I've never been out of a public (and Christian) school until I graduated high school. Thus making 13 years of Christian education. I've been taught the Bible. I've understood it, and if you never recognized that law in the Bible, you've obviously overlooked quite a bit about the religion. What's wrong with it being closed-minded? It only excludes on the basis of a CHOICE. It doesn't descriminate you on creed, color, race, etc... It descriminates based on a choice. I don't see how that's necessarily a bad thing. Edit: I mean, why should God be obligated to allow someone into His kingdom when that person denies His existance simply because they were "good people"? That's like saying I should invite you into my home because you are a model citizen. I'd have to know you first. Just as one has to know God, and vice versa before you can enter His kingdom. It only seems fair.
I've always recognized that law in the bible, hence why I always took its teachings with a grain of salt and hence why I'm not christian. It's an incredibly petty law, period. It discriminates on one of the weakest and baseless reasons to discriminate, all things considering. A dude who is devoted to his family, hard-working, honest, meek, diligent, thrifty, moral (i.e. he exhibits all the values that are considered good in the bible) will still go to hell because he simply did not choose to acknowledge the existence of some god that no one knows if he even exists or not. It's incredibly petty that his life accomplishments, however good and virtuous and moral they may be, will not be recognized--and not only that, he will still be PUNISHED to the fullest extent of god's law--simply because he didn't say "I accept jesus as my savior."
i got lots of support. so if totally believe in God, and accept him but not christ i will still go to hell? so then by ur very definition all the jews are going to hell because they believe that christ wasnt gods actual son but rather another one of his prophets? i donno, all the religious propaganda says god loves everyone and that doesnt sound very loving to send a good moral man to suffer for all eterinty
Why should god purposefully make his existence as vague and dubious as possible? Why doesn't he come out and say "I am God. I exist. Follow my teachings or face eternal damnation?" After all, he seems to want to have people choose the right path (i.e. his path), so why doesn't he make things easier and clear the confusion? God can't blame someone for not believing in him if God didn't make his presence felt in the first place. He created us; he should be the first to know that it's basic human nature to doubt that which we are uncertain of. The difference is that God already knows everybody, considering he created us all. You don't know me; but God does, just as he knows you.
So it's fine that he can reap the benefits of his Lord and Creator yet still openly deny His existance? THAT is what is petty. If he can't accept that God created the universe and sent His one and only son to die for his sins, then why should he expect to gain access to Heaven? That's like a playground bully demanding money from his victims. He's completely disregarding his victim's situation and feelings just so he can get money. While the person isn't picking on God, he still isn't taking in consideration all that God has done for him, yet he expects to benefit from God? I don't think so.
Well... for me, I don't think I gotta base it on anything. When it comes to the crunch, I got my tickets booked to the fiery depths of hell. And, yes - I intend to take it over for my own purposes as well. :lol:
It's not even about denying anything. It's about not knowing what the truth is. I don't deny the existence of god or anything else, but I have insufficient evidence to jump to any conclusion, so I won't do it. I'm not gonna put blind faith into something I'm not sure it even exists. That's the whole point. I don't accept nor deny the existence of god; I just live my life the way I believe I should live it, because I'm a realist. I'm not gonna spend time worrying about something that might turn out to be complete bunk in the end. If God doesn't have the decency to come out and say "everything in the bible is true," how can you blame the guy for doubting the bible? It's not even about gaining access to heaven; it's about not going to hell for the rest of eternity, considering the guy did almost everything that god said he should do. That guy is by default a lot more moral than many people who claim to have accepted god, yet that guy will still go to hell and those other people won't. How can he know what God has done for him if God never made himself known to the person?
i dont kno if theres a heaven or not but i hope there is........or i been going to church for no reason lol
do you guys realize that god didnt write the bible? it was written by lots of people over 200 years. it is also incomplete. i dont deny god or intelligent design, i just say i dont believe in life after death. if you are so well read in the bible you would realize no one is even in heaven or hell yet because their souls wont be judged until armagaddon. so they people who died 2000 years ago, are, according to the bible still waiting to be judged. so if i die before armaggadon and have 2000 years to wait before judgement, ill still have time to accept him into my heart. besides the church has changed it so much. we are reading translations of translations of translations. the church killed 1000's of women for being witchs and yet we look for them to interpt the bible for us. i dont doubt most of the bible did happen, and there is archeological findings to support it. but i dont believe that we go into heaven when we die, that jesus walked on water, or that god created all life.
Well you guys seem to have proven the faults of one religion right there. And this is @ Nomu, you're right you said people aren't judged until Armageddon/Judgment Day w.e. you wanna call it. But however in the Muslim religion it is believed that during those years of waiting you are asked 3 simple questions I believe, gotta check up on that, well it's a number of questions that you are asked and you must answer them truly and from your heart, and although those questions may have seemed to take only 5 minutes they will have taken the entire time until Armageddon/Judgment Day. Now don't get me wrong yes this is a flawed idea in that it doesn't make sense by natural laws, but if you truly believe in God, or Allah as he is known to Muslims, then you will believe in his power. And now for this waging war that's been going on. Although I agree with both of you, I disagree at the same time. Comatosis has brought up good points and so has j_ball430. In answer to Coma, God doesn't show himself because he wants to see if we still believe in him and if we have faith, it's a test and the devil is trying to woo as to him (i.e. the wrong path) and God wants to see if we'll follow the right path (i.e. his path) And to j_ball, you said one has to know God just like he has to know you before you can enter his kingdom. Well using the concept that he created this world and all it's beings then he should already know you and know the outcome of your life. Now that brings up a question thats been burning in me, if God knows your fate then why test us with this "life" why not just invite the people who he knows will be truthful to him and throw the others into hell?
First, to help clear up what I mean by "God has to know you". Of course, God knows you, He created you, however, He doesn't know you in the Book of Life. He doesn't know you in the sense of knowing you as a believer. Now, for why He puts us on earth even if He knows our faith. That's a VERY hard concept to grasp. It's not something I know the ins and outs to, but I do have a general idea. God may know your fate, but that's only because He allows you to have a free will. Now say, if I were to either propose that you take $20,000 or a beating from me, I KNOW you're going to take the $20,000. Now, without giving you this proposition, you would never have had the choice in the first place, regardless of me KNOWING your choice. This would be the same concept with God knowing what you're going to choose. Yes, He knows, but without giving you the ability to choose otherwise, it'd be pointless to give us free will.
i think in the beginning we are all destined to hell, untill we earn passage to heaven.... idk sometimes it seems that way
then what about babies? if they die do they just go to hell cuz they didnt earn their way....wow heaven is so confusing. j_ball430 do you believe in aliens? donno, the whole bible could be explained by aliens, read an article on it once. it said that heaven was the aliens home and was perfect, and they came from above and taught/created humans and it went on, i found it pretty interesting
Babies are exempt because they are incapable of choice. They know no difference between right and wrong. They aren't able to make the decision on their own. As for aliens, I do not believe in ones that are more advanced than we are. I'll try to explain why I BELIEVE this to be true. Regardless of my opinion, this has no bearing on whether or not it IS the truth and does not conflict with science OR religion. The Bible states that God created man in His own image. This means we were made to be like God. Not to be gods themselves, but to resemble and capable of conducting ourselves the way God does. Now, if more advanced beings than humans (besides spiritual beings) are in existance, this kind of skews the concept of being created in God's image. God is perfect. If aliens exist and have made contact with us then that would mean they are better than God's image. This would be irrational and impossible. Now, if inferior beings exist in another galaxy, then I guess it could be true. I just don't believe in the extra terrestrial coming to visit whether it be for war or peace. Sorry for the confusing and scatter-brained response. I haven't thought too much on this subject.
