explaination

[meismusicdork]

I do not seriously agree with the below post ... like the article my title was meant to be sarcastic. I mearly agree with the authors of the article that the debate of evolution vs. creation which this so brilliantly parodies is stupid. It is simple an attempt to bring more people to Christianity ... it is the same mentallity as the crusades

Comments

[nyirbitt]

Christianity holds that even though God is all-loving, he's also perfect and just. Because he's perfect and just, he can't allow anyone to screw up without a penalty, but because he's all-loving, he gave up his life in a gruesome death to pay that penalty for us. All we have to do is accept that sacrifice, and we can be with him forever.

"Nonchristians will all go to hell" is a very extreme oversimplification. The problem is that they are holding on to all of the mistakes that are keeping them away from heaven.

And if anyone tells you "you're going to hell if you don't believe in creationism" you should punch them.

I hope I interpreted correctly that you wanted a discussion?

[meismusicdork]

yes .. but the idea that you must believe in jesus to get into heaven is held by many christians .. and it seems to me to be an oversimplification as well ... that idea could easily be translated to all nonchristians are going to hell .. because lets face it, people thaat dont believe in jesus are generally nonchristians ... i agree that what holds people from heaven, or the afterlife, or what habve you is holding onto our mistakes in whatever form we choose to interpret that .. but i honestly have difficulty believing that jesus is the key to salvation, i believe he is a way to salvation, but not the only way ... it just dosent seem ... right ... i believe the idea of jesus is fantastic and appears in many forms throughout the world in various religions and beliefs of all shapes and sizes .. and there are people who believe in jesus who are completly not .. good ... pat robertson for instense said that mother teresa wasnt a real christian ... my point hear is that jesus seems to be an oversimplification of salvation as much as

[nyirbitt]

Jesus says "I am the way, the truth, and the light. No one comes to the father except through me."

Some christians believe that means "I'm the only way to get to heaven", but to be honest, I'm not totally sold on it. The Bible is so difficult to interpret, there are many ways to read everything in it.

What are some other versions of Jesus in other religions? I've never heard of those.

[meismusicdork]

I didnt really mean it literally, but the idea of salvation through love, kindness, good works, enlightenment ... im pretty sure those ideas are relatively consistent through other religions an d belief structures ...not all ... but ya know

[diggerthemole]

I'm leery of posting because I have a tendency to get too...exctiable and into stuff.
That being said, I'm not sure Dan said "salvation through love, kindness, good works, enlightenment". I think he said something different.

[meismusicdork]

But regardless wasnt that the teaching of Jesus .. not just that if you believe in me you will to heaven .. that belief has certian ropes attached to it as mentioned in the affor mentioned kindness, love, etc ... if you just believe in Jesus for the sake of believing in jesus than i kinda think you might as well just forget the whole thing ... it frankly seems a little narcissistic of God.

[nyirbitt]

No, that wasn't the teaching of Jesus. All that is nessesary is a genuine faith and trust in him. Good works don't count for anything, because no matter how good we are, we still aren't perfect, and God's perfect justice can't accept that.

All of the advice Jesus gives on how to live is totally from the perspective of "okay, you're going to heaven. This is how to show you're grateful"

Too many christians forget this, and also that Jesus said that the greatest commandment was "Love God with all your everything, and love your neighbor as yourself" Not any belief or morality, just love.

[meismusicdork]

And this is where i disagree with christian teaching (well not all the sects but ya know) ... b/c an insane man could have genuine faith in jesus, go out and kill people and still get into heaven .. and someone who dosent believe in jesus but loves everyone and does everything he can to make the world a better place is going to hell .. see that to me is God being narcissistic and stupid .. where as in terms opf human interpretation i find that to simply show the human need for something to be there t ogarentuee that no matter what theres sometihing to catch me .. a more societal than religious view ... instant gratification and the need to know that something will catch you and you wont have to catch your self

[mayrbear]

ah, chris! you are one really awesome guy

[nyirbitt]

Remember that Jesus was not a Christian. He was a Jew and he still went to heaven.

[nyirbitt]

he was also God. that helps.

[nyirbitt]

i love it when y'all get all hot and bothered...;-)