Religions: A divisive force.

[tanzanos]

We are taught in the OT that God was very upset by the human endeavour to reach him by building the tower of Babel. He thus made all the people speak in different tongues and caused a disunity amongst the various races. The moral here being that unity in mankind is abhorrent to God and that we should not search in quest of erudition.

What good have the various religions given us? All I see throughout history are wars, Massacres, injustice, persecutions, inquisitions, Witch burnings, slavery; All in the name of God.

The little charity that does happen is almost always the result of what is left over after a large percentage of the donations have gone to private pockets.

Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and others; are but reflections of ourselves.

Like someone once said: God made man unto his image and man returned the compliment!

 

[brightmorningstar]

Its a good OP Tanzanos, I will say that!
However that looks at religions from the point of all religions and how man has been in them. Jesus Christ as the way the truth and the life doesnt bring religion as such, He brings life eternal through Him for all who believe. All who dont believe in Him would therefore be all of other religions and of no religion. And indeed look what that has brough mankind.

 

[roflcopter101]

Jesus Christ as the way the truth and the life doesnt bring religion as such, He brings life eternal through Him for all who believe. All who dont believe in Him would therefore be all of other religions and of no religion. And indeed look what that has brough mankind.

But would not any other religion say that?
Jews would say that Jesus and Muhammad were illegitimate, while Muslims would say that Jesus was misguided and Muhammad was the real "pwn-er-er". They advocate their own views, so what is there to make Christianity different from other religions?

 

[Autumnleaf]

The tower of Babel didn't make God mad because people were united. It made him mad because people were trying to overstep their bounds. If people were united in praising God he wouldn't change their languages and scatter them about.

 

[The Nihilist]

AutumnLeaf, I think what you mean is that if the god of the old-testament weren't so bitter and small-minded, then he wouldn't have changed their languages and scattered them about. Having a kid really calmed him down, didn't it?

 

[Autumnleaf]

AutumnLeaf, I think what you mean is that if the god of the old-testament weren't so bitter and small-minded, then he wouldn't have changed their languages and scattered them about. Having a kid really calmed him down, didn't it?

I don't think God changed a bit. He made his kid get beaten and crucified even when his kid prayed to 'let the cup of poison pass'.

 

[tansy]

But would not any other religion say that?
Jews would say that Jesus and Muhammad were illegitimate, while Muslims would say that Jesus was misguided and Muhammad was the real "pwn-er-er". They advocate their own views, so what is there to make Christianity different from other religions?

Christianity is the only religion where God Himself comes down to live on earth as a human and sacrifices Himself as the perfect atonement for our sins, so that through Him we can be reconciled to God. Jesus is the only perfect human to have lived, and it is only through Him we can have eternal life.
So far as I know , no other religion claims this.

 

[God-free]

Christianity is the only religion where God Himself comes down to live on earth as a human and sacrifices Himself as the perfect atonement for our sins, so that through Him we can be reconciled to God. Jesus is the only perfect human to have lived, and it is only through Him we can have eternal life.
So far as I know , no other religion claims this.

Maybe so but what makes it true?

As for the tower of Babel thing... I always wondered about that too. If God wants us to know him, and love our fellow humans, then it seems he's made a huge mistake by scattering us and making it so difficult for us to communicate in coherent fashion.

~Barbara

 

[MaxP]

We are taught in the OT that God was very upset by the human endeavour to reach him by building the tower of Babel. He thus made all the people speak in different tongues and caused a disunity amongst the various races. The moral here being that unity in mankind is abhorrent to God and that we should not search in quest of erudition.

The moral is, actually, that we are not to think ourselves equal to God in our endeavor. The lesson is humility.

 

[jcook922]

“I am a humanist, which means, in part, that I have tried to behave decently without expectations of rewards or punishments after I am dead.” -Kurt Vonnegut, President of the American Humanist Association

Theres your lesson in humility.

 

[The Nihilist]

Christianity is the only religion where God Himself comes down to live on earth as a human and sacrifices Himself as the perfect atonement for our sins, so that through Him we can be reconciled to God. Jesus is the only perfect human to have lived, and it is only through Him we can have eternal life.
So far as I know , no other religion claims this.

I think what you mean is that christianity is the only religion that says god did that. Do you think your religion is best because it has the fanciest claims?

 

[OphidiaPhile]

Christianity is the only religion where God Himself comes down to live on earth as a human and sacrifices Himself as the perfect atonement for our sins, so that through Him we can be reconciled to God. Jesus is the only perfect human to have lived, and it is only through Him we can have eternal life.
So far as I know , no other religion claims this.

The design of humans is far from perfect so unless he was not ahuman in design he most certainly could not be remotely perfect, if he eve existed at all.

 

[QuakerOats]

Christianity is the only religion where God Himself comes down to live on earth as a human and sacrifices Himself as the perfect atonement for our sins, so that through Him we can be reconciled to God. Jesus is the only perfect human to have lived, and it is only through Him we can have eternal life.
So far as I know , no other religion claims this.

There are actually a few religions that have a god, or gods being incarnated, and coming to earth as a man, for varied reasons. Here's a good look into some comparisons.

 

[MaxP]

“I am a humanist, which means, in part, that I have tried to behave decently without expectations of rewards or punishments after I am dead.” -Kurt Vonnegut, President of the American Humanist Association

Theres your lesson in humility.

Thanks for the lesson.

 

[tansy]

Maybe so but what makes it true?

As for the tower of Babel thing... I always wondered about that too. If God wants us to know him, and love our fellow humans, then it seems he's made a huge mistake by scattering us and making it so difficult for us to communicate in coherent fashion.

~Barbara

I'm afraid I can't prove it's true, though there are many people who are able to write clearly about all the historical evidence etc. In the end it's something that the Holy Spirit reveals to you...and, yes, I know there are also all sorts of objections to that, but I'm afraid I'm not very good at answering those objecxtions.

AS for the Tower of Babel, I get the impression from Scripture, that, had God not scattered the people, they would have become (at least more quickly), capable of even greater atrocities. Imagine, for example, if people had stayed altogether, pooling knowledge, resources, manpower etc....perhaps they would have become so technologically advanced earlier, that we would have had nuclear wars centuries ago. This is only my thouight though.

 

[MaxP]

I'm afraid I can't prove it's true, though there are many people who are able to write clearly about all the historical evidence etc. In the end it's something that the Holy Spirit reveals to you...and, yes, I know there are also all sorts of objections to that, but I'm afraid I'm not very good at answering those objections.

No, Christianity is something that can be reasonably concluded as well, IMHO, more reasonably than other religions(no offense meant, but by being Catholic I imply that, as does an atheist imply he believes God not existing or lacking evidence thereof to be a more reasonable conclusion by being an atheist).

 

[tansy]

“I am a humanist, which means, in part, that I have tried to behave decently without expectations of rewards or punishments after I am dead.” -Kurt Vonnegut, President of the American Humanist Association

Theres your lesson in humility.

I don't think that Christianity is essentially about rewards and punishment, rather it's about our being changed into the image of Christ and ultimately being able to live in the presence of God in joy and love. (Ther e are others who would be able to explain this better than I)

 

[tansy]

I think what you mean is that christianity is the only religion that says god did that. Do you think your religion is best because it has the fanciest claims?

No, I do not think my religion is best because it has the fanciest claims, I just believe that it is true and that Jesus is the Truth. And I cannot prove this to you. God Himself has to show you. And that is not to say there is no truth in other religions, or things which aren't good, only that God has revealed Himself most fully to us I Jesus Christ

 

[tansy]

The design of humans is far from perfect so unless he was not ahuman in design he most certainly could not be remotely perfect, if he eve existed at all.

I believe that the human design is perfect, but I also think we degenerated. Also, we became separated from our spiritual life in God, whereas Jesus never did.

There is also historical proof, so I understand, of His physical existance at least.

 

[tansy]

There are actually a few religions that have a god, or gods being incarnated, and coming to earth as a man, for varied reasons. Here's a good look into some comparisons.

T%hank you QuakerOats - I will look into those.