Why is it that these people wo say they are Christians, Muslims etc when they dont even know what is written in their bible, koran etc?

[RATTER15]

They often don't believe what is written in their holy book and they don't follow its guidance.

I know many so called Christians that I would not trust, have virtually no morals etc but they still call themselves Christians. Maybe this because they were Christened or baptised into this religion, is that enough to be able to call yourself a Christian.

Personally I am more likely to put my trust in an Atheist!

[RATTER15]

ojread2, Do you actually need to be called anything, we don't all need titles!

[Old_Geezer]

Not at all, since IMO hypocrisy requires an intent to deceive, not merely being mistaken in your view.

I was putting forward two suggestions. One that you don't have to practice every little thing of a religion to correctly consider yourself part of that religious group. And two that some may not have realised the religion they have always been taught they are part of isn't quite what they really believe.

[atalanta]

I was baptised alright, but I am now a militant aggressive hostile atheist. But I do read the Bible. it helps enormously when you argue with believers, if you know their scriptures better than they do. Try these on a Christian or a jew - raped women have to be killed, because it was their fault they were raped. All priests have to be perfect - if you see a priest with arthritis, bad eyesight, or spotty skin, he has to be sacked. All women have to have ritual baths once a month. Everyone has to do animal sacrifices. The Bible celebrates massacres - especially in the book of Esther.
If an atheist behaves well, it is because s/h knows the right way to behave, not because s/he is being offered heaven or threatened with Hell.

[Old_Geezer]

How do you know that what you believe is the right way to behave really is the right way to behave ?

[Davethedog]

People are brought up in faith,

it is hammered into them from birth. I don't know about any other religion intimately apart from protestant christian and from that I know we were given cherry picked excerpts. Which portray God as the kind and loving entity unless you loss faith and then woe betide.

Unless you get really serious later in life your religious leader services all your reading needs. This is part of the reason that the religious take so much umbrage at the knowledgeable atheist. They know so much more but care so much less. They take it because they are of faith they know more.

A great example of this is politicians off to church for PR and in this country a lack of christian charity is all to evident.

I read today that the partner of Patrice Muamba is thanking god for his recovery. Think i'll stick with the doctors, rationality has a lot going for it.

[nailit]

// Why is it that these people wo say they are Christians, Muslims etc when they dont even know what is written in their bible, koran etc? //

I think that we need to differenciate between 'cultural' religionists and 'fundemental' religionists. Historically, England is a christian country with a christian heritage therefore people will identify themselves as christian. On the other hand you will get the fundementalists (such as the JW's) who insist that only followers of that faith are the 'true' christians.
It tends to be the former (cultural christians) rather than the latter (fundementalist christians) that are TOTALLY ignorant of the bible's contents, while the fundie's will cherry pick verses from the bible to suit their particular doctrines. Islam and muslims do the same.

[naomi24]

As Dave says, it's because they've been brought up in a culture that promotes whatever faith they claim to follow. Having said that, most Muslims who are raised in their faith know their book far better than most Christians know theirs - but they ignore the bits they don't like just as much as Christians do.

[joko]

Some people use the claim to disguise their true nature

[keyplus90]

OK, good for you.

[goodlife]

Simple,Jesus said that the true religion would be evident in the lives of the people who practice it. “By their fruits you will recognize them,” he said. “Every good tree produces fine fruit.” (Matthew 7:16, 17) In other words, those who practice the true religion would be recognized by their beliefs and their conduct.
Jesus often said: “It is written.” (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10) Then Jesus would quote a scripture. Similarly, God’s people today do not teach their own ideas. They believe that the Bible is God’s Word, and they base their teachings firmly on what it says.
Although they are not perfect and they make mistakes, true worshipers as a group seek to do God’s will.

[naomi24]

Goodlife, another wasted post. You've yet to tell us what the 'true religion' is.

[RATTER15]

>>>Although they are not perfect and they make mistakes, true worshipers as a group seek to do God’s will.<<< So they do go around killing gays and non believers!!

[sith123]

because they have not read it properly? thats as simple as it is.

[naomi24]

Sith, you seem to have misunderstood the question. Ratter is saying that people believe in religion even though they don't know what their books contain.

[sith123]

yes, but the only way to treat that is to make sure that they read and also practice the religion possibly, than they would know what they are supposed to believe in and what not.

[boxtops]

I know people who believe in the concept of their religion - they conduct themselves to follow the norms and outward displays of their chosen/birth faith, but they are not particularly "religious" (the hatch match and dispatch brigade of Christianity and Islam come to mind) and are not interested to dig deeper. That's up to them, that's fine by me - not everyone has to be ultra-religious, I agree with OGs post - you do it as much as it suits you, what you are comfortable with.

[jomifl]

Goodlife, As soon as I get to the biblical quotes in your posts I go on to the next post. Biblical quotes mean nothing to someone who thinks the bible is irrelevant to almost everything. You are only preaching to the converted. I hope this helps.

[boxtops]

I was Christened as a baby (because one did), then when I was 14 I was confirmed - I had no choice in the matter, I wasn't particularly a believer. However the new Bishop was coming to our church to conduct a confirmation service, and the vicar went round drumming up business. He came to the house one night after I'd gone to bed, and my mother just agreed to it, no question of my being consulted. Several of my friends were confirmed with me, and I don't recall that many of us became any more Godly after that, it was all outward display.

[naomi24]

Sith, //than they would know what they are supposed to believe in and what not.//

That’s right. You carry on letting other people tell you what to believe and how to live your life.

Boxy, //you do it as much as it suits you, what you are comfortable with.//

I know what you’re saying, but the danger there is that some people are very comfortable with doctrine that makes other people extremely uncomfortable.

Jom, //As soon as I get to the biblical quotes in your posts I go on to the next post.//

I pretty much do that too. Until Goodlife tells us what ‘true Christianity’ is, there’s little point in reading any of it because we have nothing to base an opinion on.

[emmie]

i have read the bible, some time back i must say, and parts of the Koran, but i am not persuaded to join the happy throng any day soon.