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May-11-2006 15:34

I'm a senior in high school and so close to graduating... but I still have a homework assignment to do that I need your help with. I have to make a survey of people and what they believe. Is there anyone willing to aswer about ten questions for me? actually, if a could get three people, that would be better. I appreciate any and all help. Thanks!

May-12-2006 08:36

Do these questions apply only for Christians? Cos I'm not one. I've read the Bible just for knowledge.

May-12-2006 12:22

OK I want answer these questions, since they are mostly directed towards Jesus Christ, Bible, Church and Christianity. I'm Hindu and so cannot say much about them. Though, I have read the Bible (A briefer version of the old and new testemant).

There are so many religions, Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Christianity etc etc etc. To think, newer ones are being introduced still. Yet, we all believe in god in the various forms made by religion.

I want to know the answer of this question even though it may involve slight controversy (please dont delete it). How can a person of one religion say that his religion is real and all others are wrong?

If I being a Hindu were to say that Bhagwan (Hindi for God) is the only one and the great battles between the Devas and Rakshasas were real, then obviously there was no Old Testemant. No Moses, Abraham, Jacob, Adam & Eve and no Jesus as the son of God.

Similarly, If the history of the Greeks and Romans, their Gods, is to be believed than theirs is the one and only religion and no other.

So while we all believe in our own religions, whose is the real one. There is no doubt that there can only be one real religion.

Who can explain to me that his religion is the real one.

May-12-2006 14:16

Jai, I don't think anyone can point to one particular religion and say it is the correct one, although I am sure many will try.

About a century ago I received a BA degree in religious studies. If I recall a "genuine" religious experience was defined as a transcendant experience that caused permanent belief and behavioral changes. My particular "transcendent experience occurred at the age of eight when I fractured my skull in a sledding accident. Despite being unconscious, I managed to walk home. Halfway there I awoke to find myself covered in blood and holding a strange man's hand. My family assures me I was alone when I entered the house.

If I were Hindu perhaps I would have held the hand of a Hindu deity. Being Roman Catholic I was rescued by Christ or one of the Christian Saints. I believe God reveals himself to each of us according to our particular needs and culture. God is much too great to be fully perceived and defined by humans. I believe each religion is a small reflection of God. To try to see the whole would probably be far beyond our comprehension.

To answer Limping Lady's Qs:

I believe in God and that Jesus is the Christ. The Son of God and a member of the Holy Trinity.

I believe that the soul is immortal and survives death. I do not know what the afterlife is like. If Hell exists, I hope Purgatory also exists so minor sinners like me don't have to spend ALL of eternity with the likes of Adolf Hitler.
Heaven is a return to God. We get there through the gift of grace and God's mercy.
I believe in this because I was raised Roman Catholic and because having held the hand of Someone Greater than I, my life has been permanently changed.

Moderators please feel free to delete this. It is not my intention to offend anyone with my personal beliefs.

Congrats L. L.

May-12-2006 20:46

Joe, you're on safe ground. The danger in threads like this is when someone becomes sensitive about what they read, especially when it is a response. So far, so good. I'm looming over this thread specifically because I'm an atheist. If it irritates me, it'll have nothing to do with belief, other than a belief in basic courtesy.

May-13-2006 19:41

I'm glad this post has been allowed to stay. Fascinating stuff. Since I've enjoyed reading everyone's opinion, it only seems fair that I throw in my two cents.

1. Do you believe in God?
Possibly

2. Why or why not? Internally, I have not been able to convince myself that any aspect of my personality or being is an aspect of a soul or a higher power. The closest thing I have been able to equate with a divine spark is one’s conscience. It does not seem to solely exist as a by-product of socialization nor evolution. However, that being said, I do not believe it is irrefutable proof of a soul. Looking externally, the complexity (and immensity) of the universe and the existence of life does convince me that that there is much more to our physical reality then we presently understand. Therefore, simply given the lack of information which we know, I do not believe the evidence is sufficient to rule that there is, or is not, a God.

3. Who do you think God is/ what is He like?
If there is God, I am doubtful that s/he/it is a personal God that concerns him/her/itself with the affairs of our day to day life. I think it may be very possible that a God may struggle with the same struggles we have with consciousness; the value and purpose of existence.

4. Is Jesus the Son of God? If not, who is he?
No. I believe he was an admirable man of his times that believed deeply in his vision of morality.

5. If not God, who/what do you put your faith in?
The Golden Rule. It makes sense in a world completely without a value-driven God, while at the same time satisfying my conscience.

6. Do you believe in an afterlife? What is it like?
I hope there is one, but I am not convinced of it.

7. How does one get to heaven?
If there is a heaven, I hope one can get there by standing before God and honestly saying that you used all your capacity as a human being to try to understand how to live a meaningful life.

May-13-2006 19:42

8. How did you come to believe all of this?
Self-reflection and an amateur interest in science.

9. What do you think about the Bible?
A powerful work, though not the work of any supernatural being.

10. What do you think about the modern American church?
Being raised Roman Catholic, that is the only church I can speak about with any personal knowledge. As a whole, I find it to be a productive element in society, though I find it’s treatment of certain individuals and ideas to be incredibly destructive as a moral code. I believe a more compassionate Church would not only provide a fulfilling role in people’s lives, but also reinforce valuable societal norms. Regardless of the truth of it’s current doctrine.

11. What would you change about church? I think I got anxious and answered that in the post above.

May-15-2006 09:03

1. Do you believe in God?
Yes, -ish. Not in a Christian or any other Religion Mythology. More in an energy sense.

2. Why or why not?
I believe, ultimately there something because of science. A fundamental law of science states that something cannot come from nothing. Even if it all did start with the Big Bang, which I am happy to believe... there had to be "something"

3. Who do you think God is/ what is He like?
I think "God" is merely a name ... a handle .. a classification we give ourselves to explain something we cannot. As for a question "What is "He" like" I think it's .. a little arrogant... what is "he" like? I think he's basically whatever we decide "he: is. Identity is a construct and we construct our own identity of God. I also think it's like that idea, "If the human brain was simple enough for us to understand, then we would be so simple we couldn't understand it." And that's how I feel about defining who or what God is. I think it's arrogant and more importantly, redundant.

4. Is Jesus the Son of God? The bible states we are ALL sons (and daughters) of God.. or at the least that God is our Father. :D So, yeah he could be just as I am.
Personally, I do believe a historical figure called Jesus lived and did cool stuff , just like I believe a historical figure called Buddha lived and did cool stuff.
Do I believe I'll go to Hell because I don't believe he died for my sins? No.

5. If not God, who/what do you put your faith in?
I put my faith in myself and what I construct and believe in on a daily basis. I also put my faith in assumptions such as, everyone dies because that's what has always happened or that the sun will rise because that is what also happens.

May-15-2006 09:15

5. (cont) HOWEVER, at anytime, I am aware that any of that could change and am open to my "faith" being challenged or proved wrong.

6.Do you believe in an afterlife? What is it like?
I believe in life before death not a life after death, so no. Or maybe, I don't actually care. If I go to Heaven or Hell or if I get reincarnated or if I just become compost. Life is what is now and is what worries me not death and what happens after.

7. How does one get to heaven? I guess that depends on your beliefs and religion. according to the Bible, by believing in the Holy Trinity and accepting Jesus as your Saviour: "I am the Truth , the Way and the LIght".
However, IF there is a heaven, I don't think a God that could create such a place could doom people to Hell unless he was part of evil himself.

8. How did you come to believe all of this? Listening, Reading, Talking, Experiencing, Liviing.

9. What do you think about the Bible? It has some good advice on how to be a good moral person, not just individually but as a member of society. It has some cool stories and characters. It's useful to know as much of Pop Culture alludes to it. At the end of the day, it's just a collection of stories written on the whole by men.

10. What do you think about the modern American church? Corrupt, all about money money, Pro-Bush and Pro-War, Hypocritical, totally disillusional and wanting to take as back to the Dark Ages and an EXTREMLY scary voting force in America.

Realise, that this is what I THINK... influenced by Media ect as I am neither nor a Church-Goer.

11. What would you change about church? Re-distrubution of wealth, less corruption, less hypocrisy. I actually think on a whole "church" (whether it's temples, shrines, synagogues or cathedrals) is a nice idea and I think "church" as a concept is a nice idea.

May-15-2006 09:28

Thank you for this post Limping Lady. It's probably the most interesting new post that has been created in a long time.
I've really enjoyed reading what people think and believe and what everyone's opinions are. I look forward to more answers as it's certainly refreshing to have something a little more deeper and interesting posted.

May-15-2006 10:21

Though I do regard this a little private......my life is pretty splattered over these boards anyway. :)

1. Do you believe in God?
Well yes and no. I believe in my own version of what god is, we could call it energy, a (collective) conciousness, love. I haven't quite figured out what god is, though I do know it manifests as my own inner voice, and I know it can perform miracles if people come together and put something in to action by listening to their inner voices. I do not believe in the Christian or any other religions definition of what god is, except for some parts where we agree. I certainly don't eat their definition like cake. I like to have my own opinion, instead of theirs.

2. Why or why not?
Because I personally have seen proof. Not in terms of having witnessed miracles, a sea that parted, or had a deep voice come to me in the night. :) I have heard proof, by what others may say is me talking to myself. I have seen and felt proof, by what other may call "coincidence" or "intuition."

3. Who do you think God is/ what is He like?
I can't describe god, as he/she is like a feeling indescribeable. I suppose god to me is a love like energy. I take the "god is love" literal, as I do not view as god as an actual person.

4. Is Jesus the Son of God? If not, who is he?
Yes, but no more or less then I am myself. The way that Jesus is portrayed in the bible, I do think that he really was a son of god in the way god likes people to act. Whether or not Jesus was anything like the way he his portrayed in the bible, I will never know. That the person of Jesus Christ existed I do believe. Either he was a very wise man, or the biggest con artist that ever lived.

5. If not God, who/what do you put your faith in?
Like I said above, my own version of god.