Christians... (disciples, prophecies, eternal, scriptures)

[DaniMae1]

Originally Posted by janelle144

1. How do atheists feel about no heaven when one dies? How do you reconcile the thought of a poor person who has lived their whole like in squalor and misery only to die and have nothing else?

2. How do you feel about murderers, rapists, those who abused children and were very horrible people while alive never receiving any justice after death for the misery they caused?

There is a big problem with #2. Doesn't your bible say that if those murderers, rapists, and child abusers just believe in Jesus and ask for forgivness that they will be "saved"? Yep I think it does!

Not to mention that the god of the bible gladly commited murder, had some very bizzare rules for rape victims, and was fine and dandy with child abuse. Heck at one point you were to stone your "bad" kid to death!

[southward bound]

Originally Posted by DaniMae1

Heck at one point you were to stone your "bad" kid to death!

Islam still tells muslims to do that today.

Christianity has gone beyond that, since Jesus was the fulfillment of all the laws. He said Himself that He did not come to condemn the world, but to save it. Sadly, there are too many who think they are their own salvation.

[Asheville Native]

Originally Posted by janelle144

1. How do atheists feel about no heaven when one dies? How do you reconcile the thought of a poor person who has lived their whole like in squalor and misery only to die and have nothing else?

2. How do you feel about murderers, rapists, those who abused children and were very horrible people while alive never receiving any justice after death for the misery they caused?

They are dead, does it matter?

[mhouse2001]

Originally Posted by southward bound

While man did not come from monkeys or swamp scum, there are segments of mankind that are rapidly descending into swamp scum. We see examples everywhere.

I'll assume you call yourself a Christian. You are claiming that some people are becoming "less" than human which smacks of moral superiority. One could easily infer from your statement that Christians are better than others. Doesn't that go against Christian teachings? I also think you're insulting monkeys and swamp scum, but that's another matter.

[Dewdrop93]

It seems that those that believe in an afterlife seem to be incapable of dealing with this life unless they get some sort of reward after they die. It seems that they think it impossible that an atheist would find this life worth living given the non-belief in such an afterlife. I guess when something is ingrained in you since you were little - it's hard to imagine it not being true. And that's fine. But I don't NEED something more than this life. I miss my father terribly but do I believe I will be reuinted with him in Heaven? No. I believe that he is at peace - he is gone. And someday I will be, too. However, while I am living and breathing - I will always have his memory with me. I don't need to invent some sort of afterlife or reunion in order for me to be happy. Life is precious. Life is wonderful. I make the most of everday. I think life is it's own reward.

[Fullback32]

Originally Posted by Dewdrop93

It seems that those that believe in an afterlife seem to be incapable of dealing with this life unless they get some sort of reward after they die. It seems that they think it impossible that an atheist would find this life worth living given the non-belief in such an afterlife. I guess when something is ingrained in you since you were little - it's hard to imagine it not being true. And that's fine. But I don't NEED something more than this life. I miss my father terribly but do I believe I will be reuinted with him in Heaven? No. I believe that he is at peace - he is gone. And someday I will be, too. However, while I am living and breathing - I will always have his memory with me. I don't need to invent some sort of afterlife or reunion in order for me to be happy. Life is precious. Life is wonderful. I make the most of everday. I think life is it's own reward.

I think that depends on who you are talking about. Maybe what you say is true for Christians or Muslims, but there are other beliefs out there where it would not apply. In my culture (Comanche), traditionally we believe in an afterlife. But like all things spiritual among my people, we do not really dwell on it or concern ourselves about it too much. It just is.

Your words, "Life is precious. Life is wonderful. I make the most of everday. I think life is it's own reward" most definitely apply to us though many of us believe in an afterlife. My grandfather, who was one of our traditional elders before he passed, had a motto that he lived by. He would always say, "Just enjoy yourself." Good words that I live by as well.

[Dewdrop93]

Originally Posted by Fullback32

I think that depends on who you are talking about. Maybe what you say is true for Christians or Muslims, but there are other beliefs out there where it would not apply. In my culture (Comanche), traditionally we believe in an afterlife. But like all things spiritual among my people, we do not really dwell on it or concern ourselves about it too much. It just is.

Your words, "Life is precious. Life is wonderful. I make the most of everday. I think life is it's own reward" most definitely apply to us though many of us believe in an afterlife. My grandfather, who was one of our traditional elders before he passed, had a motto that he lived by. He would always say, "Just enjoy yourself." Good words that I live by as well.

You're right - I should have said specifically Christians and Muslims, etc. Thank you!
Fullback - I hope you are enjoying yourself. I know I am!

[hothulamaui]

Originally Posted by LookinForMayberry

Your questions are not pertinent to true religious faith. Maybe you have not lived long enough to understand it isn't about oneself, or the world.

Religious faith guides our internal lives, so we know how we should respond to our external lives. It isn't about escaping suffering, but understanding how to live with it. All the world's religions teach humility, service to others, and love of God -- however the religion refers to it.

dismissing questions because you think they are not pertinent is just another way of either avoiding the question or not having a logical answer for ti. saying someone is not old enough to understand is demeaning. most people religious or not know the world is not about them.

Originally Posted by princesasabia

People are saved by accepting Jesus as their savior and believing, not through being good. A lot of people dont understand how forgiving God is, if those people in prison are truly sorry and ask God for forgiveness he will forgive them through grace. Man (BP cutting corners to save money) created the oil spill, not God. Everyone suffers in this world even Christians do. Sometimes out of bad things comes good things.

are you saying you can be good and it still isn't good enough unless you are saved by accepting jesus? as for people in prison even if you forgive them, their actions alone should keep them from enjoying things that people who have lived a good life do...like "heaven" and life on the outside world.

Originally Posted by southward bound

Huh? Give me a minute to figure out your thought process.



Does believing in God constitute "wasting the one life that you had?"



Vengeance is not ours. It is God's. We should not seek retribution or vengeance out of our own deep seated feelings. All that stuff comes from bitterness and an unforgiving heart while here on earth. When we see Jesus (after death, or if he returns before that) we will be like Him and will not harbor feelings of anger, vengeance, retribution.

1 John 3:2
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

a god that seeks vengeance is one I could never follow. man does know what we are already, man makes the choice on how to live our lives. you either do it right or not.

[mhouse2001]

Originally Posted by Dewdrop93

It seems that those that believe in an afterlife seem to be incapable of dealing with this life unless they get some sort of reward after they die.

Your sentence here took me as rather odd. I believe in an afterlife because it's both logical and beneficial. But I am non-religious. The spirit of me inhabits this body and when the body can no longer sustain it, it leaves. There is no reward (except relief perhaps!).

But Christianity is a religion that takes a person out of the moment. Life is suffering and sacrifice and refraining from desires, all for a grand prize in the end, if you're lucky. Christianity does this for a reason: to disempower. I read somewhere that "hope" is a terrible state of mind because it puts a person out of the present moment. The present moment is the only one in which you have a say, it's where the power is, it's where the action is. To keep your eyes on a prize determined by others, INVENTED by others, is a waste of time and energy. Honestly, I just don't get why people can't figure out that religion is their enemy.

[Dewdrop93]

Originally Posted by mhouse2001

Your sentence here took me as rather odd. I believe in an afterlife because it's both logical and beneficial. But I am non-religious. The spirit of me inhabits this body and when the body can no longer sustain it, it leaves. There is no reward (except relief perhaps!).

But Christianity is a religion that takes a person out of the moment. Life is suffering and sacrifice and refraining from desires, all for a grand prize in the end, if you're lucky. Christianity does this for a reason: to disempower. I read somewhere that "hope" is a terrible state of mind because it puts a person out of the present moment. The present moment is the only one in which you have a say, it's where the power is, it's where the action is. To keep your eyes on a prize determined by others, INVENTED by others, is a waste of time and energy. Honestly, I just don't get why people can't figure out that religion is their enemy.

I'm sorry for all the confusion. I was specifically addressing the statements made by Janelle - and expressing why they baffled me. I should have specified those that believe in Heaven and Hell - and seem to be living this life based on where they will end up insteand of where they are now.

I agree with you 100% on living in the moment.