why is your religion the 'right' one?

My personal narrative afirms that my religion is the right one.The only other religions that should be considered religions at all would be the Abrahamic ones, and some forms of Zen Budhism.If I had to choose a religion purely philosophicly It would be the one that aligns with the most 'goods' that I hold to be true. For example I think it is good to steal, I don't think I would want to be part of a religion that accepts this practice.------------------
"Science without religion is lame; religion without science is blind." - Albert Einstein

I hope you meant it is NOT good to steal therefore I wouldn't want to belong to a religion that accepts it(stealing)? Or I like stealing therefore I would connect with a religion that condones it(stealing)?What about zoroastroism(sp?) Seems that doing good is rewarded and being bad is punished in that belief system as well?

I explained this did I not? I do not have 100% belief in anything so this doesn't apply to me. Did you ask this because you are struggling with the one I asked? Even if you do come to that conclusion why is the Bible correct? Many other religions believe in creation. why are they wrong?
why don't you look at God the same way? who Created him? all things need to be created right? hmmmmm So if he doesn't need to be created why does anything?(answer all questions please)[This message has been edited by DC85, 10-01-2003]

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I explained this did I not? I do not have 100% belief in anything so this doesn't apply to me. Did you ask this because you are struggling with the one I asked?

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Just pointing out how easy it is for you. I have to explain every little detail of what I believe then I have to get my face smashed by 50 other people then I have to individually reply to them then I do this last part over and over again. You can simply say what you say and not have to defend anything.

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Even if you do come to that conclusion why is the Bible correct? Many other religions believe in creation. why are they wrong?
why don't you look at God the same way? who Created him? all things need to be created right? hmmmmm So if he doesn't need to be created why does anything?

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I don't have the time or the energy to respond to all of your questions and everyone elses questions right now, if I answer one some guy will be like: "Why are you ignoring my post X, you must be avoiding it." Why don't you spend a day posting as someone who actually has beliefs or answers the questions they are asked to answer especially when they ask the same one? Not just "I don't believe 100% of anything." WHAT KIND OF ANSWER IS THAT!!!!!!!! Looks like you posed this forum towards me and I fell into your trap, notice how noone else is posting what they believe just critisizing and demanding more from ME!

I do not mean this as any disrespect, but do you think that morality is outside of religion? Or rather, that religion and its diety/dieties are subject to a morality outside of their realm? If so, would you agree that athiests are capable of holding a moral code outside of religion?BTW, I believe it was Socrates and Plato who had a similar argument. I thought it was a thought provoking argument. Also, as I remember, if you believe that the diety defines morality then being moral equates to just being obediant to the diety. At least that's what I remember from the argument.

What can I say........ I don't believe anything to be 100% true.... The thing is you do. and I am asking you why... "Because I have faith" isn't an answer. There must be a reason you have the faith
I can't speak for others However my point when Talking to you I must admit is to get you to look at the world in a new way. I know your young. I was 15 when I started thinking about the world. YES I was a Christen I started thinking and I couldn't figure out why It was or why things happen the way they do...(which I am sure you have been asked alot of the questions I started thinking about) I realized that I was blindly Following something my family did. (and when I asked them these questions they didn't help) The Funny thing is I had Just made my conformation when I started thinking about this stuff(I was catholic) I am sorry if I seem to "pick on you" But as I said its to get you to think. I am not trying to be mean or prove you wrong. I am trying to Get you exposed to new Ideas you most likely aren't use to hearing in a christen family. I know its hard being on your side of it. Its even harder when there is 0 evidence back it up.I also want to see if at your age if you are any better at coming up with answers then I was..... so far I see you are in the same boat . don't be surprised if you become a theist or an agnostic on day.

I'm not trying to butt into your conversation here but I do want to give my opinion.I think that the fact that Messenjah comes here in the first place says alot about him and his character. At fourteen he is willing to stand up for his beliefs against a forum full of intelligent adults who, for the most part, believe the exact opposite. He isn't pushy, he isn't attempting to force his beliefs on anyone here. He is a pleasant, intelligent young man.This forum has a problem keeping intelligent creationists hanging around, and I don't believe that brow-beating them into giving a detailed excuse for their faith is the way to keep them here. Arguing YOUR beliefs or opinions is a little different than attacking OTHERS' beliefs or opinions. (tho I do admit to losing site of that difference at times)I'm not a Christian, but I do remember that Faith is faith, evidence for faith seems a little oxymoronic.I don't want Messenjah to leave. I wonder if Mike the Wiz left, and if it was for this very reason.------------------
Asgara
"An unexamined life is not worth living" Socrates via Plato{Nominated as a "Post of the Month" by (gasp) Adminnemooseus. In general, people let's be nice to each other. And as a side comment, let's try to cut down on the number of superfluous messages. Have a nice day - Adminnemooseus}[This message has been edited by Adminnemooseus, 10-02-2003]

I would agree with that. By no means does Christianity have a monopoly on morality. Now, philosophicly justifying morality while being an atheist is kind of hard to do compared to justifying it within a religious context. Of course that religious context comes with its own set of problems.While I don't think it can be philosophicly justified, I will not challenge its existance outside religion.------------------
"Science without religion is lame; religion without science is blind." - Albert Einstein

Yeah, you're right. Thanks for pointing out my finger slip there. I'm not going to even pretend to be familiar with that system, but here is the framework for my definition of what a religion is. I'll leave it up to you to decide if it fulfills it or not. By the way, I'm pretty much just paraphrazing Paul Griffiths here. He wrote an awesome article titled Religion that I really enjoyed.1)Comprehensiveness-"For an account to be comprehensive it must seem to those who offer it that it takes account of everything."
2)Unsurpassability-"If I offer an account that seems to me unsurpassable, then I take it not to be capable of being replaced by or subsumed in a better account of what it accounts for."
3)Centrality-"For an account to seem central to you it must seem to be directly relevant to what you take to be central questions of your life, the questions around which your life is oriented."For the sake of brevity I did not include any arguements, If someone calls for them (for a specific point) I will be more than happy to give them.------------------
"Science without religion is lame; religion without science is blind." - Albert Einstein

Yeah, messenjah you just have to get used to that whole being ganged up on feeling everytime you post something. I seem to be the only person in the world with a theistic evolutionary stance. I get taken to task by both camps.Even though our beliefs may be slightly different, we are on the same side.------------------
"Science without religion is lame; religion without science is blind." - Albert Einstein[This message has been edited by Flamingo Chavez, 10-02-2003]

Which makes it rather interesting.Mr Chavez, I also regard myself a theistic evolutionist. Therefore I am at your side. However, I am not a Christian, and personally I think the concept of original sin and redemption is bunk. All man are created innocent, and Adam (I suspect that he may be a historical figure) and his pair had been forgiven. Therefore I am not at your side That said, I agree with the guys that say the main factor determining religion is geographical location. I could've been born where you live and be a Christian now, but I can't choose where to be born.

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Now, philosophicly justifying morality while being an atheist is kind of hard to do compared to justifying it within a religious context.

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Really? Why is that?

Well if there aren't any good answers than an extra bad answer or two might help a little....

In the interests of fairness, I'll throw in my two cents here... I think my religion is the right one because of my own personal experience. Nothing more. I was a Catholic when I was younger, but became an atheist at 15, then found my true path when I was 20.I know its right for me, but it may not be right for anyone else - and in any case, I'm not sharing The Rock Hound

I'm an Atheist. If you wish to bash my beliefs feel free.