31 May '08 03:33>
Originally posted by josephwHow is it incomplete?
I guess so! Still, his quote is incomplete.
How would you complete it?
Originally posted by PinkFloydI come from a country officially +90% Catholic and I almost never heard anybody saying that if you don't do something you go to hell. I also lived in France and again never heard anything of the sort. People can tell you that they feel something is wrong and say that this is not in accordance to God's teachings, but they never use the threat of hell to make you comply. The percentage of people that believes in a literal hell is very, very small.
I don't often jear that Christianity is a tolerant faith. If by tolerant you mean Christians don't kill people who refuse to convert, then I agree with you. But if you mean it as a live-and-let-live, there are many ways to heaven/I'm OK You're OK, then my experience has been the opposite: if you're not saved you're destined for hell is pretty standatd.
Originally posted by Palynka"If I say in Portugal that I'm an atheist and ask people if they believe I'll go to hell because of that, almost all of them will say no.
I come from a country officially +90% Catholic and I almost never heard anybody saying that if you don't do something you go to hell. I also lived in France and again never heard anything of the sort. People can tell you that they feel something is wrong and say that this is not in accordance to God's teachings, but they never use the threat of hell to make will say no.
So, no. If you're not saved, you're destined for hell is NOT standard.
Originally posted by josephwWhat defines 'rejecting' Christ? As an atheist, obviously I cannot believe that his message was divine in any form.
[b]"If I say in Portugal that I'm an atheist and ask people if they believe I'll go to hell because of that, almost all of them will say no.
That's because that isn't the reason why one goes to hell. One will spend eternity separated from God because they reject His son. Rejecting Christ is how one is separated from God forever.
First, people Deny ...[text shortened]... in their sin when they die. It's a hard truth to accept, but it is the truth nonetheless.[/b]
Originally posted by PalynkaYou answered your own question! Unbelief is rejection of God's gift of eternal life through His son Jesus Christ. It's that simple, and it has nothing to do with religion.
What defines 'rejecting' Christ? As an atheist, obviously I cannot believe that his message was divine in any form.
Originally posted by josephwNo it isn't. It is because there are a lot of Christians who do not believe as you do that belief in God or Jesus is a requirement for entry into heaven.
That's because that isn't the reason why one goes to hell.
Originally posted by josephwso all the people that died before Christ and all the people who died without hearing of Christ and all the people that lived a good life(muslims, budhists, etc) and were nicer than most christians are going to hell? Or will be separated from God for ever?
[b]"If I say in Portugal that I'm an atheist and ask people if they believe I'll go to hell because of that, almost all of them will say no.
That's because that isn't the reason why one goes to hell. One will spend eternity separated from God because they reject His son. Rejecting Christ is how one is separated from God forever.
First, people Deny ...[text shortened]... in their sin when they die. It's a hard truth to accept, but it is the truth nonetheless.[/b]
Originally posted by josephwSo according to you, I would go to hell for being an atheist. And yet on your first comment on my post, you said that wasn't the reason for being sent to hell.
You answered your own question! Unbelief is rejection of God's gift of eternal life through His son Jesus Christ. It's that simple, and it has nothing to do with religion.
Originally posted by jaywillGood post jaywill!
[b]=====================================
How about the faith that if you accept Christ as your saviour you are forgiven and will go to heaven even if you are a child rapist and a serial killer? Is that person worthier of heaven than a budhist monk or an atheist child surgeon?
=======================================
You don't understand t ...[text shortened]... y, I don't change." [/b]
That is a more accurate understanding of how the Gospel works.[/b]
Originally posted by jaywillthis is not a good post. it is not even an ok one.
[b]=====================================
How about the faith that if you accept Christ as your saviour you are forgiven and will go to heaven even if you are a child rapist and a serial killer? Is that person worthier of heaven than a budhist monk or an atheist child surgeon?
=======================================
You don't understand t y, I don't change." [/b]
That is a more accurate understanding of how the Gospel works.[/b]