What religion is right?

[blackhaw]

There are many religions out there and most claim to be the way to God. A lot of them claim to be the only way to God. How do we know christianity is the right way? Is there anyway we can be for sure? Why should I put my faith in the Christian God over the Gods of other religions?

[Peter]

I believe the answer to your question might lie in the idea of changed lives. In other words, the proof is in the pudding. There are many who claim to have found the truth and are just miserable about it. Christianity brings a change of character. Our very nature is changed. Those who are undergoing this transformation are fairly evident to others.

Those who have Christ, or more accurately those whom Christ has, exhibit the fruit of His presence.

You might ask the same question regarding Protestantism, Catholicism and Orthodoxy. And if you answer Protestantism, which manifestation?

[questian]

Originally posted by Peter
I believe the answer to your question might lie in the idea of changed lives. In other words, the proof is in the pudding. There are many who claim to have found the truth and are just miserable about it. Christianity brings a change of character. Our very nature is changed. Those who are undergoing this transformation are fairly evident to others.

Those who have Christ, or more accurately those whom Christ has, exhibit the fruit of His presence.

You might ask the same question regarding Protestantism, Catholicism and Orthodoxy. And if you answer Protestantism, which manifestation?

Does this mean that when my child's character changes from cute playfulness in the morning to temper tantrums in the afternoon, they have fallen away from God? Or do they just need a nap? In order to pinpoint the cause for a certain behavior, all variables have to be ruled out. Who's to say that when a criminal cleans up his act and starts living a productive life that it's due to supernatural intervention or his just being tired of living that lifestyle? It happens all the time. I have seen Christianity transform individuals into people worse than they were before so the change you are talking about is not necessarily a positive one.

[blackhaw]

Questian:
I am glad you are back Questian. You were not realy gone but I got a little bored with no Athiests posting. That is why i azm playing a little devil's advocate with this post. i hope other christians will reply and try to say wh they think Christianity is true. I think it is very important to have a reason why you believe what you believe. Now some things need faith for us to believe in but it is not a blind faith.

Peter:

I kind of echo Questian's comments here. I know Christians that act very poorly while I know pagans and athiests that act properly. I have friends at work that are great friends but are not Christians while some people at church back bite and have said very bad things about others and me in the past. (I still think they are Christians though) Also look at church down through the ages. Church history also goes against your answer. do you have any other kinds of evidence that makes yu think that Christianity is true?

[Peter]

Remeber gentlemen, it's not what we say about ourselves that makes us Christian. It's what others say about us. Remember, "They were first CALLED Christians in Antioch." It does not say they first called themselves Christians, they were labled that by others. Christian, of course, means little Christ.

As to your question of atheists who do good things, and church goers who do bad, Augustine says it best:

"There are those whom God has but the Church does not. And there are those that the Church has that God does not."

Keep in mind, salvation is a mystery.

Pauls own best argument was his own testamony.

[blackhaw]

Peter:

What about the testimnonies of Buddhists? Or Jehovah Witnesses? Sometimes they have great testimonies of how much better their lives our after practising their religions. Why are they wrong and Christians are right if it is about our testimonies?

[Brandan Kraft]

The thing that differentiates ALL religions from Christianity is the resurrection of Jesus. He physically rose from the dead.

[questian]

Originally posted by kermie
The thing that differentiates ALL religions from Christianity is the resurrection of Jesus. He physically rose from the dead.

Brandan,
Uniqueness does not equal validity. This is the logical fallacy of appeal to minority.

PLEASE do some research into ancient myths and legends, ESPECIALLY those surrounding Easter and Christmas. You will find several references to the resurrection/rebirth of various cultures' dieties. Do a keyword search on fertility rites, rebirth, Ishtar, Astarte, Ashtoreth, Mithras, Isis, etc, etc. Christianity is hardly unique in this respect and is generally understood to have plagerized practices from multiple cultures.

[Brandan Kraft]

Hey, did I say the uniqueness is what makes it valid? I said it DIFFERENTIATES, and left it at that.... You assumed too much...

But Jesus DID rise from the dead. If that isn't enough proof to believe, I don't know what is....

[questian]

Originally posted by kermie
Hey, did I say the uniqueness is what makes it valid? I said it DIFFERENTIATES, and left it at that.... You assumed too much...

But Jesus DID rise from the dead. If that isn't enough proof to believe, I don't know what is....

Semantics. Either way, you posit that Christianity is superior in this regard. I say it is just another superstitious version of man's search for immortality and the meaning of life.

[blackhaw]

Kermie:

If all that Christianity holds is true then it is unique but is it true? To just say that Jesus rose from the dead does not prove anything. What proof do we have to believe He did this or the Bible is true above the other religions sacred books. That is the kind of thing I am looking for in this thread. Also what about Questian's postt about other religions that believed that smae things during those times or even before?

[Brandan Kraft]

Jesus RISING from the dead is a HISTORICAL fact!

[blackhaw]

I think it is a story just like the death and ressurection of the mystery religions gods during Roman times. What proof do we have that Jesus' ressurection is a historical fact? What do you base that statement on?

[questian]

Originally posted by kermie
Jesus RISING from the dead is a HISTORICAL fact!

Historical "facts" mean nothing if they do have relevance to the PRESENT. Unless something exists today in the same form as it did in the past, it is nothing more than a memory or an artifact. Without a body, living or dead, Jesus' resurrection is both speculation and myth.

[blackhaw]

Questian:
"Without a body, living or dead, Jesus' resurrection is both speculation and myth."

Why? Why does it have to be a myth? Yes it will cause there to be some faith but speculation and myth?

[Brandan Kraft]

Originally posted by questian


Historical "facts" mean nothing if they do have relevance to the PRESENT. Unless something exists today in the same form as it did in the past, it is nothing more than a memory or an artifact. Without a body, living or dead, Jesus' resurrection is both speculation and myth.

I find it quite ironic that you dismiss Jesus' resurrection as myth, but readily accept the theory of evolution as fact, when we have no walking fish, or any record of them in our limited fossil collection. Hmmm, you seem to have greater faith in the unseen than I do.

[smugg]

Originally posted by kermie

...when we have no walking fish, or any record of them in our limited fossil collection...

?!?!!?

The Lungfish

Introduction to Evolutionary Biology

The answer to your original question, blackhaw (you troublemaker) is that people 'know' their religion is true because it's the one religion they know to which they have the most positive emotional response.

[questian]

Thanks, Smugg! I was going to say the same thing. Has anyone seen these on TV? They are interesting to watch walking around on fins. BTW, welcome back.

Brandan,
WHICH theory of evolution are you referring to? I like my words cooked a little more well done before they get put in my mouth.
I prefer the term Natural Selection as it is more readily observed.

[questian]

Here's another link:

http://www.amonline.net.au/fishes/fi.../nforsteri.htm

[blackhaw]

Welcome back Smugg. I was wondering where you had gone. Anyways this thread is getting off track. I do not want to talk about evolution. I want to know why Christians think that there religions is the one true religion. That is why is it right when Buddhism and other religions are wrong. I defitely think Christianity is the only way but I have been playing on the other side with this thread.

Questian:
My question still remains.
"Without a body, living or dead, Jesus' resurrection is both speculation and myth."

Why? Why does it have to be a myth? Yes it will cause there to be some faith but speculation and myth?