If you believe that the Bible is the true word of god and if you believe that your god is the one “true” god and if you believe that your and only your set of beliefs is the true way to believe, if you have faith of all these things, where did that faith begin? Did it start when you were a child and were sent to Sunday school, perhaps? Did your parents talk to you about things like god, heaven, hell, all of those types of things? Do you suppose that if you had been born into a Hindu family or a family that practiced no religion at all, is it fair to suppose that your faith might be different or even non-existsnt in such a case? Did you make some conscious decision at some point as an adult that the Bible and Christian values, as well as the god portrayed in the Bible were the only truth there is? I’m curious as to why we believe what we believe or don’t believe and why. I’d like to know where feelings as strong as these come from. Where does faith begin and what do you say to someone, or they to you, when you both have faith in your own beliefs but theirs are the polar opposite? Two opposite views can’t both be right, or can they? Are the Torah, the Quran and other holy books that are non-Christian based, full of lies or do you think those religions have faith that’s less than or not as valid as yours? What say you?
@Jack Roberts , I really like questions that challenge us to consider why we think or feel the way we do, especially when the questioning is so nonjudgmental. Thanks for this. I'm sure you'll get responses that more directly conform to your questions. But alas, I'm a nonconformist ...... LOL So, my parents were Methodist, church and Sunday School were an every week thing, and I was sent to summer bible school for a couple years. Consequently my real faith began when I started to question and research other belief systems and came to believe than no one religion has all the truth and no deity with humanoid characteristics actually exists. My nonconformist, faith in an energy based, spiritual natural universe began in shedding all I was taught. None of it felt right to my soul. None of it helped me feel alive, safe, or comforted. I found it oppressive, hypocritical, and vested in power-over instead of power-with dynamics. I could go on and on, but will stop here for now. It's a great series of questions and I'm curious what others have to say.
Thank you for sharing I admire your outlook too. A difference of opinion, especially such an interesting one, is quite refreshing from what else I’ve been reading which basically boils downdraft to - “Because, god!” God said it, many believe it but not me. I’m from Missouri and no one has shown me anything godlike yet. I too heard of god and Jesus and Santa Claus, tooth fairies, lots of things but no one gave me proof. I’m like Diogenes, I feel at times, looking for an honest man. Thanks for reaching out! Namaste!
I see I neglected to answer a couple of your questions. Fortified with morning coffee, I shall take another pass at it. I can't say that any religion's scriptures are full of lies per se, but certainly they are full of specific agenda, over the top glorification, borrowed myths, contradictions, anachronisms, faulty transliterations, and spin, etc, and must be read with huge grains of salt. To take any scripture literally is, in my opinion, a mistake that further obscures any real spiritual truth. Interestingly, the universal truths like the Golden Rule appear inn some form in every belief system. I look for those instead of for the nick picky, times/culture specific differences. I too am interested in why people believe what they believe -- which is at the heart of social and transpersonal psychology. There are many reasons, but often they can be boiled down to accepting what you grow up with without question, being guilted or fear-mongered into one belief vs another, listening to an internal resonance, or /and a need to quell existential anxiety. It's really a fascinating area of study.
The fact that you say and believe you have no religion is, by definition, a religion. You noted that you are a Humanist and Humanism is indeed……a religion.
Hmmm @Lon Tanner , I think one can have faith in things other than the tenants of a religion. Faith in one's own abilities. Faith in the basic benevolence of the universe. Faith in natural laws like gravity and the constant rotation of the earth and the moon's effect on tides. Faith that most humans have an instinct for helping others in distress, and so on.
I think religion has been changingsince time began. I think the first one was rejected by many it was offered to and changed to fit the culture it formed in. Some sayChina is the oldesr religion yet nobody can really prove it. IMO God didn't change His word or laws ,man changed it to fit his own nature.Then you have story of the fallen who were cast down or the alien . I do beleive there is a higher power I choose to call God but decades of study has left me with many questions. I know for a fact there is a spiritual world and we are not just matter formed by oozing of biological matter and it has had an impact on my strong desire to need to know.
Faith begins with belief, although faith is not, in itself, belief. Faith is a stronger word, suggesting trust and confidence. For example, I might believe in Satan but I don't have faith in him.
I became a Christian at a young age when my Atheist Dad dropped me off at a local Congregational Church, believing that I should have an opportunity to make my own judgment on religion. For much of my life I had a blind faith, accepting everything I was taught from the Bible without reservation. In my 40's, I started studying world religions and Christian apologetics. Only then did I consider the reasons of "why" I embraced Christianity over other religions. I think most people adopt the religion that they're raised with, be it a believer or unbeliever. If the foundations are strong, they're likely to stay with it because it's ingrained in their hearts and world view; if it's not, they're likely to stray - for better or worse. People who think or claim that all religions are the same or share equal truths obviously haven't studied Christianity or the world's other main religions adequately. There's huge differences and specific opposing doctrines that cannot be rationally reconciled. I encourage everyone to study each of the world's major religions from their apologetic defenders. With that, I've found that none have the manuscript authority, scientific insight, historical and archaeological support, and fulfilled prophesy that the Bible and Christianity holds. With today's abundant, readily available information, there's no need for blind faith - and little excuse for denying the Gospel truth.
Reading and study of all the world's religions is interesting but will not impart belief of any to the reader. I really have no reason for what I believe despite exposure to religion at a early age and ongoing contact with those of faith. Now, having reached the twilight of my life what I believe is not likely to change and I am content with that.
I would imagine the experience varies from one person to the next and it would be interesting to read individuals stories.
It came first from my parents who attented one church or the other on Sunday and usually Wednesday nights. Later from the little church we referred to as Third and Adams. where I attended several bible studies over the years. What was the best part of the service for me? The music and singing. The music most often consisted of an old piano but the singing was lively. It was a way of life until I was seventeen and elgible to join the army.
My step-folks were very avid in going to the early church service each Sunday AM. I ended up giving out the Bulletin and turning out the sanctuary lights when the Pastor done his sermon at the pulpit. He had a light right above him to see his notes. Then, in Basic Training for the Navy, I got to be a Protestant Petty Officer and take some of the sailors in my Company to church on Sunday AM. Dropped away from church, and the Bible, for a number of years, until I met my wife. She brought me back to the church and Bible. I was so very, very glad she did!