Which religion are you?

1. I'm not fond of that idea either. Obviously I'm not sure how this works because it's all supernatural and stuff, but even if you were in the presence of god, you would still grieve for lost friends. I find it stupid to think that being with god would get rid of all feelings of grieve and mourning.
2. If I spent all that time at church, etc, and it eventually turns out to be false, I would feel that it was time wasted. Not because when I look back upon it, it won't have been time well spent, because obviously you can't look back once you're dead, but rather when you look forwards at it, I feel that I wouldn't want to risk wasting all of that time for something that could easily turn out to be false.
3. I've heard of purgatory in passing, but I've never actually understood what it is. From what I've heard about it (which mainly comes from what you've just said and a couple of short snippets from Family Guy) it's basically a neutral place to give good people who didn't believe in god another chance, but I have no clue as to how correct that it.

@ josh. I can understand why believing in a god would give a sense of security, and I can understand that that's why some people have a religion. I'm an Atheist, and as an Atheist I believe that just knowing that when I die there isn't any more is all the security I need. However that only works because I believe that there isn't a god, so if someone either isn't sure or is afraid of death, then that logic wouldn't work for them. Also if I had to choose a religion I would be worried that I'd chosen the wrong one. If I asked myself "What if I go to hell when I die?" then even if I was devoutly Christian, what if that isn't the right one? I'd end up going to hell anyway.

 

1. I'm not sure as well, but I guess if it's true it would come naturally. The point here is that you wouldn't grieve because you'd be happy. No idea how is that supposed to work. Maybe someone else knows better?
2. What I'm trying to say is that you go to church, pray, etc. all in belief that it has meaning, is worth it. The moment you die, it's already too late to notice that it was waste, because you don't exist anymore. So in case you believe in false god you don't get a chance to realise your mistake. In case you don't believe and it's true you'll have whole eternity in hell to look back upon it.
Also many people treat going to church as an option, there are many Christians that don't see a point in going to church and are far better people than those who go every week, but that's pretty much where their faith begins and ends.
3. iirc, it's not as much a second chance as a "place" where you atone for minor sins you've commited, but after some time you will eventually go to heaven. Again, no idea how it works in detail.

 

2. I understand what you're trying to say, but that only works if you look back upon it. I'd always be looking forwards and thinking about if I'm wasting all this time. I know that you'll only know your mistake for sure after you've died, but for me there would always be that uncertainty and wondering everytime I think about it or go to church, which isn't worth living with in my opinion.
3. So is purgatory only for the religious who have committed minor sins? Or if there was a really good person (did a whole lot of work and donations for charities, etc, etc.) but wasn't Christian, would he/she go to purgatory?

 

I believe that a good person by Christian standards would go there. That doesn't neccesarily mean charities, someone maybe donating to gain reputation and good image etc. but that's beside the point
There's the problem of original sin though...

 

Someone who gives their life to charities in order to help people is more worthy of a decent afterlife than someone who does the same thing for the reputation and image is.
This is one thing I don't like about religions and afterlife's. There could be a generous person who helps others for his/her entire life but doesn't have a faith, and another person who has a faith, doesn't necessarily sin, but is still extremely selfish, egotistical, etc, and the person with the faith would get a better afterlife that the other person who has devoted their life to others.
That's another good thing about Atheism. There is only one outcome, so helping others is its own reward, and that's as good as it gets.

 

selfish, egoistical... don't they count as greed or pride? If someone didn't sin at all, no matter how would he behave otherwise, I think would be worthy of heaven. Note that one of priests (doctor on theology and very educated person) told us in class that riding a bike without having your hands on the "wheel" (w/e you call it) is a sin.
Oh I got it, if someone is egoistical, that person does sin, because not helping others if you can is also a sin. It's not only about doing bad things, it's also about not doing the good ones.

And again, I don't remember any of the priests' view on it, but I believe that a good person would go to heaven even if they didn't accept faith. Take tribes living in jungles etc for example. It may be different nowadays, but there are still people who didn't even get a chance to learn about Christian religion. This doesn't mean, they're doomed and can't do anything about it. If they earn it, they would still get a good afterlive. (And that one example I'm sure came from a priest)

 

the point is thisi think)
there are reformed christians and modern christians
reformed christians believe that unbelievers and heavy sinners go to hell and believe the story in the bible as true stories of god's strength
modern christians believe that extremely heavy sinners go to hell and that the stories in the bible are metaphors

is that right, sirs/mams?

 

I have a question, If I'm a good person who doesn't beileve in God, but feels there is validity to the Bible's lessons, and follow them anyways (10 Commandment, Golden Rule, etc.), what happens when I die if it turns out there is a God?

 

I think I have answered that already to the best of my (limited and/or questionable) knowledge. Maybe someone who actually believes all this could enlighten us?

 

well, its hard to say. most of my immediate family is morman, my extended family is catholic, somewhat. i dont really stand anywhere right now, ever since i graduated from high scholl and started working/attending university ive just been doing my own thing. i know there is somethin bigger out there but dont really know what that is right now.

 

well from what ive been told by others, u are accountable for ur own actions and if u are ignorant to the existance of a 'god' then that will be taken into account when u are sent to heven or hell, assuming u believe in all that. i dont really know for myself but thats what ive been told by many ppl in my home town.

 

Triple post alert...

I like the thought of whatever religion you believe in, it will happen to you after you die. I forget the proper word for it, and I think it might have been talked about earlier in the conversation. All in all, it's a good philosophy.

 

Please take no offense to the below because I strongly oppose all religions of any kind that worship some deity.

I'm just going to have to say that : Do you people believe that someone who lives in the sky made earth? It's impossible to live in the sky... And people have proved evolution. In my opinion, the Bible is just a story. Heck, I'de do my book report on it! Also, it's impossible to be born without having intercourse. And it's impossible to walk on water, impossible to raise the dead too. And the earth was created from gas and dust condensing together because of gravity. The big bang theory isn't a theory anymore, there is a lot of proof that it actually happened. you can't get resurrected if you die!

Answer this, Who created god? Don't tell me he created himself, because everything has a beginning and you can't create your self if you didn't already exist.


Out of every religion in the world, I like Islam (if suicide bombers weren't here)
they have good beliefs, one is that they have to give up 1/20 of their wealth to the poor or at least donate it.

Sorry if this is offensive.

Edit: Just thought of this great movie that talks about religion, 9/11, and the government. It will change how you think...

It's called Zeitgeist. Go to Zeitgeistmovie.com or search zeigeist on youtube. Trust me, it opens your eyes! All of you believers in "God" will think again in what you worship.

 

1. As I've said already, the priests that were teaching me say that Bible is not a geography/biology/history book and the creation as shown in it is metaphorical. In fact they said that evolution did take place and at some point in time God gave humans souls. This does not contradict theory of evolution
2. We're speaking of omnipotent God here, why would it be impossible for Him to live in the sky? But that's beside the point, for he doesn't live in the sky, he lives in Heaven. Saying it's above (and Hell below) Earth is also purely metaphorical and these aren't places in physical sense.

By the way, why isn't living in sky possible? How do you define sky anyway, where does it begin and end? IMO sky begins where Earth ends so technically, we are living in sky.

PS: None offense taken and I hope you take none from me

 

I didn't take any, because I understand religion is something we have to face sometime... But if Heaven isn't an actual place, how would you get there?

 

In short, death.
What I don't get is why Christians don't try to hasten their arrival. If it's supposed to be a perfect and wondrous place, why don't you see all Christians smoking and speeding? I know that suicide is a sin, but that doesn't mean that they can't live riskily.

 

Living riskily IS a sin too.
In fact I know one priest who says that riding a bike without having your hands on handle bars is sinning

 

So then smoking a sin. Right? So, how come so many Christians smoke?

 

Go ask some Christian, how would I know :?
I don't smoke, in fact I've got no idea why would anyone smoke, it just doesn't make sense to me