Billions of people are delusional?

Question

There are many debates about which religion is right, or if all religions are wrong... but I think one thing is clear, they cannot all be right. Many of them describe the properties of their god, and go into detail about the purpose of mankind and what people should do with their lives... and then finish things off with what happens after you die.

Because the world's religions are mutually exclusive... that means that no matter what is true, billions of people are wrong, and thus billions of people are entirely delusional as they believe they're talking with their god and that god is interacting in their lives...

So... could you be one of those billions?... or are you sure that your religious emotions and convictions could not possibly be like those others who follow nasty false religions?

Answer 1

Not all of the world's religions are mutually exclusive.  However, I also wonder about those religions that do claim exclusivity, how they can posit a infinite deity who is only approachable through one singular correct doctrine.  Maybe it is exactly this Koan-like paradox that allows almost all religions to produce some few exceptional souls.

More likely, it's the emotional elevation thingee that Citizen of Cosmos said.  Citizen gives great answers!

Answer 2

If this doesn't make them think, nothing will.

Answer 3

Now look what you have done. The only way to be sure that their belief is in the one true god is for them to go out and convince a few others to join their particular cult.

Answer 4

Religions are methods of inducing emotions of elevation.  Everyone is different, and so the methods of induction will necessarily be different.  That is how religious stories can contradict and yet be equally effective.

Answer 5

Pfft, no religion gets it completely right. It's always a jump of blind faith... some moreso than others (see: Christianity V. Buddhism)  

Answer 6

You are very correct, they cannot all be right.  As a Christian, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, my Lord, Savior, and King. Whether or not anyone agrees with me really doesn't matter. They can continue as they see fit. My commission is not to "persuade" anyone to believe as I do but only to preach the Gospel to the world. They make up there own mind whether or not to believe it.  

Answer 7

Not only do billions end up wrong, but going by the religious person's claim of "how can so many be wrong if they all believe"...if billions outside a single religion are wrong, then those billions believe the religion in question is wrong, and if they many believe it's wrong... Hmm...

Answer 8

As for inventing God to meet our desires, maybe this is precisely backwards. Perhaps the reason humans have desires is because something / someone exists that will satisfy them? C.S. Lewis beautifully articulates this point, “Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists. A baby feels hunger: well, there is such a thing as food. A duckling wants to swim: well there is such a thing as water. Men feel sexual desire: well, there is such a thing as s*x. If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. Probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it, but only arouse it, to suggest the real thing.”

Answer 9

I know I'm not, I'm an atheist.

Answer 10

In the Bible it warns us that we rnt 2 trust humans, not even ourselves (Jer 10:2-5,23; Is 2:22; Job 12:11; Prov 14:12; Acts 17:11). So carefully think over what I say. Dont just believe or disregard what I write. It might save u from making the same mistakes many have made, getting caught up in religious beliefs that have nothing 2 do with finding & knowing God.

I started with a desire 2 know our real God (if there was 1), backing up & taking a long look @ various religions 2 see what religion if any actually knew God. Early on I realized that a label, title, name, its history, its claims, the number of people under these words nor the amount of time it existed means anything in & of itself. Its what is behind their usage & practices that makes their beliefs legitimate or a big lie.

Early in my research I discovered something that many miss:  Jesus is the only 1 in history that stated that no1 can find our real God except thru Jesus (Jn 14:6; 5:39; 10:1,7; Acts 4:11). This means "the" truth was complete & there4 finished thru what Jesus taught & did. So, any so-called new teaching & any other religious beliefs r null & void & cant lead u 2 God. The truth is either the whole truth or it isnt the truth. The truth is the absence of any lie. Either Jesus told the whole truth or He's a false prophet, among many, whom should be disregarded. This would also mean that God must not exist either (He either knows what He's doing or He cant be God).

Since Jesus is the only way 2 know God, it means "the" whole truth was complete & finished thru Jesus' teaching. So any claimed new teaching & any other religious beliefs or from self-proclaimed prophets & teachers r null & void & have no purpose 4 finding God. God always knew all Jesus was 2 speak & do.

In fact, Jesus couldnt have done nor said all He did unless He had full knowledge & understanding of the entire OT (the NT didnt exist in Jesus' time - the only way Jesus could've known the whole OT is if God's with Him) & the Apostles couldnt remember & write whats in the NT unless Jesus made them remember His purpose (Lk 24:25-27,45). Only an incredibly Intelligent Being could make it happen.

But God outsmarted man - the Bible is the only 1 that cant be properly understood without Jesus (Jn 14:6; II Cor 3:14 - If the Jewish people cant pierce the veil over the OT without Jesus then for sure all gentiles cant). Thats why theres many interpretations & many thinking its fairytales.

Whoever seeks Jesus with all his heart & soul will find our real God & His Kingdom (u shall know the truth & itll set u free). But, why should God want u 2 live with Him forever if u dont want 2 know Him (reason 4 free will - Jn 1:12-13)?

voyc4rmwldrns

Answer 11

There is always one undeniable truth, and no matter what our differences are, there is a way to find a common thread, whether we are talking about religious or cultural differences.

That truth is that we are all born into this world alone (no one else can be me) and we all die alone (no one can die for me).

Answer 12

Let's put an end to the religious debate and combine the worlds religions into ONE BIG FAITH ;-) that way, one faith can make everyone happy in a big global way

Answer 13

And of those billions, many are closet atheists.

Answer 14

Pretty much most people in this world are and many of them think the universe was created like this .

http://lizardofahaz.multiply.com/video/i...

Answer 15

well, since im a christian, i would say that the religon that i follow is true, i mean look at the bible! this God that i follow has too many things that i cant ignore!! i mean look around you! do you think that all this was just nothing and randomly expolded out of nowhere? that doesnt make sense! if that happened, what purpose would we have in life? with christianity, we have a purpose!! to serve our god and and to show others how our savior- the Lord Jesus Christ - and to tell them the good news that there is someone who saved us from our sins and being thrown in h**l...Jesus died for you and for me on the cross, do you know how gruesome dying on a cross after living a perfect life and having everyone condemn you for something you never did?? thats how He felt!! but He did it because He loved you that much that He was willing to sacrifice Himself!! and then He rose again and Hes gonna come back for all who follow Him and love Him and share the good news with everyone!! but thats what i think about the "delusional" issue...

Answer 16

I know the Lord's love for me is steadfast, and that my feet are planted firmly upon His rock that is my salvation in Christ Jesus.

How about you?

Answer 17

Nobody knows if any religions are wrong or any are right, it's all just faith. Man kind cannot decide for himself what religion is and what the boundaries of religion are because we can only interpret what has been said already. In the end the only ones who really lose out are the atheist.  

Answer 18

I have faith I am not wrong. I believe in His Word, I believe Jesus came to Earth to save us from sin, and let us go to heaven. I am non-denominational.

I believe God's plan is too big for me to truly see.

"Nothing's final 'til you're dead, and even then I'm SURE God negotiates" movie trivia, what's that from ? :)

Answer 19

Yes, there are billions who are into false religions.  There is a truth and a God.  Jesus is alive and he is the Way, the Truth and the life.  The others have been led astray by evil spirits.

Christians have the witness of the Holy Spirit.  The others don't.

Answer 20

Have you ever stood and starred at it? Marveled at it's beauty? Billions of people just living out their lives, oblivious.

Answer 21

"There are many debates about which religion is right, or if all religions are wrong... but I think one thing is clear, they cannot all be right."

>>Yes, I agree.

"Because the world's religions are mutually exclusive... that means that no matter what is true, billions of people are wrong, and thus billions of people are entirely delusional as they believe they're talking with their god and that god is interacting in their lives..."

>>Yes, I agree.

"So... could you be one of those billions?"

>>I doubt it...I'm agnostic.

"or are you sure that your religious emotions and convictions could not possibly be like those others who follow nasty false religions?"

>>I only get emotional about those who try to mix their religion and science or their religion and politics.

Answer 22

All religions have one common source.....human imagination.

Answer 23

I'm not sure if delusion is the right word.

I'm sure a lot of religions are more to do than culture and interacting with one another than with literal belief in supernatural mumbo-jumbo. For every Christian preaching on a street corner about "judgment day" I'm sure you can find one who takes the stories as metaphors and doesn't follow the insane rules of the Old Testament. You know the type, the soccer mom who goes to church for the bake sales or to chat with friends about the upcoming PTA meeting.

Perhaps the more fanatical, literal believers are delusional. I've seen them and they are frightening - the ones who want a theocracy or calliphate, the types who would die for their belief in a deity and believe He interacts with every tiny bit of their lives.

The "delusional" fanatics are probably a minority. The rest of the believers are ordinary people who suspend their disbelief and give into a religion because they like the emotional reward, kind of like when I suspend my disbelief to enjoy a good horror movie. :)