How do you decide what to believe?
 

Do you believe what makes sense to you? Do you believe what certain people you trust tell you to believe? Do you believe what makes you feel good? Do you believe what you see?

Re: How do you decide what to believe?
 

These questions were inspired, if you're wondering, by, among other things, the Universal Reconciliation debate. Does UR make more sense to some people than eternal torment?

Whenever I point out that something doesn't make sense, it is often pointed out to me that God's ways are not our ways. In other words, God doesn't have to make sense to us.

Does that make sense?

:D

Re: How do you decide what to believe?
 

I believe whatever my Truthometer 1000 tells me. Sometimes it leads me to believe what makes sense and sometimes what trustworthy people tell me and sometimes what feels good and sometimes what I see. It's been known to be wrong before though. However, my Truthometer 1000 comes with a self correction feature so that even when its wrong it eventually will correct itself and lead me to believe the truth given enough time. However, I'm unsure that there is enough time in my lifetime for my Truthometer 1000 to correct all its mistakes. So, I just trust that it'll lead me to be closer to the truth instead of further away from it when all is said and done ;)

Re: How do you decide what to believe?
 

I gotta get me one of those! :woot

Re: How do you decide what to believe?
 

lol. There is something I find interesting. There are some algorithms for solving problems that after the first few iterations may actually appear to be further away from the correct answer than they were previously. However, after more iterations they actually get really really close to the correct answer.

Re: How do you decide what to believe?
 

I believe the Bible is true. It's my truthometer.

Re: How do you decide what to believe?
 

But the problem is, I believe the Bible is true, and we believe differently. THAT is why Timothy asked the question. How do you come to the conclusion that what you believe the Bible is saying is true and what I believe the Bible is say is false? ( :beatdeadhorse I know!)

Re: How do you decide what to believe?
 

No - that's is not why Timmy asked. If I am correct, Timmy does not believe the Bible is true and infallible.

Infallibility of the scripture is a good starting point. All disagreement stemming from two who affirm is due to human error on their part.

Re: How do you decide what to believe?
 

First, I focus on what everyone agrees that the Bible says. Ummm, everyone that claims they believe the Bible is true that is. LOL The ten commandments, love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength and your neighbor as yourself, etc. Things that different "Christian" religions do NOT argue about.

The stuff everyone argues about, I believe that God would have made absolutely and completely clear if He wanted to make sure we didn't miss anything. He even had men write examples where Christians could believe differently and they were not supposed to judge each other about it. What is good for me, may not be good for you, but those things do not contradict the things that everyone agrees on. :thumbsup

For instance, if I go to a country wear women cover every part of their body, I will cover up my body to love them. But if I go to a village where they don't practice marriage and someone wants to sleep with me, I will not commit adultery because that would go against a clear passage of scripture.

I pray and follow what I feel peace about. I don't believe God is a big ugly deity that makes following Him so complicated that people will spend eternity in hell even though they loved Him to the best of their ability but joined the wrong church.

Re: How do you decide what to believe?
 

Amen.