Religious Question

[J Scott]

Tim asked in another thread that I start a new thread on this topic, and while I don't see much value in discussion religion on an Internet forum, I'll at least continue this discussion from the other thread with a religious question for Tim...

[Note that I've put this in the Political Talk section, as it's likely to be one of those similar divisive topics... :)

Also note that I'm not trying to offend anyone. I'm doing my best to write this from a non-judgmental and purely inquisitive perspective. If you are insulted by religious questions, please feel free to stop reading now.]

Okay, here's my question for Tim (and anyone else that's interested in answering)...

There have been thousands of religions throughout history, and one of the things that many of them have in common is the belief that there is a supreme being that created and controls everything. Some religions believe there are lots of things supreme beings (Greeks believed in hundreds of Gods).

I don't want to debate whether there is a supreme being or not...I can understand why people feel the need to believe in something bigger than themselves...it gives a sense of purpose, hope, and direction.

What I want to better understand is why people believe in their particular god and their particular history of the universe as opposed to the other thousands of gods and other thousands of of stories of these gods?

For example, as someone who is not religious, hearing the story of the Bible, the story of the Book of Mormon, the story of the Koran, the stories of the Greeks and the Romans and their gods, the story of Scientology, etc, they all sound pretty much equally believable (or unbelievable, depending on your perspective).

Hearing about 72 virgins awaiting martyrs in heaven sounds no more or less far-fetched than hearing about the fiery pits of hell. And it's all about the same as hearing about the comet Hale-Bopp coming to take Heaven's Gate believers away to the stars.

As far as I can tell, there's no evidence that suggests the Roman God of the Sun is any more or less real that than the Judeo-Christian God, and I'm quite certain that a few thousand years ago, the belief in the Sun God was just as fervent as today's belief in a Christian God. And they had just as much evidence back then that a god (or more than one) exists as we do today.

So, if you're religious, why do you believe your religion has the correct interpretation of historical events and the correct interpretation of the supreme being versus the other thousands of religions and cults throughout history?

I've heard people say, "I have no proof, it's just my belief."

While that's absolutely fine, I don't understand how that person can ever say that another religion "has it wrong." They would have to admit that maybe the Greeks were right; maybe the Muslims are right; maybe the Scientologists are right; and that quantitatively (i.e., taking your beliefs out of it), there's JUST AS MUCH CHANCE that other religions are right as yours is.

So, I guess my question boils down to:

What makes you believe that your religious belief system "holds more water" than any others, outside of the fact that yours may (or may not) have more followers and/or a better propaganda system?

And, if on the off chance, your response is, "It's just my belief, my faith, and that's all there is to it," then my follow-up question is:

Is there any other area of your life (besides religion) where you have an unflappable belief in something, and where you'd throw out all evidence and rationale in lieu of your faith and belief.

Again, not trying to offend...just genuinely curious...