How do the religious decide what to believe and what to discard as false testament?
820321
It depends on the religious group. See, how they normally do it is, they get a bunch of religious leaders to sit and go through the paper work and then decide, if they can interpret 'you' into their scripture similar to the trinity (obviously your question is aimed at Xianity). If the Pope or Minister or Priest says: "This is what you must think!"...All the sheep follow blindly no matter how ludicrous the belief might be. If I was you, I would start my own Religion instead. You can always use Jesus and other christian concept to make it more 'believable' if you run a popularity conquest.\n\nYou should never have false hope (faith) at any point, results are whats important.
259637
There are no false doctrines. Every one of our teachings and beliefs is completely in harmony with God's Word, the Bible. God leads his people progressively and has, at times, had to readjust the thinking of his people to fully understand Bible truths. In the early days of God's earthly organization it was believed, like so many still wrongly believe today, that holiday celebrations like Christmas honor God. It was also wrongly believed, by some, that the end would come at a particular time. However, as the scriptures state in the book of Psalms, the truth is like a light that gets brighter and brighter as the end draws closer. So in that way, certain teachings had to be realigned with the scriptures and people had to be readjusted in their thinking. As a whole, however, the very basic truths remain unchanged and Jehovah's Witnesses still acknowledge the Bible's stand that Jehovah God is Almighty God alone, not some part of a false religious trinity, and that Jesus Christ is the now-reigning king of God's heavenly kingdom, soon to bring vengeance upon this system of things controlled by Satan.
508496
Read the Bible for yourself and verify if what people tell you are true. Never ever take anyone's word for it... verify the facts then you will be able to discern those who are teaching the truth from those who mislead others.
921787
Depends.  A lot of people are raised to be of a certain faith.  These people often don't question what they are taught.  In that way, it isn't a real choice because they just believe what their parents/church told them to believe.  However, it becomes a choice if the individual thinks about what they believe - accept or reject certain aspects of different religions and make a decision to follow or not.
481011
That would be faith...or ignorance.  Depends on how much thought goes into it.\n\nPersonally I view faith like this:  If someone believes in god, the bible, etc.  More power to 'em!  However, if you present a different point of view, and they cover their ears, close their eyes and scream, "Lies!"...that's not faith, that's ignorance.\n\nIf they ignore your question and quote the bible...the same book they know nothing about, that's ignorance\n\nIf they KNOW they're right and you're wrong, that's ignorance.\n\nIf they believe in God with knowledge, understanding, acceptence, and reservation that while their faith is absolute, that there are other possibilities, or that we are too ill informed or lack the understanding to comprehend the workings of the universe...that's faith.\n\nTo be agnostic, like I am, means you don't have faith.  Personally, I don't have a clue what's going on.  I know the bible isn't accurate, we've proven Genesis to be wrong 100x over.  However, I do agree with many of its teachings.  How did we get here?  Dunno.  How does life work?  Dunno.  Is there a God?  Dunno.  Is God as the bible describes?  Probably not, but dunno.  Good news about being agnostic is it allows you the freedom to think and examine.  You're not stuck in an organized religion that recites the same thing to you day after day.  Your free to analyze and accept that there are somethings you just don't know.  On the one had its very liberating.  On the other it carries responsibility because you don't have something to blame, or to believe will take care of you...you lose the "knowledge" that everything's under control.\n\nSo, I'm all for agnostic.  I'm comfortable knowing that I don't know. I LOVE studying theology, laughing when a religious person avoids thought, and learning when a religious person makes a good point.\n\nFor examples:  Look to spur4eight.  He'll make intelligent arguements for Christianity.  I disagree with many of them, but hey...that's faith.  For ignorance, look at Mainworry.  He'll ignore questions completely that require any sort of thought towards religion, and reply either with biblical quotes or insults.
1165854
Actually, those who are left behind that heard the Gospel of Christ and rejected it, God Himself will send a spirit of strong delusion against them, that they might believe the antichrist (the lie); and be condemned.  This is found in 2 Thessalonians 2, verses 7-12.\n\n1   Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and [by] our gathering together unto him,  2   That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3   Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4   Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5   Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6   And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7   For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth [will let], until he be taken out of the way. 8   And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9   [Even him], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10   And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11   And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12   That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 13   But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14   Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15   Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.16   Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given [us] everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, 17   Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
112294
It would require some understanding as to the decision making process in the Catholic Church.  The Catholic Church is a highly varied body.  There is more internal variation inside the Catholic Church than there is across all of Protestantism.  All Protestant groups have an analog within the Church, the reverse is not true.\n\nFirst, the bible was canonized 350 years after the death of Jesus.  There wasn't a book someone could call the bible to cite as a reference.  They often did cite the scriptures, but they were not referring to the NT in the early Church.  They did also cite that which was handed on, traditio, from the apostles.  The bible is part of what was handed on, but not the whole of what was handed on.\n\nIn the early Church women were not ordained to the major orders, deacon, priest or bishop.  There were deaconesses, but their ordinations were different from the men.  Because early Christians did not do it, the Church cannot change it now.  When John Paul II was asked to rule on ordaining women, he ruled he could not change anything.  Popes and bishops may not make changes to beliefs, even if those beliefs no longer make sense.  Just because roles have changed does not change what was handed on.  Jesus was pretty radical, if he had wanted Mary Magdalene to be an Apostle, he could have made her one.  None of the Twelve, or the Seventy were women.  This may simply have been practical for some reason.  Nonetheless, what is is.\n\nUnlike Protestants who get to vote at conferences about what they believe, the rule in the Catholic Church is simple.  What did the early Christians believe and do?  That guides everything else.
995408
definetly... you cant pick and choose which parts of the bible to believe. it's an all or nothing game and the old testement is part of the bible.
1006950
Good question, and that is exactly why every so often when mankind strays from God's truths due to misunderstanding his will (which is GOOD) --- he sends an emissary (one of which was Jesus) to re-clarify his eternal truths...lets face it, left on our own we develop all kinds of misinterpretations and rituals which are not what he intends, so a divine incarnation is mercifully sent to us to help us get back on track. Many times when Jesus was on earth, even priests and religious scholars would confront Jesus with the old Testament laws and precepts, and Jesus would respond with something like this "verily, verily that was indeed writted in the Old Testament, however I tell you THIS" ...for example a high Priest asked Jesus about a quote in the old testament about how a man must be reborn again before seeing heaven and the priest asked how is this possible, can a man climb back into the womb and come out again? and Jesus explained the true meaning.
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Quran says :\n\n" when truth is hurled against falsehood, falsehood perishes for falsehood is by it's nature bound to perish".\n[AlQuran 70:81]\n\nso when the truth reaches them ...and God show them the right path..suddenly they got the power to diferentiaite between good and bad.. so they are converted..
1180286
You are not completing these scriptures. Matt: 5:22  reads However, I say to YOU that everyone who continues wrathful with his brother will be accountable to the court of justice; but whoever addresses his brother with an unspeakable word of contempt will be accountable to the Supreme Court; whereas whoever says, ‘You despicable fool!’ will be liable to the fiery Ge·hen′na.\n\nGehenna was a waste heap outside of Jerusalem where the bodies of the dead criminals were burned. This is one of the reasons that man has taught a hell fire doctrine.  Which is not true by the way.  Jesus is talking about non believers and what might happen to them.  Not that it will.  It says liable (or deserving).\n\nMatt: 23:17 Fools and blind ones! Which, in fact, is greater, the gold or the temple that has sanctified the gold?  Meaning spiritual laws or the one who made the laws.  The Jews of Jesus time put more emphasis on obeying the Mosaic laws rather than showing love.  God commands love before the law.\n\nPsalm 14:1The senseless one has said in his heart:\n“There is no God” They have acted ruinously, they have acted detestably in [their] dealing.There is no one doing good. \n\nPeople that claim there is no God are doing so to sooth their consciences.  So they say in their heart "there is no God" and they act detestably in their dealings.\n\nWhy are these contradictory?
81613
Search the Scripture to find God's will.\n\nRead & study the Scripture with faith, guided by the Holy Spirit. If one reads Scripture looking for errors or contradictions, etc, it is worthless superficial reading which even Satan will help you with.\n\nRely on God's Wisdom to understand Scripture; man's ~wisdom~ is folly.\n\nTrue Faith requires a spiritual relationship; it is not religion or denominationalism or non-denominationalism.
258120
Man, loaded but great question.\n\nThere is not enough truth to convince people of anything they don't want to believe when it comes to God.  Its a faith based system, by his design.  Ever asked yourself why faith?\n\nBecause to truely put our faith in God, seeing him from a lost perspective, requires that we set aside our "me" mentality.  We have to put our faith in this thing we don;t understand based on information that seems less than convincing (from a lost perspective.)  But this all important step is all that is asked of us.\n\nBetter to pray the spirit call to a person's heart and start working on them to ask questions, than to seek truth to convince those who have already decided they want nothing to do with God.  We are truely powerless over others is swaying their beliefs.  All we can hope for is to plant seeds and allow the spirit to go to work.\n\nread through some of the posts on here.  Its CRAZy.  People are daring you to "make them believe" in God.  Its not possible.  It wasn;t meant to be possible.  Its a faith based thing.  Free Will + Faith = Individual Decision.\n\nI know I didn't answer your question directly, but trying to accumulate enough knowledge to "win souls" will be a really frustrating endeavor that will ultimately bring you back to realizing The Holy Spirit does ALL the work in a salvation experience.
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1 Corinthians says "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. "\n\nSo, we know that God put humans in a position to teach and lead others. So, putting your faith and trust in those of leadership is Biblical. \n\n2 Peter 2:1 says "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction."\n\nYou can't trust just anyone. How do you know who to trust?\n\nMatthew 7:15-16 says "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. \nYe shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?"\n \nYou will know who you can trust by their fruits (or a thorough background check).\n\nWhat what qualities should you look for?\n\n1 Timothy 3:2-7 says  "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;  One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. "\n\nYou might think it is impossible to find such a person. I know of such people of various religions that actually meet those guidelines. They are out there, you just have to look.
36262
There is no interpretation needed.  If you are a person that believes the WHOLE bible should be followed letter for letter, then your wife MUST follow all your rules.  She shall never speak unless spoken too (in your presence), she will walk behind you, unless directed otherwise, she will never give her opinion about anything (unless you tell her too), she will never disagree with your opinions or commands. Get the jist?\n\nBut that is the super-ultra-conservative-view point.  If your into the New Testament, and believe anything that "Jesus" said, then you can put all that out the window and ignore it.\n\nThen again, there are many different cultures in this world, and religions, that state somewhat the same thing.  Muslims for example, God fearing Amish, for another example.\n\nYou must ask yourself what YOU believe.  Do you believe that a God would REALLY make this type of statement.  Is there really that much difference between man and woman?  Should men really be the one in charge?  There have been many cultures where the "roles" have been reversed, where women were the rule makers and the head of the house-hold.\n\nI don't know what culture you were raised in, or under what predomiant religion, but what is truely important is what your faith tells you.  We are imperfect beings, and who can say what religion really has it correct.  Ask yourself why are so many different religions in the world?  Knowning that humans get things wrong, knowning that there are too many different governments and rules and regulations, what do you believe?\n\nDo you truely believe that your wife should be your "slave?"  That is basically what some religions say they are suppose to be.  As a matter of fact, there has been times in the Catholic Churches history, when they have promoted, and actually killed people, who disagreed with making women inferrior, and "unclean", etc...  You know your own history, yes?  There are still cultures, and governments, that basically give women NO rights.  Look at how easily it is to kill your wife in brazil, or some mid-east countries and nothing will happen to the man because that is just the way it is?  Is this right? Is this something a God would condone?\n\nIf your a study of the "real" world as it is now, you'll figure out pretty quickly that there are far too many countries and religions in this world that basically make woman a second class citizen, with no rights or voice.\n\nI'll give no opinion on this, because as I said, it's up to you and you alone.  NO ONE truelly runs your life or what you believe.  If your a "victim" in this type of situation, then GET OUT!
1090545
Your mother presumably did God's will by having an abortion. There is nothing in the Bible that says that what she did is wrong. And those that say that it was a sin are misleading you. \nIf you were religious, the answer to your question would be found in the foundations of your belief. With that in mind, it is time to form your own beliefs. You have reached the age of reason if you are able to ask the highly theoretical questions that you pose.\nI suggest that you choose a religion or attend non-religious classes to explore what you believe the answer is. After all that is all that matters.\nI commend your mother, she is to be honored for having the fortitude to do God's will in the face of the pro-life anti Christ movement. I hope you will support her in her decision. It is a difficult and hurtful decision.\n\nIn support of your Mother, the Bible offers------\nDeuteronomy 18:20-22\n20 But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded him to say, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, must be put to death." \n 21 You may say to yourselves, "How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD ?" 22 If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.\nJeremiah 23:30-32\n 30 "Therefore," declares the LORD, "I am against the prophets who steal from one another words supposedly from me. 31 Yes," declares the LORD, "I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, 'The LORD declares.' 32 Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams," declares the LORD. "They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least," declares the LORD.\n\nIt is a sin for the pro-life anti Christ movement to continue to tell people that Abortion is wrong. God calls for you to be put to death for falsely presuming to speak his name in support of the pro life movement. No where in the Bible does God say that abortion is murder. In fact God uses abortion through out the Bible to bring about his will.\nI can explain abortion to any person able to understand. I cannot explain it to a Dog, Cat, or closed mind. \nGod is the inventor of abortion. Presumably God uses miscarriage as abortion to expel from a woman's body a fetus that he chooses not to bring to term. God does this service for all animals, not just humans. And God loves these animals and man when he chooses to abort their fetus. For man, God is capable of giving eternal life in exchange for any child, fetus or man that he takes. This is his eternal love for us.\nGod arranged things such that no man lives longer than 150 years, then his time is up and he is also offered eternal life. So God offers eternal spiritual life in exchange for death. \nAnd God chooses which fetuses will be aborted. God has infinite power and can choose to eliminate the possibility of abortion and force the birth of any child he chooses. He does this with other animals and he states in the Bible that he is an all powerful God. He is that powerful.\nIf you abort a child that God wants to live, he can simply transfer that life to another person. It does not mean that you made a wrong choice or that God must live with that Choice. I don't think God would allow Christ’s next coming to be stopped by an abortion that he condones.\nCan a person commit an abortion against God's will? Yes. And it would be sin committed under our Free Will. \nEvidence shows that many miscarried fetuses are malformed. And others are perfect. So we know that God does not use simply malformation as the basis for abortion. God must use other information. For example, God may know that a person is simply not ready for a child. Or the person may not be able to support a
702646
"Because they believed not the word of God as truth, for this cause shall God send them strong delusion that they should believe a lie."  Mormonism is fallacy, strong delusion to those who do not want to follow the true Messaiah. If Mormons would read the true word of God and not blindly follow false proplhets (Prophedts of Baal) they would understand why the Word says that "turning aside from the Truth, they have turned to fables."\n"-Help stamp out ignorance. Read your Bible"