Friendly discussion and thought exercise to religious people

Ok, I guess... thanks anyway for the insight

I'll be glad to do it! But since I asked first, be my guest and as soon as you answer mine, I'll answer yours.

C'mon troopers, keep'em coming!

reality is the litmus test.

Incorrect that the only monotheism is the Biblical God.
Islam is also monotheism, their only God is Allah, which is Arabic for God.

Yes, once the importance of the I am, the ground of being, is
understood, the more it becomes apparent that the stories and beliefs are expressions leading to that understanding. This doesn't mean that they lose their value, just that they are seen as more a means to an end as opposed to the end itself.

Yes, ok. Still I see a paradox on your interpretation. If you're the one observing, interpreting and concluding the results based on observations and everyone else's observation must be considered a lie, it will soon be a completely biased view, since others are lying, it means you're the only one right. But others will think the very same thing, which is a conflict and there will never be a consensus.

This is also true on Judaism, Zoroastrianism and Bahá'í Faith.

Knew you the Bible you would have known the Semitic religions speak of the same God.

ok, I imagined that all my religious beliefs were lies, and therefore no longer believed them. then I stopped imagining things. now hat?

*what

Well, possibly. These are all Abrahamic religions, they share the same base. But they are definitely VERY, VERY different.

Besides, what difference does it make? I mean, even if they refer to the same deity, their understanding of it is fundamentally different.

J*udaism follows talmud, instead of the Torah in the Bible.
Christianity is polytheism, they consider Jesus to be more than just son OF God.
Islam seems the only really monotheistic religion to me.

What about Zoroastrianism and Bahá'i faith?

Let's start by rejecting all religions--that's something many of us do in our teen years.

What then can we say about Life and Death and how should we live?

We know we shall die, so let us choose Life to start

We can see that life involves many states of being, and their opposites:

Peace vs. War
Health vs. Illness
Liberty vs. Slavery
Justice vs. Injustice
Temperance vs Intemperance
Courage vs Cowardice
Faithfulness vs Unfaithfulness
Truth vs Deceit
Love vs Hate

Of the above, most of us would choose the first option if given the choice, although some would choose the second in several of the considered states of being.

For those that choose the first option, the actions and desires that lead to those outcomes are called virtues.
They are commonly considered to be four Cardinal Virtues--Prudence (doing the things that promote life for you, your family, humanity), Justice (giving the due for others actions), Temperance (not going overboard on pleasurable activities) and Fortitude (continuance of the struggles for the other three).

The seven deadly sins are generally considered to be Pride (enmity against others), Wrath (undue anger), Envy (desires for others things), Lust (overdone sexual desire), Gluttony (overconsumption of any thing), and Sloth (failure to act when necessary). These lead to the opposite of the first options--and to Death.

Those who choose the results of the virtues can get there most easily by having a consistent inner desire (either innate or learned) for Truth, Justice, and Love of Life.
These are the very words that Christ used to describe god.

What happens after death? Who can know?

Are there "supernatural" occurrences in this world? Most everyone beyond middle-age has had some event happen that indicates there are. "There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio..."

There are also people and groups that love money, sex, deceit, and power more than anything else. The organized groups always have much of all their desires. Some of them are "organized crime", others are "organized religion" or tribal organization.

Last Edited by MarPep on 06/26/2018 02:38 PM

I am no religious scholar, but recently watched a video about how zoroastrism relates to the Old testament prophecies:
[link to www.youtube.com (secure)]

Bahaism sounds like New Age to me though.

You may have taken a more general religious pov than a particular religion, but all that you write here can be attributed to the morals and ethics of various religions, so it's not exactly clear what you have rejected as far as religion goes.

I don't think so. This is what OP requested:
"Its a thought exercise, an abstraction exercise. If you can, imagine that all you know about your specific religion is a lie. Like all the religions along history that arise, faded and die, think that your religion is also a lie. What would you do?"
____


Also there religions which do seek power over others as their prime goal according to their scriptures(think Judaism and Islam).

I am not pushing any organized religion. There are some that are clearly involved in deception and lust for power. On the other hand, after coming to my understanding of the choices we must make in Life, I find that Christ spoke the same Truth to us. The Golden Rule, the Sermon on the Mount, the Ten Commandments--all pretty easy to remember and live by.

Most Protestant churches today are afflicted with the Scofield heresy, sadly. They have been deceived by the usual suspects.

Last Edited by MarPep on 06/26/2018 06:03 PM

I'm just confused as to which God is the right one..and I've tried the Christian path a few times

Maybe the idea of "a" God being the "right" one is the start of all the problems.

All religions are splintered into various factions, so it seems that the question becomes whether one of these factions is right and all others wrong, or whether these factions are themselves limited expressions of something that goes deeper than the factions.

I will quote the Holy Bible as a rebuke against your thinking!

Psalm 14 King James Version (KJV)

14 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

Evolution has been proven a lie, OP

You are unqualified to lead this discussion as you are either ignorant or a shill.

Never quoted evolution ever. Why are religious people always so defensive when it comes to talk about their faith? What about just go on and play along with the thought experiment I proposed?

Last Edited by MaybeTrollingU on 06/26/2018 07:09 PM

Maybe you didn't read the whole thing, but I was very specific: no bible quotes, it is pointless for the exercise.

Maybe you didn't read where I rebuked you specifically with scripture for saying that.

Your mistake! I've read the bible cover to cover, many times. I know for sure did it 4 times. And as expected, you are one more unable to think abstractly. Noticing it is very, very common among christians.

Matthew 12:37 King James Version (KJV)

37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.


Hebrews 10:31 King James Version (KJV)

31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

REPENT!

You're not willing to do the exercise, this is the last post with bible quotes in this thread. If you don't want to or are unable to, just don't say anything.