it is essential, and it should remain a rule of faith to live by and live up to. Think about how many times throughout history people suffered and died because they were treated as others thought they should be treated and not as they, the persecutors, would want to be treated themselves. I can even see modern examples of this reading the news. Can we say that all faiths and all cultures throughout all of human history have the golden rule as an official guide (even if individuals break it)? I think this would narrow the search down a bit, and it would be a good beginning to start from if you are looking. Not all faiths are the same, and knowing the difference can make a big difference to those searching. That is just what I humbly believe, but I’m only human.

Lethe,
If you narrow your search to a series of faiths that have some form of Golden Rule in place, then how does the Golden Rule fit into the faiths with the other rules and tenants in those faiths? Are their exceptions to the Golden Rule? What about Just War, Jihad, or the Natural Law? What about how you treat not just your friends, but your neighbors and your enemies? How do the other rules interact with the Golden Rule? How is the Golden Rule shaped? Is it bent out of shape? Don’t forget that the differences between the faiths make a difference to those searching. Question and research if you are curious my friend, but this is just my simple understanding.
Humblelurker Out.

 

[Ahimsa]

I think you need to read what John Paul II wrote about Buddhism in his book, Crossing the Threshold. It makes it quite clear the Church’s stance on Buddhism. They are not compatible.

JPII incorrectly labeled Buddhism “atheistic” in the book.

 

[Palaeologos]

JPII incorrectly labeled Buddhism “atheistic” in the book.

Well, that depends on whom you ask. Most American Buddhists are atheists, formally speaking, because they adhere to the rather austere Japanese form of Buddhism. Tibetan Buddhists, and Buddhists in Southeast Asia, on the other hand, are cheerfully polytheistic.

Of course, most American Buddhists sneer at them for their “devolved” practice. But we all have to have somebody to consider ourselves better than, no?