Is there really a god?

[Brittanyjean06]

Yeah you can be happy with out god, and you can certainly feel pain when believing in god- i meen you've alreayd had everyone pour out their thoughts about god. So now its up to you, thats something you will have to find within your self-

[converse02]

Is it a sin to not believe in god?If so ill go to hell.Right now i believe that what i have now and see with my own eyes is the most important thing.I may be wrong in my decision but i suppose i cant force myself to believe when i dont.I can think of a far lot worse things to do than to not believe in god.Im happy and god isnt in my life now so why should i change things?!

 

Never believe in God because of the baseless threat of hell. It is an appeal to force, to fear, and not to reason. Hell was created to scare non-believers in accepting religion.

 

The hell issue, to me, was a disproof of God. I think of all my friends and family. Hindu, Muslims, Taoist, Christian. How can any of them "deserve" to go to hell, for eternity? Eternity, can a people even imagine that? It would be a height of injustice. How can this be "good," what purpose does it serve? People often choose there beliefs based on experience and the surrounding culture. If you were born in Saudi Arabia, you would probably be a Muslim. If you were born in Christian America, you'll be a Christian. If you would born an Aztec in the 1400's, you'll never heard if either religion because the Spanards didn't sail over yet. How can any God fault anyone for that? In it injustice, yet God cannot be unjust. I cannot say God is all-knowing, therefore it must be just because I know it isn't. Such a contradiction disproved God for me.

 

A more likely explanation for me was hell was create to frighten fence-sitters, however, in modern multi-cultural/religious times where nearly every religion has a hell, it isn't so effective anymore.

[Admiral Thrawn]

Never believe in God because of the baseless threat of hell. It is an appeal to force, to fear, and not to reason. Hell was created to scare non-believers in accepting religion.

 

People can choose to believe in God for whatever reason they want.

 

The hell issue, to me, was a disproof of God. I think of all my friends and family. Hindu, Muslims, Taoist, Christian. How can any of them "deserve" to go to hell, for eternity?

 

Well, why not consult the Bible for a direct answer to your question, since eternity and hell are both Biblical concepts:

 

The Bible says (John 3:19): "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, netiher cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God"

 

Further insights to answer that question can be found also in Romans 1:20

"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhea; so that they are without excuse.

21) BECAUSE that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were they thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22) Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.

23) And changed the glory of the uncorruptable God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and to fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24) Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25) Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever Amen.

26) For this cause God gave them up into vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

27) And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

28) And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not conveniant.

29) Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murer, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers;

30) Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31) Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful;

32) Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."

 

The above exerpts are pretty detailed. People reject the truth because they want to live their own lives, according to their own carnal mind and desires. They die in their sins and go straight to hell. Otherwise, they will always have a desire to seek out God and know the truth for themselves.

 

Eternity, can a people even imagine that? It would be a height of injustice. How can this be "good," what purpose does it serve?

 

Sure, in mathematics it is known as infinity. Just imagine, negative infinity to positive infinity to have a numerical concept of eternity. There - eternity could be imagined.

 

Hell was created for the devil and his angels. People who put their truth or faith in unrighteousness and believe the devil's lies also go there too.

[converse02]

People can choose to believe in God for whatever reason they want.

An appeal to force not a reason to believe in something, because appeal to force isn't a reasonable argument. A person shouldn't accept something as truth because of a threat. If a person did, they'll believe in anything, even the most absurd, based on fear. Such a person has lost his ability to reason.

 

since eternity and hell are both Biblical concepts:

Blah Blah Blah from some unknown dead bronze aged writer....

 

he above exerpts are pretty detailed. People reject the truth because they want to live their own lives, according to their own carnal mind and desires. They die in their sins and go straight to hell. Otherwise, they will always have a desire to seek out God and know the truth for themselves.

Speak to a Muslim in Saudi Arabia. A Zoroastarian. A person who worships the Egyptian God Ra. A Jew. Are they people who "want to live their own lives, according to their own carnal mind and desire?" They choose their religion based on their culture and surrounding environment. A Muslim would say you are the one will die for sins and bound are to hell. They will say you are the one who rejects the truth and follows a false God.

 

I say none of them are correct. A more likely explanation to me is that hell is a threat invented by religion, to convince people to convert by fear, so the religion would strenghten in number.

 

Sure, in mathematics it is known as infinity. Just imagine, negative infinity to positive infinity to have a numerical concept of eternity. There - eternity could be imagined.

I guess I could imagine trillions of children in hell suffering forever because they mistakenly followed the wrong religion. Still a rather baseless belief. Cruel one at that.

 

Hell was created for the devil and his angels. People who put their truth or faith in unrighteousness and believe the devil's lies also go there too.

Valhalla was created for vallant warriors. Hades was created for the dead. The Abyss was created for the unrighteous. Jannah was created for the good. Hell was created for sinners. Elysium. Tartarus. Nirvana. Disneyland. All without proof. All baseless claims. I tire of people telling me to baselessly believe or fear this or that.

[Apex]

If a person did, they'll believe in anything, even the most absurd, based on fear.

I don’t know if I will go to heaven or to hell. I don’t live in fear of going to hell.

There is little if any talk about burning in hell even in church.

I guess I could imagine trillions of children in hell suffering forever because they mistakenly followed the wrong religion.

It is the faith and belief in God not the religious organization.

All without proof. All baseless claims.

Perhaps God won’t settle for anything less than faith.

[Toni_no12002]

What exactly is hell? sometimes i think that where living in it now with all this death and destruction around us!

[converse02]

Heaven and hell are concepts.

 

We are surrounded by death and destruction, but also by beauty and life. We live on Earth.

[Apex]

You said

Im happy and god isnt in my life now so why should i change things?!

And you also said

What exactly is hell? sometimes i think that where living in it now with all this death and destruction around us!

I’ll give you a clue. There is no hope or happiness in hell.

[Admiral Thrawn]

An appeal to force not a reason to believe in something, because appeal to force isn't a reasonable argument. A person shouldn't accept something as truth because of a threat. If a person did, they'll believe in anything, even the most absurd, based on fear. Such a person has lost his ability to reason.

 

Driving safely, without drinking alchohol is a belief of force, because of the possibility of getting into a car accident. Not jumping off a tower or bridge, for fear I may die or be hurt badly if I do survive. Are not those also beliefs of force? How would you classify them? Maybe there are legitimate beliefs of force and non-legitimate, where do you draw the line?

 

Speak to a Muslim in Saudi Arabia. A Zoroastarian. A person who worships the Egyptian God Ra. A Jew.

 

Sure, send me the plane tickets and accomidation so I can travel there.

 

Are they people who "want to live their own lives, according to their own carnal mind and desire?" They choose their religion based on their culture and surrounding environment. A Muslim would say you are the one will die for sins and bound are to hell. They will say you are the one who rejects the truth and follows a false God.

 

If one is * really * searching for truth, he/she will find it. People have a choice to receive Jesus. I have never spoken to someone from a Muslim religion that can tell me they are 100% sure their religion will save them. They are relying on their good deeds to save them like any other religion, or maybe on a jihad, or a suicide bomb, who knows? People blowing themselves up because they think that will guarantee them a spot in heaven.

 

True Biblical Christianity on the other hand, is not salvation by what good deeds or what heroic efforts you may do, but it is based on what Jesus did 2000 years ago, and appropriating that into your life. It is a change from the inside out. That is what makes Christianity different from other faiths, as it is not another merit-based salvation religion.

 

The Lord God, came as a human being, and lived with us, in flesh. He ate with us, he performed miracles, and He healed people. You could touch a human form of God. Can you imagine how lucky the Jews and His disciples were 2000 years ago to have God Almighty in human form? A omnipoweful God - becoming a human being, and experiencing human feelings and emotions -- well, that is an amazing God, that is all I can say. And, He died a crucifiction death for all of us, and rose from the dead three days later so that everyone who believes has eternal life?

 

I guess I could imagine trillions of children in hell suffering forever because they mistakenly followed the wrong religion. Still a rather baseless belief. Cruel one at that.

 

Children do not go to hell because they are not accountable for their sins as they do not know the difference between right and wrong below a certain age. They are safe with Jesus. Jesus loves children. When children were around Him, he embrased them. The Jesus of the Bible does not send children to hell. People die in their sins, and they go to hell because of their sins. A child does not have a capacity to sin, because it cant know right from wrong.

[Admiral Thrawn]

What exactly is hell? sometimes i think that where living in it now with all this death and destruction around us!

 

Biblical hell is a place where there is eternal torment, fire, and evil monsters that are tormenting you. Monsters range from invisible scorpions that sting (Revelation 9) , ET looking things (I believe UFO grey aliens are evil spirits), and a whole range of ugly inhabitants. There are 'worms' that do not die. There are probably different components, and perhaps some parts of hell do not have a flame, but is just darkness and smoke for those who have done less bad deeds.

[a4a]

 

 

 

 

Children do not go to hell because they are not accountable for their sins as they do not know the difference between right and wrong below a certain age. They are safe with Jesus. Jesus loves children. When children were around Him, he embrased them. The Jesus of the Bible does not send children to hell. People die in their sins, and they go to hell because of their sins. A child does not have a capacity to sin, because it cant know right from wrong.

 

What is the age limit may I ask?

 

and what is up with doing away with Limbo for reasons of recruitment in high infant death regions?

 

a4a

[Admiral Thrawn]

What is the age limit may I ask?

 

and what is up with doing away with Limbo for reasons of recruitment in high infant death regions?

 

a4a

 

It is speculated that around age 7 is the age of accountability, the ability to know right from wrong.

 

The Bible does not teach that a Limbo exists. Currently, just heaven and hell. The Lake of Fire is the ultimate destination for people in hell.

 

The Anti-christ and the False Prophet will be the first inhabitants of the Lake of Fire, and they will be cast ALIVE, without dying first, into this Lake of Fire.

Currently, the Lake of Fire is closed. After 1000 years of Millenium reign of Jesus Christ, and the Great White Throne Judgement, people all over are ressurected for Judgement. In the interim, their wicked souls stay in Hades or Hell. AFter the Great White Throne Judgement, Hades and Hell are closed, and they are re-allocated to the Lake of Fire, with varying degrees of torment depending on the extent of their evil deeds.

[a4a]

The Bible does not teach that a Limbo exists. Currently, just heaven and hell.

 

 

Currently, the Lake of Fire is closed. .

 

Well who is in charge of limbo? Apparently generations of Catholics did or do believe in limbo......now Poof..... it is gone.

 

I have to say this is the first time I have seen humor in your post..... no to be be offensive to you but """"Currently, the Lake of Fire is closed.""" Just friggin cracked me the hell up! Are the park rangers on strike? Or due to pollution?

 

I understand you do not find this ridiculous but I do..... try to see my POV as well and how that could be found so silly to me.

 

a4a- halcyon days are here

[Admiral Thrawn]

Well who is in charge of limbo? Apparently generations of Catholics did or do believe in limbo......now Poof..... it is gone.

 

Limbo is not in the Bible, I'm not sure about the Apocraphal writings, or in Maccebeas (which are not part of most Christian cannon), but as far as the KJV Bible is concerned, there is no reference to any Limbo.

 

I have to say this is the first time I have seen humor in your post..... no to be be offensive to you but """"Currently, the Lake of Fire is closed.""" Just friggin cracked me the hell up! Are the park rangers on strike? Or due to pollution?

 

That's just the way the system is I guess. There is a time for everything you know.

 

I understand you do not find this ridiculous but I do..... try to see my POV as well and how that could be found so silly to me.

 

a4a- halcyon days are here

 

God's ways are different from man's ways. Limited minds can not understand the unlimited mind of God.

[quankanne]

What exactly is hell? sometimes i think that where living in it now with all this death and destruction around us!

 

hell is separation from God, a very definite state of being without him ... kind of like being untethered and being whipped around in whatever direction the wind blows. The Bible usues descriptions that people can more readily imagine, though: your senses understand heat (thus the fiery pits of hell), smell (brimstone). Hell has less to do with death and destruction than it does with your spiritual response to what is going on around you.

 

regarding limbo: for ages, Roman Catholics adhered to the tradition that limbo was the place where babies who died before getting baptized got to spend eternity in a state of natural happines, but not with God. However, in December an international group of theologians recommended that we do away with that thinking, because it was merely a hypothesis.

 

"(It was) a theory held out as a possible way to balance the Christian belief in the necessity of baptism with belief in God's mercy," according to a Catholic News Service brief. Does it have basis in the Bible? Doesn't sound like it, but then again, the Catholic Church is based on Tradition (what the apostles themselves passed down as they evangelized about the Savior) as well as Scripture.

 

(ref: http://www.catholicnews.com/data/briefs/cns/20051202.htm)

 

~~~~~

 

Toni, I've just happened across a really good book on "John Paul the Great," written by Peggy Noonan. In the book, she takes a look at how some of the pope's writings serve as a kind of spiritual catalyst in her life and there's a chapter in which she discusses what you initially wanted to know when you started this post. She talks about how man is more than just his possessions, and how, at some point in his life, begins to ask the questions 'Who am I?' and 'Why am I here?' As he seeks the answers, he comes to encounter God, who has put those questions in his mind. Kinda hard to explain, but that part of the book reverbated within me, because she writes what many of us feel as we undergo the spiritual journey. If you can get your hands on it, read it. It might not answer questions, but it does help you see that some of the questions you ask are in response to God nudging you to find him.

[wizdom]

I have taken some time to read you post Toni no12002 and it seems to me that you are that you are searching but many of the things that happened in your past are making you deny the proof that God has already shown you.

 

I want to start off by saying why do people always blame God when things go wrong but when things in there life go right they want to credit themselves as though it was through There own glory. Why is that? You see people fail to realize that there is a war raging for the souls of all men. Not trying to preach to you but I do want to answer all of your Questions and give you some back round.

 

No matter if you believe it or not there is a God and there is a devil. God created the one we now call satan, Lucifer, etc. He was once called son of the morning. He was one of the most beautiful angles that were ever created. He was in charge of worship. He decided that he wanted to be higher than God (read Isaiah 14:12-16). So he and 1/4th of the angles that choose to follow him where thrown out of heaven. So satan is angry he knows that he has lost his place in heaven and he has no choice of where he will spend eternity. So he has come to earth with a vengeance to take as many people to hell with him. It says in the Bible that satan comes to kill, steal, and destroy. That could mean our jobs, our families, our joy, etc. He is the one that puts self doubt in our head, when he tells us we will never be anybody or that you’re the only one going through difficult situations.

 

I know all about difficult situations. I lost my father when I was 9 years old to HIV; he cheated on my mother with men and contracted the disease. Mind you my father was a pastor so if anyone had a reason to deny Christ I think I would have. Two years later I lost my brother he was hit by a car and went into a coma and died shortly after that. Also when I was 16 I placed my son up for adoption b/c I knew I wasn’t ready to raise him and I wanted him to have a home with a mom & a dad that could provide for him. You know what got me through it all was Jesus Christ. Just like satan whisper lies in your ears Jesus was whispering truth into mine. He told me that it was going to be

Okay and that he had a purpose for my life and that I can use all the pain and sorrow that I have been through as a testimony for His glory. God never puts more on you than you can handle. To get back to my father real quick the Lord says the wages of sin is death that doesn’t just mean physical death, that can mean spiritual death which is separation from God, death to you finances, careers, and even the purpose that God created you for. My fathers death was physical he continued to sin and he paid the price for that. Thank God that our God is a forgiven God and he will forgive anyone as long as they repent of there sins and turn away and follow him, so my father gave his life back to the

Lord before he died.

 

I want to touch on your grandparents. The fact that your grandmother has lost her husband and is now on her death bed and still believes in a all loving, powerful, healing God is Proof right there that God exist. Your Grandmother knows that once she leaves this life she will go to heaven, and there will be know more pain, sorrow, behold all things are made new. Don’t you want that for her? Or do you want her to suffer here on this earth with cancer? If God did not exist the awful tragedies that we experience would drive a lot of us to take our own lives. Even the fact that we eventual feel Peace in our hearts and our able to except the loss of a loved one is proof that God is there helping us out. Another reason

Why I know God is real is because there was a lady in my church who was diagnosed with cancer and she had started quoted verses out of the Bible that talk about healing, and praying for her cancer to dry up and when she went back to the doctors the cancer was completely gone. She stills has the pictures from a month ago that showed where the cancer was and how big it was. How do you explain that? My only answer is God.

 

I did want to touch on one thing that you said that I agree with. You said that there is a sinful nature in all of us. You are right there is. The reason why is b/c of Adam and Eve when they disobeyed God and ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil they became like God to

An extent (like satan deceived eve and told her she would) they were able to know not only good but evil and at that time the sinful nature

Enter there life. Eve used her free will to disobey God. You said something about God wants us to be robots, if he did he would have never

Created us with free will. Adam and Eve walked with God they talked with him they seen him physically but where still deceived by satan

The father of lies. Satans best tactic is to get people to doubt the existence of God he makes you question the bad things that happen to you and

You say well if there was a God why he allows these things to happen. The simple explanation is free will, if we didn’t have free will

God would just be a big bully and that would turn a lot of people off. A lot of the drama that happens in our life is because of disobedience to

God, we all have sinned and have come short of the glory of God that’s why we needed a sinless sacrifice to take our place. That is where Jesus Christ came in. Since our sinful nature is passed on to us by our fathers Jesus had to be born of a virgin or else he would have been subject to the same sinful nature we have. Jesus was tempted in every way that we are. There is nothing new under the sun that we experience that Christ didn’t experience. He had a personal relationship with God the father and he wanted to please his father so he was able to live a life without sin. I am sure it was not easy. He had people hate him. Wrongly accused him beat him and eventually crucified him. He paid the price for our sins and now we have a choice to except him or reject him. Before he came and died we didn’t have a choice to choose where we would spend eternity. So basically it is not our fault that we are born into sin it was Adam & Eve’s fault b/c the exercised their free will and disobeyed God. But it is our fault if we do not except the free gift of salvation that Christ so willingly paid on the cross for us.

 

The best thing I can tell you is to seek God. Really read the Bible and ask him to show himself to you. He says seek and you shall find knock and the door will be opened. God never said that there would not be heart ace in your walk with him but he did say that he can get the glory out of every situation that satan tries to use to bring you down. I pray that you find God and don’t just dismiss him once he has shown you proof.

Also study anatomy the human body alone is proof that we were created by something higher than ourselves. There is no way that atoms and particles could come together to form a body so unique that works together so well. It is really mind blowing. Look around at the universe how was that created so perfectly honestly it is no one but God.

 

One more thing I wanted to touch on that you asked was why are there so many religions. 1. it is a trick of satan if he can devert people from the truth. 2. everyone has a desire to know and believe in a God a lot of religions are made up. The only religion that doesn’t have a God laying in a tomb is chrisitanity. Why would you want to serve a dead god? Also most other religions have to do something to obtain their salvation. Christ said that is not of works lest any man should boast so there is nothing humanly possible that we could do to obtain our salvation. It is given to us freely and we have to use our free to except the gift or reject it. I can go to church twelve times a day, give to the poor, pray to God twenty times a day if I don’t confess with my mouth and believe in my heart that Jesus died on the cross for my sins that is all in vain and I am just doing the “protocol” to get me into heaven which is not going to work.God wants to have a personal relationship with us just like he did with adam & eve. He created us to love him so that he can love us and lavish love upon us. We all will give account for what we do on this earth good or bad. We will also give an account to the fact that we rejected him. He will remind us of the times that he made himself known to us and we willing rejected him. No one in this world will have an excuse to say I never had a chance to except you. He says every body will hear of the gospel of Jesus Christ and then the end will come. That’s why we have so many missionary’s out there preaching the gospel. Look at tv we have the ability to reach just about every country with the TBN net work. ( Christian chanel) Jesus Christ is coming back soon. Well I know I jumped around a lot with my response but I tried to get everything in here for you.

[Toni_no12002]

I’ll give you a clue. There is no hope or happiness in hell.

 

We only know that from books though it doesnt acually mean its true.

 

 

Biblical hell is a place where there is eternal torment, fire, and evil monsters that are tormenting you.

Maybe people say hell is like that so you turn to god.Its like bribary to me either worship god or suffer an eternity of suffering!I would have thought god would have been alitlle nicer about things considering there are worse things people can do.

 

Children do not go to hell because they are not accountable for their sins as they do not know the difference between right and wrong below a certain age. They are safe with Jesus. Jesus loves children. When children were around Him, he embrased them. The Jesus of the Bible does not send children to hell. People die in their sins, and they go to hell because of their sins. A child does not have a capacity to sin, because it cant know right from wrong.

children do know right from wrong.Its just they choose not to do right all the time.Just as adults do.Yes they are young but they know the basic differences between right and wrong.What is right and wrong anyway?And who says its right and when its wrong?From a book.we dont know if this is right do we?

 

Toni, I've just happened across a really good book on "John Paul the Great," written by Peggy Noonan. In the book, she takes a look at how some of the pope's writings serve as a kind of spiritual catalyst in her life and there's a chapter in which she discusses what you initially wanted to know when you started this post. She talks about how man is more than just his possessions, and how, at some point in his life, begins to ask the questions 'Who am I?' and 'Why am I here?' As he seeks the answers, he comes to encounter God, who has put those questions in his mind. Kinda hard to explain, but that part of the book reverbated within me, because she writes what many of us feel as we undergo the spiritual journey. If you can get your hands on it, read it. It might not answer questions, but it does help you see that some of the questions you ask are in response to God nudging you to find him.

 

Thanks.Ill have a look round ,might even be in the libary.

 

Ive read some of the bible before and for some reason its seems like a book of fiction,like a story made up by somone.Its full of things i dont exactly understand.Also things saying what you should or shouldnt do.To me its sounds like you cant have a life at all as whatever you are going to do you will always commit sin.

 

Wisdom thanks for the post it was quite interesting but i still have doubts.

You say there is only one religion but can you be sure that,that religion is the right one?

People may think im thick or stupid for keep going on like this but its interesting and also im stuck on what to believe.

 

My nanna died and even if there isnt a god im happy that she isnt suffering anymore.

I do think that its strange how we are all so well made and things but it could be another explanation for it which we cant possibly know about because we are not that brainy.

 

One thing that i do think that makes me happy even if i dont believe in god is that my nanna and grandad still live on even though they arent alive.They are in me and in my little boy,my mum and my brother and sister.No one will ever take there place but to think that they still live in me and my family makes me a bit happier if that makes any sense at all.

[Admiral Thrawn]

Biblical hell is a place where there is eternal torment, fire, and evil monsters that are tormenting you.

 

Maybe people say hell is like that so you turn to god.Its like bribary to me either worship god or suffer an eternity of suffering!I would have thought god would have been alitlle nicer about things considering there are worse things people can do.

 

I'm basing that on what the Bible says. People who do worst things suffer more, people who do less worst things suffer less. People who accept God, may suffer in this life for their witness and their testimony, but they will ultimately go to heaven.

 

Children do not go to hell because they are not accountable for their sins as they do not know the difference between right and wrong below a certain age. They are safe with Jesus. Jesus loves children. When children were around Him, he embrased them. The Jesus of the Bible does not send children to hell. People die in their sins, and they go to hell because of their sins. A child does not have a capacity to sin, because it cant know right from wrong.

 

children do know right from wrong.Its just they choose not to do right all the time.Just as adults do.Yes they are young but they know the basic differences between right and wrong.What is right and wrong anyway?And who says its right and when its wrong?From a book.we dont know if this is right do we?

 

You are asking me? You know what my answer is going to be, the Bible, says what is right and what is wrong, and your moral conscience. Children are off the hook because it is assumed they dont know any better than to behave the way they are behaving. After a certain age, they are expected to know better.

[quankanne]

Ive read some of the bible before and for some reason its seems like a book of fiction,like a story made up by somone.Its full of things i dont exactly understand.Also things saying what you should or shouldnt do.

 

while the Bible is meant to be inspirational to those who seek God, sometimes it helps knowing the "background" to the stories shared by the believers who wrote it. Get your hands on a Bible that gives you a synopsis and footnotes of what was going on at the time the author wrote a particular book (history, geography, socio-economic stuff ... I've got two copies of The New American Bible which does just this, so it helps me understand a bit better). I've found that the writings of Paul (i.e., the First book of Corinthians) are still "fresh" because he appeals to the reader viscerally, or from the inside. Things make sense in both Old and New Testaments because you've become charged up inside and find yourself opening up to what the Gospel is saying. Children's books on the Bible are also a great way to get to the heart of the matter without feeling like you're in over your head.

 

To me its sounds like you cant have a life at all as whatever you are going to do you will always commit sin.

 

you become freer in a spiritual sense because you've been tipped off about what situations to avoid (evident in the Ten Commandments) and how to live the good life (the Golden Rule and the Beattitudes). Sinning can be interesting, even enjoyable at times, but what's the ultimate pay-off? Nothing, really, because you've either injured your relationship with someone you love, with the community around you or with God, and for what purpose?

 

You say there is only one religion but can you be sure that,that religion is the right one? People may think im thick or stupid for keep going on like this but its interesting and also im stuck on what to believe.

 

it's hard to know when there are so many places to start shopping for a religion, this is where study and discernment come into play. As a Christian, however, my belief is that the only place you're going to find true peace is with God, through his son Jesus, so my push will always be Him.

 

One thing that i do think that makes me happy even if i dont believe in God is that my nanna and grandad still live on even though they arent alive.They are in me and in my little boy,my mum and my brother and sister.No one will ever take there place but to think that they still live in me and my family makes me a bit happier if that makes any sense at all.

 

this is very much like the way we believe in God! He doesn't have to be physically present, but we know there is something of Him, who created us, in us and ultimately calls us back to him. And when we understand or accept that we are his, we are happier because all of a sudden, our existence makes sense. (Peggy's book explains this much better than I ever can ...)

 

again, Toni, you're on the right track for questioning all this, and the answers will come in time. Just keep your heart open to his call, the rest will take care of itself.

[converse02]

Driving safely, without drinking alchohol is a belief of force, because of the possibility of getting into a car accident. Not jumping off a tower or bridge, for fear I may die or be hurt badly if I do survive. Are not those also beliefs of force? How would you classify them? Maybe there are legitimate beliefs of force and non-legitimate, where do you draw the line?

It's not "belief of force," it's an appeal to force. Argumentum ad Baculum. It is wrong to use force to "win" a debate or to believe in statement X. The cases you have given, driving drunk or jumping off a bridge, will result in death and injury. But there is no debate about this. It is based on evidence, it is a fact. We see this on TV and know this happens. However, going to hell if you don't believe in Jesus, Allah, or Zeus is NOT based on the evidence. A person can't use hell to win a debate or believe in relgion X because religion X hasn't been proven true in the first place. There IS a debate going on here whether one should believe or not. Hell/hades/the abyss is a scary baseless claim. It is not a reason.

 

Sure, send me the plane tickets and accomidation so I can travel there.

Okay, don't fly to Saudi Arabia. You can just go to an Islamic or Jewish internet forum. I wager they believe in their God as much as you.

 

If one is * really * searching for truth, he/she will find it. People have a choice to receive Jesus. I have never spoken to someone from a Muslim religion that can tell me they are 100% sure their religion will save them. They are relying on their good deeds to save them like any other religion, or maybe on a jihad, or a suicide bomb, who knows? People blowing themselves up because they think that will guarantee them a spot in heaven.

Anyone searching for truth, who really studies history, science, psychology, world religions, world cultures will come to the conclusion that God exists only as a human concept thought up in the imagination of man. In college, I dormed with a suite full on Muslims one year, a mix of Jews and Christians the next, and join a Buddhist club. They were all 100% sure their religion was the right one. Who would blow themselves up or kill an abortion doctor if they weren't certain? They may have been certain, doesn't mean they are right.

 

 

The Lord God, came as a human being, and lived with us, in flesh. He ate with us, he performed miracles, and He healed people. You could touch a human form of God. Can you imagine how lucky the Jews and His disciples were 2000 years ago to have God Almighty in human form? A omnipoweful God - becoming a human being, and experiencing human feelings and emotions -- well, that is an amazing God, that is all I can say. And, He died a crucifiction death for all of us, and rose from the dead three days later so that everyone who believes has eternal life?

How do you know it isn't a lie? Lots of Norseman claimed to have meet Odin. There are books supposely written by Greek God and signed by them. Such an extraordinary claim needs extraordinary evidence to believe, not just heresay. After Jesus died, everyone forgot about Jesus and his miracles, until the Gospels were written about 30 years later. What did Jesus do 2000 years ago? He got himself executed on a cross by Romans. Am I suppose to be impressed? MANY religions have saviors-Gods. Krishna, Osiris, Mirthra. All died and supposely rose from the dead to save the people.

[konfused]

The Lord God, came as a human being, and lived with us, in flesh. He ate with us, he performed miracles, and He healed people. You could touch a human form of God. Can you imagine how lucky the Jews and His disciples were 2000 years ago to have God Almighty in human form? A omnipoweful God - becoming a human being, and experiencing human feelings and emotions -- well, that is an amazing God, that is all I can say. And, He died a crucifiction death for all of us, and rose from the dead three days later so that everyone who believes has eternal life?

 

 

All that and not one person who was alive at the same time made any references to Jesus in their writings. We have zero eyewitness accounts of Jesus outside the New Testament. No Jew or Roman or Greek was impressed enough by his 'miracles' to make mention of his name. Now, I'm not a Native American Indian, but if the Great Spirit shows up and starts raising people from the dead, it's going to leave an impression.

[quankanne]

What did Jesus do 2000 years ago? He got himself executed on a cross by Romans. Am I suppose to be impressed? MANY religions have saviors-Gods. Krishna, Osiris, Mirthra. All died and supposely rose from the dead to save the people.

 

yes, but those are gods with a lower case "g" – and those folks only represented one thing or factor of life, whereas Jesus is God-with-us. There is also the fact that of all the religions professed in this world, only three – which are monotheistic in nature – comprise a bulk of spiritual believers. The God of Christian is the God of the Jew and the Muslim; how each group professes its belief in him is what differs. I don't see Krishna or Osiris or Mirthra as a common denominator of greatly differing religions nor do belief in them comprise a bulk of people who claim spirituality.

[Toni_no12002]

I have been trying to think of things which in my life have been a sin.Does having a child when you are not married equal a sin?Im not christened so i dont think i could get married anyway.Also what about cheating?does that count when you are not married?(i havent cheated im just curious)

 

im sorry about asking so many questions but to me all this doesnt come naturally.Ive been brought up without any religious background so i havent the foggiest!

 

Also why do religious people look down on those who arent religious?Just because they dont follow a religion doesnt mean they are evil.Im not religious and i wouldnt say im evil!

[HotCaliGirl]

.Children do not go to hell because they are not accountable for their sins as they do not know the difference between right and wrong below a certain age.

What is the age limit may I ask?

It is speculated that around age 7 is the age of accountability, the ability to know right from wrong.

That's like a sliippery slope answer, similar to determining when does a fetus count as a human protected by law and not allowed to be aborted. Some say at inception, others 3 months, 6 months and so forth. There's no evidence that children under age 7 are not admitted to hell and at age 7 and up the gates to hell open its doors to them.

 

Why did God create hell anyways instead of choosing to not create evil people at all, not giving evil an option of free will? He could create people intelligent enough that even if he creates evil, they would not choose to be evil or commit evil acts. If God is Love as Christianity and other religions preach, then why would he make a place for people to burn in all eternity? If the devil made hell, I admit to being a bit ignorant in this matter and not as knowledgable as others here, then was the devil created by a being other than God, so that there are two creators? And God doesn't have authority or power over him, when the bible says he is all encompassing?

 

Why aren't animals evil but humans are? Does that mean all animals go directly to heaven but only humans have the possibility of going to hell? Someone quoted the bible in the other pets going to heaven thread stating that animals do go to heaven:

Revelations 19:11

 

"Then I saw Heaven opened, and behold, a white horse."

 

Psalm 145:-9-10,13,15-21

 

"Though all creatures are subject to man's cruelty, God loves ALL His creation and has made plans for all His children and the lesser creatures to enjoy His eternal Kingdom."

 

Genesis : 9,13-17

 

"The same fate awaits man and animals alike."

So does the bible say anything about animals going to hell, and at what age are animals allowed to go to hell, if in human years it is 7 for humans? The last quote that the same fate awaits man and animals alike implies that they do. So do pitbulls and other dogs that bite people go to hell? What qualifies them to go to heaven and hell and is it fair if they are unaware that what they do will result in dire consequences in their afterlife? What if a mentally challenged person commits a crime or murder without realizing what they are doing, even if it's "temporary insanity." Does that qualify them to go to hell, or is it an unknown until after the fact?

 

And do all religions have an age minimum below which they automatically go to heaven? What if a child had a deadly disease and was 6 1/2 years old, with about another year or so left to live. He was a naughty child, so would the parents want the child to die before age seven to ensure he goes directly to heaven without the possibility of going to hell?

[Apex]

im sorry about asking so many questions but to me all this doesnt come naturally.Ive been brought up without any religious background so i havent the foggiest!

Three months and you still don’t get it. Why am I not surprised?

Also why do religious people look down on those who arent religious?Just because they dont follow a religion doesnt mean they are evil.Im not religious and i wouldnt say im evil!

Where do you get these ideas? After all, you “haven’t the foggiest” idea.

 

Do you think being called a fearmonger or superstitious is a compliment?