(July 12, 2016 at 5:15 pm)robvalue Wrote: We have loads of different theistic religions in the world right now. And every one of those claims to be the "real religion". They have it right, and everyone else has it wrong. They're worshipping the real god(s), in the correct way.
What would we expect to see from this? Let's pretend that one of these current religions is the real one.
Wouldn't it be absurdly obvious which one this is? Wouldn't those following the correct religion have some sort of noticable advantage? If God is doing anything at all in return for the worship it is receiving, wouldn't this be clear to all?
Your question shows you misunderstand Christianity. All of the hundreds of promises for Christians are internal to them, personal. For example:
Matt 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. "
II Cor 5:17 "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come"
Eph 1:3 "We have been blessed in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ "
I John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”
Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Gal 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. " (aka fruits of the spirit)
I John 1:3-4 "That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete."
John 14:15-17 "“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you."
...and hundreds more...
So the only "noticeable advantage" that you should see is within the life of a Christian.
Quote:What I see is a bunch of people all claiming to have this amazing being on their side, yet none of them are any better off than any others because of it.
How can you say that none are better off? By what standard? Isn't a changed life consisting of the fruits of the spirit, a relationship with God and eternal life 'better off'?
Quote:I can only conclude that either none of them have it right, or God's blessings are so insignificant that I don't even notice them.
You are looking for some sort of physical advantage--which is not promised--so your conclusions are based on faulty premises. This is evidenced in the very first Christians, the disciples themselves. Most of them had unpleasant physical lives and deaths. Yet they obviously thought themselves 'better off'.
