Conversion

[Minority Observer84]

This is an open question to anyone tempted to answer .
If your a theist I would like to know what it would take for you to leave you faith , what proof , evidence .................?
If your an Atheist I would like to know what would make you convert to any given religion ?
If your agnostic what would it take to bring you down on one side or another ?

 

[china]

Buddha entered a village. A man asked him as he was entering the village, "Does God exist?"He said, "No, absolutely no."In the afternoon another man came and he asked, "Does God exist?"And he said, "Yes, absolutely yes."
In the evening a third man came and he asked, "Does God exist?"
Buddha closed his eyes and remained utterly silent. The man also closed his eyes. Something transpired in that silence. After a few minutes the man touched Buddha's feet, bowed down, paid his respects and said, "You are the first man who has answered my question."Now, Buddha's attendant, Ananda, was very much puzzled: "In the morning he said no, in the afternoon he said yes, in the evening he did not answer at all. What is the matter? What is really the truth?So when Buddha was going to sleep, Ananda said, "First you answer me; otherwise I will not be able to sleep. You have to be a little more compassionate towards me too. I have been with you the whole day. Those three people don't know about the other answers, but I have heard all the three answers. What about me? I am troubled."Buddha said, "I was not talking to you at all! You had not asked, I had not answered YOU. The first man who came was a theist, the second man who came was an atheist, the third man who came was an agnostic. My answer had nothing to do with God, my answer had something to do with the questioner. I was answering the questioner; it was absolutely unconcerned with God."The person who believes in God, I will say no to him because I want him to drop his idea of God, I want him to be free of his idea of God -- which is borrowed. He has not experienced. If he had experienced he would not have asked me; there would have been no need."The person who believed in God, he was trying to find confirmation for his belief from me. I was not going to say yes to him -- I am not going to confirm anybody's belief. I had to say no, I had to deny, just to destroy his belief, because all beliefs are barriers to knowing the truth. Theist or atheist, all beliefs, Hindu or Christian or Mohammedan, all beliefs are barriers."And the person with whom I remained silent was the right inquirer. He had no belief, hence there was no question of destroying anything. I kept silent. That was my message to him: Be silent and know. Don't ask, there is no need to ask. It is not a question which can be answered. It is not an inquiry but a quest, a thirst. Be silent and know. I had answered him also; through my silence I gave him the message and he immediately followed it -- he also became silent. I closed my eyes, he closed his eyes; I looked in, he looked in, and then something transpired. That's why he was so much overwhelmed, he felt so much gratitude, for the simple reason that I did not give him any intellectual answer. He had not come for any intellectual answer; intellectual answers are available very cheap. He needed something existential -- he needed a taste. I gave him a taste.

 

[karrie]

This is an open question to anyone tempted to answer .
If your a theist I would like to know what it would take for you to leave you faith , what proof , evidence .................?

Death. I won't stop questioning, nor will I be given any truly solid answer, until the day I die.

 

[missile]

A nice healthy bribe and I'd change in a minute[as long as it didn't entail circumsision]

 

[Impetus]

As an agnostic, I like to believe that there is a truth of some sort out there.
In my opinion, no one on earth is qualified to say their way is "God's" way and everyone else is wrong and possibly hell-bound.

I was raised Catholic, became an atheist in my youth, then decided there could be some "supreme being(s)" that might explain the wonders of the universe so I adjusted my beliefs to agnostic.

In my opinion, atheism is as arrogant a position as fundamentalism. Who in the world really knows either way?

Muz

This is an open question to anyone tempted to answer .
If your a theist I would like to know what it would take for you to leave you faith , what proof , evidence .................?
If your an Atheist I would like to know what would make you convert to any given religion ?
If your agnostic what would it take to bring you down on one side or another ?

 

[hermanntrude]

I'm a sit-on-the-fencer. I don't know if the truth is knowable or not.

If, however, Jesus were to come back and do some tricks like he did in the bible, it'd make it a bit easier to believe him.

 

[Impetus]

Wow, I read this after my repsonse...honest!
Looks like Budda and I concur. Actually, the "Religious Compass" placed me as a Buddist...

Muz

Buddha entered a village. A man asked him as he was entering the village, "Does God exist?"He said, "No, absolutely no."In the afternoon another man came and he asked, "Does God exist?"And he said, "Yes, absolutely yes."
In the evening a third man came and he asked, "Does God exist?"
Buddha closed his eyes and remained utterly silent. The man also closed his eyes. Something transpired in that silence. After a few minutes the man touched Buddha's feet, bowed down, paid his respects and said, "You are the first man who has answered my question."Now, Buddha's attendant, Ananda, was very much puzzled: "In the morning he said no, in the afternoon he said yes, in the evening he did not answer at all. What is the matter? What is really the truth?So when Buddha was going to sleep, Ananda said, "First you answer me; otherwise I will not be able to sleep. You have to be a little more compassionate towards me too. I have been with you the whole day. Those three people don't know about the other answers, but I have heard all the three answers. What about me? I am troubled."Buddha said, "I was not talking to you at all! You had not asked, I had not answered YOU. The first man who came was a theist, the second man who came was an atheist, the third man who came was an agnostic. My answer had nothing to do with God, my answer had something to do with the questioner. I was answering the questioner; it was absolutely unconcerned with God."The person who believes in God, I will say no to him because I want him to drop his idea of God, I want him to be free of his idea of God -- which is borrowed. He has not experienced. If he had experienced he would not have asked me; there would have been no need."The person who believed in God, he was trying to find confirmation for his belief from me. I was not going to say yes to him -- I am not going to confirm anybody's belief. I had to say no, I had to deny, just to destroy his belief, because all beliefs are barriers to knowing the truth. Theist or atheist, all beliefs, Hindu or Christian or Mohammedan, all beliefs are barriers."And the person with whom I remained silent was the right inquirer. He had no belief, hence there was no question of destroying anything. I kept silent. That was my message to him: Be silent and know. Don't ask, there is no need to ask. It is not a question which can be answered. It is not an inquiry but a quest, a thirst. Be silent and know. I had answered him also; through my silence I gave him the message and he immediately followed it -- he also became silent. I closed my eyes, he closed his eyes; I looked in, he looked in, and then something transpired. That's why he was so much overwhelmed, he felt so much gratitude, for the simple reason that I did not give him any intellectual answer. He had not come for any intellectual answer; intellectual answers are available very cheap. He needed something existential -- he needed a taste. I gave him a taste.

 

[tamarin]

I should think most people during the passage of a life will have a few supernatural or extrasensory experiences that will tell them there is more to this world than what we know. Something larger, more powerful and far more intelligent. Whether that's God or some remarkable substitute will have to be the question then for each individual. If you haven't had such an experience then maybe you're not paying attention.

 

[Vereya]

I actually did change my religion. I was baptized when I was one year old, so I used to be a Christian for most of my life, but then I changed my religion and now I am Pagan. And I can say from experience that a change of religion is a very serious thing. Whether we want it or not, the rules and dogmas of a religion we are in define our lives, regardless of whether we take the religion seriously, or hardly ever think about it. So when you change one set of rules for another, it can't but change your life in a real big way.
I changed my religion at a certain very difficult period of my life, when I was forced by circumstances to do some very serious thinking, and to re-evaluate lots of things I used to take for granted. What actually made me change my religion was the fact that Christianity as a religion doesn't answer a single serious question, and forbids all kind of cognition and self-knowledge, and doesn't allow any spiritual development.
Being a Pagan is sometimes a little hard. When I read things like "Paganism is mostly about narcissistic pleasures", they make me laugh. Paganism, or at least the cult I am in, is about responsibility for your actions that you take upon yourself. We do not have a comfortable excuse of being tempted by the "Evil One" into doing something wrong. If we do something wrong, it is we who do a wrong thing, not some evil supernatural power that is acting through us. Paganism is about observing the laws of this Universe, observing the reason and cause relationship. It's not like you do something wrong, then you go and repent, say that you are sorry, and everything's all right. Every action has its consequences. If you do a good and right action, you get good and right consequences, if you do something wrong or bad, you get unpleasant consequences, no matter how much you repent. Just because it is the way it is. So the thing is to do what is right in a situation, and it is not always easy, as your wishes and desires might lie in an opposite direction, and very often you have to do the opposite to what you want to. And it is hard, even though you know that it will be amply rewarded. Actually, today I did something it was better not to have done. 8O It was nothing serious, but I really shouldn't have done, and I knew it, but did it anyway. It was my choice and my decision, and I am prepared to face some small unpleasantness that is sure to follow.
But however hard it might be sometimes, it is definitely worth it. The way my life's changed in the last three years is simply incredible. I could have never thought it possible. And I became a totally different person, discovered a lot of interesting and exciting things I never knew before. So I am really glad that I was clever enough to see the right way and to do what I did.

 

[Segnale007]

I'm of Christian religion because when to the my birth, my father and my mother baptized me . Now I've 20 years old, and I don't believe at all religions, because all religions is everything speculation of moneis, and, I believe that we are all equal, and does not exist nobody god or jesus or something there .. I think that it is speculation of moneis and illusion only .. ( sorry my bad language ) I think so ..

 

[Unforgiven]

There are takers and leavers. A leaver will leave things up to god or some "force" to sort out in it's infinate wisdom and all will be as it should.

Takers will take matters into their own hands and sort them out themselves so that they return with the outcome they choose or expect.

To switch from present position would depend on the state of need and the prospect of outcome.

 

[Minority Observer84]

I'm of Christian religion because when to the my birth, my father and my mother baptized me . Now I've 20 years old, and I don't believe at all religions, because all religions is everything speculation of moneis, and, I believe that we are all equal, and does not exist nobody god or jesus or something there .. I think that it is speculation of moneis and illusion only .. ( sorry my bad language ) I think so ..

I'am Glad you were strong enough to overcome your religious indoctrination , I know how hard it must have been for you it took me years but rationality and reason won over in the end . :smile:

 

[Minority Observer84]

There are takers and leavers. A leaver will leave things up to god or some "force" to sort out in it's infinate wisdom and all will be as it should.

Takers will take matters into their own hands and sort them out themselves so that they return with the outcome they choose or expect.

To switch from present position would depend on the state of need and the prospect of outcome.

Yeah But this not about other people , it's about you personally what side of the Atheist / Theist divide do you fall under and what would it take for you to change your mind .

 

[look3467]

This is an open question to anyone tempted to answer .
If your a theist I would like to know what it would take for you to leave you faith , what proof , evidence .................?
If your an Atheist I would like to know what would make you convert to any given religion ?
If your agnostic what would it take to bring you down on one side or another ?

I have and will never leave the faith I have in God. I did leave the catholic Church, raised in the Baptist Church, attended different churches: 7th day Adventist, Mormon, Jehovah's witnesses, Apostolic, Assemblies of God, and many different non-denominational churches.
So I have a very well rounded feel for the atmosphere surrounding the religious folk and the operation of God in all of them.
I am well versed in the entirety of the bible, for I have read it many times over in my quest for truth.

I can fully understand the attitudes of those who have left the religious world and have found what they deem good for themselves.

To leave my faith as I have tasted of in a true experience, is never.
My understanding of Gods works solidifies my faith in concrete.

I will tell you that I have learned quite ab-it by all my experiences in life, yet never had I had the slightest intention of not having faith in God.

My maturity of faith is to accept all Gods creatures regardless of their beliefs.
And that I do.
But at the same time, if I can throw in my two cents worth in favor of my God, well, you know the answer to that.

Peace>>>AJ

 

[gopher]

I'll convert to any religion that will find me a wealthy wife.

 

[Dreadful Nonsense]

Buddha entered a village. A man asked him as he was entering the village, "Does God exist?"He said, "No, absolutely no."In the afternoon another man came and he asked, "Does God exist?"And he said, "Yes, absolutely yes."
In the evening a third man came and he asked, "Does God exist?"
Buddha closed his eyes and remained utterly silent. The man also closed his eyes. Something transpired in that silence. After a few minutes the man touched Buddha's feet, bowed down, paid his respects and said, "You are the first man who has answered my question."Now, Buddha's attendant, Ananda, was very much puzzled: "In the morning he said no, in the afternoon he said yes, in the evening he did not answer at all. What is the matter? What is really the truth?So when Buddha was going to sleep, Ananda said, "First you answer me; otherwise I will not be able to sleep. You have to be a little more compassionate towards me too. I have been with you the whole day. Those three people don't know about the other answers, but I have heard all the three answers. What about me? I am troubled."Buddha said, "I was not talking to you at all! You had not asked, I had not answered YOU. The first man who came was a theist, the second man who came was an atheist, the third man who came was an agnostic. My answer had nothing to do with God, my answer had something to do with the questioner. I was answering the questioner; it was absolutely unconcerned with God."The person who believes in God, I will say no to him because I want him to drop his idea of God, I want him to be free of his idea of God -- which is borrowed. He has not experienced. If he had experienced he would not have asked me; there would have been no need."The person who believed in God, he was trying to find confirmation for his belief from me. I was not going to say yes to him -- I am not going to confirm anybody's belief. I had to say no, I had to deny, just to destroy his belief, because all beliefs are barriers to knowing the truth. Theist or atheist, all beliefs, Hindu or Christian or Mohammedan, all beliefs are barriers."And the person with whom I remained silent was the right inquirer. He had no belief, hence there was no question of destroying anything. I kept silent. That was my message to him: Be silent and know. Don't ask, there is no need to ask. It is not a question which can be answered. It is not an inquiry but a quest, a thirst. Be silent and know. I had answered him also; through my silence I gave him the message and he immediately followed it -- he also became silent. I closed my eyes, he closed his eyes; I looked in, he looked in, and then something transpired. That's why he was so much overwhelmed, he felt so much gratitude, for the simple reason that I did not give him any intellectual answer. He had not come for any intellectual answer; intellectual answers are available very cheap. He needed something existential -- he needed a taste. I gave him a taste.

there is absolutly no text of Buddha ever commenting on God the creator anywhere anytime.....where ever did you get this piece of misinformation ....What Sutra is it from?

 

[55Mercury]

isn't it bad enough that there are Christians pointing fingers at each other saying "you're not a Christian because..."? And now we have self appointed Buddhists doing it too?

It seems to me the common flaw to any religion is ... people!

Elevate yourselves above and beyond the human pettyness to get the message of Life.

Animals aren't petty. They get it.

 

[Dreadful Nonsense]

isn't it bad enough that there are Christians pointing fingers at each other saying "you're not a Christian because..."? And now we have self appointed Buddhists doing it too?

It seems to me the common flaw to any religion is ... people!

Elevate yourselves above and beyond the human pettyness to get the message of Life.

Animals aren't petty. They get it.

well yer scraping the bottom of the troll barrel here.....back on the stale cookies and back wash beer are we?

Buddha specifically avoided commenting on God the creator in a God the creator land/country where everyone believed in such.....there was a reason...


HG , lame exuse to make a drivelly point.....

 

[smilingfish]

a gun pointing to my head would turn me into a religious person, not a real one though.

Religions separate people. Take a look at India and Pakistan, and the former Yugoslavia.

 

[Dexter Sinister]

In my opinion, atheism is as arrogant a position as fundamentalism. Who in the world really knows either way?

You're misrepresenting atheism a little, I think. There are a few who'll categorically state that they believe there is no god, but the more common position, and my own, is that they do not believe there is one. It's a lack of belief in god's presence, not a positive belief in his absence. Personally, I think the agnostic position on this issue is usually pretty lame. Agnosticism on some issues is perfectly legitimate, such as in cases where we know there is a definitive answer to a question but we don't know what it is yet. Extraterrestrial life is a good example: either it does or doesn't exist, we don't know which yet but the question is ultimately answerable, at least in principle, so the agnostic position works for that one. That's what Richard Dawkins calls, with approval, Temporary Agnosticism in Practice. He also identifies what he calls Permanent Agnosticism in Principle, for questions that can never be answered no matter how much evidence we have because the idea of evidence isn't applicable to them. That's the usual position of religious agnostics. Dawkins argues, as would I, that the question of god's existence belongs in the Temporary Agnosticism in Practice category. Either god exists or he doesn't, and it's a legitimate scientific question because a universe with a god in it ought to be detectably different from one without. We don't yet have the evidence to provide a definitive answer, but the question ought to be answerable, and in the meantime we can use the evidence we have to shade the probabilities, which come down pretty clearly against god's existence at the moment. It's possible we don't properly understand the evidence we do have and have thus shaded the probabilities all wrongly, so in that sense you're right that atheism is as arrogant as fundamentalism, if by that you mean atheism in the sense of a positive belief in god's absence, not a lack of belief in his presence.

Bit of a digression, but nobody who knows me will be surprised by it. What would it take to make a believer out of me? A single, well-attested, incontrovertible miracle, an event that admits of no other possible explanation but divine intervention in the normal order of things. It would have to be something pretty dramatic, like a big finger appearing in the sky pointing at me, witnessed by thousands of sober and reliable people, who also hear a booming voice intoning "You're wro o o o n n n n g g g!" I know that sounds flippant, but that's the scale of event it would take. Another example: a nearby supernova whose radiation would destroy all life on earth, but Jupiter moves into position and stays there, in defiance of everything we understand about orbital mechanics, to shade the earth from it.

In the last year of her life I made a deal with my mother. She was a deeply committed Christian believer and knew she didn't have much time left on this earth (she was 84 and visibly failing) and she agreed that after her death she would show me the correctness of her view of things by manifesting herself to me in a way that could not possibly be misinterpreted or explained any other way but as a miraculous suspension of the rules of nature as I understand them. She was absolutely certain she could do it, I was equally certain she could not, she knew it and also knew she'd have to punch through my deep skepticism and all my understanding of how easy it is to fool yourself into believing things you want to believe that aren't actually true. She died 16 January 2005. She has not reappeared in any manner, not even as something I could explain away as a grief-induced hallucination. There's been nothing. That doesn't definitively mean she was wrong, or that I was right, but it does shade the probabilities in my favour.