Which religion should I choose to believe in?

 

Firstly why should I believe in any religion at all?
The spirit realm may only be a figment of my imagination.
What proof is there of the supernatural?

 

Secular evidence for the existence of supernatural reality. 

1. Observation
2. Chance and probability
3. Phenomenon
4. Resource material
5. Definitions

 

1. Observation.

Observation is the action or process of closely observing or monitoring.

When I observe an object or an event with one or more of my five senses, I perceive that this object or event is real.

My record of this observation enables me to know that such an object or event existed in the past.

This constitutes the first level of veracity.

Records of another person having observed details of an object or event which existed in the past constitute the second level of veracity.

I can choose to believe or not to believe them.

If these records show internal consistency and external consistency, I will tend to consider them as reliable.

Internal consistency is the lack of contradictory statements in the record.

External consistency is the presence of descriptions which correspond with the times, names, places and events around about the time when the object existed or event occurred.

The degree to which I can consider such records as reliable is the degree I believe that such an object or event is real

 

2. Chance and probability

Chance is the occurrence of events in the absence of any obvious design or cause.

Probability is the extent to which something is likely to happen or to be the case.

How do I estimate the probability of an event occurring at any point in time?

This depends on the past history of occurrence of that event.

Take for instance, the rising of the sun within the next 24 hours. The probability is almost one in one. Why not one in one? This is because there is a very remote chance that an astronomic cataclysm may occur to our solar system. I maintain this opinion because I extrapolate from the observation that such events have been observed in other solar systems.

I know that the rising of the sun every 24 hours is the result of the rotation of the earth about its own axis. My question is how this rotation came about in the first place. Was it by chance or by design?

Scissors is an instrument used for cutting cloth and paper, consisting of two crossing blades pivoted in the middle and operated by thumb and fingers inserted in rings at each end

Scissors are not found in nature. They are the product of man.

If I have an attitude that I am not interested in the origin of scissors, the matter stops here.

If, on the other hand, I have an attitude that I am interested in the origin of scissors, my next question is how did the first scissor come about?

I do not know the answer.

I can only guess that some occurrence in nature gave the idea to a person who used it to modify two knives to act as the two blades of the scissors.

I can guess that the occurrence in nature happened by chance. I can also guess that the idea came to the inventor by chance.

By this form of reasoning, I can attribute the origin of the scissors to chance.

By this form of reasoning, I can attribute the origin of any and every contrived object or process to chance.

As far as natural objects are concerned, I can also hold the opinion that all are the product of chance operating on previous objects.

This form of reasoning allows me to extrapolate to the logical conclusion that all existence is the product of chance.

Did matter come about by chance?

If I am of the attitude to believe this, then this discussion stops here.

If I am of the attitude to consider other alternatives, where is my starting point in reality?

I choose to look at phenomena and see what they indicate.

 

3. Phenomenon

Phenomenon is a fact or situation that is observed to exist or happen, especially one whose cause is in question.

I would like to discuss two phenomena.

The existence of matter is a phenomenon.

If I am of the opinion that matter existed from the infinite past, then I may find it pointless to continue this discussion.

However, is this opinion supported by evidence?

I prefer to commence my inquiry from the starting point of reality.

I could look at evidence from astronomy and physics.

Observational cosmology including findings from the Hubble telescope provided evidence for the expanding universe as arising from a point source some 10 to 20 billion years ago.   

The ambient temperature of outer space is three degrees Kelvin, consistent with a big bang origin of the universe. 

Moreover, the half-life decay of radioactive elements indicate the origin to be 12 to 15 billion years ago.  

Thus it appears that scientific evidence support the opinion that the universe started from a finite point (singularity) between 12 and 14 billion years ago. This is described by Albert Einstein as the Big Bang.

Hence the opinion that matter existed from the infinite past is not supported by observed reality.

The next logical question would be what was it like before the big bang?

I do not know the answer.

One possible answer is that there was nothing.

But how can something as large and as massive as the universe arise from nothing?

Permit me to drop this discussion thread for the moment. I will come back to it later.

The next phenomenon is something completely different.

Some temple mediums have given uncannily accurate confidential private and personal details of the departed. Some have even spoken in the voice and accent of the departed.

One explanation is that this phenomenon has occurred by chance. However, the consistency of this ability in some temple mediums indicate that the likelihood of chance is rather remote.

There are cases of children being able to recall events experienced by deceased individuals when they were alive. 

One explanation is that this phenomenon has occurred by chance. However, the number of corroborated cases indicate that the likelihood of chance is rather remote.

These phenomena are not explicable from the reality governed by our space-time dimensions.

However a reality outside the constraints of our space-time reality would be able to explain these phenomena.

I call this reality supernatural reality.

It is conceivable that this extra reality existed before the Big Bang which occurred 10 to 20 billion years ago.

How do I explain this extra reality?

For my answer to how I explain supernatural reality, click here.

 

4. Resource material

Observational cosmology including findings from the Hubble telescope provided evidence for the expanding universe as arising from a point source some 10 to 20 billion years ago. 
ftp://ftp.hq.nasa.gov/pub/pao/pressrel/1999/99-065.txt

http://www.astro.ucla.edu/~wright/age.html  

The ambient temperature of outer space is three degrees Kelvin, consistent with the theory of a big bang origin of the universe.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmic_microwave_background
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/databank/entries/dp65co.html 

Moreover, the half-life decay of radioactive elements indicate the origin to be 12 to 15 billion years ago.
http://astro.berkeley.edu/~dperley/univage/univage.html
http://www.astro.ucla.edu/~wright/age.html  

Some temple mediums have given uncannily accurate confidential private and personal details of the departed. Some have even spoken in the voice and accent of the departed.
http://faculty.orinst.ox.ac.uk/terhaar/shamanism.htm

There are cases of children being able to recall events experienced by deceased individuals when they were alive. 
(Old  Souls,  the  scientific  evidence  for  past  lives  by  Tom  Shroder, published  by  Simon &  Schuster,  Rockefeller  Center,  1230,  Ave of the Americas,  New  York,  NY  10020.  ISBN  0-684-85192-X © 1999 providing details of the work of Ian Stevenson)
http://www.merliannews.com/Books_6/Old_Souls_The_Scientific_Evidence_for_Past_Lives_by_Tom_Shroder.shtml

 

Next          

To see my answers to some challenging questions, click on the following hyperlinks.

Secular evidence for the existence of supernatural reality (Home page)
How I explain supernatural reality

Bible prophecies have correctly predicted events in secular history
Predictions about Yeshua (Jesus)
Which religion should I choose to believe in
Why I believe Islam and Islamic belief are false
Why I believe Hinduism and Hindu belief are false
Why I believe Buddhism and Buddhist belief are false
Why I believe New Age and New Age belief are false
Why I believe Baha'i and Baha'i belief are false
Miracles performed by Jesus Christ
Why things happen the way they do
Is there free will when exercising choice
How can three be one
Invitation to spread the message
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5. Definitions

The following are the definitions of terms used in this discussion.

Actual: Existing in fact

Belief: An acceptance that something exists or is true, especially one without proof.  A firmly held opinion or conviction

Believe: Feel sure of the truth.  Accept the statement (of someone) as true

Believe in: Have faith in the truth or existence of

Chance: A possibility of something happening; The probability of something happening.  The occurrence of events in the absence of any obvious design or cause

Clairvoyance: The supposed faculty of perceiving events in the future or beyond normal sensory contact. 

Clairvoyant: A person claiming to have clairvoyance.

Create: Bring into existence

Creation: The action or process of creating
A thing which has been made or invented, especially something showing artistic talent

Design: A plan or drawing produced to show the look and function or workings of something before it is built or made
The art or action of conceiving and producing such a plan or drawing
Purpose or planning that exists behind an action or object
To do or plan something with a specific purpose in mind

Event A thing that happens or takes place

Exist Having objective reality or being

Fact A thing that is indisputably the case
The truth about events as opposed to interpretation

Faith: Complete trust or confidence. Strong belief in a religion based on spritual apprehension rather than proof. A system of religious belief

Guess: Estimate or suppose (something) without sufficient information to be sure of being correct
Correctly conjecture or perceive

Guesswork: The process or result of guessing

History: The study of past events
A continuous, typically chronological, record of past events or trends

Idea: A thought or suggestion as to a possible course of action
A mental impression
A belief

Intent: Intention or purpose

Intention: An aim or plan
The action or fact of intending

Intentional: Deliberate

Invent Create or design ( a new device, process etc)

Invention: The action of inventing
Something invented

Know: Be aware of through observation, inquiry or information. Be absolutely sure of something

Knowledge: Information and skills acquired through experience or education.  Awareness or familiarity gained through experience. True, justified belief, as opposed to opinion

Likely: Such as well might happen or be true

Logic: Reasoning conducted or assessed according to strict principles of validity
The ability to reason correctly

Nature The phenomena of the physical world collectively, including plants, animals and the landscape as opposed to humans or human creations
The basic or inherent features, qualities or character of a person or thing

Natural: Existing in or derived from nature; not made, caused by, or processed by humans

Observe: Notice, perceive

Observation: The action or process of closely observing or monitoring
A comment based on something one has seen, heard or noticed

Opinion: A view or judgement not necessarily based on fact or knowledge  An estimation of quality or worth 

Paranormal: Events or phenomena supposedly beyond the scope of normal scientific understanding.

Phenomenon: A fact or situation that is observed to exist or happen, especially one whose cause is in question

Physical:  Relating to things perceived through the senses as opposed to the mind
Tangible or concrete

Probability: The extent to which something is probable

Probable: Likely to happen or to be the case

Real: Actually existing or occurring in fact, not imagined or supposed
Relating to something as it is, not merely as it may be described or distinguished

Reality: The state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them
Things that are actually experienced or seen
The state or quality of having existence or substance
Existence that is absolute, self-sufficient or objective, and not subject to human decisions or conventions

Reason: The power of the mind to think, understand and to form judgments logically

Reliable: Able to be relied on.

Rely:  Trust fully
Have faith in
Be dependent on  

Séance: a meeting at which people attempt to make contact with the dead.

Secular: Not religious, sacred, or spiritual.

Shaman: A person regarded as having access to, and influence in, the world of good and evil spirits, especially among some peoples of northern Asia and North America.

Spiritual: Relating to or affecting the human spirit as opposed to material or physical things. 
Relating to religion or religious belief.

Supernatural: A manifestation or event is described as supernatural if it is attributed to some force beyond scientific understanding or the laws of nature.

Theory: Supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain something, especially one based on general principles independent of the thing to be explained

True: In accordance with fact or reality
Genuine

Truth: The quality or state of being true
That which is true as opposed to false

Valid: Actually supporting the intended point or claim

Veracious Speaking or representing the truth

Veracity: Conformity to facts
Accuracy

Verify: Make sure or demonstrate that something is true, accurate or justified

 

Next          

To see my answers to some challenging questions, click on the following hyperlinks.

Secular evidence for the existence of supernatural reality (Home page)
How I explain supernatural reality

Bible prophecies have correctly predicted events in secular history
Predictions about Yeshua (Jesus)
Which religion should I choose to believe in
Why I believe Islam and Islamic belief are false
Why I believe Hinduism and Hindu belief are false
Why I believe Buddhism and Buddhist belief are false
Why I believe New Age and New Age belief are false
Why I believe Baha'i and Baha'i belief are false
Miracles performed by Jesus Christ
Why things happen the way they do
Is there free will when exercising choice
How can three be one
Invitation to spread the message
Back to home page

 

If you are coming back here again, you may like to bookmark this page

Please contact the Webmaster at questionsfinallyanswered@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments.