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Originally posted by Tygart
Originally posted by Praetorius
reply to post by Tygart
Sad truth, friend, take religion away and you aren't going to see a lot of much better behaviour (look into communist China, North Korea, and stalinist russia). People are people, and will use whatever excuse they can to justify perversity.
I'd just like to remind you that words are just words, but actual christians will not fit the description you provide (Gandhi had the same problem - "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."). Even the bible foretold as much - Matthew ch. 7:
22On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Don't worry, those are earning their own just rewards - sadly. For whatever it's worth, my apologies on your bad experiences with those claiming to represent the faith.
I know that true Christians are not that way.
I would not want to spend forever with a God that would burn in hell a Buddhist, Muslim or anyone who spent their lives loving and helping their fellow man.
IMO the NAME Jesus is not what we need, but his teaching.
I know he is not that way, so I am not going to worry about it.
edit on 19-4-2011 by Tygart because: (no reason given)
What is NOS???edit on 19-4-2011 by Tygart because: (no reason given)
Originally posted by Somehumanbeing
reply to post by mthgs602
ADD: If you're atheist, everyone else is wrong.
(this is coming from someone that would refer to himself as an atheist)
I'm sorry, it's just that all this religious argument crap is a bunch of bull-# that is usually spouted by people that are either:
A) Stressingly unsure about their state of atheism/theism or,
B) Sheep that like to jump on the bandwagon of the next "Hip" thing.
Come flame my statement.edit on 19-4-2011 by Somehumanbeing because: (no reason given)
I would not want to spend forever with a God that would burn in hell a Buddhist, Muslim or anyone who spent their lives loving and helping their fellow man.
IMO the NAME Jesus is not what we need, but his teaching.
I know he is not that way, so I am not going to worry about it.
Originally posted by Praetorius
reply to post by Tygart
I would not want to spend forever with a God that would burn in hell a Buddhist, Muslim or anyone who spent their lives loving and helping their fellow man.
IMO the NAME Jesus is not what we need, but his teaching.
I know he is not that way, so I am not going to worry about it.
Well, that's actually one spot I've been getting hung up on, lately. First off, with what I read in the bible, I don't believe those going to 'hell' are in for eternal torment in the first place. There are a few verses that the church likes to take that way, but I disagree with them.
As as I read it, the gift of God is eternal life, and those who don't accept the gift don't HAVE eternal life (as compared to having it in flaming torment). Then there's the matter of those who have never heard the message (or never had it properly relayed to them) tying into a verse that says "And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done."
These are a few reasons I think the typical christian view is not so clearly defined as they like to think it is, and I'm still trying to sort through these matters.
Thanks friend.
edit on 4/19/2011 by Praetorius because: (no reason given)
Originally posted by Somehumanbeing
reply to post by mthgs602
Actually I like to hang around people that don't really care about another persons religion, so I find myself with friends that are hindu,christian, atheist and muslim. I base my opinion on the futile yet ego-stroking act of religious debate as seen on the internet, on tv, and in real-life.
Sydney, Australia, by the way. A cesspool of cultures