Religion Questions??

[RedGoneWILD]

If you believe the bible, then yes, those who have refused to accept God will go to Hell. Now, everyone focuses on the fire image of hell. In reality, hell is simply a complete absence from God.

I would absolutely baptize a child whose parents were not married. I would have no issue with that whatsoever.

what if you dont believe in the bible? what happens then? do they just not get an invitation or something?

also, the baptism question comes from a minister i know who says he cant do that...didnt make sense to me either

My family and I have an exceptionally unconventional view on this to which conventional Christianity can be quite hostile. We believe there is an intermediary stage between human death and an afterlife, thus giving everyone the opportunity to make their final choice. If this weren't the case, what would happen to people like babies who died early, for instance? Babies do not have the full awareness to make a spiritual choice and be responsible for it. Some think they "all automatically go to heaven," but this is disturbing, because that would give people a reason to kill all their babies before growing up to ensure they get to heaven!

We also do not believe hell is eternal, which is perhaps our most controversial view. There are a host of reasons for this which I may attempt to cover at another time if people are interested.

i like your version...it allows for options!

[WilyWestbrook0]

Very interesting perhaps I will look more into this and come up with a thought....one question w/ you say it sounds like the lake of fire burns them up and they cease all existence are you saying that they die humanly go to hell then die and then cease to exist in heaven or hell?

Yes..the verse describes it as a second death, so it sounds to me that those who die bodily (first death) and go to hell don't go there permanently, but are swallowed up eventually in the lake of fire, apparently for their spirit to die (second death).

[daniel3417]

Is not enough to be an amazingly caring individual, a giving loving person, to gain entry to heaven? Why is it necessary for people to make a public statement that they like Jesus?

[walt55054life]

Is not enough to be an amazingly caring individual, a giving loving person, to gain entry to heaven? Why is it necessary for people to make a public statement that they like Jesus?

That's a great question. I believe that if you are all of those thing then somewhere in that person they are accepting God/Jesus I don't think they have to make a public statement they like Jesus? I don't believe they would deny the Lord our God, I'm sure a person like that believes in some higher power.

[RedGoneWILD]

The easy answer is that murder is not the same as death in war. The war of jericho and the following battles were all that, battles. God doesn't condemn war.

so God is against murder, but in favor of mass killing?

[RedGoneWILD]

Does the bible outlaw any specific sex acts, such as fellatio or sodomy? Are there reprecussions for anybody who violates this? Does the bible favor abstinance education? Why is it considered sinful to have sex before marriage?

[daniel3417]

That's a great question. I believe that if you are all of those thing then somewhere in that person they are accepting God/Jesus I don't think they have to make a public statement they like Jesus? I don't believe they would deny the Lord our God, I'm sure a person like that believes in some higher power.

The public statement I'm referring to is "accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior." I hear that all the time. Isn't it possible for a Hindu or Muslim to be just as wholesome of a person while not accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior? Actually, I know that it is.

[Bonds_25]

That's a great question. I believe that if you are all of those thing then somewhere in that person they are accepting God/Jesus I don't think they have to make a public statement they like Jesus? I don't believe they would deny the Lord our God, I'm sure a person like that believes in some higher power.

I'm sorry but I completely disagree. People are more than capable of leading a moral life and being a good person without believing in a higher power.

[RedGoneWILD]

The public statement I'm referring to is "accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior." I hear that all the time. Isn't it possible for a Hindu or Muslim to be just as wholesome of a person while not accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior? Actually, I know that it is.

I like the idea of the Golden Rule....Treat others as you would want them to treat you....I somehow don't buy any argument that says a good wholesome person as you describe would be sent to hell for simply not accepting Jesus

[Bonds_25]

I like the idea of the Golden Rule....Treat others as you would want them to treat you....I somehow don't buy any argument that says a good wholesome person as you describe would be sent to hell for simply not accepting Jesus

Some people believe there is a 3rd option, aside from heaven and hell. I've heard some people refer to it as purgatory (not sure if there is a official term for it). Purgatory has several different meanings though depending on who you ask, one being that it is a place in which you become completely purified before heading to Heaven.

To me this or something similar to it would be an appropriate place for those you have described.

It makes sense to me that if you are a good person and lead a good life but don't accept the concept of Heaven or Jesus that you wouldn't end up in heaven. It wouldn't make sense for one to reap the benefits of such a paradise-like place if you didn't believe in it. However, I would agree that such a person would have no place in hell and should not be punished for not believing. Hence the establishment of a 3rd place, or middle-ground so to speak.

Just for the record, I don't believe in a higher power or heaven/hell.

For those who know more about this than me, please do correct me if I have misrepresented something.