I've been having a religious dilemma lately

You see I am Protestant Christian right now, and I've been havin some issues lately and I wonder if y'all could clear some of em up for me. For awhile I was really contemplating Islam because it came after christianity and had many similar beliefs and some intriguing new ones like. But then I realized that didn't all these religions steal their beliefs? Islam has beliefs from Christianity, Christianity from Judaism. Then you go even further back and Zoroaster had key elements that'd be in Judaism. Hell I've even looked into the Ba-Hai faith and was interested but all this is confusing me. I know there is some divine being or a God, but I don't know whether I can believe there is a Christ, if anyone can help me please do.

 

I'm also in a bit of a dilemma with my spiritual path at the moment and seem to be at a bit of a crossroads myself.

But what I can decipher from what you are saying is that you are seeing the similarities in all religions and paths. That's definietly a good thing.

In my opinion; All the great spiritual paths essentially lead to the same realisations about life, they lead to truth.
It's like each religion or path is a 'package' to help get you there. You just need to work out which package works best for you and you feel most comfortable in. Just do what feels right.

 

No one can choose your path for yourself.

To say that the Abrahamic faiths "stole" from each other I think is wrong. They are each trying to define (an impossible task) God.

The Bah'ai is a little different because it could be argued that the God is the abrahamic God because they believe in the manifestations of Gaod are what others woudl call prophets, but because it also included Krsna and others, it is a little different.

Yes, Zoroastrianism can be called a predecessor to the Abrahmaic faiths for their idea of monotheism and the dualistic entities in the Abrahamic faiths as God and Satan (I can't quite rememebr what the two entities are according to Zoraster, but aren't they sort of like brothers or somehtign...i can't really remember)

Feel free to correct me on anything...

 

Hi Ozone
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They aren't stealing, Why there are smilarities, Very simple, that because all prophets' source of their teachings , information and knowledge was one, from God almighty,
John12.49:For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
John 14.24:… the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
Allah stated: Quraan: nor does he (Muhammad) speak of his own desire, it is only a revelation revealed. He has been taught by one mighty in power.
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There are so many similar teachings between Islam, Christianity and Judaism Click some teachings in the Quraan were already existed before the Quraan ​

We Muslims believe that neither Muhammad (peace be upon him) nor Jesus (peace be upon him) came to change the basic doctrine of the belief in one God, brought by earlier prophets,​

Qur'aan: 42:13:He (Allah) has ordained for you the same religion (Islamic Monotheism) which he ordained for Noah, and that which we have revealed to you (O Muhammad) and that which we ordained for Abraham, Moses and Jesus saying you should establish religion (i.e. to do what it orders you to do practically)​

but rather to confirm it and renew it. Briefly Jesus and Muhammad (pbut) are Allah's Prophets came for one main message 'the belief in one God'. ​

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10:37: And this Quraan is not such as could ever be produced by other than Allah (Lord of the heavens and the earth) but it is a confirmation of (revelation) which was before it [i.e. the Torah and the Gospel]​

John 4.21-34: (Jesus) saith unto her,Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Fatherè (see he said father not the son and the Holy Spirit, he only mentioned the father!-We Mulslim only worship the Father ). ​

Jesus said: "And this is eternal life, that they may know Theeè (the father) the only true God" (John 17:3) ​

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Allah stated in Quraan:2:136: say (O Muslims), '' we believe in Allah and that which has been sent down to us and that which has been sent down to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and to [the offspring of the twelve sons of Jacob] and that which has been given to Moses (i.e.Torah) and Jesus (i.e. Gospel), and that which has been given to the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to him we have submitted (in Islam).''​

Accordingly, Jesus and Moses are prophets of Allah and the Gospel and the Torah have been revealed to them from Allah. What happened was that all of these prophets (before Muhammad) were not well received by the majority of the people, for instance they started tampering with the teachings of Moses and Jesus peace be upon them, corrupting the Word of God,
That is why Allah has sent Muhammad with the last Message (i.e. the Quraan) to bring all of mankind back to the true belief and to worship one God, without partners or intermediaries.And He promised to guard His last Message from corruption.​

Examples:​

[NIV]Matthew: 15: 3:​

And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? … 6: … Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition....9:...their teaching are but rules taught by men.​

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Jeremiah 8. 4-8… declares the LORD Almighty.' 4 "Say to them, 'This is what the LORD says:" 'When men fall down, do they not get up? When a man turns away, does he not return? 5 Why then have these people turned away? Why does Jerusalem always turn away? They cling to deceit; they refuse to return.6 I have listened attentively, but they do not say what is right. No one repents of his wickedness, saying, "What have I done?" Each pursues his own course like a horse charging into battle. 7 Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration. But my people do not know the requirements of the LORD. 8 " 'How can you say, "We are wise, for we have the law of the LORD," when actually the lying pen of the scribes has handled it falsely?9 The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the LORD, what kind of wisdom do they have?​

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Jeremiah6. 10:To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? ​

Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the LORD is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.​

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Jeremiah14. 14 Then the LORD said to me, "The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds. 15 Therefore, this is what the LORD says about the prophets who are prophesying in my name: I did not send them​

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Jeremiah23.36 But you must not mention 'the oracle of the LORD ' again, because every man's own word becomes his oracle and so you distort the words of the living God, the LORD Almighty, our God.​

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Quraan: 2:85: … Then do you believe in a part of the Scripture and reject the rest?​

Quraan:… inspite of the fact that a party of them used to hear the Word of Allah, then they used to change it knowingly after they understood it?...Know they not that Allah knows what they conceal and what they reveal, … then woe to those who write the Book with their own hands and then say, this is from Allah, … Woe to them for what their hands have written…​

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Accordingly, Allah told us that the Torah and the gospel have been corrupted; therefor Allah has sent Muhammad with the last Message (i.e. the Quraan) Quraan: 15:9: Verily, We , it is We who have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. Quraan) and surely I will guard it (from corruption).​

For Muslims the Qur’an is the last but not the only holy book revealed by Allah to mankind through His messengers. It is, however, the only holy book which remained intact from the time of its revelation until the present time. No addition, deletion, or interpolation found its way into the Qur’an.​

Quraan: 27:76: Verily, this Quraan narrates to the Children of Israel most of that in which they differ.​

Matthew; 21: 43: Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.​

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*Peace and love*
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Yours Sincerely,
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Cat Stevens
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Ozone​

Yes, Surely There IS God ​

Of Course, Christ is real and he will return, why these doubts i.e. what makes you doubt it?​

*Peace and love*
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Yours Sincerely,
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Cat Stevens
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Hell, just go back to the pre-historic pagan beliefs both of them took most of their concepts from
In all seriousness, although plenty of folks here could probably clear a lot of things up for you - finding you spiritual path is a journey best set upon alone. A bit of help here and there is a good thing, but it'll be all the more fulfilling when you figure out the intricacies of a given faith on your own.

 

What is wrong with doubt? Can't a doubt in turn make faith stronger once it is resolved?

 

Tons of great questions. There's nothing wrong with doubt like Burbot said. Could you tell us your core thoughts on some hot topics? That probably could help a lot of people point you in the right direction.

 

Burbot​

! I was wondering and wanted to know, that's it ​

*Peace and love*
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Yours Sincerely,
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Cat Stevens
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Ohhhh, okay. I get ya now.

Like if he had said "I feel dissolusioned with organized religion" and that is why he doubts then you/us can give him advice accordingly...

 

Probably He read something or heard something which made him doubt! ​

*Peace and love*
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Yours Sincerely,
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Cat Stevens​

 

I dont think any1 said anything about it being wrong. What the guy was asking is, what makes ozone doubt the existence of jesus??
now do you understand my friend or do I have to explain it another time for you?

 

In this world what you believe becomes true, what you doubt becomes untrue. The truth is that nobody really knows the truth and your dilemma is the reason religions are made and followed in the first place. Trust me, theres a lot of empathy out there for your situation.

 

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Exactly ​

*Peace and love*
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Yours Sincerely,
​

Cat Stevens​

 

Some times we can reach the truth after having doubts, because doubts make you search to know the truth ​

Not for everything, I mean we can know the ultimate truth regarding many things.​

*Peace and love*
​

Yours Sincerely,
​

Cat Stevens​

 

What you said can be interpreted so many different ways (but then again, so can what I said... everything is left up to interpretation). I guess its all about whatever brings you peace and you know you've found the truth once you've reached peace because ONLY truth can bring you peace.

 

The truth is one, i.e. Christianns say if you want to be saved you should believe that Jesus (pbuh) died for you on the cross, Muslims, Jews hindus etc have other opinions! who is saying the truth! you can find Christians say that christianity brought them peace and so Muslims, hindus etc! Plus people can have their own definition for Peace!! my point is when you feel peace it doesn't mean you got the truth (at least regarding religions, whether it is the true one or not).​

*Peace and love*
​

Yours Sincerely,
​

Cat Stevens​

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If you READ my subsequent post you would have realized i got that 13 hours ago...

 

Just because people SAY they have peace, doesn't mean they do. They might consider peace "knowing" that they will not burn in hell when they die. I'm talking about the real thing, like absolute presence in the moment.

 

moonlightdelerium​

yep, Exactly, that was my point.​

*Peace and love*
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Yours Sincerely,
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Cat Stevens​