Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Is my faith the correct faith? Are other faiths wrong? [View all]
These questions were posed to me a few days ago. The questioner noted that, because I identify as a Christian, does that mean that I feel other faiths/beliefs are wrong or incorrect?
I said no. But I would like to amplify a bit.
Faith, to me, is the search for meaning, and often, the search for the Creator. The Creator has worn many names in the 8,000 years of relatively recent history, and probably many other names in the long centuries before that.
This search for meaning and the search for the Creator appears to have always accompanied humans. Indeed, even among those who identify as non-theists, a certain segment claim to believe in higher powers or spirits of some sort. I know that sounds contradictory, but read:
Although the literal definition of atheist is a person who does not believe in the existence of a god or any gods, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, 8% of those who call themselves atheists also say they believe in God or a universal spirit. Indeed, 2% say they are absolutely certain about the existence of God or a universal spirit. Alternatively, there are many people who fit the dictionary definition of atheist but do not call themselves atheists. About three times as many Americans say they do not believe in God or a universal spirit (9%) as say they are atheists (3%).
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/06/01/10-facts-about-atheists/
But to the actual questions that were posed, I have previously written about the belief of some Friends that in each human is a spark of the Creator. A belief that I share. So if I believe that in each of us is a spark of the Creator, our search and our beliefs, as varied as they are, reflect that commonality. It is that spark that inspires our search and our faith.
I am a Christian, but I would never say that any of my fellow humans are wrong in their faith, no matter what faith that is. I would say that they are following a different path. I would never say that my non-theistic fellow humans are wrong. I would say that they too are following a different path. Not better, not worse. Just different.
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
196 replies, 8981 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (2)
ReplyReply to this post
196 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
'Hell' is a state of being, not a physical/geographical place/location like your residential address
sprinkleeninow
Feb 2018
#39
I hold that this hell is a state of the soul that is separated or will be from God, but that it is
sprinkleeninow
Feb 2018
#89
I am talking here about the terms correct or incorrect as they apply to faith.
guillaumeb
Feb 2018
#49
Most religions believe quite sincerely that theirs is the only true belief.
PoindexterOglethorpe
Feb 2018
#9
"I would say that they too are following a different path. Not better, not worse. Just different."
trotsky
Feb 2018
#12
guillaumeb's "spirit" thinks that deliberately spreading falsehoods is a good thing.
trotsky
Feb 2018
#65
So you want to shut down any real debate here and insist on harmony among posters?
guillaumeb
Feb 2018
#147
Like when you accused me on multiple occasions of defining Christianity for everyone
guillaumeb
Feb 2018
#152
What this shows is your inability or unwillingness to admit what you are doing.
guillaumeb
Feb 2018
#172
I see that you are not willing to apologize to those you hurt. You will go on hurting.
trotsky
Feb 2018
#179
When we engage in dialogue, what was said in the past is also a part of what is currently
guillaumeb
Feb 2018
#192
My claim is supported by your posts here, and the number of people who have taken you to task.
trotsky
Feb 2018
#194
"...some completely co-opt a human desire for spirituality by twisting it into something very..ugly"
trotsky
Feb 2018
#55
In Eastern Orthodoxy: "We know where the Church is, but we do not know where it is not."
sprinkleeninow
Feb 2018
#70
Well, I simply 'relished' the 'fragrance' of your post! 😍 Lovely, like aroma therapy!
sprinkleeninow
Feb 2018
#74