Another Religion Thread... Cause its fun.

[GuidoHunter]

The stories did not invent morality... so they are not the only things to teach it.

However, for Christians, the Bible is the only set of moral standards that one needs to follow.

I'm still trying to work on the hell/ignorance thing. However, you're right; that doesn't seem very merciful, and that's where I disagree with many of my Baptist friends.

Note for the "I'm Christian; I'm right" comment: Hearing that absolutely sickens me. This is a thread about Christianity, and I'm trying to give responses based on generally accepted Christian beliefs (although some may be a little weird to non-Catholics), so I may make my statements matter-of-factly. However, I recognize and respect other views, which is a luxury I didn't receive growing up in one of the most Baptist towns in the nation (Waco, Texas). Many of my friends had the "No, you're wrong, I'm right" mentality, and it is disgusting. I hope to not see it in this thread.

--Guido

http://andy.mikee385.com/

[GuidoHunter]

Purgatory is not typically viewed as a place of punishment. There are references to a "purifying fire", but it is a test of purity, not punishment for sins. The "torment" involved in Purgatory is simply the separation from God, but even that will be remitted once the soul is pure enough to enter heaven. Purgatory is simply a holding place. You're guaranteed admission into heaven once there, but you need to "clean up" before you enter, and you can do this with the help of the prayers of the living.

--Guido

http://andy.mikee385.com/

[SUSUGAM]

I'm not a fan of it either... and I'm in east Texas... where we have a crapload of "I'm right you're wrong" action... it's annoyin. Also, Im not out to bash christianity, I'm just asking about some of its weakpoints / personal unknowns

[SUSUGAM]

So are you saying everyone goes to heaven? If they go through purgatory? Or rather... does everyone make it to purgatory?

[GuidoHunter]

So are you saying everyone goes to heaven? If they go through purgatory? Or rather... does everyone make it to purgatory?

No. If you deserve to go to hell, you go straight to hell, do not go to Purgatory, do not pass Go, do not collect $200. If you're worthy of getting into heaven, you first go to purgatory, sit there while you clean up your venial (small) sins, then get admitted into heaven as a pure soul worthy of standing in the presence of God. If you go to Purgatory, though, you do have guaranteed admittance into heaven. You get there once you've cleaned up or once Christ came back to earth for the final judgment.

Side note: Is this just between Susugam and me, or is just past everyone's bedtime?

--Guido

http://andy.mikee385.com/

[SUSUGAM]

dunno... haha, isnt it from the bible that "all sin is equal in the eyes of god"? and are small since just the non-deadly ones?

Either way... some sins deem one of hellborn status? And others do not... why would the lesser ones matter, if they can be removed in purgatory. Why not commit them without fear?



Edit - terrible grammar... im tired.

[GuidoHunter]

Of course, you shouldn't ask me. Go straight to the man himself.

Jesus Christ's xanga: http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=Jesus__Christ

haha, man....

--Guido

http://andy.mikee385.com/

[SUSUGAM]

Oh my. ;D

[GuidoHunter]

You still have to be repentant for sins at the time of death (judgment), so if you went willy-nilly with venial sins, it doesn't seem you'd be very sorry for them. Plus, sinning without remorse is actively turning from God and His word, which promotes your adventures to mortal sin status.

I'd be interested in knowing where that is in the Bible, and the context in which it is. All sin is bad, but some sins (mortal ones) create a deep chasm between you and God which can be repaired, but is more noticeable. Even very pious people commit small sins, which are bad, but are more easily forgiven. Kicking dirt in your little brother's face carries a little less weight than committing genocide. Mortal sins can get you a big, fat "rejected from heaven" stamp on your forehead, while venial sins are ones that can be more easily groomed off in Purgatory (or in confession in the form of contrition/indulgences).

--Guido

http://andy.mikee385.com/

[deposition]

Ok... two questions for christianity. Just looking for some honest opinions / bible mumbo gumbo


1) If those who do not beleive that christ is the savior, or rather do not beleive in god at all go to hell... does this mean all people before Jesus was alive got automatic passes to hell?

If you said this is explained because jesus was forgiving them with his death... then...

2) After his death... if a person is never exposed to christian beleifs... does he also automatically go to hell? Because he certainly wouldnt make up the religion on his own accord...

(People raised in non-christian comunities, who may never leave them)

So in turn... is most everyones religion not simply which religion is bestowed upon them at a young age and merely brainwashed to become fact/truth in their eyes? Religion = tradition? Or is a repeatedly re-translated the books the best foundation for a persons style of living and beleif system...

I don't know.

But I'd like to.

1.)Even major church figueres say that the bible is a book of hypocrisy. It says that the only way to heaven is though jesus... but b4 jesus of couse everyone went to heaven, thus the story of satan becoming a fallen angel ect.

2.)/2b..) accourding to the bible if you dont believe in jesus that is a major sin and you will go to hell. It also says that gods love is infinate. although if you have one little sin b4 u die he wants you to have eternal missory and suffering..

oposed to a mass murder who asks for forgiveness once who would live in heaven

Seems like a design flaw to me.. ecpecially from something that is so called perfect

[GuidoHunter]

Umm......what?

What major church figure said the Bible was full of hypocrisy? The leader of the atheist church, perhaps, because no Christian church leader in his right mind would suggest something like that.

You then said "of couse[sic] everyone went to heaven" before Jesus, but made no efforts to say why except for trying to tie it to a completely irrelevant story about angels (whe existed before man, and never lived on earth; it wasn't created yet). Plus, God wasn't happy with a lot of people before Jesus' time, and he undoubtedly sent them to hell (i.e. the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, who were destroyed by a rain of sulfurous fire).

If God actually wanted everyone with one little sin to go to hell, Heaven would have about three human occupants; that would be pretty contradictory to his compassion.

Hooray for incoherent sentence fragments....
When you die, you are also judged by your works on earth, although it is possible for a mass murderer to be truly penitent and eventually get into heaven.

You see a "design flaw" because you don't fully understand the Christian faith. I don't understand it well enough, but I know people that do (friends/family/priests), and they won't hesitate to answer all of your questions with commplete certainty because, with the right amount of faith, Christianity is perfect.

--Guido

http://andy.mikee385.com/

[fusi0n]

lets hear it for another religion thread! <('.'<) (>'.')>

[deposition]

To lazy to fund people names but a church leader guy did say that..the bible does constidict its self quite a bit..

And about god judging you and all, im just saying that the bible says if you have any sin before you die you go to hell.. and if you ask for forgivveness its all ok.

[User6773]

I am sick of the nonreligious asking about heaven and hell. Religion is NOT about heaven and hell, and what gets you into either. It's about loving God and making the best of your time on Earth. As a Christian, I believe that if you make the best effort you can to live a Christian life, you're going to heaven. Period. If not, I don't know where you're going, and I don't pretend to know - that's up to God.

Love God. Talk to God. Make friends with God. Your goal as a Christian should be to continue Jesus' work on Earth, not to constantly worry about where you're headed when you're dead (and where others are headed too.)

About the Bible contradicting itself - God said different things at different times that people needed to hear. For instance, he told the early Israelites to make animal sacrifices to him probably because that's what they were used to doing with pagan gods. As time moves on, God is allowed to say different things.

[makaveli121212]

so what god said before may not be true today, is that right? because thats basically what you just said