Belief Systems

Belief Systems. Randall Niles addresses the foundational authority of various worldviews and religions. (This is a 2007 low res classic - For higher quality, please visit "Origin of Religion" on this same YouTube channel.)

WHAT IS FOUNDATIONAL AUTHORITY?

Simply, foundational authority is the whole enchilada! Its a matter of what youre staking your entire life and eternal future on!

Whats your worldview?

Whats your belief system?

Whats the foundation on which you build your existence?

Over 900 million people in the world call themselves Hindus. Their belief system is based on a wide variety of philosophical writings beginning as early as 2500 BC, including the Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, and the Bhagavad Gita.

Over 650 million people in the world loosely call themselves Buddhists. The original authority for that belief system is probably a man named Siddhartha Gautama in the mid-500s BC, with writings such as the Pali Canon.

Over 1.5 billion people in the world call themselves Muslims. The original authority on which their entire belief system lies is the Quran, written by Muhammad in the early 600s AD.

Mormons base their belief system on a couple of books written by Joseph Smith in the 1830s, including the Book of Mormon.

Jehovahs Witnesses ground their belief system to a series of Bible commentaries called, Studies in the Scriptures, written by Charles Russell in the late 1800s.

Christian Science is based on the teachings of Mary Baker Eddy in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.

The Church of Scientology is based on the teachings of L. Ron Hubbard in Dyanetics.

The list goes on and on

Many people today follow the teachings of a so-called guru, a self-labeled scholar, or a high-profile pastor CAUTION!

What is the authority on which these teachers (and thus, you) are building a belief system? Thats something to really think about

OK, whats my point?

Foundational authority is everything!

The Quran is either the word of God, or its not.

The Book of Mormon is either the word of God, or its not.

The Vedas and Upanishads are either the words of many gods, or theyre not.

The Bible is either the Word of God, or its not.

That's why I encourage you to keep studying for a lifetime!

Whether its the Bible or any of the other aforementioned texts, why are they special? What makes them trustworthy? What makes them powerful and credible as an authority for your spiritual journey? Indeed, are you truly willing to stake your life (and death) on them?

We all have to ground our belief system in something. It might be a holy book, it might be a guru, or it might be our own rational self, but its a decision we cant take lightly

Visit http://www.allaboutreligion.org/origin-of-religion.htm to further explore the origin and development of the world's belief systems.

Also, go to http://www.randallniles.com/videos.htm to watch more videos about Belief Systems!

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Belief Systems
• Worldviews
• Religions
• Randall Niles
• Hinduism
• Buddhism
• Islam
• Mormonism
• Christianity

[EsheAhkura]

Systems of belief define our initial reality here in this: holographic ("Veedia") Universe.

[InScienceITrust]

@reflect7 Thank You for your reply

[InScienceITrust]

@reflect7 I have no problem putting faith into this over a certain old book which I find to be immoral. I have a higher standard of morality than the bible, I do have faith in my own logical reasoning, it's all anyone has. It is matter acting on matter which has developed our intellect and our moralities. I don't follow your last statement. How can I have faith in my logical reasoning anymore than yours? If I understand this, the answer is because I experience my own reasoning and I do not yours

[InScienceITrust]

@reflect7 FYI, I saw both vids on this topic, I do have faith that after I die there may be some continuation of conscience in this stream of energy we exist within. Our lifes lessons may be retained and we may progress and grow on this plane of existance. When we reach total mass retain we cross over to the next level of enlightenment. This is the basis of an album by Yes, called Close to the Edge. Maybe a story, but it is one I can have faith in.

[reflect7]

@InScienceITrust We all have faith. We have faith in certain outcomes based on a mishmash of logic, reason, experience, feelings, authoritative influences, teachers, mentors, etc. In fact, some of us have faith in the absolute truth inherent in our own logical reasoning. However, on what basis are you trusting your own inherent reason? If we're purely a naturalistic result of matter acting on matter over a long period of time, how can you have faith in your logical reasoning anymore than mine?

[InScienceITrust]

@randallniles Are you suggesting that, faith, which = I think I believe that is correct but I can't prove it, trumps logical reasoning? This would imply to me that you prefer to follow something on faith or unknowing over reasoning something out. Yes human logic got us to where we are now. If science settled for faith, discovery and progress would come to a standstill.

[InScienceITrust]

@DeistReality I would like to take a look at your recommended on line library for Thomas Paine, can you be more specific or supply me with a link? What or where is the "online library"? Thank You!

[stupidtreehugger]

Under pressure I may lie to some extent, but that is not my preference, lies reap corruption, while truth brings lasting goodness, and I know that I am a truthseeker and sower, and if I am such a one, I know I cannot be the only nor the first one. It turns out there is truth in everything, for everything came out from one single great energy and everything will surely also return to it, even as the origin and final goal of all existence cannot be destroyed.

[stupidtreehugger]

Did you ever consider how, while Rice Crispies come from outer space, Cocoa Pops come from deep inside the earth? Either way, don't you think we should change to a sustainable rice-based breakfast cereal policy before its too late? I mean, why take the risk and think sensibly about anything?

[clubsoda69]

I believe in Jesus Christ.