What's going on here?

[alexiscurious]

It is no surprise that the vast majority of the world believes differently than you do.

Why is this? Why are so many people being deceived by other religions if they clearly aren't true? Are billions of people just morons who are suppressing the truth? If the one true God is so clearly and plainly visible, why are people following other ones? Some people are dedicating their entire lives to other religions, they are even blowing themselves up in some of them.

What's going on here?

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

read in Torah, Genesis. that explains a lot. (Yhvh willing).

 

[Bumble Bee]

It is no surprise that the vast majority of the world believes differently than you do.

Why is this? Why are so many people being deceived by other religions if they clearly aren't true? Are billions of people just morons who are suppressing the truth? If the one true God is so clearly and plainly visible, why are people following other ones? Some people are dedicating their entire lives to other religions, hell they are even blowing themselves up in some of them.

What's going on here?

Romans 1:18-25

18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

Simply put, God gave each and every person a free will. People can choose to follow Him or not. There are other religions because people in ages past (and present) have decided they can make it on their own without God, or that they could come up with something better. It all started with the serpent telling Eve in Genesis 3 that if she ate from the tree she would become like God. People want a God they can see physically instead of one that reveals Himself through His creation, so they created idols (see Exodus 32). God allows this because He wants us to choose whether to follow Him or not, for if He forced us to love Him it would not be real love at all.

 

[oi_antz]

It is no surprise that the vast majority of the world believes differently than you do.

Why is this? Why are so many people being deceived by other religions if they clearly aren't true? Are billions of people just morons who are suppressing the truth? If the one true God is so clearly and plainly visible, why are people following other ones? Some people are dedicating their entire lives to other religions, hell they are even blowing themselves up in some of them.

What's going on here?

We are mostly a product of our environment, and memories are wholly produced by our experience. Beliefs are justified or challenged by our memories and shaped by existing beliefs. You are observing culture and consequence of mortality which is starting with zero knowledge and ending with some, as well as some error, which is a far cry from perfection. In life where there is growth there is mistake.

 

[dysert]

1 Pet. 2:9 -> "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special [set apart; peculiar] people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;"

 

[Hawkins]

2 Corinthians 4:4 (NIV)
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.


In planet earth, Satan's effort is allowed. Just don't let him sift you out.

Luke 22:31 (NIV)
Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.

 

[bling]

Unfortunately, I would suggest it has to do with the lack of sever persecution in the West. In China the underground church is growing rapidly and appears to be teaching the same doctrine. (est at 100 million now.)

 

[alexiscurious]

If a bunch of other man-made religions have gained the same amount of popularity and followers as Christianity, then I think this says something about what man is capable of. Man is capable of deception at an enormous scale. Man can deceive billions of people into thinking any god exists. Therefore, I am not going to let what man says be the foundation for my belief in God. If God wants to contact me directly, I'll be available, waiting.

 

[Hakan101]

If a bunch of other man-made religions have gained the same amount of popularity and followers as Christianity, then I think this says something about what man is capable of. Man is capable of deception at an enormous scale. Man can deceive billions of people into thinking any god exists. Therefore, I am not going to let what man says be the foundation for my belief in God. If God wants to contact me directly, I'll be available, waiting.

You really think man did this on his own? You would be so arrogant to say that about us? You don't think Satan and his minions are all working against God in an attempt to cause chaos in the world?

God has chosen man to actively participate in his commission. That is what faith is, acting on this earth with trust in the Lord. God does not speak to us directly anymore. Even when he did speak directly to anyone, it was through prophets, and the prophets would speak to the people of God on His behalf.

God is allowing these false religions to exist for now. He wants to see who will seek the truth out, and who will reject the truth and turn to these false religions instead. Jesus is the Way, Truth, and the Light. Nobody comes to the Father except through Him.

 

[alexiscurious]

You really think man did this on his own? You would be so arrogant to say that about us? You don't think Satan and his minions are all working against God in an attempt to cause chaos in the world?

God has chosen man to actively participate in his commission. That is what faith is, acting on this earth with trust in the Lord. God does not speak to us directly anymore. Even when he did speak directly to anyone, it was through prophets, and the prophets would speak to the people of God on His behalf.

God is allowing these false religions to exist for now. He wants to see who will seek the truth out, and who will reject the truth and turn to these false religions instead. Jesus is the Way, Truth, and the Light. Nobody comes to the Father except through Him.

I have sincerely asked him to reveal himself to me. He doesn't want to. I can only assume that 1) he can't because he doesn't exist or 2) he doesn't like me. He can send me to hell if he wants for not believing. At least I tried.

 

[oi_antz]

I have sincerely asked him to reveal himself to me. He doesn't want to. I can only assume that 1) he can't because he doesn't exist or 2) he doesn't like me. He can send me to hell if he wants for not believing. At least I tried.

What about 3) He wants you to experience faithlessness some more, for some reason other than the 1) or 2) you have mentioned?

 

[ananda]

I have sincerely asked him to reveal himself to me. He doesn't want to. I can only assume that 1) he can't because he doesn't exist or 2) he doesn't like me. He can send me to hell if he wants for not believing. At least I tried.

Where are you looking for his answer?

 

[alexiscurious]

Where are you looking for his answer?

I'm looking for it from him. Not from a 2000 year old book written by man.

 

[Hakan101]

I have sincerely asked him to reveal himself to me. He doesn't want to. I can only assume that 1) he can't because he doesn't exist or 2) he doesn't like me. He can send me to hell if he wants for not believing. At least I tried.

You didn't try at all. You have to consider how God wants you to seek him out. Sorry, God doesn't speak audibly or demonstrate himself through flashy spectacles. He reveals himself through his Word. Paul said "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing the Word of God."

It's on His terms, not yours. I can see the stubborn attitude in your responses. Humble yourself before the Lord, earnestly ask him for guidance in the way He intended it, and in a way that will give you understanding. Do this continuously and persistently. God always gives those who seek Him the truth they need.

 

[alexiscurious]

What about 3) He wants you to experience faithlessness some more, for some reason other than the 1) or 2) you have mentioned?

He wants me to continue to be in doubt of his existence? Doesn't sound like something he'd want.

 

[oi_antz]

He wants me to continue to be in doubt of his existence? Doesn't sound like something he'd want.

Why not?

 

[alexiscurious]

You didn't try at all. You have to consider how God wants you to seek him out. Sorry, God doesn't speak audibly or demonstrate himself through flashy spectacles. He reveals himself through his Word. Paul said "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing the Word of God."

God does speak audibly and through flashy spectacles. Remember Paul on the Road to Damascus? That story sounded pretty audible and flashy to me. I think it's funny how Paul expects others to believe in God's existence when Paul himself didn't believe until God spoke audibly and blinded him with his flashy spectacles. Paul is a hypocrite?

It's on His terms, not yours. I can see the stubborn attitude in your responses. Humble yourself before the Lord, earnestly ask him for guidance in the way He intended it, and in a way that will give you understanding. Do this continuously and persistently. God always gives those who seek Him the truth they need.

I don't care. I don't want to have a relationship with someone who won't talk to me.

 

[ananda]

I'm looking for it from him. Not from a 2000 year old book written by man.

I meant ... in the outer or the inner world ...

 

[alexiscurious]

Why not?

Because I could jump off a cliff at any moment. Then he'd be like oh shiz I should of revealed myself to him sooner. Guess I have to send him to hell now.

 

[oi_antz]

Because I could jump off a cliff at any moment. Then he'd be like oh shiz I should of revealed myself to him sooner. Guess I have to send him to hell now.

Why do you think He would have to do that if He didn't want to?