What experience makes you most confident in your religion?

Kevin · #1 06-05-2004, 02:15 PM

For me, it was reading through parts (no, I didn't read the whole 26 volumes) of St. Thomas Aquinas' Summa Theologica. Aquinas (a monk) wrote these things in the 1200's. He applied Aristotelean logic to the Catholic faith. It's the only time that I've EVER seen a faith try to prove itself logically. Some of the stuff is questionable. He does have some very solid arguments for his faith, however, such as his 3 proofs that God exists. Most religions to me seem to be basically faith alone. It's very comforting to me that my chosen religion has also employed sound logical reasoning in what it teaches.

Here's a link that goes into detail on it...

http://www.harvestfields.netfirms.com/etexts/52/06.htm

What led you all to choose your religion?

James · #2 06-05-2004, 09:59 PM

When God came down and told me I was always right but would be misunderstood.

DZHBrown · #3 06-05-2004, 10:04 PM

I've always relied on faith. I guess faith and The Bible were enough proof for me. However, there were two instances that strengthened my beliefs/faith. When I was 19, I was diagnosed with a pituitary tumor. The ordeal itself, the surgery, recovery, etc. strengthened my relationship with God. I can't really pinpoint why or how, it just did.
My last year of college, I had a lot of stomach problems. After various tests, I was told that there was no doubt that I had Crohn's Disease and that it would only get worse as it progressed. I had a lot of people praying for me at that time - family members, family members' and friends' churches, friends, etc. I got a second opinion after a couple of months, and he said there was no evidence of Crohn's. I've always felt like prayer and God got me through that, as well.

I guess there have been a variety of events in my life the last few years that I have relied on my faith and God to get me through it, and He has. That makes me pretty confident in my religion.

smiley21 · #4 06-05-2004, 11:06 PM

when i see healings take place before my eyes, i have all the assurance that i need

aurora_borealis · #5 06-05-2004, 11:21 PM

The Martin Luther knew that you didn't need to buy indulgences to get into heaven. God's love is free to anyone who accepts him into their heart and life. He also translated the bible from Latin into German for the everyday person.

That is more a denominational difference than one of religion though.

aephi alum · #6 06-06-2004, 11:31 PM

There is no one experience I can point to and say "This is what led me to become Jewish." Jewish beliefs have always struck a chord with me, even when I was a small child and my parents were doing their level best to mold me into a model Catholic. Among other things, I like the idea of a faith where questions are not only permitted, they are encouraged. (I think I've already posted about how I got kicked out of CCD because I asked a question - a factual question, no less.

)

I hasten to add that I am a Reform Jew. I object most strenuously to the Orthodox treatment of women.

honeychile · #7 06-07-2004, 12:08 AM

I have many testamonies which I could give as "evidence" of my belief that Jesus Christ is my personal Lord & Savior, but I'll just post the one for now.

While skating, I broke my radius (wrist bone). As no one believed me (I have a very high tolerance for pain!), we still "whipped" and did all sorts of stupid things that night. I went to the hospital the next day, and the bone had separated, and not gone back together properly. I wore a splint until I could get it casted, about 3 days later. Many x-rays were taken.

When I was at church, my pastor laid hands on my cast and prayed. Two days later, I had to have my wrist x-rayed again. I got the x-rays, and the doctor looked at them, and said that the tech had sent up the wrong film, there was nothing wrong with my wrist. This happened three times! I finally said, "Do you believe that Jesus is still healing today?" He said to me, very tentatively, "Ye-sss." I said, "My pastor laid hands on me." The doctor took one final look at the x-rays and said, "There is not even a scar where your wrist was broken, and as you can see by the original x-ray, it was almost a surgical case. I have no choice BUT to accept that you were healed!"

I guess you could save that, without my faith in Christ, I am nothing. He is why I am alive.

DeltaSigStan · #8 06-07-2004, 12:55 AM

How ironic. I was recently saved.

I think it's when I found a church that didn't make me feel depressed after leaving it. I had gone to a Catholic church my whole life, and I never really did have any interest into what was going. My parents never put me through CCD, so I became your standard Christmas and Easter (C&E) Catholic.

A family member started going to a Christian church called Shadow Mountain. I finally caved and went on Easter. The Pastor, David Jeremiah, just has a way of explaining the bible so that it can be put to everyday use, and we actually celebrate the Grace of God, instead of making me feel sorry for all of my sins. I actually felt excited about being amongst Christians. So, I enrolled in a Bible Study, and have been going ever since.

I try to keep it out of my normal conversation with my bros, some of whom are HARDCORE atheists.

I guess the best part of going to SMCC is that they don't pressure me or judge me. They made me feel right at home, and I never thought I'd look forward to Sunday morning.

As for my Faith, I made out my own salvation with the Lord, and I'm not going to try to force other people to do something only they can do. I believe in the Tupac phrase "Only God Can Judge Me", so whatever you believe in, that's fine with me.

Last week's sermon was about The Gift of Faith, and how, if your faith and confidence in the Grace of God is completely full, and there is no doubt as to what God can do, then even the impossible can happen. When I heard those words, and listened to some stories regarding it, I was certain of where I stand.

But, I guess for me it's finding Christians who don't force me into a certain train of thought that says your religion says to live your life a certain way.

valkyrie · #9 06-07-2004, 01:09 AM

I can't point to a specific thing that makes me confident in my religion. I suppose that it's really by default -- I couldn't possibly believe anything else and when I think about what I believe without being influenced by anyone or anything else, it ends up being Buddhism.

I've tried to believe in God, but I just don't. The only thing that makes sense to me is karma -- actions create a cause and effect in the universe and result in consequences. It has nothing to do with good or bad or being punished or being rewarded -- it just is.

DeltaSigStan · #10 06-07-2004, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by valkyrie

I've tried to believe in God, but I just don't. The only thing that makes sense to me is karma -- actions create a cause and effect in the universe and result in consequences. It has nothing to do with good or bad or being punished or being rewarded -- it just is.

I co-sign. I see it this way, quoting a genius:

"I believe everything you do bad comes back to you. So everything I do bad, I'm going to suffer for it. But in my heart, I believe what I'm doing is right. So I feel like I'm going to Heaven."

So, a twist on your belief, but sorta similar....