True truths

Helping people find the truth about religion

 

 

 

IN AMERICA,

WE ARE FREE

TO CHOOSE

HOW WE BELIEVE

True Truths:
100 Days Toward True Understanding of You and Your Religion


For those who want to get closer to the truth, commit yourself to read through these pages and the related materials in the next 100 days. As you do, read excerpts from the books and web sites listed to gain a better perspective of the truths surrounding religion. After you do, you will be better informed and better prepared to defend your current faith or to direct your actions and faith in another direction. Either way, it will make the truth clearer and your ultimate convictions stronger.

Email your thoughts on any of these topics to truetruths@earthlink.net . I am compiling information for a new book to include comments from you and other readers.

Confirm these stated facts. (If you cannot confirm these facts, you are living in a fantasy world, and there probably is no use in going on. You have decided to ignore reality and believe whatever you have been told to believe.)

· People have worshipped hundreds of different gods and idols throughout our history.

· Man has often used religion as a weapon to kill and destroy people and their civilizations.

· Millions of people have died in the name of various gods.

· There are people who have invented lies and deceptions under the guise of religion to gain control over people and their riches.

· There are many (name at least two or three) religions or cults that we know are based on false teachings and lies.

· Many people are taught and believe the religion of their parents.

· Before making an important decision, intelligent people study all (or as much as is feasible) the relevant information available before making that important decision.

· It would be foolish, immature and irresponsible to make an important decision after having heard only what one group wants you to hear, when the other information is readily available and present for your investigation.


Answer these questions:

How many different religions have there been throughout history? What are the similarities? Differences?

Why are there so many stories of gods that are so similar to the story of Jesus Christ (many of which are hundreds or even thousands of years older than the story of Jesus Christ)? Many of these stories tell of the son of god, born of a virgin in a cave or manger around December 25, performing miracles, being betrayed, crucified and risen around Easter time, atoning for our sins, etc.) www.truthbeknown.com .

What are some ways men and women can gain control of other men and women? How does religion do this?

Why do I believe as I believe?

Why do Christians believe in Jesus Christ and the Bible?

Why do Muslims believe in Mohammed and the Koran?

Why do Mormons believe in Joseph Smith, Brigham Young and the Book of Mormon?

Why do Moonies believe in Sun Myung Moon and his teachings?

Why do Buddhists and Hindus and Jews and other religions believe as they believe?

Am I parroting what others have told me or what I have read?

Have I critically thought about my beliefs? Have I studied other religions?

If I was born into a family that believed and practiced a different religion, what would I believe today?

Would I follow Jim Jones? Why or why not?

Would I follow Jesus Christ? Why or why not?

Would I follow Mohammed? Why or why not?

Would I follow Sun Myung Moon? Why or why not?

Would I follow David Koresch? Why or why not?

Would I follow Joseph Smith and Brigham Young? Why or why not?

Would I follow Buddha? Why or why not?

Would I follow Kristna? Why or why not?

Would I follow Zeus? Why or why not?

Would I follow Bennie Hinn? Why or why not?

Would I follow Jim and Tammy Baker? Why or why not?

Would I follow the Dalai Lama? Why or why not?

Is the Bible the word of God? Why or why not?

Is the Koran the word of God? Why or why not?

Is the Book of Mormon the word of God? Why or why not?

Do you believe in original sin?

Why would a loving, caring, all powerful, almighty, omnipresent god command you to give 10% (or some other portion) of your wealth to some religion?

Why would a loving, caring, all powerful, almighty, omnipresent god want you to bow down before him, build great shrines and monuments to him, and give sacrifices of animals, food, and riches to him?

Why did the God of the Bible “choose” the Jews as his chosen people? Why would God choose any one little group of people over all the other people of the world?

Why does God (or Jesus) select some people to heal or raise from the dead (healing the blind man, raising Lazarus from the dead, for example) and yet millions of others suffer from illnesses, disease, torture and abuse that God ignores and refuses to help?

Is God in control of everything? Does God have a plan? Does he know what, when and where everything will happen? www.truetruths.com

If yes, then why does he let people suffer so? Why did he plan for terrorists to crash planes into the World Trade Center and kill thousands of innocent victims? Why does he allow the torture and murders of millions? Why does he allow starvation and disease and natural disasters?

Do you believe the stories of Adam and Eve, Noah’s Ark, Joshua and the Walls of Jericho, Jonah and the Whale, and the parting of the Red Sea are all true? Why or why not?

Is there a God? If yes, what is his purpose? What does he want us to do?

Is God cruel? Is he vengeful? Is he hateful? Is he vindictive? Is he a murderer? Would you believe in and praise and idolize a god who was? (see especially the Old Testament) http://www.truthbeknown.com/

How does prayer work? www.truetruths.com .

What is the best way to arrive at the truth? Following are some suggestions:

Read these books (or to begin, at least the pages listed). Listing these books does not necessarily mean the author agrees with them. They are offered for their insight, their perspectives, and their arguments. They provide fodder for thinking.

- Passages from your religious book
- Bible
- Koran
- Book of Mormon
- Other?

The Christ Conspiracy: The Greatest Story Ever Sold, by Acharya S.
Preface i
Introduction pages 1 – 12
Conclusion pages 407 – 417

Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand, (especially pages 931 – 968)

True Truths, by Creighton Ainsworth

The World’s Religions, by Huston Smith

More Than a Carpenter, by Josh McDowell

Losing Faith in Faith, by Dan Barker


Check out these websites (think as you surf and read the text and articles). Again, listing these sites does not mean the author agrees with them – they just provide some more information to base your decisions upon. These are just a few. There are certainly many more to choose from – just make sure you look at a few from each category.


Bible sites
http://www.bible.com/
http://www.jesus-is-lord.com/
http://wbsa.logos.com/

Koran sites
http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/koran.html
http://www.hti.umich.edu/k/koran/
http://www.beconvinced.com/

Freethought
http://www.truthbeknown.com/
http://www.truetruths.com/
http://www.infidels.org/

After reading these materials and surfing these and other internet sites, answer the questions again.

Continue each day in your search for the truth. Finish those books and readings that grabbed your interest. Explore web sites that provide you with valuable information and perspective. Use your brain, use your common sense, and use your heart to tell you what is true. Don’t blindly follow others - including me - who tell you what to believe. Listen, study, discuss, and above all – THINK! After you have done all these things, then decide for yourself what is true and right and just. And then live your life accordingly.

Obviously, I have my own beliefs, and I do share and try to persuade others to see the reasoning behind my beliefs. See the last chapter of True Truths for my conclusions. But I cannot, and will not even try to, tell you what or how to believe. You owe it to yourself and those you love and care about to examine the evidence, to think about it, and to then do what your heart and your mind tell you is right. That’s all any of us can ask of each other.

Here’s to love, truth, and life!

Long live the truth!


Creighton Ainsworth

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True truths

Helping people find the truth about religion