What makes you think you are right about belief?

When it comes to beliefs, particularly religious beliefs, there was, from my perspective, a strange aberration about people and their faiths. There were all these different belief systems, and each one was SURE they are right. And everyone of the other religious groups was wrong. About who or what God(s) are. About what is the proper path to salvation. About where you go after you die. And so on, and so on.

How was this possible? Each group could not be right and every other group be wrong. Because the only thing just about all these groups agreed upon is that only one group could be right. It was like I was standing at a huge crossroads, and an adherent from each religion was holding up a sign saying 'Take my path, it is the only one that will save you'.

A crossroads with a thousand paths to choose from. All stating the same thing. My path, and my path alone, will be your salvation.

With one guy separated from all the rest, with a sign saying 'All those other paths are wrong! Reject them all. Every single one of them. My path isn't going to do squat for you. But it will at least give you the real deal about the path. Which is that there is no path'.

In my younger days, the only reasonable choice to make was the last one. Logically all these other paths were delusional, thinking their path was THE ONE, and all the others were false. Better to take the path that rejected the entire concept. This path was atheism, of course.

But my choice always bothered me, because of my experiences in life which showed me that this reality we live in day to day is not the only reality. Or, putting it more properly, the day to day reality was not all there was to reality.

It took many a year, and maturing, amassing what wisdom I could before I realized that my initial choice was wrong after all. It wasn't a matter of rejecting any of the paths. It WAS a matter of rejecting the notion that one and only one of them was the right path. Once one does that, the concern about being right, or about being wrong lost its power over me.

There are many, many, many 'right' paths. People choose a particular path based on their individual needs, desires and strengths and limitations. The choice one makes, if one chooses wisely, is the best choice for that person. If it turns out that your initial choice isn't working for you anymore, choose another. If your path is moving you towards enlightenment, that is one of the right paths for you.

Of course, I could be wrong.....
 
What I like about my belief system is that is makes perfect sense to me. I can find no discrepancies in it whatsoever.

I have checked out several religions, but I always made it a point to head for the door as soon as I heard something that didn't make sense.
 
I think that is the same for many...but then I think most stay in because it what they know, what they are comfortable with despite their questions, it is the camaraderie and family (or ostracizing) that keeps them in, the group think...and it exceeds the number of questions, issues they have.

And then there are those that have been in it so long...once they discover they don't believe they just hang on....

something to make an interesting poll topic...

after do you believe in G!d...

why?

Because I know He is real
convenience...
family...
lack of interest to investigate


How often do you attend church?

Why?

Sabbath/duty
family
camarderie
habit
it feeds me spiritually
it makes me feel good about myself


Do you believe everything that your bible/preacher/church says is true?
 
Wil, I agree. For some people like myself, deep, metaphysical, and ecclesiastical questions are very important. But for most people, these "meditate on your belly button" questions are just not that important. Their religion just makes them feel happy. And I agree that for most people, socializing and camaraderie is a huge part too.
 
all belief systems are wrong, that does not mean that they dont have value or contain some truth. But if you need to maintain a belief system how can it be true ?
 
NiceCupOfTea said:
all belief systems are wrong....... But if you need to maintain a belief system how can it be true ?
Click to expand...

I do not understand your comments.

If all belief systems are wrong - what is right? I.E. what do you put in place rather than use a belief system?

The act of having to maintain a belief system makes it false? Again I do not understand what you mean by that.

Would you explain further?
 
There could be a right way, we just don't know of it, and we all do the best we can.
 
My feeling.... my thought.... All the prophets, All the godmen, from Aristotle, Buddha, Baha'ullah, Jesus, Mohamed, Moses, Zarathustra, Lao Tzu, etc...were given keys to the kingdom, touched the hem, had a glimpse of the unknown, partially grokked the unknowable...

BUT

they lacked the ability to understand or convey accurately, completely and succinctly the enormity or simplicity of it all to their audience.....they did the best they could....but it is all lacking....and all requires us to take the next step. They all accessed the same thing, they are all attempting to provide that to us....but it was warped by their human abilities to discuss the spiritual...and by our abilities to undeerstand, as well as all the influence, agenda, and control of the intermediaries...
 
wil said:
My feeling.... my thought.... All the prophets, All the godmen, from Aristotle, Buddha, Baha'ullah, Jesus, Mohamed, Moses, Zarathustra, Lao Tzu, etc...were given keys to the kingdom, touched the hem, had a glimpse of the unknown, partially grokked the unknowable...
Click to expand...
OK.

wil said:
BUT ...
Click to expand...
Quite wrong. What's lacking, if you think about it, lies with the audience ...
 
"...they lacked the ability to understand or convey accurately, completely and succinctly the enormity or simplicity of it all to their audience....."

--> Or that their audiences lacked the maturity to understand everything the great leaders said. I would add that mankind is still not ready to receive all of the teachings. But as the centuries go by and we become more mature, more of the teachings will be released. This is why I believe great teachers like Jesus, Buddha, will continue to keep returning.

Jesus may indeed come again, but there is no reason to think his next visit will be his last.
 
Yes, to both.... I meant that as part of it. it is both the communicator and the communcatee....

And yeah....between first Adam put us to sleep, second Adam to wake us up, Melchizedek, who knows how many trips it will take,,,
 
"I don't understand, and it's your fault! And because I don't understand, no-one else can either!" :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top