Several questions for mainly non LDS.

[Mute]

One of the things I've been working on in my spare time is writing about why people believe in their particular religion. I know most about LDS Christians so I started with them. Generally the answer given for why LDS believe in their religion is because they pray about it and get a feeling it is true.

I was expecting something similar to this when asking people of other faiths why they believe in their particular faith. I went to a Catholic site as well as several other Christian sites. At first I had a rather difficult time getting a straight answer. I had some people say when they were saved or when they were first introduced to Christ. A couple people said they had always believed in God but this still did not answer the question of why. Eventually I did get an answer from one person that it just made sense to him. When asking people straight out if they prayed about it and got a feeling similar to what the LDS say, I many times got the answer that they never did pray to find out. However, there were a few who said they did pray and that if you are holy spirit lead you will know the truth. If this is why you believe in your particular denomination or Christianity in general is it similar to how LDS members describe it? Can you explain what it is for you?

Another thing I found was some people said they didn't believe in any church but they believed in God. Others said they believed in all churches except Jehovah Witness and LDS. I found that some what confusing in that don't all churches disagree on at least some points? If you don't belong to a denomination, what interpretation of the scriptures do you believe to be true? Do you believe the spirit guides you to know what is true? Do you disregard anything as just not being necessary? For example do you just believe in Christ and try to be a good person but don't worry about the other points of scriptures some people may dispute about. Also if you do not belong to a denomination do you believe in the trinity or something similar to the LDS beliefs?

Awhile ago, I went to an extremely large church near where I live. I honestly never even thought to ask what denomination it was but I know it wasn't Catholic or Jehovah Witness. I went there mainly for the experience. I had heard some unusual things about it compared to what I was used to in an LDS church. When I went it was a man speaking for the course of around an hour. He encouraged the people to pray more and draw closer to Heavenly Father. I thought this was a good message so I chipped in three dollars when the collection plate came by. I never went back to the church but I have always remembered that talk. The main difference I noticed from it was only that it had a live band while the LDS do not. I was always under the impression that other denominations thought you could no longer talk to God. Can you explain this to me please?

Also if you were raised in another country or another religion do you believe you would have ever had a desire to be Christian or ever given it much thought? I know for myself I always kind of dismissed the possibility of Islam being true or any religion other than Christianity. I know family can have a large influence on how we believe growing up. There isn't any way to test this but do you believe you would simply have stayed with the religion you were brought up in or would you have considered other religions? I know it would take an enormous amount of time to do this. Simply investigating what different Christian denominations believe is a job in itself. Simply investigating things on the LDS church can take an enormous amount of time.

I'm sorry if this is a lot of questions but these are all things I have a desire to know.

[monkeyface]

My response to your questions posed is that most religions do have the same similar goal in mind. This goal is to become your best self and to help others live better lives. Whether a person is Jewish, Christian, Muslim, or Budhist they share the same goals and a belief in God. I think many other Christian churches besides the LDS faith believe in speaking to God and recieving revelation. I myself who is LDS have definitely thought about other religions other than Christianity and how they too could contain eternal truths, and how I could see myself conforming to their ways of living, so I do not think it so far fetched to believe that someone growing up in one culture with one religion would ever consider joining a "different" kind of one. All in all, I'd like to say, let us focus on what we share that is the same rather than how "peculiar" of a people we are. The danger of getting into "peculiarity" is that it can lead to a way of pride, of the mindset that "we are right" and the "only" ones right and "you are wrong" which is far from the center of Christianity.

[Mute]

How would you know what similarities exist between two churches if you don't know what they even believe? I'm honestly asking them what they believe because I don't know. There are a lot of differences between LDS and other churches but I don't know what all of those are. It may be some of the things I'm asking about are similarities. But I can't know that until I ask them what it is they believe. There are differences between churches. There are big differences. You first need to know what they even believe.

I feel it is good to know the differences as well. About the only thing Christian churches agree on is that Christ died for our sins. Even peoples interpretations of love and sin are not the same. Their interpretation of right and wrong are not the same. Their interpretation of God, salvation, baptism, Heaven, Hell, tongues, resurrection etc are not the same.

If you only focused on the similarities, why would you feel it mattered what religion you joined or what christian church you joined? The differences in belief are why people believe their religion or church is true. They believe it is more true than all the others. Christianity and Islam both have many different denominations. There are also many other religions.

Why isn't there just one religion or one church? In Christianity they all separate themselves in their interpretations and beliefs of understanding scripture etc. It's not like the bible is just clear on everything. It's not clear. That's why so many people dispute on and have different interpretations. They all claim it's clear if one has the holy spirit but of course they all claim they have the holy spirit which would mean everyone else who believes differently is wrong. To be a follower of Christ is fine but if you're going to believe anything from the scriptures other than just that Christ died for you, then you're going to have an interpretation on meanings in the Bible. There are going to be other Christians who totally disagree with your interpretation and some may not even consider you Christian because you don't have the same interpretation.

I don't feel it's wrong to believe a church is true or to share ones beliefs. If people can share their beliefs to those who want to hear in a civil manner then that is fine in my opinion.

[prisonchaplain]

Mute, I'm trying to discern your core questions. IMHO, you will indeed find that most Christian churches actually believe the same about most major teachings. Most Christians are trinitarians, most believe that true conversion will involve repentence, and embracing new life in Christ. Most will offer baptism soon after conversion. Most will teach from the Holy Bible, and say that it is authorative. Most gain a good deal of their other teachings from Catholicism. We really haven't thrown the baby out with the bathwater.

As to why I, who was raised in a non-religious family, converted...I was invited by sincere church workers. The gospel was explained to me, and as a 10-year old, I believed and received. Why? I suppose what they said rang true, and I sensed that it was right. As I grew in faith I had more emotional experiences than I did at conversion.

[Mute]

Many people in other churches seem to find it silly the LDS would go by a feeling that the holy ghost is responding to them. I am not sure I understand what they believe the Holy Spirit is or how they get answers.

My purpose is not to poke fun at, ridicule or point out differences. I am not LDS but most of my family is. I am most familiar with LDS teachings. I am just trying to understand what those of other faiths believe because a lot of what they believe is different. LDS believe when the holy ghost speaks to you it's through a feeling but many people laugh at the idea or think that isn't the holy ghost that communicates with them. I'm not entirely sure what other Christians believe the Holy Ghost is or if they believe you can still receive answers to prayers etc.

I know they believe in repentance but I don't know exactly what they mean by that. Many people feel the LDS are trying to be perfect. If someone is against this how can they believe in repentance? What do they mean by repentance? Do they believe repentance is to feel remorse for ones actions or is it to also change ones ways and refrain from doing the sin again? I'm sure that may be easier said than done on some things but that is ultimately the LDS goal of refraining from sinning. They don't believe they will reach that goal in this life but that is what their goal is. That is what they are striving to become. Is this similar to what other faiths teach?

[prisonchaplain]

Many people in other churches seem to find it silly the LDS would go by a feeling that the holy ghost is responding to them. I am not sure I understand what they believe the Holy Spirit is or how they get answers.

My purpose is not to poke fun at, ridicule or point out differences. I am not LDS but most of my family is. I am most familiar with LDS teachings. I am just trying to understand what those of other faiths believe because a lot of what they believe is different. LDS believe when the holy ghost speaks to you it's through a feeling but many people laugh at the idea or think that isn't the holy ghost that communicates with them. I'm not entirely sure what other Christians believe the Holy Ghost is or if they believe you can still receive answers to prayers etc.

IMHO, in an effort to point out that the Bible tells us much of what is true in a rather direct way, non-LDS often dismiss "the burning in the bossom." Of course, we rely on the direction of the Holy Spirit. We speak of being prompted, of hearing "that still small voice" etc. Discounting spiritual promptings is likely an overreaction to the belief (perhaps incorrect) that LDS encourage investigators to ignore all previous teaching and scripture, and simply pray for a spiritual feeling to confirm the veracity of the Book of Mormon.

I know they believe in repentance but I don't know exactly what they mean by that. Many people feel the LDS are trying to be perfect. If someone is against this how can they believe in repentance? What do they mean by repentance? Do they believe repentance is to feel remorse for ones actions or is it to also change ones ways and refrain from doing the sin again? I'm sure that may be easier said than done on some things but that is ultimately the LDS goal of refraining from sinning. They don't believe they will reach that goal in this life but that is what their goal is. That is what they are striving to become. Is this similar to what other faiths teach?

Again, my sense is that non-LDS believe LDS have no certainty about their conversions and salvation, and are stuck in a malaise of uncertainty, never knowing if they've done "all that they can." In truth, we certainly believe in holiness, and in "being about the Father's business." We have a Great Commission to fulfill, the incredibly difficult command to love our neighbors, and are constantly striving to grow in truth and righteousness, and to forsake the sins of "the old man." But, in our conversations with LDS, we believe we are correcting "works-salvation," and so tend to totally dismiss talk of good works and performance, since we believe all of that is post-conversion. While there is a significant difference in emphasis on our two doctrines, my sense is that the end-result is not so different. Further, these days many LDS do seem to have captured a strong sense of grace.

[Dymmesdale]

Chronologically, the first reason that I believe what I believe is because that is what I was taught by my parents. As I went through life, I was able to see how creation testifies the work and the glory of God. The biggest aspect of the foundation of my belief, however, is faith. I have faith that there is one God, and I have faith that He has communicated to us his will through the Bible. I believe that all of creation supports this, and is constantly affirming my beliefs. I can have complete trust in Him through His word. Finally, I believe that the Holy Ghost has directed the Church throughout history, so that the true faith was for the most part kept whole, because God loves His people, and does not let them go astray, unless they are in rebellion against Him.

I would say more, but my break is over, and I have to get back to work...

[personne]

Je plussoie Dymmesdale..C'est exactement cela. (Enfin à l'époque).