Heaven and Hell

  • kafka.

    kafka. (150)

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    whomping willow.:
    This might have been posted before, but here's a fun thing to think about: clearly, we're all going to Hell. (I'm an Atheist, but I would still appropriately capitalize it for the respect of Christians.) Like Dru said in the Atheists thread, I agree that many religions are just individual interpretations of the same general idea, with some tweaks here and there. So, guess what? We're all going to Hell.

    If you don't believe in Christianity, you're going to hell, correct? That is the same with the majority of religions. Unless you somehow figure out a way to believe in every single religion (which, if you ask me, I don't see how that is possible), we usually believe in one religion, and we think that one is true. So...if we all think one is true...voila, we must all be magically be going into Hell.

    This is just one of the many reasons why I find religion to be ridiculous, for lack of a better word. I'm not trying to be disrespectful, but the whole idea of Heaven and Hell is so far-reached, and the logic put into it is minimal. Please, correct me if this all is wrong in your perspective, but when push comes to shove with these religious reasoning battles, I do see more logical thinking and realization from where I stand.
    No and no? Most people who self-identify as Christians don't 'believe in Christianity', though they might believe in God and the concept of hell (never mind how or why you get there) doesn't exist in quite a lot of religions e.g. Buddhism, Judaism etc.

    This lack of very basic knowledge of how especially nonwestern religions work is just one of the many reasons why religious people often roll their eyes at atheists going on about how 'logical thinking' is on their side of the debate.
    December 31st, 2012 at 12:06pm
  • jewelia.

    jewelia. (2225)

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    kafka.:
    No and no? Most people who self-identify as Christians don't 'believe in Christianity', though they might believe in God and the concept of hell (never mind how or why you get there) doesn't exist in quite a lot of religions e.g. Buddhism, Judaism etc.

    This lack of very basic knowledge of how especially nonwestern religions work is just one of the many reasons why religious people often roll their eyes at atheists going on about how 'logical thinking' is on their side of the debate.
    Not to be rude, but am I missing something? As far as I'm concerned, that's what Christians are. You can't be a Christian, even if you believe you are, if you don't believe in Christianity. Christians believe the in Christ. I have no idea where you formed the idea that most Christians don't believe in Christianity - that makes absolutely no sense to me.
    That is very basic knowledge, and it doesn't appear that I'm the one that doesn't understand it.
    January 1st, 2013 at 01:10am
  • folie a dru.

    folie a dru. (1270)

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    @ whomping willow.
    The definition of Christian is 'one who has a relationship with Christ'. Christians actually all have a central theme, but they believe in Protestantism or Catholicism or Lutheranism. Or you can say they believe in The Word and The Father. But Christianity isn't actually a religion, it's just an easy way of identifying a punch of religions at once. Catholics and Protestants are both Christians.
    January 1st, 2013 at 03:10am
  • smiling.at.the.sky

    smiling.at.the.sky (100)

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    I don't want to think about Hell. Because then I'd ask myself whether I'd end up there. And I'm not dying soon (I hope), so it's too soon to wonder.

    But heaven? I believe that there is a heaven. It's just people hanging out, doing what they want. You can meet up with people you knew in life or people you knew of but never met. When you get sick of that, you can choose to be reincarnated and choose what you'll be in the next life.

    But that's just me.
    January 6th, 2013 at 04:37am
  • themillionscry

    themillionscry (100)

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    I see there are many people in this thread who say "it's not realistic". I was raised a Christian, became an atheist, and am now an actual faithful Christian, and my opinion on this is that not everything has to be realistic. If we're basing things solely on facts, then no one knows. But to me and many other religious people, religion gives comfort and security and all around happiness. So if there is a Heaven or Hell, I don't know. But I do think we go somewhere when we die. Maybe I'm wrong, but again, I find comfort in that thought. So there's my input.
    January 7th, 2013 at 07:36am
  • wxyz

    wxyz (240)

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    themillionscry:
    If we're basing things solely on facts, then no one knows.
    What's wrong with that? :) What's wrong with admitting we don't know?
    January 7th, 2013 at 07:18pm
  • themillionscry

    themillionscry (100)

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    @ Alex; periphery.
    Nothing, really. I just, personally, am not that kind of person. I base many opinions on facts, but I think even nonbelievers can find good from the Bible. So it makes me happy. That's why I'm a Christian, because I'm not an asshole about it (I don't force it on others) and I find joy out of it. :)
    January 8th, 2013 at 04:17am
  • ThePiesEndure

    ThePiesEndure (115)

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    Going by the Bible Heaven and Hell are real places, though my concept of Hell isn't exactly Biblical, though I identify myself as a committed Christian.

    @drupocalypse My boyfriend sees Christianity as a way of life, as opposed to a religion. Religiosity is all the rules and regulations and rituals; Christianity is more than that, as you say it is our relationship with God/Christ. Also, we don't 'believe in' Protestantism etc, they are just different denominations with differing views on what Christianity should be. I was raised as a Presbyterian, but I don't believe in Presbyterianism, that would almost be idol worship. I believe in God/Jesus. :)

    @kafka what do you mean Christians don't believe in Christianity? Do you mean that they don't consider it a religion? See my note above.
    January 8th, 2013 at 04:01pm
  • LOVE1516

    LOVE1516 (100)

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    Dru's war paint comment--
    The definition of Christian is 'one who has a relationship with Christ'. Christians actually all have a central theme, but they believe in Protestantism or Catholicism or Lutheranism. Or you can say they believe in The Word and The Father. But Christianity isn't actually a religion, it's just an easy way of identifying a bunch of religions at once. Catholics and Protestants are both Christians.
    End--

    No it's saying it's not a religion, we have a relationship just like people have a relationship but, it's very different. Stronger is maybe a word... There is Protestantism or Catholicism or Lutheranism. But christiananity isn't really a religion at all it's a relationship... I know it's hard to believe but, that's how it was started and that's how it will always be...
    April 2nd, 2013 at 07:39am
  • folie a dru.

    folie a dru. (1270)

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    @ LOVE1516
    That's exactly what I said, not sure what you're arguing with.
    April 2nd, 2013 at 05:08pm
  • LOVE1516

    LOVE1516 (100)

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    It sounded as if you were saying Christianity is more of a bunch of religion squashed together...
    April 2nd, 2013 at 05:21pm
  • folie a dru.

    folie a dru. (1270)

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    @ LOVE1516
    "The definition of Christian is 'one who has a relationship with Christ' [...] But Christianity isn't actually a religion, it's just an easy way of identifying a bunch of religions at once."

    Not sure how you got that since I clearly said it was a relationship and not a religion.
    April 2nd, 2013 at 05:33pm
  • LOVE1516

    LOVE1516 (100)

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    But Christianity isn't actually a religion, it's just an easy way of identifying a bunch of religions at once. Catholics and Protestants are both Christians.

    That sounded like you were saying it squished all together, but since we agree I'm not arguing on the fact...
    April 2nd, 2013 at 06:01pm
  • folie a dru.

    folie a dru. (1270)

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    @ LOVE1516
    They all have personally relationships with Christ, which is why they are Christians. It's an easy way of identifying those who have a personal relationship with Christ, encompassing Lutherans, Protestants, Baptists, Catholics, Mormons, Quakers, etc. Just anyone who has a personal relationship with Christ. They may belong to a religion as well, or they may not.
    April 2nd, 2013 at 06:09pm
  • Daughter Monster

    Daughter Monster (150)

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    I don't really like thinking that there's a heaven and a hell because I know if there was one I'd probably go to hell.
    April 5th, 2013 at 11:19pm
  • wxyz

    wxyz (240)

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    Daughter Monster:
    I don't really like thinking that there's a heaven and a hell because I know if there was one I'd probably go to hell.
    Well as they say, Heaven for the weather, Hell for the company. tehe It strikes me that a lot of genuinely good and down-to-earth people are Hell-bound by some Christians' (and the Bible's) definitions.
    April 5th, 2013 at 11:43pm
  • Daughter Monster

    Daughter Monster (150)

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    @ Alex; periphery.
    My beliefs don't have anything to do with the bible, lol.
    April 5th, 2013 at 11:57pm
  • wxyz

    wxyz (240)

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    Daughter Monster:
    @ Alex; periphery.
    My beliefs don't have anything to do with the bible, lol.
    My bad, I've spent the whole day discussing Christianity with someone, it's stuck in my brain. XD
    April 6th, 2013 at 01:30am
  • folie a dru.

    folie a dru. (1270)

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    @ Daughter Monster
    My grandfather believed in hell. It's why he wanted to be on life support--he was afraid of going there.
    April 6th, 2013 at 04:54am
  • Daughter Monster

    Daughter Monster (150)

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    @ druscilla.

    That's really sad :( I'm sorry to hear that. I think it's a fear that's generally in all of us. Death is the condition to life, you know something's gotta happen to you after. I'd like to think that only REALLY horrible people go to hell, but then it kind of makes my argument invalid.
    April 6th, 2013 at 05:00am