So, I've been really puzzled lately on the topic of religion. I have many christian friends. atheist friends. jewish friends etc. i have heard each of their thoughts and views. i was brought up in the christian church and attended christian school for the beginning of my life. but i am confused on what religion is correct. if i was brought up believing in a religion other than christianity i would think that christianity was incorrect. i asked a preist, "what about people who have never heard of jesus christ, theyre going to hell because they havent accepted him?" and he answered thats why we have missionarys to teach others about him. I think hell was made up to scare people into believing in something. i think there is only one god. who's to say christians are correct? any thoughts?
2006-07-24 07:15:03 · 26 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
You feel this way because what you have been told by religion about God is simple nonsense. I am not saying that anyone’s belief in God is nonsense. I'm just saying that most of the things that you find in the Christian bible are.
Any ideas of a judgmental punishing God are absurd.
These writings that we call the Old Testament are borrowed from ancient Jewish scripture. The Jewish faith does not see them as being the word of God at all. It is only the Christians that have this fantasy about them. Jews see them as more of an ancient history/mythology about the roots of Judaism.
One needs to wonder how it is that the Christians find these meanings in borrowed scripture. Meanings that are nowhere to be found in the faith that they were borrowed from.
The ancient Jews were judgmental and somewhat vindictive, and wanted revenge for some of the things that had happened to them. So they created a judgmental, vindictive punishing God who judged as they judged, hated as they hated, and sought revenge just as they did.
All of this makes for some interesting reading if these ideas of judgment, punishment and revenge appeal to you.
Still none of these things have anything to do with the real unconditionally loving God who I believe is a part of each and every one of us. You are better off if you stick to the truth and skip the judgmental fantasy called the Old Testament completely. Perhaps it is not God that you find so unbelievable. Could be it is just all of the nonsense that you heard about God that made you feel this way.
That is what it was for me. I have gone full circle with this idea. I was raised catholic, saw it as utter nonsense. Thought of myself as an atheist for a while and then suddenly realized that it was not the idea of God that I had a problem with, it was just the lies I had heard about her.
Love and blessings
don
2006-07-24 07:21:57 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you were brought up in a Christian church and attended Christian school you must have at some point read at least some of the Bible. Do you just stand and listen to these other views or do you sometimes take a stand and tell these others of your views. Just going by your question, I would say that you are not a leader, you are a follower. You want to be accepted and to state your viewpoint would make you less acceptable. This reminds me of the line from that song, if you don't stand for something then you will believe anything and everything. I have found that as I grow and mature that being accepted is not the most important thing. Developing a belief and sticking to it is much more of a challenge. So if you are up to the challenge go back to the days of your Christian upbringing and take a stand before you get run over and left behind. The more you act like a sponge and take everything in and not let anything out the more saturated you will become and you will loose all beliefs. And most importantly don't take the chance that hell is not a real place. I will tell you right now that as sure as the sky is above us there is a hell and it is the worst kind of torment you can ever imagine. Pray that Jesus will help you to believe that He is the way and the light and the life and only through Him can you get to heaven. There is only two ways to go, one is heaven and I'm am sure that you know of that and the other is hell and I'm sure hoping that you don't want to experience that. Jesus will help you understand. Be a witness and not a sponge.
2006-07-24 07:45:39 · answer #2 · answered by racam_us 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a continuing problem. People brought up catholic, later having doubts, and assuming they are Christian. Catholic does not equal Christian. Yes, they do talk about Jesus, but they are not necessarily Christian. Some are. Those who become born again are true Christians-but all the rest are trapped in a pseudo-christian cult.
Your confusion comes from your catholic roots. It is probably harder to change a catholic than a heathen. If you ever figure it out-you should leave Catholicism.
Try to find a Calvary Chapel. That is about the safest church in the USA. They will accept you, no strings attached. You can learn the truth there without any commitment to them-you will not have join the church-they will take you as you are. You can leave anytime you wish-no membership. They teach the Bible verse by verse.
2006-07-24 07:29:57 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The misconception is that people are not doomed to hell in the first place. All people are born going to hell and it is only by God's grace and the fact that at some point they will be convicted of such knowledge and that a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, not a religion, will allow them into heaven. No religion is correct. Only faith in Jesus Christ and the gospel as he proclaimed it is right. And when it comes to people not hearing about Jesus Christ - if God can create the world, don't you think he would have provided a way for all people to come to a realization of Christ, with or without missionaries - like I said, our thought processing has always been under the assumption that we must be good, work hard, etc to go to heaven or the consequence is hell. The truth is we are all destined for hell, and it is only by grace that the Holy Spirit reveals Jesus to us that we are able to choose his ways over our traditions and enter into the narrow path that leads to heaven.
2006-07-24 07:22:23 · answer #4 · answered by dph_40 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is only one true God and his Son is Jesus. They are not equal but are united because they have the same purpose and are in complete agreement with each other. Just as a husband and wife become "one flesh", so God and his Son are "one" in unity.
As for hell--it is only the common grave of mankind. All who die go there. In the book of Revelation, we are told that Jesus has "keys" to hell. This is so those in hell(the grave) can be resurrected back to life here on earth, to be reunited with their loved ones.
This Scriptures at Revelation 20:13,14 tells us_"And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death."
So, it says that the dead are in hell. They are not suffering or being tortured like the churches of Christendom teach. Hell will give up those who have died. It also assures us that death and hell will be eliminated. That makes sense because, if there is no death, then there will be no need for hell(graves) Yes, the ones resurrected will have the opportunity to live forever on earth where sickness, pain, and death will be no more. This is what God's Kingdom will do for mankind.
2006-07-24 07:42:21 · answer #5 · answered by Micah 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have many worries and concerns because you are new to this but don't feel bad. If I didn't attended a Christian school for 12 years then I would have many doubts like you. You just need more time to learn more. I am not very confused because I have studied all this since I was 5 years old, but people who are new to this need more time ,good instructors and guides. Their minds are new to this and anyone with bad intentions can confuse you and make you feel bad about yourself.
Don't feel to pressured about the thinks people tell you. Some Christians say it in a way to scare you, but not all of us are this way.
2006-07-24 07:26:31 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christianity is correct. I have found that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true church on the earth.
However, you must pray and ask God, the same question you ask here on yahoo. He will answer you, Ask to know the truth, in the name of Jesus Christ.
There are many religions it is impossible to know the truth without asking God for help.
I hope you find true religion that will be good for you.
2006-07-24 07:20:45 · answer #7 · answered by Angel 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am Christian, but I don't think that anyone can say that there is one "true" or "correct" religion. I think that whether you are Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, or something else, as long as you believe in the higher power and be a good person, He doesn't care whether you call him God, Jehovah, Allah, Buddha, etc. If you're really interested, take a Religious Studies class.
2006-07-24 07:23:15 · answer #8 · answered by Crushgal 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God promises to reveal Himself to ANYONE who seeks after Him, no matter where that person is living or how that person was raised. People come to Christ all over the world in the most unlikely situations. The Bible says that God has revealed Himself to all of us. "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." When we realize who God is and call out to Him, he provides the way, through Jesus Christ, to reach Him.
2006-07-24 07:25:39 · answer #9 · answered by happygirl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think your question is a very good one, and a very wise one. It's a good idea to investigate these questions for yourself.
I know people think it's arrogant when anyone tries to say "theirs" is the "right" religion. When I began going to a good bible-teaching church, I was very put off by the pastor saying there is only one way to salvation, and that is faith in Jesus Christ. Many years later, after studying the bible for myself, I found that Jesus made that claim, as recorded in the book of John, chapter 14, verse 6, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father, but by me".
It's very important to know who to believe. Please find a good bible teaching church. Take the time to read and study the bible, look into these things for yourself. As God revealed to me what I can trust as absolute truth, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ that He will reveal to you the absolute truth as well.
May I caution you to one thing? If anyone tells you that their particular "church" is the only right one...turn around and run!
2006-07-24 07:19:36 · answer #10 · answered by christian_lady_2001 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋