Every pursuit needs to have rules by which it is conducted or we cannot fairly evaluate our progress or failure. Similarly, instead of just coming up with random ideas about God and calling them our worldview, we need to have a way to discern their validity. At a minimum, we should look at the origins of the faith, the originator or figurehead and the sacred writings which its adherents follow as their scripture.
Some people just collect ideas from all over the religious landscape which are often inconsistent with one another. For example, they may believe in the truth of the Christian Bible but reject certain of its teachings that do not correspond to some of their beliefs from other sources - thereby nullifying the authoritative nature of the Bible. Muslims say that the Christian Bible is a holy text in its original but that it has been corrupted and we no longer have access to the original. Mormons have added to the original with other writings which either supersede its orthodox interpretation or “expand” on its intended meaning; and Jehovah Witnesses have their own translation of the Bible with certain key changes - you get the point. What is the Bible you follow?
What about the origins of the faith? In Jamaica, we have a religion called Rastafarianism. It centers on the belief that Haile Selassie, the deceased Emperor of Ethiopia, was the true Messiah and not Jesus. But Haile Selassie was a Christ-follower and denied that he himself was the Messiah. Scientology is based on a science fiction novel which fomented ideas about where the human race originated and transmutated into a modern-day religion with many famous people embracing it as true. And just being old or established is not necessarily a proof of validity; Hinduism and Buddhism are two examples of this fact.
Who is the central figure of the faith? L. Ron Hubbard–convicted felon and tax-evader; Joseph Smith – fugitive from justice and polygamist; Mary Baker Eddy, Mohammad, Gautama Buddha, Krishna, Jesus? Take a good look at the person, not just their words. Even Judaism looks for the Messiah, but when Jesus came, the Jews denied His authority as being from God and crucified Him for claiming it was.
The point is that we must do a little investigation into the background; not just the claims of faith. There is more - much more – but this should get the wheels turning a bit.
“So we are even more confident of the message proclaimed by the prophets. You will do well to pay attention to it, because it is like a lamp shining in a dark place until the Day dawns and the light of the morning star shines in your hearts. Above all else, however, remember that none of us can explain by ourselves a prophecy in the Scriptures. For no prophetic message ever came just from the human will, but people were under the control of the Holy Spirit as they spoke the message that came from God.” II Peter 1:19-21
