Theos-Talk Archives (February 2001 Message tt00109)

I'm looking for someone to help answer a few voluntary questions for 
a study I'm doing for my own sake. (I'm not out to preach or convert 
anyone!)

Please email me privately with your answers. If anonymity is a 
concern, get an anonymous email account from hotmail.com or some 
other service and use an alias.

I am curious about the intensity and nature of feelings associated 
with your religion.

If you would be so kind, please answer the following questions with 
as much detail as you prefer. These are very personal questions, 
however, I would hope you are completely honest.

The following questions will refer to the word "true," I 
define "true" here as being "the correct religion/scripture," "the 
divine plan in its fullness," or "the favored path back to 
God/divinity with all the blessings possible in the afterlife"

Please submit your results to drpepper1220@yahoo.com. (Scott G) If I 
write an essay about it (ensuring anonymity of course) I will post 
the URL in this forum for you to examine.
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1. Have you read a good portion of the scriptures or canon which your 
religion offers?

2. Have you ever asked God or the divinity in which you believe 
specifically if those texts are "true"? (Please see "SUBQUESTIONS" 
below)

3. Have you ever asked God or the divinity in which you believe 
specifically if the religion in which you participate is "true"? 
(Please see "SUBQUESTIONS" below)

4. Have you ever asked God or the divinity in which you believe 
specifically if the founder of your religion was "chosen" by 
God/divinity or was a "true" prophet/leader? (Please 
see "SUBQUESTIONS" below)

**SUBQUESTIONS for #s 2-4: (Please refer to these when answering the 
above questions)

a) If you did ask, could you please sum up how you asked the 
higher power (outline of a prayer, for example).

b) If you did ask, please describe as fully as possible what the 
answer was (if any) and how it was conveyed to you. Also please 
describe as best you can the feelings you experienced, if any, in 
regards to the answer. If you prayed but did not receive an answer, 
please indicate that.

c) How sure are you that any answer you received was actually 
sent in some form from God/Divinity? Explain.

c) If you did not asked your divinity specifically about the 
above points, on what basis do you believe in them?

5. Does your religion urge people who are studying your religion to 
specifically ask God/Divinity if your religion/scripture/leaders 
are "true?"

6. If not, in what manner do they promote a belief in the religion? 
In other words, how do they convince someone to join?

7. Do you believe that God or Divinity answers prayers? If so, how 
does he/she/it answer them. If not, please explain why.

8. Choose one:

Do you __________ that your religion is "true" 
a) know
b) believe
c) have faith
d) hope
e) feel
f) think
g) don't believe
h) don't know
i) other (please explain)

and... Please describe WHY you chose what you did for question 8.

9. Are feelings an accurate indicator of truth if you feel that they 
come from God/divinity? (For example, if you are praying and have a 
peaceful or warm tingly feeling, is that an answer from God?) Why or 
why not.

10. What is your religion?

11. Are you a convert to your religion or were you born in it?

12. In your religion, is it emphasized that you should have a deep 
belief about the religion, the scriptures, and the leaders as 
being "true?" 

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Thanks so much for your participation. All the input I can gather 
will help form my ideas.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 
drpepper1220@yahoo.com