No, you are forgetting that we, as humans, have free will. Free Will enables us to make our own decisions and our own destiny.
No one punishes them or makes them pay; they do it to themselves. This is a natural law, just like gravity or the fine structure constant; when you leave the material body there are no more delusions. ....
No, you are forgetting that we, as humans, have free will. Free Will enables us to make our own decisions and our own destiny.
Christians believe that salvation is not earned through the works you do here on earth, but rather through having faith in God and faith that Jesus died for the wrongdoings of believers (sins). These sins would otherwise condemn us to death if we did not believe in Jesus dying for them. In Ephesians 2:8-10, the Apostle Paul says "8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
At the same time, Paul makes it very clear that a sign of a believer having true faith includes living a life that reflects that faith through good works. See James 2:14-17. "14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
To the OP.
The premise is simple. Neither individual lived a completely moral life (perfect life). The school teacher lived a good life but not without wrong doing. Hitler lived a terrible life with much wrong doing. The crutch being that neither was perfect. In your example Hitler before dying admits that he lived an immoral life and asks for forgiveness accepting that Jesus paid the substitution, therefore he isnt trying to make it to heaven based upon his (hitlers) own good works but rather based on what Jesus did.
The same goes for the school teacher who at death still continues to base her entering heaven on her good works. However her good works will never be good enough so she would never qualify.
The easiest illustration in what Jesus did can be likened to you committing a crime and having your brother (who has not committed any crime) talk to the judge and bear the penalty that you deserve. You did the wrong but he paid the penalty.
Schrödinger's Jehovah's Witness. On a quantum level it could be a religious nutjob or a horny supermodel. But experience has shown that while both are possible one is far more likely. So until Ed McMahon shows up with a giant check to prove that good things can happen I'm going to keep avoiding the door when somebody knocks. Anyone I want to see would just walk in without knocking anyway.
I dont get what was hard to understand. The OP asked about Christianity and in Christianity there is a God. I guess he should have asked what your opinion was on the subject and then your response would be valid.
Good question. From what i understand from reading the Bible is God would then base salvation according to information received. If you never heard of Jesus then He wouldnt use that as a requirement.There are, and have been, billions of people who have never even heard of Jesus because they were never introduced to Christianity. So all of those people are going to hell because Christians didn't get there in time to teach them? That is a just and merciful god???
Well from your previous post it appeared you found it strange that a christian would believe in a God. As for the violence that escalates because of religion, i think most people from all religions find it pretty inexcusable. Just like a man beating his wife, most people would disagree with doing this however that doesnt always stop them. And violence doesnt just stop and end with people who believe in a God, or gods its pretty epidemic throughout mankind as a whole. No need to pretend religion is causing mankinds problemsI don't recall saying I didn't understand anything. I understand exactly what religion is for. And as the violence escalates in the name of religion, it makes me increasing mad that so many stupid, gullible people continue to push off responsibility for their lives onto some magical sky-dude. I could keep going, but I'd quickly move into an old man yelling at clouds mode.
Good question. From what i understand from reading the Bible is God would then base salvation according to information received. If you never heard of Jesus then He wouldnt use that as a requirement.
What you need to understand is God wants you in heaven and hes looking for ways to get you there, not so that your forced to worship him but that he is able lavish his love for you. Thats why Jesus paid the price for everyone. The fact is everyone is already saved, the problem is many people dont accept it. I could give you a million dollars but if you turn it down theres nothing else i can do.
Ever since I was discharged from the hospital and started telling my story people have been pushing me to take up Christianity at every turn. I have yet to experience anyone pushing atheism on me however.
well something like 95% of all atheists are the religion of their parents because that is what they were taught....Well something like 95% of people are the religion of their parents because that is what they were "taught" (I'm being kind here) from a very young age. Despite living good and decent lives they are condemned to hell because they were taught to believe in X religion instead of Catholicism, all of which are based completely on faith so there is no way to know which brand of religion is true. A lot of religions have the belief that if you aren't their particular brand of religion you will go to hell so it sounds like a roll of the dice to get into heaven even if you are devoutly religious.
well something like 95% of all atheists are the religion of their parents because that is what they were taught....
Hey, if thats how you want to figure it then go aheadSo @elitejp, if I understand this right:
Your God sacrificed his son
Who is also himself
To himself
To stop himself
From throwing his own creations
Into the Hell he freely chose to create
(but never mentioned to the Jews; no, he let the pagan Persians and Greeks do that...)
For the sins he knew they would commit
With the free will he freely chose to give them
(which somehow does not conflict with his omniscience or absolute sovereignty)
Before he created them.
And all this because a woman made from a man's rib
Ate a piece of fruit from the tree your God deliberately put in the garden
Knowing she would eat it after the snake (which he also put in there) told her about it.
...riiiiight. Keep on keepin' on, champ. Whatever makes it easier to sleep at night. Me, I know an abusive father when I see one/
Hey, if thats how you want to figure it then go ahead
You're not required to answer the door, but if you don't answer the religious nutjobs keep coming back. If just once you go to the door completely naked except for pink, thigh-high go-go boots, a Mexican banditio bandolier and a propeller beanie while holding a running chainsaw and singing the theme song from "Shaft" they leave you alone forever. Actually your neighbors, your relatives and even the tax collectors leave you alone forever too, so it's a pretty useful ploy.
Many of us believe what we believe because of social conditioning.
............ Again, much of it is social conditioning from the parent's, schools, friends and church. Most never look at other alternatives. Their ego is too fragile. They are too attached to their view of what God is and what he should be in their minds.
.......