Obsesson with the words "best" and "superior".....

Me too!!! People dont fight for those things, but they fight to prove their religion better than the other...

It's because they are idiots, Vannie. At least the 2 of us are normal. That's a good thing, i think.

Actually I agree with people are idiots.... 2 of us are normal.... I guess I agree there too ... as long as it is normal for blond's to be dumb!

I would try to convince you because the faith I follow is the truth, not the most popular, not the one that's most attractive, not the one that will tell you what you think you want to hear, but the one that's the truth and will tell you the truth. Do you have a problem? Tell me what it is and I'll see what I can find out in Scripture.

Now - you come to my point - why should you try to convince me about your fait at all!!! I mean, you never told another person - use this toothpaste, this is the best, or use this tea leaf, it is the best. You never told another person about school, or house, or just about anything. Why then this need about the religion? If your religion has a solution to a particular problem, you could share. But default accepting that your religion is perfect in toto is a bit hard for others to take. Then the competition surfaces, and flaws in religions get pushed under the carpet. :) To be honest, I think almost all religions have flaws too. May be we perceive them as flaws because of time and change in thinking. Nevertheless, there are inconsistencies. :)

Sweetie that is precisely the problem. You are not getting it. What I am trying to say is, you believe in it, that is fine. It matches your thinking, your desires, your liking, and you have some happy childhood memories associated with it, so you think it is truth. It is true for you, yes. And I agree. But if you tell me my feelings to similar extent are lies then it is not fair. You should give others as much chance to reveal their truth. And listen and understand that if you want to be the one to convince. Dont you think when you say yours is the only truth, you are insulting another person's intellect in comprehending the truth? Take for example where you reside. May be your city is cold as of now, and that would be true, as true as the fact that my city is hot as of now. And both truths co-exist!!! So you trying to convince me or another person that it is only cold is not fair? Do you get it sweetie? That is what leads to competition, anger, dislike, resentment, lack of trust, more clannishness. That is the reason I said let people discover the truth, let them ask for it if they so desire. But do not say there is the best, superior or only religion. All roads do lead to Rome. It does not matter who travels by which road.

I gather that you have never read one of my Responses before. I do not believe in anyone EVER invading another one's space and that includes their religious space. No one has the right to try to influence the beliefs of another. They may answer questions. If a Discus ion is a to way street...cool as long as it stays that way. As soon as that invisible line is crossed, "discussion" should cease. hands should be shook and everyone should part as friends, with their personal beliefs intact. I do not believe in proselytizing gently or otherwise. If your religion is "good enough" others will seek you out. I am a Jew. I belong to the most hated Religion/Civilization on the earth. We have come close to annihilation so many times it is a great wonder that we still exist...We Do. People also knock on our doors to convert. The Orthodox teaching is to turn away a potential convert multiple times before accepting them as a student for conversion. Then it is years of study. One old reason for turning someone away is that one must never put their life in mortal danger intentionally. Converting to Judaism is putting your life in mortal danger. No I do not expect anyone to believe as I do...unless it is simply to let your neighbor live in Peace. Shalom my neighbor~Adoniah

I agree with your view to a great extent. However, I find it difficult to believe that any man or any religion or any computer could hold all the secrets of creation. Therefore, each religion has some solutions, not all. What we need is a nice blend so that if condition, then use this solution, else condition, use this, end if. (programming kinda stuff). :) Ultimate goal being peaceful co-existence of course. But may be, I am being too idealistic. :)

That is perfectly alright as long as the belief is personal. Expecting another person to believe what I believe to be best is bullying, isn't it?

I agree maam. We grow up with certain beliefs, and practices, and it is a bit difficult to shed them without being bewildered. So definitely, we are comfortable in there, even when we realize somethings should be different. And I agree, god listens to us, always. :) Irrespective of time, language, method, ... just about anyway. We just have to ask him. :) And I like the way you say, short circuiting ourselves. :) Actually, when our scriptures were written, condition of the world was different. Today, under global conditions, we do need to exchange ideas. My religion may have some solution, your religion may have some. While not all solutions would be perfect all the time, at least some would turn out to be superior. Just because it is your religion that says do unto others what you would like them to do unto you, doesnt mean it is not acceptable to my religion and I shouldnt adopt it. I disagree with that sort of constraint. My religion, therefore, needs to be flexible, and adopt good things in other religions. It certainly does not qualify as the best in my eyes. :)

I like the example of baby walker. I wish everybody has sound and reasonable thinking like yours.

I agree. Religion should not be forced on others. I also feel nobody should say, mine is the best, or mine is superior, whether or not inducing. That annoys another person. Honestly, religion is just like that baby walker. It prevents accidents, and teaches the baby to walk. Once we learn how to walk, we must leave the walker, and walk on our own! We must learn to think, and at times be open to question what does not seem right in our religion. Possibility of change in the way of thinking is there. But so is the possibility of some corrupt priests having adulterated the religion. So we need to look for the core of the religion rather than getting lost in the superficial web, dont you think? Core is same across all the religion so how can any religion be superior or inferior? :(

Thank you so very much for the honor of best response, especially so quickly. I really believe that tolerance is one of the key aspects in life. I mean, there is obviously a point where you need to draw the line and say that something is not right, but if something is not hurting anyone, and especially if it is improving the life of others, then I don't think that it hurts anyone, even if it is not what you (or anybody else) chooses to believe or how you (or anybody else) would choose to act. Unfortunately, religion is one of the areas where tolerance should be shown most, in my opinion, and yet it seems that it is one of the areas where there is the least amount of tolerance. Somehow, that just does not seem right at all, especially when one of the main points of religion (if I understand it correctly) is to help us to become better people.

Hi PA - I liked your response very very much. :) I know I am supposed to wait before giving best response, but I doubt if anybody can better this thinking. :)

I agree 100 percent with that statement. :) First Rank students. :)

Hey - we dont force our liking about ice creams, or pizzas on others. Why do we try to show off about religion? :( As to your daughter - she will be just fine - with a parent like you. :) Dont worry, be happy. :)

I agree. Anybody trying to say their "religion is the best" or their "religion is superior" is not educated enough in humanity. If there can be more than one good surgeon, if there can be many good songs that we've heard over the years, and many movies as well, then why cant there be many religions that are equally good? I think when people try to force others into accepting that what they believe to be best is the best shows that they are confused and want somebody else to reinforce that belief by pointing something in their religion that is worth believing. :) Forcing another person to think and believe like me is coercion, and bullying.

Hi bhanusb, many of these religions existed concurrently. Take for example Buddhism, and Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam, Christianity and Hinduism. Therefore, prophets could easily have said other religion is bad and not right, so lets get the army organized, and start converting. Even Jesus didn't do it. So why are people trying to deviate from that method. Those who want to peace may approach anybody they feel comfortable with. And even such relationship with either god or prophet is not binding. :(

Competing to be best - is it accompanied by being the best in city, State, Country, and world? If the person has lost there, then he is not the best, isn't he? :) So when somebody says they are best in the class, in a derogatory way, then a rejoined - yest of course, but not the best in the city, or state, or country, or world. :) That way, they will realize to be humble.

Bird - You understand the difference between understanding religion and knowledge about religion. I agree that people should meet, trade their knowledge and develop a superior religion that would help all life forms, not just humanity. But getting people to leave their age old beliefs is a tough task. :) You saw me presenting a few points in your discussion, and you know how people can be in denial. At least, I set the ball rolling. Hope the next time she attends a discourse, she asks the same questions. :) That way, somebody knowledgeable will come forward with hopefully right explanations.

When I listed Nos, I meant we dont really go for the best, then why do we look for the best religion? As to the rest, I agree with you. :)