/lit/ - Literature

>>11396825
I'll just copy and paste what I asked in a similar thread a few days ago and hope I get a proper response this time:

"I have a question. Suppose you're religious. Do you believe there is A God or THE God? Do you believe that all religious people praise and pray to the same Entity (but It has different names) or do you believe 'literally' in the stories of exclusively your own religion?

As an example, let's take a look at Christianity. Do you believe that there is God, his son Jesus Christ who resurrected to save humanity and the Holy Spirit (along with the Divine Virgin Mary and Saints and what not) and that all of them are LITERAL figures and that by praying you are communicating with one of them? Or do you follow the doctrines of Christianity while recognizing other belief systems?

Let's suppose you're the first type of believer and let's suppose that somewhere exists another person who believes in, say, Hinduism. And for argument's sake, let's say that he is the most splendid person ever to exist, basically sinless. Now he's off in a temple somewhere praying to Vishnu. To remind ourselves, you don't believe that he is correct in believing in Vishnu because that would be a contradiction. When that person prays, God hears him? He is omnipotent after all? But then, is this person not a Christian? Due to geographical conditions he does have a different name for Him, yet he lives as virtuously as he can. Aren't you two worshiping the same Entity? But from his point of view, he can say exactly the same things about you (provided you are a good person which let's say you are). Would you be willing to pray to Agni? He to Jesus Christ? But isn't this the same as being a believer of the second type?

What makes A God THE God?

In my mind, this doesn't prove that there is no God, only that if there is, such an Entity would not care for the names we have in store. And the rituals which differ from religion to religion, country to country. And for the mass gatherings of praise. After all, it's not like God has ever started speaking during mass. Would it not be logical then to talk to Him in our privacy. Reformulating the question of religion into the question of believing whether or not there is a Deity with which you can communicate with your thoughts?

I apologize if it's not very coherent and if this sort of question has been addressed often, but I hope my thoughts are understandable. If there are books on this topic or something similar, please let me know!"