Why are there so many different religions? If there is only one god how are there so many different versions of him? And if you take the stance that there is only one true god and the others are all false gods then what makes you so sure yours isn't false as well? Just food for thought I suppose

I'd say, because there are so many different ethnicsies due to enviromental living. When humans branched out from africa and went to asia or europe, becomming more in numbers and isolated from their past evolutionary commonality. It stands to reason.. it's because they worshiped what they saw and couldn't understand. You wouldn't expect say.. the tribes that stayed in africa to worship the same things as those who made the trek and took up roots in the americas?

possibly SC, but there is even variation in tribal customs in Africa. There isn't a 'communal religion' that covered the continent.


Well, at least there wasn't until a certain group arrived from Europe......

That is the point though. If there were truly one great creator shouldn't it all be the same deity regardless of environment?

well it stands to reason that isolated groups would have a common set of beliefs that are handed down from parent to offspring, neighbor to neighbor via the tribal shaman (priest, speaker to the dead, etc).

These beliefs would become ingrained into that society, and everything would be hunky-dory. Until, that is, they met another group/tribe with their own belief system. Then the trouble begins.......

Yes that makes sense JM but shouldn't everyone have started with the same god in the first place? if you were to go on the concept of there really being only one god.....Wouldn't it stand to reason that the simple fact that no two cultures have ever come up with the same ideas except perhaps some mythology that one all mighty god isn't possible.....

only if you believe the idea that an omnipotent being would speak directly to its creations.

To me, and this is only my opinion, it is proof that all religions have equal validity. Otherwise, there would be only one form of religion, with minor regional differences.

The fact that there are so many ancient pantheistic nations (Greece, Rome, South American, Celtic, Babylonian, Egyptian, Asian), leads me to think that the creator is all things. Its why I believe that religious disharmony is all so pointless: because there are many paths to god.

So i'm not completely insane then? That was what I was thinking really at least in my own way. I suppose I just wanted to know if anyone else thought that way as well.....so thanks.....I think

Oh my yes, without question, it is cultural matter. We can even break it down further into micro-cultures and how they apply to individual congregations.

What if it turns out there is no God after all? =P

If there are no gods of any kind then so be it. Wouldn't matter much now would it?

Adaptation as the culture changes, in my opinion. The time that the Koran was written was a time of violence and unrest, it is reflected in there (no offense). The Bible has a lot of "abominations" that are outmoded, in my opinion, for today's society. But at the time it was written, it was appropriate. I think that originally, the religions were meant to fit the culture and beliefs of the people.

Just unfortunatly the religions built for cultures are adopted by other cultures...causes some disagreements.

so man created god and not the other way around?

God is not religion. Just a part of it, and vice versa.

so you think there would still be a such thing as religion if god was proven fake?

Of course. It is a need inherent in the minds of some people.

so with no deitys what do you suppose religion would be? what would you have faith in?

They may believe in the energy of this universe. Believe in accidents, coincidences, and synchs.

Myself....

but that is not religion

Depends on your definition of God.

Hmm, I guess I believe I am right, therefore I think that I am. Whether I am or not is a different question, one that will not be answered until I die, I think. But just because I do not know, does not mean i do not believe it to be so. Does this make sense?

Regards, PA

I think it will take me 2 years of meditation to answer that one...
I'll get back to you

Duh, that's a religion. Turtlelism.

oh!
Turtleism...oh goodie another religion, but it is mine...I think

Everyone believes that they are right or else it wouldn't be called a belief. The question is how is it possible for their only to be one true god and yet so many different religions....

Imbued into each soul is a spark, a truth hidden below the layers of the ego.
It takes much perserverence to seek out and live that truth.
What if there is no wrong or right religion?
Perhaps there are many paths to one end, and it is the spark held within that ignites that fire.

Ok if there is no right or wrong religion I would say that I personally see that as true. However where does that leave those who are constantly judging others for taking the "wrong" path? Since I don't believe in turning the other cheek

Let's flip the question around - what if there were only one religion? People would still have the opportunity to reject that religion, and in doing so, create a worldview of their own. Thus through the millennia, different religions arise.

Unless everyone was inbuilt to follow this one particular religion, in which case we'd be robots, and then where would be our freewill?

Of course, God could also have a plan that was slowly being revealed, and people took that part of the plan they saw, thought it the whole truth, and then create a worldview around that without knowing the rest of it, nor believing the rest if they ever saw it.

There are many possibilities why there are so many religions, and I do not think that there being this many is any reason to doubt that one of them may very well be true.

Regards, PA

But is only one true? or are they all true?

Or are neither true? That's where belief comes in. No one will ever know in this life (at least I do not think anyone will ever know). All we can do is wait and see. In the meantime, I will believe what I believe, and believe it to be truth.

Regards, PA

which is fine and dandy but the it doesn't really answer the question now does it? or is it that you can't answer it?

I can answer it no better or worse than you can, I'm afraid. It is something that cannot be answered satisfactorily.

Can't answer it? No one can. Because no one KNOWS, they can only believe. Like PA said, we won't know in this life.







We walk by faith......

and swallow a mighty big load....

do you have an opinion? other then I have my belief and that is my truth.....I understand that part but what of the others? do you feel that the other religions are wrong? do you feel that other peoples idea of "god" are wrong?

That was very disrespectful. Learn how to respect other's beliefs.

Faith can be a good thing. If a scientists says you're not fit to lift a certain amount of weights and it would be near impossible to gain the strength, if you keep faith in yourself you'll probably do it. The mind is powerful, you believe something strong enough and you'll make it more possible. Skeptics lack this.


bacca, I'll keep that to myself.

you are mistaken with regard to what skeptics are lacking, little buddy.

Perhaps your definition of a skeptic is deferent then mine. I have more faith then many 'bible believers' at least one's i've met. And I know all about the power of the mind. I think you should look harder at those you are saying don't understand faith before you make that judgment. I don't believe in a biblical god but that doesn't mean i don't have faith in something else. This is a question of wether the idea of one two etc or no gods are possible since so many are believed in....no harm intended although it seems like people are afraid to answer honestly which is odd

You can have faith...faith in yourself...giving you the ability to achieve anything you want...without having to have a belief, or faith, in a shaky, outdated religion.

Theists have always had trouble understanding this...and they never will, not until they snap out of this trance they're in.

thanks mad, an honest answer is alway appreciated by me

LOL! You sure that isn't you?

My honast answer was that I wanted to keep it to myself.


Consider this:


No one would believe in their God if they thought everyone else's existed as well.

Yes, I have an opinion. I believe I am right, and that my way is the only way. By definition, that means others are wrong. However, as I said, this is only my belief, and whether it turns out to be true or not, we will only find out later.

Regards, PA

with this you are wrong zero, if your god existed it wouldn't make any difference to mine...sorry to disappoint you

I didn't say it would make a difference to yours. Re-read it. I said they wouldn't believe in your God if they believed their God existed. If you believe in Buda, you won't believe in Jehovah and vice versa.


Don't worry, you couldnt dissapoint me if you tried.

not all people are so worried about being right that they can't see both sides, no matter who their chosen deity is....perhaps you need to give people more credit

^^^It's not a matter of seeing both sides, it's a matter of worldviews. If my worldview, taken from teh Bible, says that it is the only way, then it is either the only way, or it is wrong. I believe it to be the only way, but as I've said, I could be wrong, I just don't think I am.

Simple.

Regards, PA

Ditto.