Article by: Kenneth J. Ester
Very Important Questions For Every Religion
I want to ask some simple questions. I ask you to be honest with yourself when answering them. You don’t need to answer them to me or anyone else. You shouldn’t answer them aloud even. Just read each question, answer it honestly in your own head, and then continue to read. Then go onto the next question and so on. The only thing important here is that you are completely honest with yourself.
1) How confident are you that your church/religion is the right one?
a) Completely
b) Mostly
c) I'm in the middle
d) I have no idea.
If you answered b, c or d, please skip question #2.
2) Why are you so sure your religion is the right one?
a) God told me Himself
b) It is called faith
c) I have been assured it is right.
d) I have looked into it and tested it.
3) Has anyone ever proven to you that your religion is right?
a) Yes, proven beyond any doubt.
b) It says so in our books
c) I just have faith it is right.
d) Never proven
This one can be touchy. Please be honest with yourself...
4) When it comes to your religion’s beliefs, are you told by your church leaders to...
a) Investigate it and seek the truth. The truth leads back to our religion.
b) It is wrong to question your religion. You have to just trust that we know what is right.
c) God would consider it a sin or be angry with you if you question your beliefs.
d) I don’t know what we are taught along this line.
5) If someone said they can prove to you that your religion is wrong, would you....
a) Refuse to listen to anyone trying to sway me to a different belief.
b) Be afraid to hear what they have to say.
c) Be confident that not only will they "not" be able to prove it, but I can prove to them they are wrong.
d) Listen to what they have to say. After all, can anyone be 100% sure their religion is right? What if I am following the wrong one?
That's it!
I do hope you were willing to be honest with yourself in answering those questions. If you are wondering why I asked them, it is for one reason only. To make you think. Not to make you think a certain way, but just to make you think. Use your own brain when it comes to religion. Think about it. There are so many different religions and each of them have multiple factions. They simply cannot all be right. Yet most of the members of each one believes theirs to be right. Why? How can anyone know theirs is the right one?
People are told to believe a certain way and very few ever truly question those beliefs. But what if you were told how to believe by someone in the wrong religion? If you follow the rules of God, but they were taught to you by man, there is a chance you have been led astray. The "only" way you can be sure is to question your beliefs and look into those questions. If your religion is right, then there is nothing to fear. The answers should lead back to your religion as being correct. Nothing is lost, but you are then that much more confident you have it right. But what if you find there really are problems that prove your religion is wrong? You still have lost nothing. But you gain the chance to find the right religion and get right with God. And there is absolutely nothing more important than that.
Every one of us should be willing to learn what the problems with our religion are, and look into those problems. Because there is nothing more important than making sure our religion isn’t leading us away from God. That’s what is important. Our walk with God. Not our religion or church being right. Not making our priest/pastor/elder or whatever happy. If they want you to appease them over being sure your church is right? Find a different church/religion.
Yet there is another reason to look into the problems that others believe wrong with your religion. If you learn what others believe to be problems with your religion, and you investigate them for yourself, you will be that much more prepared to defend it against others.
Think for a second. With all of the screwed up religions in this world today, why would God ever be upset with you for wanting to make sure you are following him the correct way? God wants you to seek the right path. ---
John 8:32 “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
--- Jesus never had a problem with people asking questions. No matter how difficult they were, He would answer them. He never once tells anyone “Just do as I say and don’t question what I tell you.” Jesus wants us to test all things we are taught. Why? Because He is the Truth and the Truth will set you free.
When you speak the truth, you have nothing to fear in being questioned. If you teach the truth, and someone is seeking the truth, the truth will confirm what you teach. So no religion should ever fear the truth if it is teaching the truth.
Just to be open, I will tell you my answers to these questions and why I answer them this way.
1) How confident are you that your church/religion is the right one?
Answer = a) Completely ---- I am confident because I have looked into it. Listened to what other religions have to say about it and looked into other religions. I have found this one to be the truth. I am open to being proven wrong. I just don’t think it will ever happen.
2) Why are you so sure of it?
Answer = d) I have looked into it and tested it.
3) Has anyone ever proven to you your religion is right?
Answer = d) Never proven ---- No religion has been proven to me to be right. However, with every other religion, I have found major problems that make them impossible to be right in my opinion. So far, only with Christianity have I found that every argument against it, can be explained with a good solid reason. So no, it hasn’t been proven to me, but so far only Christianity has not been proven to be wrong.
4) When it comes to your religious beliefs, are you told...
Answer = a) Investigate it and seek the truth. The truth leads back to our religion. ---- And so far it has.
5) If someone said they can prove to you that your religion is wrong, would you....
Answer = c) Listen to what they have to say. After all, can anyone be 100% sure their religion is right? What if I am following the wrong one? ----- I am always willing to listen to why my religion is wrong. I have many times. I will always take those reasons and investigate them. So far nothing has proven to me that Christianity is wrong. I would like to believe I could prove to them they are wrong but that would take an open mind on their part and they wouldn’t be out to prove Christianity wrong if they had an open mind. ... But I will still try, and in the process if someone does prove to me Christianity is wrong? I will be glad they saved me from following the wrong religion. If you refuse to listen to what others say is wrong with your religion, I have only one question for you. What are you afraid they will say? If your religion is correct, then you have nothing to fear for there is no way man can outsmart God. The only thing to fear would be actual logical proof that your religion actually is wrong, but then, why would you fear that? Wouldn't you want to know that?
Below is a list of religions. I will slowly add to this list and add links connecting them to their own page where I will make it easy for you to find the biggest problems with each religion. I would advise everyone to first look up their own religion and get answers for the problems listed. If the answers don’t clarify everything, then start asking yourself how sure you are of being in the right place.
Buddhism
An article dealing more with logic than scriptural problems.
Christianity (Pentecostal)
Until I find something that is seriously wrong with Christianity, I will list problems others say is wrong with it and explain why they are mistaken.
Christianity (Catholic)
(Coming Someday)
Hinduism
And I thought Buddhism was hard to pin down.
Islam
1) The Quran gives itself a safety valve and God wouldn't need a safety valve.
2) How the Quran came about is questionable.
3) Many of its stories were taken from other books of the time.
4) The original Companions even couldn't agree what should to be in the Quran.
5) Jesus proves Islam is wrong
6) Quick mentions of a few other problems as well.
Jehovah’s Witness
1) Their Bible, the New World Translation, has had changes made to it in an attempt to make God’s word fit their beliefs, rather than changing their beliefs to fit God’s word.
2) They teach Jesus is Michael the archangel and not God, and yet not only does their own scripture “not” support that Jesus is Michael, but it does support that Jesus is God!
I don’t know about you, but I would really want to know the truth of this before I gamble my soul and my eternity on it.
Judaism
(Coming Someday)
Latter Day Saints (Mormon)
1) The Book of Mormon has more flaws in it than most any other religious book.
2) Their beliefs simply don't add up.
3) Joseph Russell is proven to be a false prophet.
Return to Religions and their Fatal Flaws
Return to One God Logic Articles
1) How confident are you that your church/religion is the right one?
a) Completely
b) Mostly
c) I'm in the middle
d) I have no idea.
If you answered b, c or d, please skip question #2.
2) Why are you so sure your religion is the right one?
a) God told me Himself
b) It is called faith
c) I have been assured it is right.
d) I have looked into it and tested it.
3) Has anyone ever proven to you that your religion is right?
a) Yes, proven beyond any doubt.
b) It says so in our books
c) I just have faith it is right.
d) Never proven
This one can be touchy. Please be honest with yourself...
4) When it comes to your religion’s beliefs, are you told by your church leaders to...
a) Investigate it and seek the truth. The truth leads back to our religion.
b) It is wrong to question your religion. You have to just trust that we know what is right.
c) God would consider it a sin or be angry with you if you question your beliefs.
d) I don’t know what we are taught along this line.
5) If someone said they can prove to you that your religion is wrong, would you....
a) Refuse to listen to anyone trying to sway me to a different belief.
b) Be afraid to hear what they have to say.
c) Be confident that not only will they "not" be able to prove it, but I can prove to them they are wrong.
d) Listen to what they have to say. After all, can anyone be 100% sure their religion is right? What if I am following the wrong one?
That's it!
I do hope you were willing to be honest with yourself in answering those questions. If you are wondering why I asked them, it is for one reason only. To make you think. Not to make you think a certain way, but just to make you think. Use your own brain when it comes to religion. Think about it. There are so many different religions and each of them have multiple factions. They simply cannot all be right. Yet most of the members of each one believes theirs to be right. Why? How can anyone know theirs is the right one?
People are told to believe a certain way and very few ever truly question those beliefs. But what if you were told how to believe by someone in the wrong religion? If you follow the rules of God, but they were taught to you by man, there is a chance you have been led astray. The "only" way you can be sure is to question your beliefs and look into those questions. If your religion is right, then there is nothing to fear. The answers should lead back to your religion as being correct. Nothing is lost, but you are then that much more confident you have it right. But what if you find there really are problems that prove your religion is wrong? You still have lost nothing. But you gain the chance to find the right religion and get right with God. And there is absolutely nothing more important than that.
Every one of us should be willing to learn what the problems with our religion are, and look into those problems. Because there is nothing more important than making sure our religion isn’t leading us away from God. That’s what is important. Our walk with God. Not our religion or church being right. Not making our priest/pastor/elder or whatever happy. If they want you to appease them over being sure your church is right? Find a different church/religion.
Yet there is another reason to look into the problems that others believe wrong with your religion. If you learn what others believe to be problems with your religion, and you investigate them for yourself, you will be that much more prepared to defend it against others.
Think for a second. With all of the screwed up religions in this world today, why would God ever be upset with you for wanting to make sure you are following him the correct way? God wants you to seek the right path. ---
John 8:32 “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
--- Jesus never had a problem with people asking questions. No matter how difficult they were, He would answer them. He never once tells anyone “Just do as I say and don’t question what I tell you.” Jesus wants us to test all things we are taught. Why? Because He is the Truth and the Truth will set you free.
When you speak the truth, you have nothing to fear in being questioned. If you teach the truth, and someone is seeking the truth, the truth will confirm what you teach. So no religion should ever fear the truth if it is teaching the truth.
Just to be open, I will tell you my answers to these questions and why I answer them this way.
1) How confident are you that your church/religion is the right one?
Answer = a) Completely ---- I am confident because I have looked into it. Listened to what other religions have to say about it and looked into other religions. I have found this one to be the truth. I am open to being proven wrong. I just don’t think it will ever happen.
2) Why are you so sure of it?
Answer = d) I have looked into it and tested it.
3) Has anyone ever proven to you your religion is right?
Answer = d) Never proven ---- No religion has been proven to me to be right. However, with every other religion, I have found major problems that make them impossible to be right in my opinion. So far, only with Christianity have I found that every argument against it, can be explained with a good solid reason. So no, it hasn’t been proven to me, but so far only Christianity has not been proven to be wrong.
4) When it comes to your religious beliefs, are you told...
Answer = a) Investigate it and seek the truth. The truth leads back to our religion. ---- And so far it has.
5) If someone said they can prove to you that your religion is wrong, would you....
Answer = c) Listen to what they have to say. After all, can anyone be 100% sure their religion is right? What if I am following the wrong one? ----- I am always willing to listen to why my religion is wrong. I have many times. I will always take those reasons and investigate them. So far nothing has proven to me that Christianity is wrong. I would like to believe I could prove to them they are wrong but that would take an open mind on their part and they wouldn’t be out to prove Christianity wrong if they had an open mind. ... But I will still try, and in the process if someone does prove to me Christianity is wrong? I will be glad they saved me from following the wrong religion. If you refuse to listen to what others say is wrong with your religion, I have only one question for you. What are you afraid they will say? If your religion is correct, then you have nothing to fear for there is no way man can outsmart God. The only thing to fear would be actual logical proof that your religion actually is wrong, but then, why would you fear that? Wouldn't you want to know that?
Below is a list of religions. I will slowly add to this list and add links connecting them to their own page where I will make it easy for you to find the biggest problems with each religion. I would advise everyone to first look up their own religion and get answers for the problems listed. If the answers don’t clarify everything, then start asking yourself how sure you are of being in the right place.
Buddhism
An article dealing more with logic than scriptural problems.
Christianity (Pentecostal)
Until I find something that is seriously wrong with Christianity, I will list problems others say is wrong with it and explain why they are mistaken.
Christianity (Catholic)
(Coming Someday)
Hinduism
And I thought Buddhism was hard to pin down.
Islam
1) The Quran gives itself a safety valve and God wouldn't need a safety valve.
2) How the Quran came about is questionable.
3) Many of its stories were taken from other books of the time.
4) The original Companions even couldn't agree what should to be in the Quran.
5) Jesus proves Islam is wrong
6) Quick mentions of a few other problems as well.
Jehovah’s Witness
1) Their Bible, the New World Translation, has had changes made to it in an attempt to make God’s word fit their beliefs, rather than changing their beliefs to fit God’s word.
2) They teach Jesus is Michael the archangel and not God, and yet not only does their own scripture “not” support that Jesus is Michael, but it does support that Jesus is God!
I don’t know about you, but I would really want to know the truth of this before I gamble my soul and my eternity on it.
Judaism
(Coming Someday)
Latter Day Saints (Mormon)
1) The Book of Mormon has more flaws in it than most any other religious book.
2) Their beliefs simply don't add up.
3) Joseph Russell is proven to be a false prophet.
Return to Religions and their Fatal Flaws
Return to One God Logic Articles
