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

[UG]

"Practice religion"???

Humorous oxymoron.

Forgive me if I don't get it right the first time. I just don't know what the hell I'm trying to do. Can I buy a clue? Which god should be my god: the one I don't get killed for believing in by those who believe in another? Is that why we all need to kill everyone in our respective countries who don't believe in the same god so that we can have a p[lace where we who are left can be insulated from all others who believe in different gods so that they aren't going to kill us in our sleep for not believing in their god?

What a great system to buy into. Yep.

 

[nachiketa1]

<< Yes.

&quot;I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.&quot;
-John 14:6 >>



No.

As men approach Me, so I receive them. All paths, Arjuna, lead to Me.

-Hinduism. Bhagavad Gita 4.11

 

[walrus]

No I don't belive in Hell.

 

[PCResources]

<< Just because there is no point in life or no afterlife, does that mean I can't have fun and live life to its fullest? >>



Pyro, that is exaclty what i believe too (maybe we should start a cult or something ;-)...

And as i do believe that there is no afterlife, i CAN live life to it's fullest, i do not have to spend my time worshipping a god, or following god's rules, as long as i stay within the human law i am fine...

It works for me...

Patrick

 

[PCResources]

<< Even if there is no god, I would still rather live my life decently, helping others, being kind to others, treating others the way I want to be treated. Because, if even at my death I would cease to exist, I would die knowing that I lived the best way I knew how, and that hopefully others lives were a little better because of my efforts. >>



Elita1, that makes a lot of sense to me too, you do not have to be an a$$hole just because you do not believe in god...

Patrick

 

[classy]

<< That's why I have ended up calling myself a follower of Christ rather than a Christian.

My interpretation of the Biblical Scripture regarding this is that a lot of people who think they are going to heaven are not, and that it's actually a sin to judge or condemn others. People argue Scripture all the time, but these two things are pretty straightforward. Don't judge, don't be self righteous. If you go around thinking others are not going to heaven because they don't believe like they do, you are kind of missing the whole point of Jesus' teachings.

I feel that---as a follower of Christ---it is not up to me to assume or think anyone is going to hell. That is for God to know, not me. It is one of the mysteries that we will all hopefully understand once we cross over. It would be very arrogant of me to presume to know the mind of God when it comes to other people... it's hard enough to understand and obey what God wants for me to do with my life, so how can I know what is in His plans for others?

Of course, I'm sure this sounds like heresy to many, but this is what is in my heart.

edit: Yay, Elita! That is exactly how I feel. >>



All do respect, the Bible makes it very clear that those who do not accept Christ as their savior will go to hell with the Devil and all his angels. Its late, but it is really very easy to understand, but very long to explain. If this thread is kept alive till tomorrow then I would be glad to explain to you. I never argue scripture. And scripture is not difficult to understand either. The problem is what most people, even born again christians who don't study the bible, is that there are many scriptures throughout the bible that connect together to make it crystal clear what God wants from you and what you are required to do. And on the contrary one thing God is not and thats selfish. The only thing I ever argue is the that there is only ONE God. Not the many million created by man.

 

[jthsmak]

(I'm addressing christianity because that is the religion that was thrust upon me at a fragile age)
I just don't understand how so many intelligent people here could be hung up on this. I want someone to tell me how they expect their brain to be transported intact through their dead skull to any location. Please don't come back and fight this with scripture, I've read the whole thing. I don't know how any of you can read the bible and not notice the many different authors, viewpoints, bias, and chronological differences (Go read the song of solomon, then something from the new testament). Maybe there is a God that sparked evolution in the milky way but I have a feeling he doesn't like me. Another example, Noahs ark. It is physically impossible that the entire earth encountered a 40 day flood. Now most Christians believe that evolution is nonexistent so that means we have to classify boat riders at the species level. It would take MANY arks in that case. Not a single Christian I have ever met will admit that perhaps only Noahs region was flooded and he saved only the animals that were local to him. Rather than deny his faith, Christians will end the argument with a spiritual answer such as God could have compressed any amount of matter into a little boat. Why not stop the rain, and smite the evildoers? A firm believer would also say that radioactive dating, known fossil records and any other thing gathered from the Earth, which he created for us, is worthless. It makes me wonder why anyone would want to serve a god that deliberately conceals himself.

Most people I know get into a religion because (who said it) now they have everything to gain and nothing to lose, plus most of these people lack a social life and need to be told what to do. If you can't accept death (yes eternal) and you need a reason for living, what does that make you?

Why is it that every culture creates gods for itself? Are we that immature?
On the subject of our wrathful godz killing other religous/ethnic groups, can you say genocide? In the end, Christ will have killed far more than Hitler. AND YOU LOVE HIM FOR IT! HAHA, you love Hitler, you love Hitler.

 

[mattyrug]

The Wise Men created God, but who created them??
No, no, Relax, no one is going to Hell, or we ALL are!! it's all open to interperation!
I'm a recovering Catholic.
[Rant]
I believe in something, external to the Human Race, but as far as 'organized' religions go, i dunno. I think that people having faith, in God, or Gods, or whatever is a great thing. The problem is that most people don't have any faith in anything - their god, each other etc...... and growing up Roman Catholic, I look like a Saint compared to most of the other people that were in our Church/Parrish.
The Bible is a great book, but as with every other story passed down from generation to generation, it probally has been changed, to suit the times, different needs, Standings in the Church, or beliefs, etc....[/Rant]
I believe that no Religion is 'Correct', but a little faith, in anything good or positive, and not hurting people, is a good thing.
My Father, (who passed away last year) who was a very religious man, and loved his god, always used to tell us that. He told us that if we stuck by this, God (being his), or whatever God, or thing, we believed in, would Love us Unconditionally.
On another note, coming from a family of Eight, and growing up Catholic, most of us ended up not being part of the Church, for a Number of VERY GOOD reasons, which I cannot get into here.
So, in Short, Hell? Probally Not, Just my .0000002 Cents!

 

[Confused1]

I didn't read this entire thread. I'm probably shooting myself in the foot here, but I think my views are important too Anyway...

I can't limit myself to believe in one thing, that may or may not be true. And I certainly can't tell anyone else that they are wrong because of their beliefs. Religious beliefs are just that, beliefs... I believe that there is something, I just don't know what that something is. Until someone can offer me proof beyond a shadow of a doubt that one religion is the &quot;right&quot; one, I'll continue to explore for myself. Honestly, I don't understand why people can't be &quot;good people&quot;, without being god-fearing at the same time.

 

[element]

Here's my wacky ass take. (ass as in donkey if any mods are reading hehe)

Religion is just a guide. It is there like math, not to provide an answer to everything but to get you to think properly. Math makes you think more logically, religion can make you think of something outside of yourself and your environment. It's like that metal rod on a model rocket launchpad. It guides only the beginning of the flight. Mentally, we are all only microseconds, ok maybe nano or pico seconds or maybe even 10^-99 seconds off the launchpad of knowledge right now in the year 2001 A.D. (I know in the 60s-80s or so we all thought we'd be living like the Jetsons in the year 2001 eh? lol...or like the Kubrick film with the HAL9000 and space travel...bah I'm getting off topic)

I believe one day perhaps people can find out why we are here, what God is, how and why the universe got here. I also think everyone's mind will have to work together to find those answers. Kind of like a server farm of human minds or something.

Now if that made no sense, that is because I have no idea what I'm talking about, or maybe because you don't know what I'm talking about...

I dunno, it's just wacky idea night at the element funny farm. A server farm of synapses and dendrites going...wtf?

 

[Elledan]

<<

<< Yes.

&quot;I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.&quot;
-John 14:6 >>



No.

As men approach Me, so I receive them. All paths, Arjuna, lead to Me.

-Hinduism. Bhagavad Gita 4.11 >>

I like Hinduism. It's so much more focused on knowledge and wisdom than Christianity. Christianity is an empty shell, a senseless religion, not focused on gaining knowledge.

Thanks for your contribution, nachiketa1.

 

[linuxboy]

<< Christianity is an empty shell, a senseless religion, not focused on gaining knowledge >>



any system is open to interpretation and cultural influence. Just because a particular method of practicing doctrine exists, doesn't mean it is the full intent and meaning of the texts associated with the practice.

In other words, don't judge all on past experience, current manifestations or prejudice.


Read Ghandi's take on religions. It's pretty interesting.

 

[Elledan]

linuxboy, judging from my previous experience with Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism, I can clearly see that Christianity lacks valuable knowledge, like the mind-body connection. Methodes like meditation are not used in this religion, instead they've silly rituals and a very weak form of 'meditation': prayer. Add to this the fact that Christianity has fallen apart into a zillion small religions and it becomes clear that Christianity doesn't even exist in its origional form anymore. Did the same happen to Hinduism? Buddhism? There are some new forms of Buddhism, but that's because people somehow consider Buddhism to be a religion with a god (Buddha), which is false, thus there's actually only one true form of Buddhism.

 

[linuxboy]

I agree with you there but I wonder exactly how much of that is because the source of Christianity is in the Judaic tradition?

If taken outside of the traditional framework set about by Paul (who combined Greek philosophy and social norms with his experiences to preach a doctrine, thus creating much of what is used today by Christians) and if the true core teachings are put forth in a new setting, couldn't the faults currently present be compensated? In effect, my argument is that the shortcomings you perceive may not be due to doctrine and ideology but rather to cultural influences on the doctrine.

Every &quot;holy&quot; text serves as a guide and the lessons can be applied from a subjective, cultural context creating a variety of possible mixes.


I do see your original point, though. Almost all modern trends of Christianity have become a weakened form of the original.

My argument is that the original form is not that drastically different from other major religions.

 

[NovaTone]

In response to a few posts yesterday, I agree and I do think it is your choice in what you believe. No one can really make you believe something, and people who force this belief on others are wrong. Do people put value in what they believe in about life? I think we do. Even if you believe you don't have any beliefs, that is still a belief. So I think the question is, &quot;Do you know what you believe?&quot; It's your choice, and I hope you choose it without regret or doubt in the end. Furthermore, it is definitely good to understand and expose yourself to different viewpoints. Keep an open mind, analyze those viewpoints, and don't be quick to dismiss them as &quot;religious trash&quot; or whatnot, which, unfortunately, occur a lot in today's society.

 

[b0mbrman]

If that's what the rules of my religion specifically state, then believing in that religion means believing in those rules

 

[WoundedWallet]

The religion with the WORST HELL wins!!!

 

[NovaTone]

<< If that's what the rules of my religion specifically state, then believing in that religion means believing in those rules >>


yes, you trust in that religion, so that is what you believe. If your religion comes with rules, then you follow them because you believe in that religion.

 

[lowfatbaconboy]

uh didn't read the posts btwn number 2 and 107 so here goes...(prolly already been said)

i agree with elledan on religion

people believe that i am going to hell but since i don't believe in hell what does it matter
what is it something like 2/3rds or more of the world doesn't believe in xianity so the majority of hte world according to them is going to hell

hell will be a really fun place to be if it existed considering heaven would be a bunch of goody goody boring stiffs

as i read in maxim one model said: &quot;i heard the pope said there is no sex in heave, im going straight to hell&quot;

 

[bigredguy]

i figure that i live by my own religion, which i don't follow myself, but i figure that got a pretty good chance of steering clear of hell if they DON'T follow my religion.


edit: but come to think of i don't know a sane sole that would like my heaven either. lose-lose for everybody

 

[TheOverlord]

ultimately we dont know...ill give people the benefit of the doubt: no

 

[Dually]

Lots of people don't know or think about where they are going now let alone after death.

 

[Athanasius]

In answer to the original question: No. Undoubtedly &quot;MY&quot; religion has huge blind spots. Religion defined: an organized system of faith and worship; a personal set of beliefs and practices.

In answer to Elledan's condescending talk about Christianity

<< Christianity is an empty shell, a senseless religion, not focused on gaining knowledge >>


Consider Colossians 2:2-3:

<< My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, in who are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. >>



Or Phil 1:9:

<< And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight. >>




It's not that Christianity downplays knowledge, it is that Christianity teaches that real love is the path to genuine knowledge. He that truly loves others knows, he that truly knows, loves others. Eastern thought focuses on the self, saying that the self is all and all is self, and that really there is no such thing as other. But that can easily become a very subtle self-absorption, can it not? The core tenets of Buddhism say nothing about love as a positive thing; they only address its negative pole, selfishness.

He who loves, knows. Since Jesus is the ultimate symbol of divine love, he is the one with ultimate knowledge. Tru knowledge is a by-product of love, not a goal in and of itself. When knowledge is made the goal, arrogance and self-absorption is often the result.

Christianity says that there is &quot;Other&quot;, that others interests may compete with your own, and that learning to love others is the path to true knowledge.

As far as the mind/body thing, consider these words by Jesus in Matthew 6:22-23:

<< The lamp of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, your whole body will be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee is darkness, how great is that darkness! >>



Or Thomas a Kempis' The Imitation of Christ, written in 1472 A.D:

<< The more a person is at one with himself and inwardly undivided, the more varied and profound things does he understand, and that without effort, for he receives the light of understanding from above. >>



The split between mind/body isn't a Christianity versus Eastern division, it is a modern western versus eastern division, and both views have strengths and weaknesses. The analysis and division of the western mind is what led to medical science, and this analysis is what allowed highly specified knowledge to be gained, to great benefit to mankind. To call the &quot;split&quot; a Christian phenomeneon is a misnomer and ignores critical, core teachings of Christianity such as what I referenced above. If anything, Descartes first encouraged the &quot;split,&quot; though there is evidence that Descartes did not consider the split to be final. But Descartes was not a professing Christian by any means.

 

[Elledan]

Athanasius, nice post, but I can not agree with many parts of it.

As you already know, I'm a Buddhist. I've read nearly everything the Buddha has said and which was written down. I find more truth in his words and his wisdom than in that of this (fictional) character, Jesus. I can see what motivates Christanity, what the idea behind it is, but I disagree with it.

Love is selfishness, it's a desire, an uncontrolled emotion. It can just as easily create things as destroy them. It's something which must be kept under control, like so many other emotions. Only by clearing the mind of emotions and desires, one can be free to fulfill his or her journey to Enlightenment.

Christianity does not strive to attain more knowledge. It has always been a threat to philosophers and scientists. When Christianity starts to become the basis of an organization (e.g. the Christian church), it'll smother any creativity. Many people have been prosecuted and executed because they published ideas which did not comply with what the church told the masses. Unfortunately, this counts for other religions as well (e.g. Islam).

Buddhists always strive to attain more knowledge. They are like the scientists of religion and society. Buddhism is constantly being enriched by new ideas, thoughts and conclusions. Christianity, the Islam, they're still the same. They're static religions.

Current medical science focuses only on the body. The possibilities and resources of the mind are left unused. With the idea of the mind-body connection in mind, medicines like we've now would have been invented, but they would have been combined with session in which the patient 'uses' his mind to get rid of the disease, or to heal a wound quicker. Certain cases show that when the patient focuses on the disease (like cancer) the disease is much more likely to disappear (earlier). The same process can be witnessed during tests in which placebo medicines are used. The group which receives the placebo medicine will often show a decrease in the intensity of the disease. This just by the power of the will. With more training of the patients during their healing process, we might have found a possible cure for many forms of cancer and other diseases. If only we would bother looking at this possibility.

 

[linuxboy]

<< Love is selfishness, it's a desire, an uncontrolled emotion. >>



No, that's what YOU think it is. Reread what the Bible exactly says about love and not only as an emotion but as a state of being. State of being involves mind and body. I think that attempting to explain away emotion as chemicals and approaching everything from an empricial viewpoint creates a bias on your part which shapes interpretation.

Clear your head and try to see the words in their full context.



<< Only by clearing the mind of emotions and desires, one can be free to fulfill his or her journey to Enlightenment. >>




nothingness is not exclusive of the Christian idea of love. They are very, very similar if true manifestations of each are examined in human behavior.



<< Unfortunately, this counts for other religions as well (e.g. Islam). >>



You're shooting from the hip and all I see are blanks. Islam is actually very inclusive of cultures and practices. That's one of the huge reasons it is so popular and is set to overtake Christianity in terms of followers very soon.



<< Buddhists always strive to attain more knowledge. >>



Again, the people vary just like any other people. I think you mean the religion?



<< If only we would bother looking at this possibility. >>



I like your ideas of using will to heal self BUT have you considered exactly what effects the western ideas brought about by the greeks, descartes, empiricists, etc have had on the social fabric? Religion does not necessarily shape the entire society and the present state of western civilization has its basis on philosophical ideas rather than religious. Martin Luther himself wrote that a Church needs a philosophical basis since one of pure faith was sure to cause dissent and crumble.