Which religion is true and why?

It does not sound preachy...what you said has wisdom. I was also wondering if what I need also has to be founded on something objective so that my belief is not purely subjective. I think both subjective element as well as objective has to be included in that. Anyway, thanks for posting.

I agree largely with what you said, but I guess just as 2+2=4 is always 4 and not something else belief in God must also be like that. One religion will say there are so many gods another one says only one, so either of them will be right. Both of them cannot be right. It's not easy to figure who is right. But I also think that it's not logical to say that both of them are equally right. That's what i think. anyway, thanks for replying.

Leibniz Law or the law of identity; simply put, what has the same properties is the same. Even if some varieties of Hinduism are monotheistic then it fails on 3 and, because of the caste system, on 5 all the best urban

Fine argument. But I am not sure which law of Leibniz you meant. Principle of Sufficient Reason? And Hinduism is quite 'confusing' because there are monist and dualist and atheistic and so on... at the popular it is polytheism though! All the best!

1. What does christianity offer more than rules? Oh yes, faith in a person who lived 20 centuries back, a man who you have never seen. So, how does it be a profound religion? 2. God the father, son and holy spirit- acc to islam, this is polytheistic, muslim considers God as one and only one and he does not divide himself into one or two. If you believe in trinity, then you are polyteist. 3. What do you know to be true? How are you so sure that God exists? of course, he might exist, but how can we be sure? 4. What big insight does it offer? Do you offer your other cheek to the ones who slaps you? i doubt it. Do you expect a person to honour parents who are criminal? Thou shall not kill- then how do we justify the wars waged by US in Iraq and Afghan? What do you do during the need of self-defence? 5. What good fruit has christianity brought? It demolished pagan temples, books and lifestyles, it opened dictatorial rule for nearly 12 centuries, it stood as an obstacle to science for nearly 12 centuries, it fought crusades, it started inquistion and witch-hunting, it destroyes the native lifestyle of American continent and Africa. Even today, christian nations are the ones who possess most powerful nuclear weapons, to destroy whom? All this , you call good fruit? See, all these five points eliminate christianity.

Fair comment. But I think it's important to dialogue between different religious groups. That way we get more enlightened.

But all religions have those elements, don't they?

I think there are religions which implicitly promotes people of other religions to be considered as 'evil'...may be that's why.

True, religion is about love and peace etc. But not all religions have the same definition about love and peace. People understand love and peace differently. They also understand truth differently. I think that is why we have lot of problem.

All religions are man made. That means that men have influence and that means that religions are corrupted. I am Agnostic, it is not a religion, I believe in a force, in a God, so to speak, I just do not believe that it is rooted in a religion.

? ? ?? it make me think

Since Agnosticism defines your philosophical framework for your life, your worldview, I think it should be considered a religion... along with Atheism.

In my study of religions I learnt that though religions have similarities there are also differences. For example, classical Buddhism does not believe in God, whereas Islam or Christianity believe in God. We may not realise but the logical outworking of believing in one set of doctrine or disbelieving in it has consequences. To me religion like Satanism has to be wrong.

There are thousands of religions. And I think it requires lot of hardwork and study and sincerity. There has to be one religion which is closest to the truth...by religion I would include atheism too.

Fair enough. I think we all follow whatever we think is right. But I have no doubt if there is no way to prove at all which one is right.

Satanism has to be bad...!!!

All religion is unique, but not as aspects of all religions is good. Some religion have bad aspect. I think you'll agree with me here. But if one religion has all things right and good in it, why can't we discard the others and follow that one. I think that'll be more healthy for the world.

But others also believe in their heart as much as you believe. How would you tell in objective sense that you believe is true? Or is it just that heart that leads and that settles it? But if you say you cannot articulate well, fair enough, I would say.

Thank you so much for your comments. Not read the Vedas, but there is no doubt that the authors were wise sages. They contain profound thoughts. Do you think they are available in English?

Hi, www.sacred-texts.com/hin/ This link will take you to all the hindu scriptures, including Vedas. 'Vedas' in book form has also been published and is available for Rs 225. But not sure which areas bookstores it is available. But the scripture most easy to understand is Bhagavad-Gita. The message of gita is similar to that of Vedas, but in a easy and simple form. Upanishads has also got lot of wisdom in it. You are right in saying that vedas is profound in its wisdom. Thats why it is belived these r from God. The vedic writers had Experienced God in their meditations. So, whatever they spoke and wrote had been divinely inspired. By the way, can you tell me something about the religion that you follow?

I follow Christian religion. I have heard of the Bhagavat Gita too, but not quite read it yet. I learnt that it is actually a sermon by Lord Krishna to Arjun on the battlefield where Arjun was exhorted to perform his duty as a warrior. I think Gita is a great literature too. But I am not an expert in literatuture... just heard people say, and so am relying on hearsay!

I never thought of it that wy, your right. Just following your heart doesn't make it right. That can lead to some big problems, Some people have evilness in them, we don't want them to follow their heart. I am Christian and I was thinking like I think. I didn't consider some of the evilness that is around us.

Rated your post... take care!

But our heart can be wrong. Aren't we? For David Koresh to die with all his followers was the right choice. So following one's heart does not make it right.

Why do you say that Islam is the one? I mean what reasons are there. You believe it, fine. But there has to be reasons, right?

Why do you think that Islam is the best?

Jews claimed that it is their book. Then Christians came and claimed that New Testament is the latest book. Then came Mohammad and claimed that Quran is the latest book. The came Joseph Smith and claimed that his book is the latest one...Baha ullah then came and said his is the latest revelation...where do we put the stop? Everybody says their is the last revelation and others' revelation are untrue. It would be nice if someone comes up with a good formula for the world to decide which is right...If Islam says that their is true it must be able to refute others and have good support for its claim.

Personally I felt that there are occasions when one must say that someone's religious system is wrong or rather not healthy. For example, if there is a religion that teaches that certain human species are inferior to others. I think such religion is not quite good. I also think that a religion that teaches contradictory idea or belief is not quite right. That's what I think. Good day!

I think it is important to be well read. But I don't think it is needed to read all of them in detail. For example, if God exists then all non-atheistic religions will be out. Even if God exists if God is not so many then all polytheistic religions will be out. So that way I think the effort could be greatly minimized. Anyway, thanks for commenting.

" Religion is a set of beliefs and so, it cannot be true because beliefs are not based on facts." As of course is science. "It is useless even to discuss about the truth of religion because there is no truth in religion. It would be far better to forget religion and live practically. It is better to enjoy life to the maximum without bothering about god, heaven and hell. It is good to spend our time and energy on things which we can see, hear, feel and taste and touch instead of those things which we can not experience with our five senses." A wild claim, like the rest of your post, for which you provide neither evidence nor argument so we should ignore it all the best urban

I do not see how religions like Buddhism and Hinduism make more sense than Chrisitaniaty or Islam. (I won't try even to defend Islam cos I am not a Muslim). But regarding both Buddhism and Hinduism, I have fair knowledge because both of started here. And I studied both of them in formally. Buddhism eventually became marginalised religion here in India though it started here because it was no longer feasible to follow. And with Sankara coming to religious landscape of India it got intellectually wiped out. In Hinduism caste system is widespread. If you go any village of India and you consider marriage, by chance, people will ask your caste system first. The Indian constitution has banned it, yet it is still widespread. It's difficult to wipe it out cos it's very much part of the religious system. That's why B R Ambedkar, who is father of the Indian Constitution, left Hinduism. Buddhism, they say, is peaceful. But in Sri Lanka it is the Buddhists monks who burnt churches. But how could you say that beliefs could not be true? Just because someone believes that does not things true, but that also does not make things untrue. "It is better to enjoy life to the maximum without bothering about god, heaven and hell. It is good to spend our time and energy on things which we can see, hear, feel and taste and touch instead of those things which we can not experience with our five senses. It is best to follow our heart and our wisdom" Being a believer in God does not make one's life less enjoying. It could be even more enjoying. At least that is true with me. And being a believer does not take us away from spending our time and energy with tangible things. "But if it is true that God has created us and given us a heart and wisdom, then that wisdom should be perfect and following our wisdom can result in only good things" I don't see the premise necessarily leading to your kind of conclusion. The notion called Free Will can come into your conclusion, and thus derail the logical progression. "I do not believe in a God who selects one country as his selected nation and then he inspires less than 1% of population to write a book which is illogical." How is that book illogical? "Theists say atheists are immoral" we are all immoral, in a way. There is no one who is 100% morally pure. As a seeker I was myself an agnostic. However, that changed. I did not want to commit myself to agnosticism and be happy about it. I felt that way because agnosticism as a worldview, to me, is very weak. As an agnostic, how would you answer some of these questions: Who is a human being? How do we set the parameter that an action is morally good or bad? If you grant the premise "every contingent effect has a cause" to be true then does not it necessarily lead to the conclusion that there has to be a First Cause, whom one would call as God? I would grant that Christians have done lot of bad things. But I am sure you can also agree that scientists have done lot of bad things. Americans have done lot of bad things. Male have done lot of bad things. White people have done of lot of bad things. Who bombed Hiroshima? Whites or Christians or Americans or male? Who killed the native Americans? Whites or Christians or European migrants or male? Some of the crimes you accused Christians of instead of accusing Christians, I think, we should accuse the Whites or the Americans. I think it's important to read the right category when we accused certain group of people of any crime. It's is wrong to accuse male species of WW II as much as it is wrong to accuse Christians. Because the war there is political, not religious or gender. Similary, it is not right to accuse Christians of bombing Nagasaki as much as it is not right to accuse the fighter pilots. However, I would grant that Christians can be blamed for Inquisition or Crusades. But as said before, those Christians just got things wrong. And I think just it would be unfair to blame the present White American for slaughtering thousands of Native American it would be unfair to blame the present Christians for the crisis then. If it is a direct result of the belief system then we can blame the religion. But whether it is Inquisitio or Crusade they are not what Jesus taught his disciples taught. For Christians whether certain practice should be followed or not is interpreted through the life and teaching of Jesus Christ. Whether it's me or anyone else, if it deviates from what Jesus did or would do then it is not Christian moral norms.

Since the hindu hell is not eternal and since the Hindu says that the ultimate destination is heaven, makes mores ense. And reincarnation; many studies have been done in the west an dthere is every possibility that it could be true. Buddhism : makes even more sense since Buddha did not say anything abt God- that was very nice of him. He spoke about mind and ego and the causes of misery. he introduced the meditation of vipassana which is meaningful. Thus, it is very sensible. In Hinduism caste system is widespread.^^^^^^^ I have seen many hindus here that exploitation of lower castes is not there in their main scriptures. caste refers to the professions and not for exploitation. That i what they say. But in Sri Lanka it is the Buddhists monks who burnt churches.^^^^ Makes me wonder for what reason? I have heard complaints that christian missionaries in lanka are trying to convert the Buddhists by calling Buddhism demonic religion, insulting their beliefs and all that. Who is a human being?^^^^^^ A person with 2 legs, 2 hands, 1 head, a heart, a mind, a reasoning power etc.. can be called a human. How do we set the parameter that an action is morally good or bad? ^^^^^^ If your action hurts anybody , it should be bad. If you do not worship the only true God, does that hurt anybody? If you do takes his name in vain, does that hurt anybody? If you fail to keep the sabbath holy, does that hurt anybody? How will you honour parents if they are criminals? How are you not to kill during a war? Wat is wrong with adultry if you wear the proper contraceptive and see that the owman does not ego pregnant and alo safeguar against Aids? The main thing should be not to hurt others. Based on your observation, you will learn what to do and what not. Life itself will teach you. You do not need a Bible or Quran. However, if u insist to depend ona book written by people so many centuries back- well that is your choice. If you grant the premise "every contingent effect has a cause" to be true then does not it necessarily lead to the conclusion that there has to be a First Cause, whom one would call as God?^^^^^ Why not go further? Who created your God? Of course, everybody has done bad things- who says no? However, christianity and Islam have gone to the very limits in their cruelty. Did Hinduism or Buddhism or Taoism fight a crusade? Did Hinduism or Buddhism or Taoism did a inquisition, burn down witches? Did Hinduism or Buddhism or Taoism burn down temples of other religions in such a large scale manner? Not only were European Pagan temples and lifestyles destroyed, but even those of the American continent. Some of the crimes you accused Christians of instead of accusing Christians, I think, we should accuse the Whites or the Americans.^^^^^ Most of those people were christians, my friend. It's is wrong to accuse male species of WW II as much as it is wrong to accuse Christians.^^^^^^ Don't you think males have done more nonsense than females? Would it be wrong to accuse the male as highly destructive while compared to the female? But as said before, those Christians just got things wrong.^^^^^^^ People from any religion can say this- that it is the people and not the religion that isw rong. Muslims are also doing that, Hindus are also doing. The atheists in Russia could also be excused by saying that not atheism, but the atheists got it all wrong. Taken from that point of view, no religion is good or bad because if a religion is not responsible for your bad deeds, then why should it be praised for the good deeds of people? Good and bad qualities can be said to be instincts of human species and religion has nothing to do with it. In some earlier thread, I have explained to you how baseless some of the christian beliefs are and how they can lead one to frustration and destruction. You might not agree, but since Bible is open to any number of interpretations, then the authors of the Bible are to be blamed for not explaining what the hell they meant. What was their point in confusing millions of peopele? Jesus was a very complicated character. he contradicted himself. he said one thing in one page and then did the opposite to what he said in the tenth. Anyway, it is no use going into all that because then, this discussion wud never end.