Why do people feel that their religion is better than others? That you can only serve God through their own religion? You need to change religions?

[Tinana]

I’ve always wondered why people are so closed minded religiously. My friend is dating a Muslim and fantasies of how amazing the relationship would be if he converted to Christianity and grows in God with her spiritually. When she said that I had to ask her how she would feel if he asked her to convert to Islam and she said it would be a deal breaker for her. So why would you want him to leave what he loves and believes in. Because the more I think about it your society comes to play. If I was born in northern nigeria I’m more likely to be Muslim and believe in all things Islam. I’m from southern nigeria so we’re majorly Christians. If I was in China probably not have a religion. In India I’d probably be Hindu. So why do people keep believing there’s is better. Or you’d grow better spiritually if you’re Christian or the other religions are wrong or sinful to be atheist when a lot of times it’s relative to your society. i don’t believe you need to be religious to be a good person just like not all Christians are good people. So I’d never ever understand why some people thing others need to change for them. I’m personally never changing for anyone out of the question.

[BCRanger10]

Okay, there's a lot to go over here.

The first thing I should note is that the object of religion is not necessarily or solely to make someone a "good person" or to give them good morals, at least not for the sake of having said good morals. That is important, make no mistake, but that is not the ultimate end of religious faith. The object of true religion is ultimately to reconcile man with God and to give Him the love, worship, service, and devotion that is rightly and justly due to Him. It's to make man pleasing and relatable to God, as opposed to making God pleasing and relatable to man.

With that established, true religion should extend beyond political, geographic, and cultural boundaries. If so, then that would explain why switches from one religion to another. There's a Catholic television channel called EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network) that has a program called The Journey Home and it's all guests explaining why they converted from Islam, Judaism, atheism, Hinduism, New Age and paganism, Evangelicalism and Protestantism, and other various beliefs to the Catholic Church.

Sure, if you're born in a certain place, you're more likely to be raised to believe the dominant religion of that place, but that doesn't always happen. I've known at least two Catholic priests who were born and raised in Catholic families in India. And, to return for a quick second to the last paragraph, I know one priest from Ghana who, if I'm not mistaken, converted to the Catholic Church and, after being ordained, baptized his pagan father on his deathbed (at least I think that's what happened).

So in the end, it's not that adherents necessarily think that their religion is better than another, but they presumably believe that it is true. And the idea that all religions are equally true is, well, false.

[iamjustaman]

The apostle Paul admonished Christians to marry only in the lord, or someone of like faith. In the ten commandments it is clearly stated that God is Jealous when it comes to worship of him. He would not tolerate false gods being used to represent him. And he would not share his glory with graven images. His people were to be set apart from the rest, and if they remained faithful, he would bless them and teach them how to benefit themselves. This is why Jesus also said light has no share with darkness.
A good point you make here is that you won't change for anyone. That is a good attitude. If you change anything it should be asked of your love for God and the truth about what he wants you to do. In reality there are only 2 paths and religions, the true religion and the false. You can recognize which one is approved by God based of the actions of the organization, not by individual. Your friend trusted her own heart and ignored the advice she knows from the scriptures. It probably won't play out the way she wants unfortunately, but it's not guaranteed. However there will be trials for them.

[CountessSarah]

Religions are designed to be mutually exclusive this way. Religions are businesses that are competing with one another for customers. So, it's in their best interest to make sure that their followers belong to them and only to them.

If you thought someone elses religion was better than yours, you'd just... join it and leave your current one. It shouldn't surprise anyone that everyone thinks the religion they belong to is the correct one.

[XXblack88]

Your friend means well but I do agree with you on not wanting to change just cause another person wants you to be a certain way. If she wants a Christian boyfriend maybe she should find a God fearing Christian man.

[jennifer_bloom]

My philosophy is I do not have time to study all the religions so I will study the one I follow

[slatyb]

I don't know, it's bizarre to me. I figured this out at 10 when I read my mother's TIME-LIFE book on world religions. I thought "Wow, everyone who believes is sure their religion is the true one. That's impossible, they can't all be true." And as you pointed out, most people just believe the religion of their parents. Soon I had the answer: there's no reason to believe any of them. That was the end for me. I soon told my mother I no longer wanted to attend church. I've never had a second thought about it.

I'm surprised they are dating.

[cth96190]

The scriptures of both Christian and Islam (and I suspect most other religions) state that they are the only revealed word of God.
Hence, all parties believe that their faith is the only one that is correct.
Re Islam, the Quran commands that if your friend's boyfriend converts to another religion he has to be killed by male relatives. Islam is one of the few religions that has a commandment to kill unbelievers and those who renounce the religion.
A reading of the Quran shows that Allah has little in common with the God of Jesus, which, to a Christian, means that Islam has to have been created by Satan.

[Adronicus]

I don't feel this way. I think it's good to share ideas, respect free will & let people accept or reject what they think for themselves. No one has the right to dictate but this doesn't mean others cannot challenge opinions / ideas. I'm a Babtist but I been away for a great many years. Wouldn't exactly call myself a good Christian as I'm angry with God in more ways than one. Recently started going again.

[jshm2]

You're confused, as it's nothing to do with religion, and more to do with family dynamics, personal preferences and culture.

Your "friend" is just talking shit to get you talking about religion.

[007kingifrit]

it's evolution to wipe out competing gene pools to protect your own. muslims are bad people with a bad set of ideas and are not compatible with a civilized society

[baserunner611]

Before she does have her call the state Department to some who married

[Anonymous]

BECAUSE MY GOD CHRIST

DIVIDED THE NATIONS ACCORDING TO THE FALLEN ANGELS

THE OTHER GODS ARE FALLEN ANGELS

[WhitneySnow]

You raise a really good point

[Nahid1707]

Your friend wants love

[Sam_25]

Religion is scam...