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Heaven and Believers
Hey... I've been thinking lately. This isn't meant to be inflammatory or argumentative, I'd just like different opinions.
How could heaven be heaven if you know that 4 billion people are roasting in Hell just because they picked the wrong religion? I don't get that... I mean, if I were in heaven and I knew that, it would be Hell for me. And I know you can say, "well they chose wrong", but that doesn't seem to me like a reason for endless pain and suffering. There are perfectly good people down there. Thoughts?
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Maybe give some free advice about: Spirituality?
Well, now this is coming from an Agnostic view here, just a warning. Now, to be truthful, you can't start this off, because you don't know the actual truth. Anyways, I take it your Christian, just a guess. But, there's no "real" religion, because who knows what's real anymore? It's such a controversial topic, and people, like me, are going to have controversial opinions. Now, before I converted to a different belief, being Catholic (me) meant that just because you sinned didn't mean you went right to hell. I can't really have much of an opinion on this, because I think it all depends on what religion you believe in.
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I think a common misconception is that if you're a good person, you will go to heaven. This isn't true. Christians believe that you must be christian and believe that jesus is divine etc. The thing that bothers me is that someone like Ghandi, who was not a Christian, would supposedly be in hell while some murderer who just happens to believe in jesus goes to heaven. This is one of my main problems with Christianity and all religions in general. I refuse to believe in a religion that says anyone who doesn't believe in it goes to hell, regardless of their actions. Of course, I don't believe in heaven or hell but its the principle of the thing. And also they may not have even "picked the wrong religion" many people don't even know what christianity is.
The truth is all religions arrogantly claim they are correct. I suggest being atheist like me and you won't have to worry about it :)
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I get where you're coming from, but look at it this way. Say they did something, like murder someone or rape someone. They caused the person's family who they murdered suffering for the rest of their life. They caused that child they raped suffering for the rest of their life. So initially, they go to hell to see what it's like to suffer. They deserve it, no? I can see if someone did something minor, like...a fist fight at school. See then it would suck if they went to hell. But people who cause other people to suffer, deserve to suffer in hell themselves. I see your point, but it all depends on what they did to get themselves there, no?
♥T!NA
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You have touched upon one of the most troubling concepts on the topic of religion in general, not just Christianity.
The fact of the matter is that most people do not choose their religion. They may think they do, but in reality it has been fed to them either by society or by their parents. So you cant even say "they chose wrong". Its more often "darn, born on the wrong continent... shucks".
I find it interesting that you only consider the aspect of you, in heaven, thinking of those punished. Have you considered the possibility that the roles might be reversed? After all, none of these religions have offered proof. I would dare anyone to give a valid reason why the outcome in the Bible is more likely than the outcome from another religion (and not just the major ones mind you, also the ones we destroyed over the years).
Well you asked for thoughts, and didnt get much more than that from me lol. I think you presented a very good question, which can be looked at from different angles. To me it makes the whole heaven and hell thing sounds rather man-made. A way to keep followers in check. Thats my thought anyway.
Good luck figuring all this out.
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People who never believe in christianity go to the first circle of hell, limbo. This is a great place that resembles the elysian fields(heaven) of nordic religions; they don't roast. However those who knew christianity and turned away from it go to the inner ring of the 7th circle of hell, laying on burning sand. I'm not a christian and I don't believe any of this, but that's what they say. Guess it's 7th layer for me ;)
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I personally don't believe there is a right or wrong religion. I don't think most of the world will burn in Hell because they don't believe in the Christian religion. I believe what happens to you beyond this life is what you believe, not what some one else believes.
For a Christian to say a Buddhist will go to hell because of their belief, they are passing judgement. Thou shalt not judge.
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That's a good question. And what about the babies who die before they're baptized? And the ones who lived before Jesus came/Muhammed came/Buddha came?
The Mormon religion actually has a ceremony where they can convert a person to Mormonism after s/he is dead. So imagine you had the correct religion and some well-meaning Mormon converts you and you're jerked out of heaven for being the wrong religion? I comfort myself by thinking that God cares more about what we have done with our lives - how we have lived and treated others - than he cares about what book we read or whether we recited the prayers or what religious symbol we wore.
Good luck in finding what you think. The responsible search for truth is the most important part of faith to me.
Sabine
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