The Religious Path

[luna-tic]

To those of whatever religious denomination. What made you want to follow the doctrine?
What circumstances led you to that decision?
How were you convinced by the book, priest, family or friend if you had no religious inclination before?
What keeps you believing?

[bladski]

my spelling is getting bad as it is 4:30 am here :)

[Louisa 69]

Wizzard have a look at this it may answer some of your questions.
http://www.mormon.org/mormonorg/eng/basic-beli efs/the-restoration-of-truth/the-great-apostas y

[luna-tic]

Please pardon my naivety on this subject but is there ever a time or has there been a time when all the leaders of each type of church have got together to discuss the many stories applied to the origins of their religion.
How can one church say to another that their story has more credence?

[bladski]

Ya that is a good link Louisa

[Theland]

I understand that the Mormon church has spent a fortune on archaeological digs all over America, looking fo evidence of the ancient peoples it refers to, but so far has come with zilch.
Compare that to the fruitful digs all over the Middle East, including of course, Jerusalem.
That is puzzling, to me at least.

[Theland]

As to the original question - I wanted answers that the scientists couldn't provide. Then the bible proved itself to be reliable as a source of supreme wisdom, that gives meaning to our existence. The bible also describes in astonishing detail, the events taking place in the Middle East right now, and this written thousands of years ago!
The list is long of reasons why I believe, but it is worth mentioning that man is by nature religious, and there is such a thing as natural theology, something I used to describe as personal experience, but is better stated as the witness of the human spirit. It cannot be ignored.
Christianity is congruent with this natural theology, whereas other religions are not.

[luna-tic]

Thank you Theland.
I have read certain passages of the bible and I found much of it confusing, contradictory and speaking in riddles but entwined within all that were some philosophical pieces and loose historical connections.
Maybe if I read more it would make better sense?
I'm not sure about being naturally religious or theology is something I require but I have always been interested in the subject to hopefully sort out fact from fiction. Could you elaborate on the personal experience of witnessing the human spirit?

[Theland]

Observing mankind now and throughout history, with some exceptions, generally the vast majority of people have a bias towards some sort of religion.
Even the enlightenment of modern science has not quenched this.
The way society is structured stems from religious belief, and the atheistic experiment in the Soviet Union from 1917 onwards, never managed to obliterate mans desire for religion, or rather his innate need for it. It is built in to us, part of the hard wiring of the human condition.
Those that deny this, still live their lives within structures that are inspired by religion, or if you like, a natural theology, and have been exposed to a society, although secular, that still has its roots firmly planted in natural theology.
(continued)

[naomi24]

Come on Theland. How can you compare searches for evidence of ancient cultures in America to those in the middle east? I don't for one moment go along with the Mormon belief, but America is a big country, without the history of the middle east. Be fair.

[naomi24]

oops ........... sorry Theland, your last post said 'continued' so I think I interrupted you in full flow.

[Theland]

(continued) How many atheist post on here, to do what? Knock down a christian, or somehow satisfy the natural theology within them, by reenforcing their unbelief with claims to science?
I have no interest in football, so I don't go on the sports thread to tell football fans that I think they are being fleeced, by supporting big business clubs. I just done go there. But atheists continually post here, not simply because they love debate, they can get that on sports, but because something niggles them, an itch that they have to scratch.
The witness of the human spirit is beyond the five senses, and tells us there is something else.
(continued)

[Theland]

(continued) That's OK Naomi - Love you being here anyway.
So, from this natural theology, stems our moral code. The ultimate in moral standards is christianity, no other religion comes anywhere near it, therefore, I believe that christianity is the final morality for mankind, there is nothing more, because nothing more is needed.

[naomi24]

Good morning Theland, you say the ultimate in moral standards is Christianity and no other religion comes anywhere near it, but I beg to differ. Buddhism easily outstrips it. Not only will a Buddhist not kill another human being, he won't kill any living creature. Neither will he denigrate another man, but accepts all and respects all, regardless of religion. There is no threat of eternal damnation from the bully in the sky so he doesn't live his life in fear and trepidation, wondering if at the end of it he's done enough to be accepted, but he does believe there is a penalty to be paid for wrong-doing and that the nature of his future existence depends entirely upon his actions in his present life. He can't make excuses for his misdemenours, since he has no 'saviour' to shoulder the blame - the responsibility is his, and his alone.

[luna-tic]

Hello Theland,
I'm sure there are many people, me included, that are not religious and don't follow the bible as a code to living their lives.
My parents never enforced any practices of a religious nature and although Christened as C of E, I have no inclination of becoming a devout church-goer or taking up the bible on a daily basis.
Although I think certain morals are innate to some degree, I think a larger proportion are taught from others or experience.
I believe it is these same morals or ethics that ascertain the right from wrong in believing the stories and determining what we think of a god that tells people they've sinned before they even understand the word.
That probably seems like I'm totally non-receptive to any new experiences within the religious field.
Not at all, I will still ask questions and enjoy the journey of finding out.

[luna-tic]

I forgot to mention, I am not an atheist because I have an open mind but leave it it to decipher what personally seems right to me unless others have a better theory and then I'll have a rethink.
I do not wish to offend you Theland by seeming to provoke an argument in what you truly believe and follow.
Whatever your god means to you and the Church you attend is sacred to your way of life and I've always admired your tenacity while on AB.