Does anybody else do this?
I've mainly tried Christianity, over and over. I can sort of get into it, partly because you get promised that if you do, if you read the Bible and pray, faith will be given to you. I don't want to miss out. But it's never worked for long. The Bible, for instance, with all the contradictions; would God send us such a document? Maybe it's been corrupted, through mistakes and translations of translations or even deliberately--but would God allow that to happen? I get driven farther away from Christianity when I read it.
I'm tempted now, but don't tell anybody (I live in the US "Bible Belt"), to try Islam. With that one, you're supposed to read all the arguments for why it's the truth, and make up your mind. I'm reading those, and also the Quran. There is a lot that's appealing in the Quran, and a little bit that's not, but so far, no contradictions. The violence thing: So far, it's saying that you can defend yourself, or your faith I think, but if the other side isn't attacking you, you shouldn't use violence, and even when you do, you shouldn't do it to excess, whatever they mean by that but I would guess no torture, maybe no killing of noncombatants. On women: so far, they are given a lot of respect, but there is a line about chastising your wife. It comes after several suggestions for things to try first, and it says that when the problem is ended you're not supposed to continue any repercussions. So, I dunno, but I'm still reading. (Also, it makes the point that men are assigned to take care of women since they're weaker. Take care of, not primarily chastise. I see it as an overall nurturing attitude.)
As for the evidence, and there is a lot on Islam-promoting sites, it's all challenged elsewhere, but so is Christianity's evidence. I haven't read it all yet; maybe something will ring a bell.
Okay, my point is not to praise Islam or even discuss it, but just to open up the topic of trying out religions. IF this worked and if God, or Allah (same thing, different language) will finally allow me to believe a religion because I finally got the right one, I will be happy.
Agnosticism is a lonely road for me. Is it for you? There are atheist groups but I can't go that far. I even tried it, but it also has problems that keep me from really, unreservedly believing it. And to be honest, I don't want it to be right.
I've mainly tried Christianity, over and over. I can sort of get into it, partly because you get promised that if you do, if you read the Bible and pray, faith will be given to you. I don't want to miss out. But it's never worked for long. The Bible, for instance, with all the contradictions; would God send us such a document? Maybe it's been corrupted, through mistakes and translations of translations or even deliberately--but would God allow that to happen? I get driven farther away from Christianity when I read it.
I'm tempted now, but don't tell anybody (I live in the US "Bible Belt"), to try Islam. With that one, you're supposed to read all the arguments for why it's the truth, and make up your mind. I'm reading those, and also the Quran. There is a lot that's appealing in the Quran, and a little bit that's not, but so far, no contradictions. The violence thing: So far, it's saying that you can defend yourself, or your faith I think, but if the other side isn't attacking you, you shouldn't use violence, and even when you do, you shouldn't do it to excess, whatever they mean by that but I would guess no torture, maybe no killing of noncombatants. On women: so far, they are given a lot of respect, but there is a line about chastising your wife. It comes after several suggestions for things to try first, and it says that when the problem is ended you're not supposed to continue any repercussions. So, I dunno, but I'm still reading. (Also, it makes the point that men are assigned to take care of women since they're weaker. Take care of, not primarily chastise. I see it as an overall nurturing attitude.)
As for the evidence, and there is a lot on Islam-promoting sites, it's all challenged elsewhere, but so is Christianity's evidence. I haven't read it all yet; maybe something will ring a bell.
Okay, my point is not to praise Islam or even discuss it, but just to open up the topic of trying out religions. IF this worked and if God, or Allah (same thing, different language) will finally allow me to believe a religion because I finally got the right one, I will be happy.
Agnosticism is a lonely road for me. Is it for you? There are atheist groups but I can't go that far. I even tried it, but it also has problems that keep me from really, unreservedly believing it. And to be honest, I don't want it to be right.