How Is Your Religion The "One True Religion"?

[Sir Winston Churchill]

This is the ultimate question that pushed me over the edge into non-belief. How is one religion, out of hundreds both dead, present, and to be formed, the one true religion? To me it's especially damning (and arrogant) when a religion tries to say that it is the one true religion and followers of all other religions are wrong.

How is Islam, founded in the early 600's, any more valid than Hinduism, founded much earlier? Because a 'prophet' said so? Well how about all those other 'prophets' from various religions saying they communicated with God(s) and that he/she/said all other religions are wrong? Consider the fact these religions came at a time when people didn't even know America existed aside the Native Americans, who had their own variety of religious belief systems, with different messages and methods, and I wonder how many Native Americans have been damned to hell simply because they weren't aware "Jesus is our Lord and Savior". But wait a moment, what if the Native Americans are right? Do you think the "Great Spirit" is angered by our heresy in Europe and the Middle East? Oh and those poor Japanese Shintoists who have been worshiping nature in their holy lands... what do you think Thor has to say about them?

When we're asked to put our undying faith and life into a single religion because that is the one true religion, isn't that in itself gambling our very souls (which by the way, is a sin in most religions)? We're putting all our chips down on one belief system out of literally THOUSANDS and saying "That's the one!". So what if we're wrong? The odds are totally against us.

To me it seems the great variety of religions and the sheer difference in geographical, cultural, and methods of worship in the world are what proves that there is a major flaw in each and every one of them. Even the ones such as Buddhism which say all religions could be right and that each can be a path to Enlightenment, still claim to know the "true" way of things in one way or the other. When you take a step back and truly survey all the religions and what each one is asking of you, making such bold statements that they are the right one, then it becomes truly hard to pick any at all. So how can people throughout the world each day bash other religions while being so sure of their own? Totally ignoring such glaring reasons of doubt? Is this "true faith" that I hear so much about? Where do people find the balls to stake everything on one system and at the same time decry all others?

[total relism]

are you not being a "prophet" claiming your religion [atheism] is the only true belief system? also how can multiple ideas be all true? there cant be more than one truth.

For those who have never herd of Christ look here
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=531534

[Manco]

are you not being a "prophet" claiming your religion [atheism] is the only true belief system? also how can multiple ideas be all true? there cant be more than one truth.

For those who have never herd of Christ look here
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=531534

Atheism is not a belief system, and we can't claim it to be the one truth as nary an atheist agrees about specific beliefs.
Not to say that there aren't more organized or more militant atheist currents or actual organisations. They just don't represent atheism as such.

Then again, you've been told this about a dozen times, and you keep ignoring it. So why bother?

[Kissaki]

are you not being a "prophet" claiming your religion [atheism] is the only true belief system? also how can multiple ideas be all true? there cant be more than one truth.

No. Atheism is "none of the above". It's not a belief system -- where's the system? It's the rejection of belief in gods.

[Sir Winston Churchill]

are you not being a "prophet" claiming your religion [atheism] is the only true belief system? also how can multiple ideas be all true? there cant be more than one truth.

For those who have never herd of Christ look here
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=531534

I am not a prophet nor did I ever claim to be one, nor did I even say atheism is "the one true belief system". Where you're getting this I have no idea. Me being a non-believer simply means I've decided not to believe in any of the religious systems out there. I'm not even going to start on how atheism isn't even a religion because others have already attempted to explain this to you.

Easy, my religion secures me virgins, drinks, and palaces in heaven. None of that reincarnation bullcrap; the last thing I need is another life time on this hellhole as a frog or something.

And what if you're wrong? How are you so sure your religion has virgins, drinks, and palaces in heaven? What makes you so sure of any of this? That the idea of Valhalla is any less true than your idea of heaven?

EDIT: Crappy response befits crappy OP. You pick the religion that you're convinced has the right morals and theology, why do you need someone to explain this to you?

I'm asking how people can choose those single theologies out of the thousands available and be convinced that their choice is the right one, and that every other choice is the wrong one. That somehow the Romans who believed in all their gods were wrong for all those years and that for all these years there is no similarity or possibility of being wrong now.

[Blaze86420]

And what if you're wrong? How are you so sure your religion has virgins, drinks, and palaces in heaven? What makes you so sure of any of this? That the idea of Valhalla is any less true than your idea of heaven?

I'm asking how people can choose those single theologies out of the thousands available and be convinced that their choice is the right one, and that every other choice is the wrong one. That somehow the Romans who believed in all their gods were wrong for all those years and that for all these years there is no similarity or possibility of being wrong now.

Because I believe that the way Islam explains the purpose of this world and how people should act makes sense, that's how I know. Also, the fact that the universe is governed by laws and balance to me is an indication of a single higher power, and is the reason why I am a theist. It's called faith, surely you have heard of this.

[Aeneas Veneratio]

Because I believe that the way Islam explains the purpose of this world and how people should act makes sense, that's how I know. Also, the fact that the universe is governed by laws and balance to me is an indication of a single higher power, and is the reason why I am a theist. It's called faith, surely you have heard of this.

Sorry, but a religion that doesn't permit its followers to eat pork, especially bacon, can not be the right religion. There isn't anything more "divine" than to enjoy the taste of bacon or pork chops!

[Himster]

are you not being a "prophet" claiming your religion [atheism] is the only true belief system?

Atheism isn't a belief system and there are no prophets of it.
I can't quite tell if you're intentionally acting stupid or not.

also how can multiple ideas be all true? there cant be more than one truth.

Well done, you're just one step of skepticism away from becoming an atheist.

Than my belief in chritinaity is just lack of belief in atheism.

Oh great, more off-topic strawman rambling nonsense.

Certain claims bring with them beliefs, atheism claims no god, that is a belief there is no god.

To put it as nicely as I can: that's ing lie.
I gave you a chance, I reviewed what you had to say with an open mind and you blew it, consider yourself blocked, I advise anyone else interested in ignoring trolls and time-wasters to do the same.

[AngryTitusPullo]

Atheism isn't a belief system and there are no prophets of it.
I can't quite tell if you're intentionally acting stupid or not.

As as as they're people (even here) that preaches Atheism then it doesn't matter if they're no prophets or not.

p/s: Isn't Dawkins a prophet of some sort ?

[Deathless]

As as as they're people (even here) that preaches Atheism then it doesn't matter if they're no prophets or not.

p/s: Isn't Dawkins a prophet of some sort ?

Linguistic dishonesty is still a form of lying btw. Just so you know.

[Sir Winston Churchill]

As as as they're people (even here) that preaches Atheism then it doesn't matter if they're no prophets or not.

p/s: Isn't Dawkins a prophet of some sort ?

I'm sorry, but if preaching something makes it a religion, there are a ton of preachers for Hot Dogism in NYC right now, who battle against those darned Churroists in their holy crusade for truth.

Why would Dawkins be a prophet? He's a scientist who is credited with the theory of evolution. Since evolution isn't a religion, how could he even be considered a prophet?

[AngryTitusPullo]

I'm sorry, but if preaching something makes it a religion, there are a ton of preachers for Hot Dogism in NYC right now, who battle against those darned Churroists in their holy crusade for truth.

Why would Dawkins be a prophet? He's a scientist who is credited with the theory of evolution. Since evolution isn't a religion, how could he even be considered a prophet?

Not Darwin but Richard Dawkins. He actively campaign against religion. Isn't that preaching of some sort ?

My point is you can't preach atheism, it's not a thing it's a negative position on a single topic like being a non-stamp-collector, there are not doctrines, no code, no unifying ideology of atheism.
There are atheistic ideologies like: humanism, naturalism, buddhism, vedic-hinduism, scientology, animism, nihilism etc.

Well if not preaching then what ? Educating ? He may not go door to door preaching to people but mediums like books and internet works the same.

He's an atheistic scientific naturalist, calling him a prophet is a good way to piss him off though.

Pissing people off seems to be the name of the game.

[Himster]

As as as they're people (even here) that preaches Atheism then it doesn't matter if they're no prophets or not.

My point is you can't preach atheism, it's not a thing it's a negative position on a single topic like being a non-stamp-collector, there are not doctrines, no code, no unifying ideology of atheism.
There are atheistic ideologies like: humanism, naturalism, buddhism, vedic-hinduism, scientology, animism, nihilism etc.

p/s: Isn't Dawkins a prophet of some sort ?

He's an atheistic scientific naturalist, calling him a prophet is a good way to piss him off though.

[MaximiIian]

There are atheistic ideologies like: humanism, naturalism, buddhism, vedic-hinduism, scientology, animism, nihilism etc.

Notwithstanding the inclusion of Hinduism (which is usually polytheistic) to that, most of those can be atheistic, yes. But it would be a misnomer to say that they all "are" as an absolute statement. Some are by necessity (nihilism, scientology, naturalism). Though some, such as animism, Buddhism, or certain kinds of Humanism, can be combined with theism seamlessly. And historically, they often are.

[A Demented Goldfish]

are you not being a "prophet" claiming your religion [atheism] is the only true belief system? also how can multiple ideas be all true? there cant be more than one truth.

For those who have never herd of Christ look here
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=531534

your name makes the majority of your posts so ironic

[Sir Winston Churchill]

1) EMM is made of users
2) If EMM is at wrong it's fault of the users
3) Most of EMM is Atheist
4) EMM works faulty
5) By blaming the users, the majority to blame, for mathematical reasons, are the atheists here
6) In a debate both sides have burden of proof
7) The only side refusing burden of proof is the atheist side

And that's why.

There is no burden of proof for the belief there is nothing to prove. I say there isn't something. You say there is something. It is your job, your burden of proof, to show me there is something.

Now show me. And while you're at it, answer the original question of this thread and explain why everyone else who tried to show me something is wrong, despite them doing it before, after, or having more or less or different things to show.

[Axeman]

are you not being a "prophet" claiming your religion [atheism] is the only true belief system? also how can multiple ideas be all true? there cant be more than one truth.

For those who have never herd of Christ look here
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=531534

Yes, like unemployment is a job.

Or not playing golf is a sport.

Or similar to how not collecting stamps is a hobby.

Atheism =/= A religion.

[Blaze86420]

Easy, my religion secures me virgins, drinks, and palaces in heaven. None of that reincarnation bullcrap; the last thing I need is another life time on this hellhole as a frog or something.

EDIT: Crappy response befits crappy OP. You pick the religion that you're convinced has the right morals and theology, why do you need someone to explain this to you?

[squirel]

Easy, my religion secures me virgins, drinks, and palaces in heaven. None of that reincarnation bullcrap; the last thing I need is another life time on this hellhole as a frog or something.

EDIT: Crappy response befits crappy OP. You pick the religion that you're convinced has the right morals and theology, why do you need someone to explain this to you?

AND Rome100000 Total War!

[Manco]

Something I've wondered that's somewhat related to this matter:

Why do many theists suddenly argue as if they agree with each other when debating atheists or a question regarding general theism?
After all, while an atheist does not believe in your religion, he usually does not actively deny it and could actually be persuaded given the right evidence. A theist from another religion, or even denomination, on the other hand actively and deliberately holds the opinion that you are completely wrong, and will stay steadfast in it regardless of evidence. He might even believe you're going to suffer for your wrong beliefs.

The more inherently hostile other to any theist isn't an atheist, but a theist following another set of beliefs contradictory to the former one's.