What do you personally believe in?...

[Shannerson]

Wow, just reading through these posts is mentally exhausting.

I believe in God without a doubt. I've gone through tons of bad times including losing both of my parents, but came out the other end stronger and more convinced in God and his power and love. He has given me Hope when I was at my lowest.

I do have to note that if a person committs suicide they don't automatically go to hell. If they were "saved" their sins have already been covered. Although I'm sure they will have some answering to do when they get to Heaven.

I think that nature itself and the anatomy and physiology of the human body alone is enough to point towards a creator. No one has mentioned evolution, but I happen to think a person that believes in evolution has even more faith than I do for believing in "intelligent design."

 

[ihartgonzo]

But spirituality does not necessarily equal christianity. A lot of people need to realize that.

I definitely understand what you're saying. I was mostly referring to experiencing anything super-natural, to me everything spritual is connected to God, in some way. I know that not everyone feels that way. I know so many people who never felt anything besides here & now, until they explored religion more and really opened up their mind to something besides what is "logical".

 

[LabBreeder]

This thread definitely went better (ALOT better) than the last similar one awhile back. I actually enjoyed this one and didn't feel the need to fight for my beliefs cause others were downing me. I wish more threads could be like this. It seems like when the "intellectuals" of varying ages get together we can all have an interesting conversation about different issues. I think we got lucky that the trouble makers never found an interest in this one.

Rottie - Your suggestion for another topic is most definitely a good one and the topic of MANY debates...oops, conversations. If it could stay neutral, as this one has, it would be o.k. I'm just worried it may get out of hand because it hits many more 'physical and emotional chords' with people than other topics. You could try it and see what happens. But maybe we'd better leave well enough alone for now?

 

[rottiegirl]

This thread definitely went better (ALOT better) than the last similar one awhile back. I actually enjoyed this one and didn't feel the need to fight for my beliefs cause others were downing me. I wish more threads could be like this. It seems like when the "intellectuals" of varying ages get together we can all have an interesting conversation about different issues. I think we got lucky that the trouble makers never found an interest in this one.

Rottie - Your suggestion for another topic is most definitely a good one and the topic of MANY debates...oops, conversations. If it could stay neutral, as this one has, it would be o.k. I'm just worried it may get out of hand because it hits many more 'physical and emotional chords' with people than other topics. You could try it and see what happens. But maybe we'd better leave well enough alone for now?

I think I need a break from debating before I start another one. Abortion debates can get very heated, because its about the destruction of new human life, which is very touchy for most people.

I would like to post a poll on the abortion debate when I decide to make the thread. I think it woud be interesting to see how many people stand on iether side.

 

[Zoom]

You've already tried the abortion debate and it went over like a lead balloon. It was locked because it degenerated into "I'm right, no I'm right" and a bunch of severly biased websites being throw around as 'proof' by everyone.

I personally have no wish to have to sit and sift through 100 posts of "you're a baby killer" and/or "you don't believe in women's rights"....

 

[rottiegirl]

You've already tried the abortion debate and it went over like a lead balloon. It was locked because it degenerated into "I'm right, no I'm right" and a bunch of severly biased websites being throw around as 'proof' by everyone.

I personally have no wish to have to sit and sift through 100 posts of "you're a baby killer" and/or "you don't believe in women's rights"....

The abortion debate was quite awhile ago if I remember right. We have a ton of new members, so I think it will work this time, maybe I am wrong but its worth a try.

I am guilty of getting into the "NO, YOU ARE WRONG" idea, but I have learned how to be a better debater. I hope telling people to be respectful isnt too much to ask.

Is it wrong to throw in links to help show your own view point?

Who says you have to sift through it all. I know you are a mod, but arent there already 4 or 5 other mods in the hydrant?

EDIT: No, there are 7 other mods...

 

[Zoom]

It's been almost a year IIRC and that's just fine. You'll notice that it hasn't been brought up since then either, which should clue you in a bit.

There are other mods, but I am one of the ones that are on the most and as a mod in general it's my duty to keep up on just about everything that is happening on the boards, but especially in one of 'my' forums. So yeah, I would have to sift through it all.

 

[rottiegirl]

It's been almost a year IIRC and that's just fine. You'll notice that it hasn't been brought up since then either, which should clue you in a bit.

There are other mods, but I am one of the ones that are on the most and as a mod in general it's my duty to keep up on just about everything that is happening on the boards, but especially in one of 'my' forums. So yeah, I would have to sift through it all.

Nobody has brought it up, but it will be brought up sooner or later.

Ummm, I never knew mods were forced to sift through anything, but ok.

 

[BigDog2191]

People choose to go to hell rather than submit their lives to God. You have absolute free will within the confines of your personal ability. You can prove this to yourself. Determine two possible courses of action. They don't have to be big decisions, just any two possible actions. Assign each action to either "heads" or "tails." Flip the coin and do what whatever course chance decided. You can do this as many times as needed to determine that you do, indeed, have free will. Occasionally, do the opposite of what the coins tell you. Has God prevented you from doing anything? No!

Nobody CHOOSES to go to hell. You're implying by rejecting Jesus and disagreeing with him that we ourselves are choosing hell but that's all wrong. That's like me disagreeing with Bush's actions and then getting tossed in a fiery pit. It's not fair, and it's cruel.

All who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will go to heaven, but the amount of reward in heaven will be directly related to how closely one followed God's will in his life. Likewise, all those who reject Jesus Christ will go to hell and will be punished to the degree of how much evil they committed in their life. This is why God allows people to make their own choices.

Where does it say that the amount of reward in heaven depends on your lifestyle as a Christian here? What branch of Christianity are you btw? I've always heard that heaven is heaven - for all those who make it, it will be equally pleasureable.

So why doesn't God make everyone into perfect beings and allow them all into heaven? It would actually be more cruel if God were to do this, since many people prefer hell to the alternative (complete submission to God). All the people who end up going to hell will have done so because they actually prefer hell to being forced into the presence of God for all eternity. People like to live in their favorite sins and answer to no one else. They know that if they accept Jesus as Lord and Savior that God will want them to change their lives and they might have to give up some of their autonomy.

No.. it's not like that. It's not like I'm all 'NO! I CAN'T SEE GOD!!! NO! TAKE ME AWAY, INTO HELL EVEN!' It's just that I don't agree with him. I don't agree with his actions and I don't agree with how he has handle things. And that's why I can't worship the immoral and cruel God that Christians make him out to be -

We see that we are not "sent" to hell most clearly in the story of the woman taken in adultery.
We know that the woman was truly guilty of adultery, because there were witnesses to the act, the woman did not deny the charges, and Jesus said, “Go and sin no more,” which only makes sense if He believed she was guilty.
We also know that the people who sought to stone her were guilty of sin, because when Jesus affirmed the sentence with the provision that whoever was sinless could begin the stoning, they all examined their conscience, convicted themselves, and left.
So in the end, the sinful woman remained in Jesus’ presence, while her equally sinful accusers separated themselves from Him. So we see how the Last Judgment works. Some sinners are able to face up to their sins, they admit them and repent of them, these are the ones who remain in fellowship with God in His glory. Others are unable to face up to the truth about themselves, they shun the light, they cannot admit to their faults, they flee from God’s glory and cast themselves into hell.

Did you know this scriptural passage you're talking about was added to the bible not by disciples, not by God, but by scribes.

I have nothing to bite about the rest of your reply, it was thoughtful.

 

[BigDog2191]

I thought god forgives everything. I believe he forgives everything.

I believe homosexuality is wrong, but I believe they are forgiven for it. They learn from their mistakes.

I really do not believe in hell. People made it up as scare tactic, and its a good one at that, because it works.

When you commit suicide you do go to heaven, but not for long. You are imediately pushed back into life. Born again into a similar life that you exited, because god wants you to do it all over again, but this time succeed.

Life is all about learning, and how is anyone supposed to learn when they are thrown to hell for eternity? Sounds harsh to me. God is'nt like that. He is more caring than that.

That's actually a very interesting point of view... and it would make God out to be a lot more caring and even LOVING.

 

[BigDog2191]

Some people are going to not believe or have their own form of beliefs. Some want to argue just for the sake of arguing. If you think homosexuality is fine and that there is no hell, then I hope for your sake you are right.

As far as churches going by the wayside. The only 2 denominations that were ever "original" are the Jewish and Catholic faiths. All other denominations and beliefs branched off from there.

The Bible is written by man, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, from God with quotes from Jesus. It's not strictly man made.

Roxy- technically yes, men are commiting a sinful act by masturbating...but I don't know if it's consider "hell bound" worthy. LOL Most men don't even know it's sinful unless they've read the Bible and go to church very regularly.

Why would God ask you to surpress a very natural urge that HE gave you? That doesn't make very much sense to me. Unless, he's testing me and trying to tempt me into doing it so that I sin and go to hell... I mean, seriously, what's the point? What's His point here?

 

[rottiegirl]

Why would God ask you to surpress a very natural urge that HE gave you? That doesn't make very much sense to me. Unless, he's testing me and trying to tempt me into doing it so that I sin and go to hell... I mean, seriously, what's the point? What's His point here?

If masturbating is sinful, because you are killing potential life, then isnt using a condom during sex or even using contraceptives also sinful?

I would like for labbreeder to answer that one, lol.

I dont think masturbation is sinful. Its natural. Even animals do it.

 

[Dizzy]

Ok. I haven't read all 30 pages - I'll tell you that now!!!!!!!!!

What I don't get, is this whooooooole heaven malarchy.

I mean, you're good, you go to heaven. Then what? You live for eternity? Are you conscious in heaven? Do you have a physical body? If so, where IS heaven? If it is a physical place? What happens then? You're just eternally happy? Sounds a bit rubbish to me. The joy of life is seeing it's ups and downs.. How can you be eternally happy?? I mean, seriously, you'd go mad.

And ALL the good people are there? All of them? What - in houses? As spirits? Are there cars? Is heaven just a memory?

I don't understand. There is more to life than waiting for heaven. How about living in the here and now

 

[Gustav]

And ALL the good people are there? All of them? What - in houses? As spirits? Are there cars? Is heaven just a memory?

Dizzy!! As you well know, they are all sitting on clouds, playing the harp, and eating Philidelphia soft cheese on toasted Bagels!!

 

[BigDog2191]

Dizzy!! As you well know, they are all sitting on clouds, playing the harp, and eating Philidelphia soft cheese on toasted Bagels!!

Haha that would be kind of cool.

 

[Dizzy]

Dizzy!! As you well know, they are all sitting on clouds, playing the harp, and eating Philidelphia soft cheese on toasted Bagels!!

Hahaaa - of course

"a little taste of heaven"

 

[Debi]

now that I know there is cream cheese in Heaven......I'll try to behave myself. don't know how long that will last........how many bagels do we get??

 

[Dizzy]

It's heaven - I don't think there is a limit!

 

[BigDog2191]

3 per person is the limit - that's the word on the street...

 

[Debi]

3 per person is the limit - that's the word on the street...

3??? oh dear....then I'm not gonna fret too much about those evil human sins. wait........are they plain, or do we get a choice? I do like apple cinnimon bagels...might make a difference in my behavior. is there strawberry preserves to go along with the cream cheese??? cause I'm rethinking Heaven if there isn't.