<<
Red Dawn: bluemax, your religious beliefs apply to you and those who believe like you do and only to those of you. It doesn't apply to us who do not believe as you do. Please don't think that by stating your religious views that it is going to be seen by others as a valid argument. I respect your right to believe want you want, please respect our right not to believe as you do. >>
Yep. What better way to show that respect for "my opinion" than to attack because of it at every opportunity, eh?
These aren't just MY views, but one formed by churches worldwide, although there's also plenty of churches that believe in the "immortal soul" that goes to heaven or hell right away. Most of these people know full well what the Bible actually states, but would lose their members if they "spoiled" the nice images they get to play with.
Your view of religion isn't too far off, Red. There's a LOT of churches and faiths out there that make up a load of hogwash and quote the occasional bible verse to "back it up" which is taken horribly out of context. I can see why you're programmed to hate religions by default. I was too. Until I started doing some real study into history AND Bible theology. I've only scratched the surface, but have found more than I can chew already... it's mind-boggling. I didn't jump in with blind faith (which isn't always a bad thing, but sure can be if you don't QUESTION what you're being told) and the bible even tells us to question eveything and if it's not REALLY backed up in the bible in every circumstance, it's a human "error" at work.
A little more on topic... since YOU don't believe in a soul of ANY kind, you feel it is your right to snuff out life wherever you feel appropriate? Ever felt like you might be playing the odds at all? What if your whole life you were so busy making YOURSELF the center of your universe, that you found out that this whole "fairy tale" world was actually true. The price is steep for a gamble of a very short lifetime...
Speaking of odds... I'll have to dig out the book where I got the quote that life "just happening" on Earth in the state of "perfection" it's in now (or was at one point) is 1:10^25x -
that's 10 with 250-some zeroes (don't have the exact quote here).
If you're betting on a horse, would you go with those odds? The chances of it winning are infintissimally(sp?) tiny. The payoff? A life of selfish pleasure where you do whatever you want and then possibly "wink out" or possibly have your soul permanently destroyed by hellfire. (No, you don't get to life forever in hell- it destroys Satan and all his followers once ignited.)
Play the other odds which don't seem nearly as high anymore and you have the potential of a life filled with some kind of meaning (even in face of ridicule by a few loud people) and no fear of death. Beyond that, (the possibility of

to live forever with your master and creator. (Truncated for brevity.)
Millions of people CAN be wrong. It happens all the time... Give me a call sometime if you seriosly ever think to yourself....
just what IF...
As always, it's your call.