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An atheist here, and this is not meant to be a "drive by".
My question is: Why aren't all religions trying to work together to form a cohesive and agreeable concept of religion and god?
Why so many splintered factions? Most believers agree there is one god, right? Is any group trying to synthesize the known information into an intelligible concept? Is anyone doing the research? Are people from different religions reaching out to each other? Has any progress been made in the last 2,013 years?
Good question! ... assuming there is nothing more to 'religion' than human ritual, garb and man-invented goals/objectives/plans.
But, suppose God really exists and has an eternal plan for mankind. Then, suddenly, man's efforts to create his own 'religion' takes a back seat to God's plan. Of course, there will still be many who reject God's plan (unless it is forcibly enforced ... which makes no sense at all), but, will still want to feel good about 'why they are here' and that inborn knowledge that there is a God ... and it is not them. (?)
'Religion and $2.00 will buy a cup of coffee ($5 at Starbucks). But, God, and His Way and Plan. Now that's something else altogether! But, suppose that God only provides ONE Plan/Way? Will everyone suddenly believe and follow that plan/way ... or will people who are not 'forced' to change, cling to their traditional 'religious' ways? Probably, which is why 'religions' don't get together and agree on which 'religion' is best.
Take yourself, for example, ‘Do you believe there is only one way to believe – “atheism” or do you acknowledge, as stated, that others believe differently? Can you honestly deny the existence of God … or do you just not buy-into ‘religion’ … Neither do I (even as a preacher/teacher of 30-years) ... Yet, those are entirely different positions.
An atheist here, and this is not meant to be a "drive by".
My question is: Why aren't all religions trying to work together to form a cohesive and agreeable concept of religion and god?
Because .... many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Matthew 24:11
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Originally Posted by SteelDragon
Why so many splintered factions? Most believers agree there is one god, right?
No many do not believe there is one god. True believers believe in the Triune God (notice the capitol "G" ... not the small "g")
And because Matthew 24:11 is the truth, there isn't as many the propagandists lead you to believe.
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Originally Posted by SteelDragon
Is any group trying to synthesize the known information into an intelligible concept?
Yes
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Originally Posted by SteelDragon
Is anyone doing the research?
It's be done already.
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Originally Posted by SteelDragon
Are people from different religions reaching out to each other? Has any progress been made in the last 2,013 years?
in the last 2013 years ... well it started out with the 12 Apostles in a tiny little area called Jerusalem and now virtually everyone has had in their history had someone in their family history had the opportunity or been exposed to the truth at one time or another ........... sounds like progress to me.
There's always dialogue between the religious leaders. Always. It's not like it doesn't happen. But it's members do not always do that and you're dealing with egos and people who many times are not fully open, curious, or enlightened enough to spread out and explore. But they're always talking.
It's just arrogant, self-righteous people who have the problem. Goes across all borders.
Take yourself, for example, ‘Do you believe there is only one way to believe – “atheism†or do you acknowledge, as stated, that others believe differently? Can you honestly deny the existence of God … or do you just not buy-into ‘religion’ … Neither do I (even as a preacher/teacher of 30-years) ... Yet, those are entirely different positions.
I identify with atheism and agnosticism. I (and most atheists) would not say, "I know for certain there is no god." That would require a leap of faith, because that statement could not be empirically knowable . This is a common fallacy about atheism.
Personally, I try not to believe something exists until evidence shows that it does.
So, to answer your question about belief: Until the evidence comes in, I feel "I don't know and neither do you" is the correct default position, if we are dealing with any modicum of intellectual honesty in our answer.
But, I also take the position that the burden of proof is on the believer. This is where organized religions around the world have failed miserably. Christianity, for example, has had 20 centuries or so to lay down the groundwork to build their case for the god of the old testament as the creator of the universe. And as Christopher Hitchens was found of saying, "All of your work is still ahead of you."
Because .... many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Matthew 24:11
No many do not believe there is one god. True believers believe in the Triune God (notice the capitol "G" ... not the small "g")
And because Matthew 24:11 is the truth, there isn't as many the propagandists lead you to believe.
Yes
It's be done already.
in the last 2013 years ... well it started out with the 12 Apostles in a tiny little area called Jerusalem and now virtually everyone has had in their history had someone in their family history had the opportunity or been exposed to the truth at one time or another ........... sounds like progress to me.
So you're of the position that Christianity has it right, and the other religions are mistaken?
Also, I'm curious about how you define progress. How would the world be different in 2013 if the 12 apostles didn't exist? And has everyone really been exposed to 'the truth'? What if you had been born in Afghanistan? What if you had read the Koran first? You would probably be saying the same thing about 'the truth' for Islam if you didn't get adequate opportunity to learn about christianity. Seems pretty arbitrary to me.
How would anyone (or group) possibly reconcile the different holy books and "compromise" on one text? That would be changing the very definition of what these religions are.
There is only one way to the Father and that is through Jesus Christ.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
Acts 4:12 "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."
Acts 16:30 Then he escorted them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31] They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."
Christianity is a relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ. Christianity is God reaching out to fallen mankind through Jesus. Satan knows this and so attempts to blind man to the truth through religion. For this reason there are many different religions with their own particulars. But the purpose of each is to obscure the fact that only through faith in Jesus Christ can anyone be eternally saved. Therefore there will always be opposition to Christianity from religion.
Attempts at unifying Christianity with the worlds religions are always at the expense of truth and end up in the absurdity of placing Allah, Vishnu, or whatever other false gods are involved on the same level with Jesus Christ.
Truth is always opposed by the lie and there can never be unity between Christianity and the world's religious systems which are Satanic counterfeits of the truth.
There is only one way to the Father and that is through Jesus Christ.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
Acts 4:12 "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."
Acts 16:30 Then he escorted them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31] They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."
Christianity is a relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ. Christianity is God reaching out to fallen mankind through Jesus. Satan knows this and so attempts to blind man to the truth through religion. For this reason there are many different religions with their own particulars. But the purpose of each is to obscure the fact that only through faith in Jesus Christ can anyone be eternally saved. Therefore there will always be opposition to Christianity from religion.
Attempts at unifying Christianity with the worlds religions are always at the expense of truth and end up in the absurdity of placing Allah, Vishnu, or whatever other false gods are involved on the same level with Jesus Christ.
Truth is always opposed by the lie and there can never be unity between Christianity and the world's religious systems which are Satanic counterfeits of the truth.
So you're of the position that Christianity has it right, and the other religions are mistaken?
Not only has it right ... there is no other "right".
Christianity is the belief of God becoming human in order to suffer the penalty for humanities rebellion and in exchange offers eternal life for belief in that substitution. Np other religion has this.
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Originally Posted by SteelDragon
Also, I'm curious about how you define progress.
Re-read how from 12 simple men from a little location spread world wide .... I sure if it were atheism that did that you'd have no problem seeing the progress in that.
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Originally Posted by SteelDragon
How would the world be different in 2013 if the 12 apostles didn't exist?
But since they did, it's not worth the time to speculate.
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Originally Posted by SteelDragon
And has everyone really been exposed to 'the truth'?
Yes. Just like you have been ... and because you're rejecting it out of hand doesn't mean the exposure didn't happen.
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Originally Posted by SteelDragon
What if you had been born in Afghanistan? What if you had read the Koran first? You would probably be saying the same thing about 'the truth' for Islam if you didn't get adequate opportunity to learn about christianity. Seems pretty arbitrary to me.
And ... at some point someone's parents were. God said he punishes to the third and fourth generation of those who hate him. It may come as a surprise to you that God does indeed at times grants what people ask for.
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