Jesus loves me, but he hates the shit out of you...

[notfinal]

According to the Bible, I am going to heaven and all the Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and whatevers are going to hell. This is also according to those conservative literal Christians

Comments

[achildnamedlove]

Here's how this Christian looks at it. Jesus Christ is the Truth. Therefor the persuit of Truth is the persuit of Christ. In that way, a person born on an island whose parents worship the sea is not immediately out of luck. If he searches for Truth and admits that he is incapable of finding it himself, he is doing all he can. That is key. The Bible tells us that God expects from us based up what is given to us

[notfinal]

The problem with your statement is that you don't mention the fate of the inhabitants in hell, let alone the reason these people end up there. A Jewish person prays to the exact same God that I pray to, whether he accepts Christ or not. Going back to that boy on the island, if he never finds the truth, but still searches, is he going to hell? What about the Jewish people? They too are searching for the truth, and while many don't find it in Jesus, they have found it in their own faith, just as Buddhists have found it in theirs and so on and so forth. Everyone is different from everyone else. God speaks to everyone in a different way. Isn't it plausible that God speaks to Buddhist monks in a different way than, say, the Pope?

I'd be absolutely delighted, as usual, to read your answer. I do enjoy these discussions!

-Nick

[achildnamedlove]

If I didn't make it clear before, I was saying that the island boy is in good shape.

[notfinal]

Ok. I hear that, I think... what you're saying is that (s)he who searches shall be fulfilled, no matter their findings? Just as long as they search? Because I like that statement. It's logical, fair, and still leaves plenty of room for free will which God enjoys giving to us.

At least, I hope I'm reading you right. Logically speaking, if one does search, they'll come to much the same conclusions... the love thy brother and enemy stuff. Maybe that's why everyone thinks we're all going to hell. Nobody's searching hard enough. How hard do you search? Of course, the answer's in front of your face... eventually I'm going to be asking so many questions, one of those Stephen Hawking wormhole things is going to rip open and devour me hole.

I hope it doesn't take me to hell.

[achildnamedlove]

Yes. That is what I was saying.

I don't think your idea of "going to heaven" and "going to hell" are particularly accurate (at least not where Catholicism is concerned)." Going to hell" is not the Looney Toons skit where God counts up your tally and drops the floor out from under you.

Picture this: You're conducting your spiritual journey to the Truth, but then you find something you don't like. Maybe you find something you are uncomfortable with. So you turn away and make your own Truth. Purposefully turning away from God is what leads us away from Him in this life, and in the next.

One such illustration is John 6: 25-70

[notfinal]

(from the New International Version

[achildnamedlove]

The only difference between those who stayed and those who left was the reason why they were there. Most were there for selfish reasons: they wanted Jesus to feed them, to heal them, and to serve them. But then Jesus predicted his own presence in the Eucharist (that is to say, His presence in the bread and wine during Mass). He claimed that people would consume him like food and never go hungry again

[notfinal]

That's true. I think really we should be more concerned about our own walks with God and more tolerant and loving, while also accepting, of everyone else's. God has a plan for everyone. It's like Barenaked Ladies says in their incredible song "Bank Job," which I intend to write an essay about...

"I was the driver, you ran the show."

We're all drivers, but it's God's show. In the end, our destination is up to him. Maybe we should cut it out with the road rage.

Of course, this little blip on the internet isn't going to change anything...