What will make you convert to a religion?

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deactivated-5a79221380856

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#1 deactivated-5a79221380856
Member since 2007 • 13125 Posts

I could run off a few things, but I feel as though as my thoughts are unorganized so I decided to post this question to the rest of the board members.

From what I know, empirical evidence will be satisfactory. I can only think of God revealing himself of Jesus as a good reason at the moment, but I'm sure that if a religion is true, there would be other sources of evidence that could point in favor of a God.

What are your thoughts?

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felixlynch777

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#2 felixlynch777
Member since 2008 • 1787 Posts
I won't convert to any religion that's not to say though that if God suddenly appears to me that I won't believe in him. But I think no religion has the right idea about God.
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SimpJee

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#3 SimpJee
Member since 2002 • 18309 Posts

Empirical evidence like you say, I'm also not sure I could withstand a ... realistic vision of some crazy thing like angels or a look into hell or something like that. But I believe I'm to the point where I could look at that vision and say it was because I hit my head or something. Essentially though, evidence would be the only thing that would sway me.

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creepy_mike

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#4 creepy_mike
Member since 2007 • 1092 Posts

What would make me believe: Empirical evidence as well, though I agree with SimpJee that a mere dream, "vision" or near-death experience would not be sufficient. I honestly can't imagine what sort of Scientific discovery could practically prove the existence of a divine being, given that a simple application of Occam's Razor negates the need for any higher power to control the universe, assist in its continued development, or have created it.

So with Science out of the question, it would have to be something very simple and direct, like said divine being personally revealing itself to the entire world for a period of time exceeding that of any possible dream, or even lifetime.

What would make me convert, i.e. follow the religion and worship its deity: Depends on the religion, but the answer is probably nothing all the same. If we were lucky and the supreme being was truly loving and benevolent, I can only assume I'd be off the hook and free to live the life of my choosing. But even if the God turned out to be the petty, jealous, sadistic, murderous one of, say, the Abrahamic religions, I find myself under no obligation to worship such a creature, who, through his biblical committing, condoning and commanding of things like genocide, slavery and eternal torture, would be deemed morally inferior by my reckoning (as well as his own, mind you), and would have nothing left to impress me but his one solitary "virtue": power.

If this God were to descend from his cozy paradise and reveal himself to me right now, I'd spit right in his all-mighty face. Or at least I like to think I would; perhaps fear would prevent me from doing so, or perhaps my first few minutes in Hell would make me regret it. Congratulations, God, you win by brute force.

It is also worth noting that many monotheistic sects, particularly Calvinist Christianity, maintain that a human is actually completely incapable of believing in and/or appreciating God unless he personally steps and makes them (not exactly to his credit, now is it?), so even if its all true, I'm basically a sitting duck unless God decides to make the arbitrary decision to save me himself. It'd be a bit of a digression for me to delve further into my thoughts and feelings on Calvinism, but I'm sure I'll get a chance to elaborate in a future thread.

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Uxal

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#5 Uxal
Member since 2007 • 593 Posts

The honest answer for me is that I have been a Nihilist for so long that I do not believe I could return to faith unless It was a very big event or proof. Since most of my life has been lived without the assumption of a God or Gods I don't think I need faith, since so far I have done well without any.

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domatron23

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#6 domatron23
Member since 2007 • 6226 Posts

I suppose the second coming of Jesus would make e convert, maybe some first hand miracles etc.

Failing that though a visit from the big man himself would make me fall to my knees.

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Junkie_man

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#7 Junkie_man
Member since 2008 • 1219 Posts

I suppose the second coming of Jesus would make e convert, maybe some first hand miracles etc.

Failing that though a visit from the big man himself would make me fall to my knees.

domatron23

Pretty much the same for me. A vision might do it as well, especially if there were no immediate rational explanation ( such as bash to the head,etc).

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btaylor2404

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#8 btaylor2404
Member since 2003 • 11353 Posts

Direct contact with God. Not thru a dream, or some vision, but seeing and talking to God. Not gonna happen I'm sure.

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stedtfeld

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#9 stedtfeld
Member since 2008 • 1506 Posts
Any REAL evidence.
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123625

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#10 123625
Member since 2006 • 9035 Posts
I suppose a religion that was more convincing than christianity.
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tzar3

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#11 tzar3
Member since 2006 • 12393 Posts
Nothing really.
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aliblabla2007

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#12 aliblabla2007
Member since 2007 • 16756 Posts
Enough evidence found to support the religion in question.
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Artekus

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#13 Artekus
Member since 2008 • 15700 Posts

Any REAL evidence.stedtfeld

Pretty much.

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domatron23

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#14 domatron23
Member since 2007 • 6226 Posts

These videos are quite relevant to the question at hand. How to convert an atheist in two parts

Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rqUsC2KsiI&feature=related

Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qmcOG-na4E&feature=related

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luke1889

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#15 luke1889
Member since 2004 • 14617 Posts

Empirical evidence. Not some holy ramblings by the local priest.

Maybe if God came out from his omnipresent hiding place.

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7guns

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#16 7guns
Member since 2006 • 1449 Posts

I'll have to meet the entity first and then it will face some tough questions from me8), and if it can reason with me, I would ask for one last favour -->> "Can you fry a chicken for me with your lightning bolt. I don't care about the taste, just make it look flashy.:D"

I think it's safe to say that it's never going to happen...

ATHIEST FOR LIFE!!!

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chris11211

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#17 chris11211
Member since 2005 • 643 Posts
ill need to see the god and make sure i have someone else with me who is recording everything and make sure it wasnt a dream.
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Lansdowne5

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#18 Lansdowne5
Member since 2008 • 6015 Posts

Not everything can be seen but that doesn't mean we don't believe in it. Faith is the key to eternal life. Skeptecism is the lock on it.

I believe because of my personal relationship with God. My faith is strong because I'm reminded of it everyday. The second you stop that personal relationship, doubt creeps in, and because God isn't something physical that you can just bump into in the street and be reminded of, you start to become skeptical of him and eventually just lose faith altogether.

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7guns

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#19 7guns
Member since 2006 • 1449 Posts

Not everything can be seen but that doesn't mean we don't believe in it. Faith is the key to eternal life. Skepticism is the lock on it.

I believe because of my personal relationship with God. My faith is strong because I'm reminded of it everyday. The second you stop that personal relationship, doubt creeps in, and because God isn't something physical that you can just bump into in the street and be reminded of, you start to become skeptical of him and eventually just lose faith altogether.

Lansdowne5

I say that skepticism is some sort of a fail-safe that helps us to keep our point of view realistic. By being skeptic we can differentiate between what is real and what is not. What I am saying is that you can blame someone's decission, to not believe in god, on his/her sceptic mentality, whereas I will call him/her a realist because he/she analised the whole thing and came to a logical conclusion.

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Lansdowne5

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#20 Lansdowne5
Member since 2008 • 6015 Posts
[QUOTE="Lansdowne5"]

Not everything can be seen but that doesn't mean we don't believe in it. Faith is the key to eternal life. Skepticism is the lock on it.

I believe because of my personal relationship with God. My faith is strong because I'm reminded of it everyday. The second you stop that personal relationship, doubt creeps in, and because God isn't something physical that you can just bump into in the street and be reminded of, you start to become skeptical of him and eventually just lose faith altogether.

7guns

I say that skepticism is some sort of a fail-safe that helps us to keep our point of view realistic. By being skeptic we can differentiate between what is real and what is not. What I am saying is that you can blame someone's decission, to not believe in god, on his/her sceptic mentality, whereas I will call him/her a realist because he/she analised the whole thing and came to a logical conclusion.

Maybe realistic and logical in the material world of Man. Not in the eyes of God. ;)

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7guns

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#21 7guns
Member since 2006 • 1449 Posts
[QUOTE="7guns"][QUOTE="Lansdowne5"]

Not everything can be seen but that doesn't mean we don't believe in it. Faith is the key to eternal life. Skepticism is the lock on it.

I believe because of my personal relationship with God. My faith is strong because I'm reminded of it everyday. The second you stop that personal relationship, doubt creeps in, and because God isn't something physical that you can just bump into in the street and be reminded of, you start to become skeptical of him and eventually just lose faith altogether.

Lansdowne5

I say that skepticism is some sort of a fail-safe that helps us to keep our point of view realistic. By being skeptic we can differentiate between what is real and what is not. What I am saying is that you can blame someone's decission, to not believe in god, on his/her sceptic mentality, whereas I will call him/her a realist because he/she analised the whole thing and came to a logical conclusion.

Maybe realistic and logical in the material world of Man. Not in the eyes of God. ;)

Fine by me.;)

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SimpJee

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#22 SimpJee
Member since 2002 • 18309 Posts

Maybe realistic and logical in the material world of Man.

Lansdowne5

Do you know any other world?

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Lansdowne5

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#23 Lansdowne5
Member since 2008 • 6015 Posts
[QUOTE="Lansdowne5"]

Maybe realistic and logical in the material world of Man.

SimpJee

Do you know any other world?

Yes. :)

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7guns

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#24 7guns
Member since 2006 • 1449 Posts
[QUOTE="SimpJee"][QUOTE="Lansdowne5"]

Maybe realistic and logical in the material world of Man.

Lansdowne5

Do you know any other world?

Yes. :)

Just the way you know this world?

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Lansdowne5

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#25 Lansdowne5
Member since 2008 • 6015 Posts
[QUOTE="Lansdowne5"][QUOTE="SimpJee"][QUOTE="Lansdowne5"]

Maybe realistic and logical in the material world of Man.

7guns

Do you know any other world?

Yes. :)

Just the way you know this world?

No. :)

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7guns

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#26 7guns
Member since 2006 • 1449 Posts
[QUOTE="7guns"][QUOTE="Lansdowne5"][QUOTE="SimpJee"][QUOTE="Lansdowne5"]

Maybe realistic and logical in the material world of Man.

Lansdowne5

Do you know any other world?

Yes. :)

Just the way you know this world?

No. :)

Me neither.:)

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Lansdowne5

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#27 Lansdowne5
Member since 2008 • 6015 Posts
[QUOTE="Lansdowne5"][QUOTE="7guns"][QUOTE="Lansdowne5"][QUOTE="SimpJee"][QUOTE="Lansdowne5"]

Maybe realistic and logical in the material world of Man.

7guns

Do you know any other world?

Yes. :)

Just the way you know this world?

No. :)

Me neither.:)

But that doesn't mean I don't believe it exists.

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7guns

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#28 7guns
Member since 2006 • 1449 Posts
[QUOTE="7guns"][QUOTE="Lansdowne5"][QUOTE="7guns"][QUOTE="Lansdowne5"][QUOTE="SimpJee"][QUOTE="Lansdowne5"]

Maybe realistic and logical in the material world of Man.

Lansdowne5

Do you know any other world?

Yes. :)

Just the way you know this world?

No. :)

Me neither.:)

But that doesn't mean I don't believe it exists.

Can't agree with you on that one.

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Lansdowne5

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#29 Lansdowne5
Member since 2008 • 6015 Posts

Can't agree with you on that one.

7guns

Somehow, I didn't think you would. :P

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Enosh88

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#30 Enosh88
Member since 2008 • 1728 Posts
[QUOTE="SimpJee"][QUOTE="Lansdowne5"]

Maybe realistic and logical in the material world of Man.

Lansdowne5

Do you know any other world?

Yes. :)

there is NO way you know any other world, none at all, maybe you believe there is a difrent world but thats quite a long shot away from knowing.

on topic:

god going "sup guys" from the sky would kinda convince me

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Lansdowne5

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#31 Lansdowne5
Member since 2008 • 6015 Posts
[QUOTE="Lansdowne5"][QUOTE="SimpJee"][QUOTE="Lansdowne5"]

Maybe realistic and logical in the material world of Man.

Enosh88

Do you know any other world?

Yes. :)

there is NO way you know any other world, none at all, maybe you believe there is a difrent world but thats quite a long shot away from knowing.

on topic:

god going "sup guys" from the sky would kinda convince me

Yes there is. I KNOW God exists. God is a spiritual being, so therefore I believe in the Spiritual world.

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Bourbons3

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#32 Bourbons3
Member since 2003 • 24238 Posts
Unless God actually appears, I'm unlikely to convert to a religion.
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-Keel-_basic

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#33 -Keel-_basic
Member since 2002 • 4137 Posts
Perhaps I would convert for a short time for a large sum of cash.
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dmc333

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#34 dmc333
Member since 2002 • 766 Posts
Someone sexy...
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#35 Strategist1117
Member since 2006 • 5954 Posts
What will make you convert to a religion?Genetic_Code
They'd either have to provide factual evidence of their legitimacy or pay me lots of money.
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felixlynch777

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#36 felixlynch777
Member since 2008 • 1787 Posts

Yes there is. I KNOW God exists. God is a spiritual being, so therefore I believe in the Spiritual world.

Lansdowne5

Yes but a lot of people knewthat the world is flat, a lot of people knew Hitler was an alright guy.

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Strategist1117

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#37 Strategist1117
Member since 2006 • 5954 Posts
Yes but a lot of people knewthat the world is flat, a lot of people knew Hitler was an alright guy.felixlynch777
Oh, and don't forget that everyone knew that the universe revolved around the earth! And that belief was directly enforced by the Catholic Church.;)
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#38 gbpman630
Member since 2003 • 2795 Posts
Clear, substantial evidence that their beliefs are logical and true.
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#39 Sitri_
Member since 2008 • 731 Posts

Perhaps I would convert for a short time for a large sum of cash.-Keel-_basic

So would you like a job in politics or the clergy?

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rogan4310

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#40 rogan4310
Member since 2007 • 5160 Posts
For me to convert to religion... Well I have already converted from religion so I would need serious substantial evidence proving that God exists. And as I dont see that jappening I cant see me converting back..
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_Tobli_

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#41 _Tobli_
Member since 2007 • 5733 Posts

I won't convert to any religion that's not to say though that if God suddenly appears to me that I won't believe in him. But I think no religion has the right idea about God.felixlynch777

I agree with this statement. 

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#42 CptJSparrow
Member since 2007 • 10898 Posts
Dogma I would never adhere to by any means... a Creator I will through convincing personal encounter.
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kellymae

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#43 kellymae
Member since 2005 • 878 Posts
The day god holds a press conference I will become religious.
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deactivated-5a79221380856

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#44 deactivated-5a79221380856
Member since 2007 • 13125 Posts

The day god holds a press conference I will become religious. kellymae

Oh snap. Zing! That was clever.

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#45 dracula_16
Member since 2005 • 15993 Posts

I don't think I'd ever convert. If god existed and somehow payed me a visit then he'd have to ask forgiveness from me-- not the other way around. He'd already have blood on his hands which would be impossible to wash off. I'm talking of course about the one from Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Reason why I talk about him is because he's the most likely god to exist, imo.