If you are wrong, do you go to hell?

[Marsh]

Originally Posted by didymus

The answer lyes in the story of Abraham. He left his country and his family to seek God for himself. God mad e him a promise which applies to us. Abraham left his familiar surroundings(religion/doctrine) and delved into the unknown(faith) . All 3 major monotheistic religions go back to him. We shpould learn a lesson from him and allow the spirit of truth to guide us.

Neat take on it; I'm totally going to steal that parallel for myself the next time I get into a debate on faith.

On your point, Khut: I'm a Christian, and I don't think that only people who accept Jesus get into heaven. Jesus said that nobody can come to the Father except through him, it's true. However, Jesus never said who the Father can go to. See what I mean? But sadly you are correct in that most of our theology rests on this bit of... er... exclusiveness.

[NewAgeNerd]

Hey all, I am a devout Jew and thought I should drop in to add to the discussion. In Judaism, and as was mentioned before, G-d created a covenant between the Jews and himself. Such a convenant does not apply to non-Jews. The only obligation, according to Judaism, of a non-Jew is to follow the seven laws of noah(these are pretty basic things). Assuming there is a non-Jew who follows these seven things then he is as righteous in the eyes of the Lord as a Jew. Judaism is a very forgiving religion, and reincarnation is also built in for those who flub it the first few times. The concept of extinction only applies to those who repeatedly commit grievous sins after being given a number of chances. I have heard it said that this category maybe so evil that Hitler himself would not fall into it, though no Jew can really know for sure. In addition, there is no hell so to speak of in Judaism. There is the concept of ghenna, which in Judaism is a destination that a wicked soul enters upon death. There they reside for a certain amount of time and they must witness all the sins they committed in their lives. This process can take as long as 11 months of real world time though for a soul it can feel like an eternity. There is no punishment during this phase, just intense embrassment as the truth of G-ds existence is juxtaposed against the grievous actions of your life. All of those who complete this phase have the option of being reborn so that they may earn greater rewards for the world to come. Hope this sheds some light!

[Quahom1]

Welcome NAN,

A gentle spirit explaining the world of jewish law/belief...refreshing, and thank you. Sometimes getting pounded with it takes its toll on the rest of us.

v/r

Q

[Bandit]

what i would like to know is how does one make the grade for graduating if they never open the book or attend the class AND take the tests and final exam.
Do we get the privilege to drive just by driving with no book or exam.

From what I can see there are two exams. one now for the saints and one later will appear for the ungodly. And it also looks like the same book we have now is the same book that will be open at the last exam.
i really dont think that means all the billions of books. the class is math so i better use the math textbook.
I believe this book is in every language today and the message has been sounded pretty far around the globe.
Unless some are smart enough they dont need the book to pass.
I think I will open the book now and take the exam now, rather than taking a chance of getting an F. I want an A+

[Quahom1]

Originally Posted by Bandit

what i would like to know is how does one make the grade for graduating if they never open the book or attend the class AND take the tests and final exam.
Do we get the privilege to drive just by driving with no book or exam.

From what I can see there are two exams. one now for the saints and one later will appear for the ungodly. And it also looks like the same book we have now is the same book that will be open at the last exam.
i really dont think that means all the billions of books. the class is math so i better use the math textbook.
I believe this book is in every language today and the message has been sounded pretty far around the globe.
Unless some are smart enough they dont need the book to pass.
I think I will open the book now and take the exam now, rather than taking a chance of getting an F. I want an A+

Believe it or not, there are "pockets of people" who have never heard of Jesus, even today... They keep being found out even as I write this note to you.

[Bandit]

Originally Posted by Quahom1

Believe it or not, there are "pockets of people" who have never heard of Jesus, even today... They keep being found out even as I write this note to you.

yes i know . then there would be no exam to take. i know it has to be published everywhere before the end. i will settle for a B+, but nothing less than a C.

But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

dont forget the penny parable. everyone who worked got paid the same penny. wether it was all day or only for one hour.

[truthseeker]

Originally Posted by QueryGuy

I disagree...I personally feel that God reveals only portions of his intended message to humanity at any given place and time, and that all religions are legitimate paths to God. There are so many similarities between world religions that I find it hard to believe any other way.

I think anyone who genuinely tries to develop a relationship with God, who actively seeks his wisdom and who treats others well will grow continuously closer to God and to "heaven."

QG

Right On, Query Guy!!!



And if you all don't mind me saying, I think there is a built-in mechanism for right and wrong. You know right now if you are going to heaven or hell because you either feel spiritually progressive or spiritually in danger - that is, if you don't believe in reincarnation.
Before I go on, I profess willingness of understading.
All religions have a point. For those of us trying to get to God, I believe understanding the Jesus philosophy shows us how to get to God in one lifetime. Can somebody give me a viewpoint on what Hell is supposed to be, really? I mean, without all of the fire and brimstone stuff - unless you believe the devil is red with horns....

[truth644]

t.s.


Heres one for you. I like touse the example of rebuilding your car's engine. you spend a whole lot of time taking it (your life) apart trying to make it run better. when you put it back together expecting it to work, you realize that you forgot to put the most imortant part in...that part which mkes the whole thing run. that feeling...that gasp when you realize "Oh no i screwed up" that feeling of despair is what i think hell will be like when the person realizes that they forgot to put Jesus into their life equation. Except that the gasp and despair wont last a minute. its forever....

Hell is quite simply....finally knowing the truth about God and realizing you have been seperated from him forever. Pretty scary to me. Remember, thats what happened to Adam....God used to walk in the Garden of Eden when Adam was there. He screwed up and ate the fruit, so God could no longer be around him, so he booted him out of Eden. He said everything that descends from him will have the same bad luck. That's why weve been trying to do all these years, get back to that original relationship with God that Adam Used to have.

[truthseeker]

Hey truth644,

This is why I love this forum. I've never heard it like that; Hmmm, the anguish and dispair of losing that love and communion. I've known something like that and it was surely hell - not that I could even equate that with God. And yet, that simple anguish I would never want to go through again. Yes, truth644. That was hell. To think that God would just leave me to figure it out for myself? That is very, very scary. I think I want to cry.

[lunamoth]

To answer the OP question quickly I think no, you' don't go to hell for having a wrong belief. I also do not think of hell/heaven as a place but as the state of our relationship with God. And I do not think anyone is ever eternally cut off from God. God's grace is always there pouring down on us but we have to hold out our cup if we are to drink.

Having the "correct" metaphysical beliefs is not of interest to God. Religions and doctrines and belief systems are only of value to the extent that they lead us to God, to love and serve each other and to achieving peace on earth. This is the narrow path.

[truthway_009]

if sbdy choose wrong religion he go to hell
dear marsh u say that all worship God
no
i am moslim
i worship one God
christian worship three gods and i mean three gods
u say trinity and 3in 1
this is some thing unreasonable and i think u have mind
then who say about trinity??????
god or priests?
by god ! jesus didnt say about trinity any where in gospels
give me one word jesus said "there are thre to worship;father,son,holy spirit"
remember ! i say "worship" no other word
realy first priests call jesus as god and then come to conflict cause there is one God:so the bring the theory of the trinity to make them one God
i mean it is a theory not fact and there was many other theory of god at that era
do you know why people go to hell?
because they did not use there mind
i hope u use your mind and not to hear others

[truthseeker]

Sounds like an attack on other's views, truthway009.

Some of us are here to open our minds where we lack understanding. Maybe you should stick to the Islam section and enlighten us on that instead. If you want to understand the Trinity, I opened a discussion thread about that over in the Christianity section of this forum - but I guess we would never catch you over there, now would we? I am definately no moderator but I have to stand up in defense of those of us who respect the diversity of this forum.

With much respect, Moderators.

[I, Brian]

I ddn't rly unstnd it and mstly fnd it illgble.

[didymus]

truthseeker. you are funny. you shot down the muslim guy for his opinion which was Jesus never said they were three in one and to pray to that. He is right Jesus never said that. You said you are trying to be open minded and learn. How open are you to learning when you believe that those that don't believe as you do are going to hell? If you really wanted to learn you would have listened to what he said. But you didn't. You are a contradiction.

[truthseeker]

Originally Posted by didymus

truthseeker. you are funny. you shot down the muslim guy for his opinion which was Jesus never said they were three in one and to pray to that. He is right Jesus never said that. You said you are trying to be open minded and learn. How open are you to learning when you believe that those that don't believe as you do are going to hell? If you really wanted to learn you would have listened to what he said. But you didn't. You are a contradiction.

Hello didymus,

You and truthway009 are right, Jesus never said that. Yes, I am trying to be open minded and learn. I don't think that I have said anywhere in any part of this forum that people who don't believe as I do are going to hell. Like I mentioned to truthway009 I will say to you as well:

Originally Posted by truthseeker

If you want to understand the Trinity, I opened a discussion thread about that over in the Christianity section of this forum

and I will leave the rest of the sentence to truthway009 alone.
I do not claim to be a master of the Trinity. As a matter of fact, I am asking a question so I can better understand the Trinity.

Originally Posted by truthway 009

do you know why people go to hell?
because they don't use there mind
i hope u use your mind and not to hear others

was the point I was addressing, dear didymus.

I appreciate the threads you start and I expect that we will engage in conversation again. Being so, I hope it shall be on more respectable terms. Now, let us get back to the question, shall we?