Thanks for response. While I agree with you that we must ask and discern which door is the true one, not which pleases us the best, I simply cannot agree with you on being opportunistic and calculating.
Let me explain -- God is perfectly knowable. But before we know God as a matter of fact we must believe and have faith that it is so. However, while we believe, we always just rely on words of other people. Whether you see them as inspired or not plays no role in this, because even that is merely a matter of whom you trust.
Now, while we rely on and trust others with regards to the Way, if we are opportunistic and calculating, we are bound to embrace the very sales pitch that plays on our wishes and biases exactly because it tickles our selfishness, i.e. self-interest. I guess, I don't have to remind you who's the master of alluring sales pitches that play on our weaknesses (no matter if they deal with carnal or supernatural rewards).
Whether you like it or not, the goal is not faith and belief in God, the goal is knowledge of God. That is, the knowledge of Truth. That Truth by definition does not depend on belief, faith, nor any books or opinions and interpretations. Anyone who puts the knowledge of that Truth above anything else as they utmost priority will know it. That, of course, also means putting it above ulterior selfish motivations such as our personal conceptions of eternal bliss in Heaven, desire for power to partake in righteous rule of the world, or what have you.
In other words, you must be willing to let go of every preconception you have about yourself, the world, God, Jesus, heaven, and so on. You must simply admit that while you have faith, you only believe -- you don't know. And your beliefs (as any) may very well be misplaced. Then the Truth has at least a chance to shine trough. The question is, are you up to it? Is Truth so important to you that you are willing to lose your life (carnal as well as religious) in order to know it?
I'm well aware that the theology you subscribe to postpones that knowledge until after death. I'm also aware that that puts you in a rather peculiar position, dare I say, trap. Fear prevents you from going off of the prescribed path (whatever your denomination believes in) lest you lose the promised rewards, yet you always doubt (there is always doubt without knowledge). So, just let me remind you, "The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst." Obviously, Jesus was not talking about himself -- it was possible to point at him and say "There it is," when he said that. And of course, "God is not the God of the dead, but of the living."
And just as a side note, you should really consider that the "weeping prophet" Jeremiah was already well aware that Torah was corrupted by scribes. That clearly makes Bible a minefield of lies and deceptions, even though all the important nuggets of truth still managed to survive the onslaught. And that makes that book impossible to navigate without knowing God. Faith simply does not cut it. And mind you, unambiguous knowledge of God or Truth is what some call the "descent of Holy Spirit". Again, faith falls short in this regard. Ironically, once one knows God, Bible becomes (sort of) redundant.
https://senderspike.medium.com/2-500-years-of-torah-corruption-5a94183ff373
https://senderspike.medium.com/nirvana-of-holy-spirit-b68191073a41
There is nothing but God. Don't believe, know it.
