Question (Morals)

[Dizzy]

And why on earth would god not let his true "identity" (religion) be known until 100's of years after the earth and humans were around??

Why leave them to figure itout for themselves, get it wrong and be damned to hell for eternity?

It doesn't make sense.

Why would he allow that? How can you expect ancient civilisations to have heard of god? And why would he allow that space for them to form their own religions?

What was the point in that?

 

[nancy2394]

People are saved every day because of those wonderful Christians working to spread God's word and lead other's to find Jesus. I know I was saved all becuase of one wonderful friend who talked and talked to me.. and never gave up. And was there for me through my struggles with believing.. People can and will be saved..it just takes some honest caring, just being there for people through their struggles, and leading them to God.

I whole heartedly agree with this statement. I truly believe had I not been sitting in that church shortly after the 9/11 tragedy surrounded by believers... I don't think I would have the spiritual life I have now.

They knew my heart as I sat there feeling alone and out of place... they sensed it and came to me. They offered me the opportunity to accept christ. They helped me start my spiritual journey.

They did not force religion on me by any means... they simply asked me and I accepted. It was their "spreading" christianity that brought me to christianity. So, I think it is part of the christian way of thinking to bring more people to God. And that does not mean to force religion down people's throats... it can be simply a question of "do you know God" If people are receptive they will listen and want to know more. If they are not they can politely say no thank you.

I think another poster said it earlier when they said that if it is wrong that God will sort it out one day. We all have to live our lives the way WE feel they should be lived. Not the way Sally down the street thinks we should live it. And although there are many different religions out there... like someone else said.. they can't all be right. But they can't all be wrong either.

I am a christian and no one will ever change that for me. I am true to my faith and there could never be any derrogatory statements toward my faith that could or would ever change the way I feel. I do believe that you can have a non believer suddenly believe. It happens everyday. And if I can help someone in that direction you can bet your bottom dollar I will try. It doesn't mean I am out to convert all the non believers to believe.

 

[tessa_s212]

I don't believe quite the way Tessa does even though I'm also of the Christian faith.

I don't believe that you can spread the word to non-believers and get them to believe. Only God can change a heart. And only God truly knows what's in one's heart. God has all the power and reaches anybody, anywhere.

This is, not only my personal belief, but that of the church that I attended.

Of course God has to be involved. I'm simply saying that God can use people to help bring others to Him, so that he can work with them to change them and make them a believer.

 

[tessa_s212]

And why on earth would god not let his true "identity" (religion) be known until 100's of years after the earth and humans were around??

Why leave them to figure itout for themselves, get it wrong and be damned to hell for eternity?

It doesn't make sense.

Why would he allow that? How can you expect ancient civilisations to have heard of god? And why would he allow that space for them to form their own religions?

What was the point in that?

God has been showing us. God tried showing me for years whle I as an athiest. It is us humans that aren't seeing.

God, afterall, DID give us freewill. Would you rather He not have?

 

[Dizzy]

God has been showing us. God tried showing me for years whle I as an athiest. It is us humans that aren't seeing.

God, afterall, DID give us freewill. Would you rather He not have?

That doesn't answer my question.

Why would he not show us his identity, or any idea of his religion until 100's of years after humans existed?

Were humans just supposed to guess his existance? In the mean time, other religions were formed as they had no knowledge of him, and if what you say is true, they are damned to hell.

Ancient civilisations had their religions WAY before, christ/the bible/the word god was heard....

They had/have NO chance - why would god condemn these people by keeping them in the dark about his existance?

 

[nancy2394]

Can you guys maybe lighten up on Tessa a bit. She's 16 years old and a newbie to christ. WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT BELIEFS... let's just accept that. I know for me.. I would rather have the belief that I do have in regards to christianity than to have no beliefs at all. If my beliefs are wrong then GOD will sort it out when I get there. I'm not worried one bit. I know where my soul will be when my body dies.

 

[Ashlea]

Ok, general question to ALL Christians. Tessa says that God will **** Jewish people to hell because they do not believe in Jesus. Why would he do that when they worship Him and follow his rules to a T? I am confused about this, why would a loving all knowing God do something that is so obviously wrong a 2 year old can figure it out?

That is my problem with the Christianity I have encountered. It is always "my way or the highway". I much prefer a more tolerant and logical view point, ie Buddahism. There is a higher power, (not Buddah, he was a prophet) and they worship the world and the spirit of life and togetherness.
That is what I believe in, I do believe in God, just not the way that others do, the God I have got to know it a good, just and kind God who doesn't cast into damnation just because some people interpret differently.

 

[Dizzy]

Can you guys maybe lighten up on Tessa a bit. She's 16 years old and a newbie to christ. WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT BELIEFS... let's just accept that. I know for me.. I would rather have the belief that I do have in regards to christianity than to have no beliefs at all. If my beliefs are wrong then GOD will sort it out when I get there. I'm not worried one bit. I know where my soul will be when my body dies.

I'm not just asking Tessa - she just happens to be the only person trying to answer the questions.

And good on her. At least someone is trying to explain it!

 

[Ashlea]

^^ agreed!

 

[nancy2394]

I would love to explain it, but I am not qualified to do so. I have not read enough to be able to tell others specifics about the bible. I wish I could. Maybe someday I will be knowledgeable to do so.

I too have my own questions. I guess I'm more of a newbie than Tessa is even though I accepted christ into my life 5 years ago. She has taken the initiative to flood herself with information in her faith.

 

[tessa_s212]

Ok, general question to ALL Christians. Tessa says that God will **** Jewish people to hell because they do not believe in Jesus. Why would he do that when they worship Him and follow his rules to a T? I am confused about this, why would a loving all knowing God do something that is so obviously wrong a 2 year old can figure it out?

That is my problem with the Christianity I have encountered. It is always "my way or the highway". I much prefer a more tolerant and logical view point, ie Buddahism. There is a higher power, (not Buddah, he was a prophet) and they worship the world and the spirit of life and togetherness.
That is what I believe in, I do believe in God, just not the way that others do, the God I have got to know it a good, just and kind God who doesn't cast into damnation just because some people interpret differently.

Jewish people can TRY to follow His rules to a T, but they will never fully succeed. No person will ever lead a sinless life.

And as far as tolerance..who ever said intolerance had to be a bad thing? Why can we just not be intolerant in love? Personally, tolerance is what is making my country go down the drain. Tolerance is why violence and everything else imagineable is so widely accepted and allowed.

And I repeat..creating a God in your own mind to suit yourself is a sin. You can say all you want that lying isn't a sin, but at the end of the day, lying IS a sin. I used to try to make God suit myself. Suit my own petty understanding of life and what is and what isn't fair.. I think everyone has done it at least once.. but it is still wrong and shouldn't be done.

 

[tessa_s212]

I would love to explain it, but I am not qualified to do so. I have not read enough to be able to tell others specifics about the bible. I wish I could. Maybe someday I will be knowledgeable to do so.

I too have my own questions. I guess I'm more of a newbie than Tessa is even though I accepted christ into my life 5 years ago. She has taken the initiative to flood herself with information in her faith.

Lol.. I guess that is just how I am. If I'm going to believe it, I have to have good and strong reasons TO believe it. And once I do believe it, I surely do NOT want to be ignorant about it. I'm subscribed to many online journals(Xanga) that are dedicated to only posting sermons, devos, and other informational things about Christianity. I'm apart of three Christian Teen forums, and one Christian forum for teens and adults alike. And, I read my bible every day. Well, did.. until I finished the New Testament. Now I need to move on to the Old Testament, but admittingly, with all the names and people I don't know, it is a bit confusing and a bit discouraging. (One downfall to not growing up as a christian..you don't know all those kid's bible stories and such to have a strong background to know what all goes on in the Old Testament.)

 

[mamasobuco]

I think that marriage is a scary thing. Especially for those of use whose partents were the ones who started the 'trend'. When my parents were devorcing they didn't have a clue as to how to go about it nicely and this made for a bad situation for all of us. I had no clue how to make a relationship work until I was in my 30's. My parents tried to work it out 11 times. I honestly thought that was how it was done. Break up and get back together. "If he keeps coming back, he loves me." If you are an adult and you love someone and are true to them, I see no reason to wait to be intimate until you're ready to take that final legal step of marriage. God knows what has changed in society and that marriage scarier now then it used to be. He knows what's in your heart.
As far as teen sex goes, it's up to parents to teach kids to respect themselves enough to wait for the right time to have sex whether that be marriage or the one they are ready to commit to as an adult.

 

[Ashlea]

Jewish people can TRY to follow His rules to a T, but they will never fully succeed. No person will ever lead a sinless life.

And as far as tolerance..who ever said intolerance had to be a bad thing? Why can we just not be intolerant in love? Personally, tolerance is what is making my country go down the drain. Tolerance is why violence and everything else imagineable is so widely accepted and allowed.

And I repeat..creating a God in your own mind to suit yourself is a sin. You can say all you want that lying isn't a sin, but at the end of the day, lying IS a sin. I used to try to make God suit myself. Suit my own petty understanding of life and what is and what isn't fair.. I think everyone has done it at least once.. but it is still wrong and shouldn't be done.

^^ Sigh! You have allot to learn about life, while I admire you faith I find it sad that you are so adamant that you a right that you are willing to say that good honest people will go to hell, people who attend religious service, people who work for charity, people who love God all because they do not believe Jesus is the son of God.

Now I cast a question out, what if you are wrong and they are right? What if the religion you are following has been made to suit someone? What then. I just will not believe that God will cast his people to hell for following what their religion has taught. They are after all the chosed children of God, are they not?

 

[Squidbert]

You really should watch some Bill Hicks

Heeheehee.. he makes me laugh!

 

[Zoom]

And why on earth would god not let his true "identity" (religion) be known until 100's of years after the earth and humans were around??

Why leave them to figure itout for themselves, get it wrong and be damned to hell for eternity?

It doesn't make sense.

Why would he allow that? How can you expect ancient civilisations to have heard of god? And why would he allow that space for them to form their own religions?

What was the point in that?

This depends on whether or not you believe in the story of Eden as related in Genesis. Adam and Eve were the first two people on earth and had a very up close and personal relationship with God. Adam and God would go strolling around Eden together having God/Creation talks. So they knew Him, and even after they were banished from Eden, they still knew Him. Their children knew Him...it was after a couple dozen generations had passed and the Earth became more populated and the populations spread out (I have so many questions on just that part right there...) that different religions and interpreations of God appeared.

 

[Giny]

^^ Sigh! You have allot to learn about life, while I admire you faith I find it sad that you are so adamant that you a right that you are willing to say that good honest people will go to hell, people who attend religious service, people who work for charity, people who love God all because they do not believe Jesus is the son of God.

This is not something Tess made up, this is the word given to us by God. However you want to accept that fact is up to you.

What then. I just will not believe that God will cast his people to hell for following what their religion has taught. They are after all the chosed children of God, are they not?

That is why God sent his Son so that we, they, everyone did not have to follow the rules of what was set to them before Jesus died for us. They had to sacrifice animals in order to atone their sins, every day, but now that Jesus' blood was shed and was our ultimate sacrificial lamb we do not have to go through daily sacrificials anymore. It is our gift from Him. Whether we accept His gift is up to us. It is our free will.

 

[mjb]

For another view of Christianity:

I also believe that God will not cast his children into hell.

I believe that the Bible teaches that Jesus died for all his children and he will not lose one. Throuighout time, everyone on the earth has not been reached by missionaries. If God had children in those far reaches of earth that people did not get to, I don't think God let them perish forever. It's really not a matter of what I think, though, but how I interpret the Bible. I believe the Bible says all His children will have eternal life in heaven. Someone did have to pay for the sins of his children, and he sent his son Jesus for that purpose.

We are not able to live sinless lives. God is not pleased with our sins and will NOT favor us and might punish us for not following his way, but according to the Bible in my interpretation, he will not punish his children forever. The Israelites were his chosen people, and he got angry with them when they lost faith and disobeyed, but he did not cast them into eternal hell.

That would also mean every person is not His child. He stated that he loved Jacob and hated Esau. I don't know why, but I accept it.

I also feel at ease not to worry about everyone's salvation. Since I read the Bible to mean that it is entirely in the hands of God, I feel no pressure to need to go out and help bring anyone into salvation. If I felt that everyone needed help, then it would be hard to sleep knowing that someone could not be saved because I didn't work hard enough.

I do believe the Bible teaches to spread the word, but it's the spreading of the good news to people whose hearts have been touched by God, therefore, a child of God, who would get great comfort from hearing what the Bible teaches.

Gosh, for someone who doesn't want to discuss religion, and especially on the internet!!!!!

My main objective was to point out that everyone of the Christian faith does not believe the exact same way. Presbyterians believe that salvation is pre-ordained. A smaller denomination that goes by the name of Primitive Baptist or Old Line Baptist in the US (I think it has another name in UK) believes in an elect, also, God's chosen. And both of these denominations have no doubt that Jews, Moslems, Buddhists, etc., will be in heaven. I think they believe that they, along with Christians and people with no faith affiliation, who are touched by God and start understanding, through him, that some of their actions are sinful and continue to do them, will miss some of the joys that life here on earth have to give them.

 

[bubbatd]

All " religions " believe in " A Higher Power " .......to some the " Messiah " hasn't come yet .

 

[Dizzy]

This depends on whether or not you believe in the story of Eden as related in Genesis. Adam and Eve were the first two people on earth and had a very up close and personal relationship with God. Adam and God would go strolling around Eden together having God/Creation talks. So they knew Him, and even after they were banished from Eden, they still knew Him. Their children knew Him...it was after a couple dozen generations had passed and the Earth became more populated and the populations spread out (I have so many questions on just that part right there...) that different religions and interpreations of God appeared.

Which takes me slap bang back to creationism and dinosaurs....

Questions, questions, questions.

I can't be expected to just roll over and believe. I honestly honestly don't understand what part of my brain is open and seeing something others don't (and vice versa I am sure).

I wonder why people put so much faith into something, why they don't question... It's healthy to question, it's healthy to want to know, who, why, what, when and how.

Why just roll over and accept that that is your fate, end of?

There is more to THIS life than waiting for the next.

I just hope people don't kick themselves when it all goes blank.......

Keep talking - I love hearing it all, like I said before, I have SOOO many questions I'd love to know the answers to