And you have to do something specific to reach that goal...

BUT you’re never sure that what you think you have to do is enough, or correct, or can ever accomplish what you have set your sights on...

Would you do what you thought you HAD to anyway, even if you weren’t sure it would work?

And would you proclaim to others that you knew EXACTLY how to achieve this goal,

and that they can, and should, do as you do –

even though you are not REALLY sure that what you think is the way, is really going to work for you, or for anyone else?

Please explain in what case you would, or why you would not, tell others to do as you do so that they may accomplish a similar goal.

Im not really sure how to answer this question but I am trying anyway.

yep, I would do what I felt was the best decision. And while I don't usually proclaim anything to anyone, if someone questioned my choice and or decision, then I would tell them that I know what works for me and that is staying focused, balanced and positive.

I would use rational reasoning in a group type setting. I would explain my reasoning and how I came to that decision. I would proclaim it so that others could see the progression of my logic. In others words, I could be wrong but since I still hold the goal to be a valid one I could get the input of the group. The group could judge the logic of my reasoning and see if there were any apparent flaws to my logic. The spiritual group I go to does this and it works very well. We call it thinking it through. Others I have heard call it a 'think tank'. Still others call it 'brain storming' in the literary field. In computer language it can be like a flow chart and in crime detection it can be based on motive and other variables. After the group discussion I would feel more learned since 'two heads are better than one' and better qualified to see if the goal I was trying to achieve was feasible or not. I might even change my mind after hearing the input of others.

If you were proclaiming to others that you knew EXACTLY how to achieve a goal that you had already determined you weren't sure about, then you'd be living a lie.

It's pretty straight-forward I think.

No...we can only SHARE our experiences.

Your scenario ASSUMES that some proclaim without experience. Why's that?

Thank-you everyone for your replies. It was a difficult question to try to figure out. Rainbow, I really liked your response too.

In the case of religion, some people claim to know for sure what to believe in. And of course they believe it for some future reward. A goal they want to reach, as in the case of overcoming death by achieving everlasting life.

Now, we’ve all heard enough, from many in these threads, to know that, obviously, no one person can possibly claim they have the absolute knowledge necessary to attain the goal of everlasting life.

So why do people, still, persist in wanting others to believe as they do? In telling others they have the truth?

One cannot reduce FAITH to absolutism and still call it faith. So what’s up with humanity, why do they NEED to make others believe just what they do? To have faith that they too can be assured "absolutely" that they will achieve the goal of everlasting life?

As Abra pointed out, to say so, absolutely, is a lie.

Questions for you....

What religion are you talking about? Paganism? witchcraft? New age? Martians? Political correctness? Which do you refer to?

Obviously? To whom? Those who haven't experienced God in a personal way yet? Are you saying that someone who has is a liar? LOL Now that's what I call a new "twist."

The only ones who "persist" as you say are the ones who keep posting the same old posts over & over again denouncing someone else's belief. Others here are sharing...that's all.

So how can something that some experienced be a lie? Maybe the real lie is the unbelief?

Well, if you have died and are now living an eternal existence, what are you hanging around the human race for? Don't you have a heaven to go to?

What are you talking about?

Do you make this stuff up as you go along?