If someone doesn't practice YOUR religion, are they going to hell?

[PistachioByAzul]

Perhaps not for you, but for most people, they desire to find a purpose and meaning in their life.

Maybe that's why most people are never really happy? The meaning of life is a trick question.

 

[bandXtrb]

<<Philosophers have discussed this exact same topic for centuries! Perhaps not for you, but for most people, they desire to find a purpose and meaning in their life. I don't think I'm here just to work behind a desk for 8 hours a day to go home, sleep, and do it all over again with the goal of simply earning money to support myself until I die (excuse the cliche-ish-ness). Beyond the basic necessities (survival, etc.), human nature desires to find out why we're here. It's the universal question, &quot;Why do we exist?!&quot; >>

I have been told told that the purpose of life is the one that you give it. There are certain activities you enjoy and relationships you have that make life worthwhile. For example, I enjoy playing guitar , listening to music, among other things. It's different for everybody. It's kind of hard to accept. It seems like there should be something universal that we are all bound to.

I've heard some people claim to have wonderful lives, and they would tell you its your fault if your unsatisfied your 9-5 life.

Why do we exist? Well, we didn't have a choice right? Now I don't know too much about science, but it seems obvious to me that we have something in us that wants to keep ourselves going. It is some kind of instinct that all animals have, right? So this is independent of religion. But any more than this, the above is the best explanation I have.

 

[pulpp]

i believe we all pray to the same god/truth or whatever you would rather call it. but we choose different pathes to get there, i think that God wont judge us by which pth we choose, but rather by how sincere we were following it.

 

[joohang]

LOL @ Burntkooshie.

 

[NovaTone]

<< I have been told told that the purpose of life is the one that you give it. There are certain activities you enjoy and relationships you have that make life worthwhile. For example, I enjoy playing guitar , listening to music, among other things. It's different for everybody. It's kind of hard to accept. It seems like there should be something universal that we are all bound to.

I've heard some people claim to have wonderful lives, and they would tell you its your fault if your unsatisfied your 9-5 life.

Why do we exist? Well, we didn't have a choice right? Now I don't know too much about science, but it seems obvious to me that we have something in us that wants to keep ourselves going. It is some kind of instinct that all animals have, right? So this is independent of religion. But any more than this, the above is the best explanation I have. >>



Well, I was using the 9-5 just as an example. So, you do feel that there should be something universal greater than ourselves?

 

[bandXtrb]

<<So, you do feel that there should be something universal greater than ourselves? >>

greater than us? Why's that important? I think there shoudl be something better than this world that is full of suffering and misery.. or no world at all. (btw, I'm talking strictly about the physical world here)

And I STILL don't understand how God could have created a world such as this one if he can only do good things. Actually, I just read something that suggested the devil might have created the world 'when god wasn't looking'... weird isn't it?

 

[NovaTone]

<< greater than us? Why's that important? I think there shoudl be something better than this world that is full of suffering and misery.. or no world at all. (btw, I'm talking strictly about the physical world here)

And I STILL don't understand how God could have created a world such as this one if he can only do good things. Actually, I just read something that suggested the devil might have created the world 'when god wasn't looking'... weird isn't it? >>



I think i've heard that saying before. But anyway, read one of my earlier posts saying how our sin corrupted the world that God created.

 

[PistachioByAzul]

So, you do feel that there should be something universal greater than ourselves?

Why does there need to be?

 

[NovaTone]

<< So, you do feel that there should be something universal greater than ourselves?

Why does there need to be? >>



Do you ever wonder where the earth came from? the idea of creation?

 

[NovaTone]

<< I don't think you've been reading my posts. Everything you ask has been explained. Your contentions prove nothing other than the vulnerability that religions exploit; you sound as though you're pitching a cult. >>



Sorry if it sounded cultish, I was just sharing how i honestly feel. I guess I feel content with what I believe.

 

[bandXtrb]

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you'll try
No hell below us
Above us only sky

Imagine all the people, living for today...

 

[PistachioByAzul]

Do you ever wonder where the earth came from? the idea of creation?

Sure, but it's inconsequential.

 

[XXXXXkevXXXXX]

oh i forgot about this quote:

When you were born, you were crying and everyonearound you was smiling. Live your life so that when you die, you'rethe one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.

has nothing to do with religion nor hell, yet a good way to live your life...maybe... sorta hehee

 

[whizbang]

Has everyone been watching Seinfeld reruns tonight?

 

[NovaTone]

<< Do you ever wonder where the earth came from? the idea of creation?

Sure, but it's inconsequential. >>



inconsequential? When I look around and see the order and structure in life (DNA, genetics, and basically how things work), I can't help but think that something or someone must have guided its creation and development. How can such an amazing machine/mechanism exist by chance? So to me, creation, and my existence here is not inconsequential but an enormous part of how I see myself and this world.

Well, I'm off to sleep now. Great discussion!

 

[Lucky]

It is quite upsetting if you believe that your existance is meaningless and insignificant. The world can be a very cold place if you find purpose only through yourself. Why are we here? What is my purpose here? Why do I exist? If our existance is the result of pure randomness, what a disappointing thought it is to know that all our accomplishments are meaningless.


I am a photojournalist. I exist to change lives through pictures. I can singlehandidly raise awareness on important topics, bring to light a person or group of people with a specific issue or importance to them, or simply make someone smile everyday. I can make people stop and think about what is going on in the world, why there is famine, disease, crime, or poverty. I can show a rich man the living conditions of the poor, induce that rich man to make a contribution, and therefore make a difference.

I dont belive in afterlife, although I must say after watching dogma and what dreams may come for the first time a few days ago, I did challenge my beliefs. They didnt change, but I gained a greater appreceation for them.

Perhaps not for you, but for most people, they desire to find a purpose and meaning in their life. I don't think I'm here just to work behind a desk for 8 hours a day to go home, sleep, and do it all over again with the goal of simply earning money to support myself until I die (excuse the cliche-ish-ness). Beyond the basic necessities (survival, etc.), human nature desires to find out why we're here. It's the universal question, &quot;Why do we exist?!&quot;


Why do you seem to insinuate that having a meaning and purpose requires a belief in the afterlife, and therefore possibly religion and god? I find no such requirement. I exist to change lives. I exist to provoke thought. My purpose and meaning in lives comes from the letters i recieve my readers of our newspaper, when they thank me for a picture I took, or tell me I did an exceptional job in conveying what needed to be said.

Purpose and meaning can certainly be obtained by what you do currently in your life. You can certainly die feeling fulfilled at what you have accomplished, fulfilled that your purpose and meaning have been found and met, without neccesarily requiring that you look forward to heaven. If I die knowing that I have changed ONE life for the better, made ONE person smile...I have succeeded in what I was born to do. And thats what matters.

 

[PistachioByAzul]

When I look around and see the order and structure in life (DNA, genetics, and basically how things work)

We are the ones who created that structure. Language, science, it's all just a medium for understanding.

 

[Pyro]

<< inconsequential? When I look around and see the order and structure in life (DNA, genetics, and basically how things work), I can't help but think that something or someone must have guided its creation and development. How can such an amazing machine/mechanism exist by chance? So to me, creation, and my existence here is not inconsequential but an enormous part of how I see myself and this world. >>




Why not by chance? there are HUNDREDS of BILLIONS of galaxies, each with over 100 billion starts. Even if the chance is overwhelmingly low, its still likely to happen.

recently in Discover magazine there was an article about six variables which dictate the laws of physics in our universe. If any of those are changed even slightly, life could not exist, however there are theories about infinite universes. Even if the chances are small, again there wil be more than likely for the right combination to occur.


Instead of relying on god to explain it, imagine: A infinitely great space and within it an infinite number of oscillitating universes. The chances of life existing and developing are quite good.

 

[Lemonjellow]

<< Philosophers have discussed this exact same topic for centuries! Perhaps not for you, but for most people, they desire to find a purpose and meaning in their life. I don't think I'm here just to work behind a desk for 8 hours a day to go home, sleep, and do it all over again with the goal of simply earning money to support myself until I die (excuse the cliche-ish-ness). Beyond the basic necessities (survival, etc.), human nature desires to find out why we're here. It's the universal question, &quot;Why do we exist?!&quot; >>



we exist because without our existence nobody would be here to ask this question...

~~edit~~just thought i;d add this is just my ponderings not me preaching im a good lil irish (desent--like my ancesters were irish not the other word that sounds the same... almost put the wrong word eesh!) roman catholic boy... heh~~edit~~

if you want to simplifie the entire equation of &quot;what is god?&quot; all you must do is look at cause and effect.... in our relative time... it can become infinite to you.., time can stand still... even move backwards... time is a mesure placed by man on an infinite continuance... even if there is no universe there is time but there is no time its all relative... (read a little einstein and others for this stuff i cant fully explain it i had to be taught it by a very good friend of mine, who is athiest btw) now to bring it back to where i began if time is only and existence relative to the time keeper... heaven and hell could be considered relative also(through comon beliefs ..or at least the ones i know of im not an expert folks im a highschool student)... if they are eternal... they are what ever makes them that for whoever.... so maybe in the end its just a realisation that time is ours to control.. maybe the dead are just a frozen state of time able to continue on in those last seconds creating an eternity in their own minds...but you ask.. ''well if they are dead their brains are rotting...'' but i answer can energy be destroyed (enerfy being the main element of brain function) heaven could be the last seconds of energy of that person as its passed from them into the world spreading free throughout the universe some day to be new people... even new stars... new ideas... hope.. the love between two people.... (eesh i feel so disney from that last part)but truely to answer what is god and where does cause and effect come in you have to figure out... where did the energy come from if it cannot be created or destroyed? it is an effect without a cause.. and cause with all effect... the one singularity .... this could be god..............

or it could be indigestion from bad chicken salad.... its all relative.... to you....
because heaven is what you make it... and the path you choose is yours to decide

 

[bandXtrb]

<<inconsequential? When I look around and see the order and structure in life (DNA, genetics, and basically how things work), I can't help but think that something or someone must have guided its creation and development. How can such an amazing machine/mechanism exist by chance? So to me, creation, and my existence here is not inconsequential but an enormous part of how I see myself and this world.>>

I don't believe there is any design in the world. Humans may seem like amazing creatures but if you consider the incredibly long time that it took them to develop , it loses some of that quality.

Also, I think it's important to mention that animals are only 'good enough'. Our bodies are not that great, there are diseases, cancers, and we are susceptible to accidents, broken bones etc. If human beings were a product, it woudl be returned as defective. Of course the task of having to cope with all these problems is seen as 'character building' to religious people.

I honestly can't see a reason for religion besides an emotional one.

 

[Elledan]

<< If someone doesn't practice YOUR religion, are they going to hell? >>


With this question you make it seem like one religion is right. In that case, I've news for you. No religion is 100% right, no matter how badly they want to believe this. Christianity, Islam, and all other 998 religions which exist today, plus all sects, all have their flaws and none of them is right. At most all of them contain a tiny piece of the truth.

So everyone who answers 'yes' in this thread or in another way shows blind faith (in his/her religion) is fooling him/herself. Religion is blind faith; making assumptions based on myths and unreliable, often totally biased, stories.

 

[Kitros]

Hey cool! We are all going to hell! How exciting! The only way to NOT go to hell is to hide from everyone, avoiding contact! Goodbye world, I'll miss you, but it's the sacrifice I have to make to not go to hell.

 

[JediKnut]

No.

 

[BrintonAA]

My Lutheran Pastor used to be Jewish, so, things get even more interesting.....

 

[CattyKathy]

no, I'd probably be the one that's going to hell