Can you still get to Heaven if you don't believe in Hell (Buddhists, translation)

[sun queen]

Originally Posted by kaykay

Back when I was in my twenties (many moons ago) I went through a period in which I didn't believe in hell. I don't think my salvation was in jeopardy then had I died while I believed that. But I do think I was wrong. And I do think it was God who led me back to a more scriptural viewpoint.

I am happy to hear u have spiritually matured and I agree with your current point of view.

[dazui]

You can too!I believe that!

[Miss Blue]

Trebek I am moved by your postI have been asking for a long time for a simple explanation of Eastern religions and you have done a good job..Thank you..Okay everyone, I know that was off topic, but its my thread
Back to the topic..I have said in another thread that IMO hell is for the devil and his angels, and for all corruption, including sin and death will be cast into the Lake of Fire. IMO the people that are judged unworthy at the resurrection be cut off from God forever in a permanent death. IMO they will just cease to exist.Personally, I cannot imagine anything worse than being rejected by God..

[aiangel_writer]

Originally Posted by blue62

Trebek I am moved by your postI have been asking for a long time for a simple explanation of Eastern religions and you have done a good job..Thank you..Okay everyone, I know that was off topic, but its my thread
Back to the topic..I have said in another thread that IMO hell is for the devil and his angels, and for all corruption, including sin and death will be cast into the Lake of Fire. IMO the people that are judged unworthy at the resurrection be cut off from God forever in a permanent death. IMO they will just cease to exist.Personally, I cannot imagine anything worse than being rejected by God..

wanted to give you rep for this, but have to spread the love.

[jeffncandace]

Originally Posted by Trebek

Yes my friend. I was raised agnostic, but I spent my high school years in the Church of Christ were I learned a lot about the bible and finally baptised.
Then I started asking my preacher things like "are Buddhist's going to hell", ect... I must say that I didn't agree with him. I believe in the teachings of Christ (except for the ones that weren't stuck in there by the revisionists).

I studied Buddhism, Taoism, and a few other Oriental philosophies, during college and I still do. Buddhism and Taoism were philosophies written by very wise men, but both men said "I am not a diety and don't worship me", people do worship them, I guess they feel a need to, I don't. The Eastern philosophies are very accepting of other faiths, and consider it normal to infuse their philosophies with those of other religions. Seeking the truth is more important than shoving dogma down other peoples throats.

Hinduism, which predates Christianity by more than 4000 years, is where the concept of reincarnation comes from. Many folks in the Orient have adopted it, and so have I. The idea of your soul serving thousands of lives, thru myriads of planets, and graduating to the next level, by reducing bad Karma and gaining understanding, is what I choose to agree with. The heaven/hell alternative makes little sense to me. I don't believe in all this 100%, but it seems like a definate possiblity, so I go with it until proven otherwise. Blind faith is a dangerous thing, and can result in mind control.

When I encounter a situation that requires moral judgement, I usually think of a brilliant verse from the bible to decide what to do. Much Oriental philosophy is alligned with the same verses, but I am more comfortable with the verses I learned when I was young. I know and love the Bible well.

The concept of Karma is exactly the same concept of the verse "you reap what you sow". The Eastern concept of achieveing Nirvana (heaven) is achieved by eliminating Karma. Which can be interpreted as Redemption.

The east and west are closer than one may think, but I find the Western Religions far less tolerant than the Eastern. Overall, both believe the same basic requrements to achieve the ultimate goal of heaven.

I think that many religious people, ruin the beauty of the idea of attaining heaven by quibbleing over minor things...I.E. Immersion vs sprinkleing, ect...
Shouldn't people seek to reduce Karma by loving their neighbors, instead of judgeing them? Christs' main points were "Love thy neighbor as thy self", and do onto others as you would have them do onto you"?

Love everyone and accept what they believe, if they are seekers of the truth then they will eventually find it (it could take many lifetimes in my opinion).

Sincerely,

Trebek

Wow Trebek, thank you so much for taking the time to answer me in such detail! I find your POV very fascinating and, despite some minor differences, I can agree with much of what you have said here.

I have said for years that all religions have some element of truth to them. I don't believe all of them to have, at their core, the Truth. However, for instance, "karma" is a universal, spiritual truth, and as you said is the same as "reaping what you sow". This is one example of many spiritual truths to be found throughout many religions, and on this we are in complete agreeance.

I especially love this...

Originally Posted by Trebek

I think that many religious people, ruin the beauty of the idea of attaining heaven by quibbleing over minor things...I.E. Immersion vs sprinkleing, ect... Shouldn't people seek to reduce Karma by loving their neighbors, instead of judgeing them? Christs' main points were "Love thy neighbor as thy self", and do onto others as you would have them do onto you"?

Very well put. A friend of my wrote (whom I by and large agree with) the following...

"I believe some religions other than Christianity have some degree of divine inspiration. However, I believe the perfect philosophy of life was taught by Jesus Christ. The greatest spiritual teacher other than Jesus was probably Buddha, in my opinion. Like Jesus, Buddha taught charity, nonviolence, love and compassion for all beings. These are the most important spiritual teachings. Buddha did not talk much about theological doctrines, and for good reason, because he felt those things are less important. I don't really think Jesus cared that much about doctrines either. He was more interested in how people live their lives and their personal relationship with the Higher Power.

Jesus was not only a great philosopher and man of wisdom, however, he was also the incarnate Lord. Jesus had supernatural powers to perform miracles, and was the only person ever in human history to be resurrected from the dead and transformed into a spirit-body that can operate both in the spiritual and physical worlds. This shows that he is divine. Nevertheless, if a person follows another spiritual teacher such as Buddha, Gandhi, or whoever else who teaches a similar philosophy as Jesus, one could achieve significant spiritual growth. Some non-Christians who live in a truly Christian way may actually be more Christian in Jesus's eyes than some so-called Christians who are not trying hard to live up to their faith and who do not have enough love for their neighbor. But there is great power in Jesus that is not to be found in any ordinary human being, because Jesus was more than just a man. That is one reason why it is preferable to follow Jesus."

[CLawless]

reading through this thread i found some points very interesting. I personally do not have a religion. by this i do not mean i am atheist. i'm merely saying that i have never chosen one because i have not found one that i feel comfortable with. i have a short story and a question for all of you.

one of my best friends was molested at the age of 6 by her 11 year old next door neighbor. 12 years later she is still troubled, depressed, and violated by the event. everytime she thinks of it she bursts out in tears. she has gotten into heavy drugs, drinking, and has become overly sexual because of it. she decided to confront him to help resolve this. when she did he merely said "well i've accepted jesus as my savior and repented" and past that he had no emotion or regret or guilt of what he did to her.

my thought was oh so you did something deliberately horrible, ruined a girls life, and you'll be fine cause you repented? yeah okay that sound fair... soo does this guy get to go to heaven just because he repented? that sounds terribly unfair

any thoughts are appreciated.

[ShanaBrown]

Hi Clawless, it sounds like this person has a ways to go if he has no emotion or regret over what he did to her. God knows if he truly repented. Hopefully he did and in time and in this life he will realize all of the pain and suffering that she is going through because of his actions and he will regret it. The apostle Paul who called himself the chiefest of sinners persecuted Christians and regretted his actions. He realized God's amazing grace. But I believe that God will take care of whatever is going on in this person's heart and bring all things to light, bring complete healing for everyone involved. God's forgiveness is for everyone because we all are sinners, and Jesus died for all of us. We are all in the same position without Jesus Christ, no matter what the sin is, so I do believe that if someone really repents and returns to God, then he has a relationship with God. God bless.

[juj]

Originally Posted by jeffncandace

Do I need even respond, blue? Anyone familiar with this forum knows what I think! And I think so based on scriptures, not despite it.

• Do you ardently desire the salvation of all men?

• Is it true that God “openeth his hand and satisfieth the desire of every living thing?” — (Ps. 145:16)

• Do you fervently pray for the salvation of all men? (1 Tim. 2:1)

• Do you pray in faith, nothing doubting? (James 1:6)

• Are you aware, “that whatsoever is not of faith is sin?” — (Rom 14:23)

• Would God require us to pray for all men, and to pray in faith, unless He intends all men should be saved?

• If you believe endless misery to be the truth of God, why should you desire and pray that it may prove false?

In response to the OP, belief in something's existence is not required in order for it to exist.

Don't forget John 6:53 - "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you." That's a very important one. I wouldn't want you to leave that one out.

[firstborn888]

Originally Posted by blue62

Can you still get to Heaven if you don't believe in Hell

Too late!!! I'm already there

"even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus".

Ooooops...

[a slave of Allah]

1. God is The Truth and He says the truth and His massengers are truth

God said that there is heaven and Hell.

If you belie God, then you are disbeliever, and there is no heaven for such.

2. Don't look at your sin, look at the Majesty of The One you disobey Him.

God is The Eternal, The Peace and The Light, so if I oppose Him, I will be in eternal Hell.

3. there is not only Hell, there is Paradise and eternal joy as well.

If I have the choice, why would I blame God?

I have to be Just with God as I am just with people.

The sin is 2 kind:
1. sin of disobeydience,
2. sin of disbelief, for this only there is eternal Hell.