Does christianity make sense?

Question

I guess this question has been asked before, but I have a very specific question. My understanding is that Christians believe that if you accept Jesus Christ as your savior you'll go to heaven and if you don't you'll go to hell -- regardless of what you have done in your life. So you could've murdered and raped numerous people and if you repent and accept Jesus - you go to Heaven, but say you've done nothing but good things are your life, but simply because you don't accept Jesus Christ -- you go to hell??

My question is -- if this is really true would Christ be the type of person you want to worship? Pardon me, but it sounds to me like he's the bully on the block who's making everyone yell "uncle" to get into Heaven.

This question is not meant to bash Christianity, but to get honest, insightful answers from people who have thought about this.

Answer 1

Your question is one of the basic conundrums of religion. This is the reason why I believe that organized religions are utter nonsense and mostly exist to separate people from their money.

But hey... this is just me. Anyone can believe anything s/he wants to believe.

Answer 2

The same people that taught you that there is a Santa Clause, That Jesus was born on December 25th and that Jesus lied about how long he would be in the tomb are the same people that taught you that when you die you go to hell or heaven. There is no Santa Clause. Jesus was in the tomb a total of three day's and nights as he said. How can you believe these people? Nevertheless you were taught that he was placed inside the tomb on Friday prior to sunset and rose Sunday morning. That is not three days and night. Jesus was born in October. The hell that you were taught about does no now exsit nor will it ever. No person that ever lived has died and gone to heaven except Jesus. And no one is in a place that is consumed with fire. Yes the Jesus that you were taught about might very well be not only the bully of the block but the entire world. However the real Jesus is a great, gentle, loving, caring being. Don't believe me, don't believe your parent, don't believe your preacher, don.t believe anyone, believe only what the bible tells you. You can prove or disprove that God exsit. For complete answers contact the Church of God - Broken Arrow e-mail [e-mail]. You have a great day.

Answer 3

Read between the lines of the things you mention and some other passages. We have an organized religion that takes much money from suckers who attend its services. Certainly, the money of murderers and rapists is as good as the money of more decent people, so why stop them from contributing to regular offerings, special offerings and building funds? Guilt feelings are created, and priests can relieve that guilt for a fee. This is similar to a con man poisoning a town's water supply and then selling antidote. We are told that all have sinned and don't deserve heaven. Well, it's so grim I want no part of it. Give me the 72 houris in Moslem Heaven instead. Even sexual thoughts are sinful, and any normal person has them often. Whoever concocted such a totalitarian tyranny should be the ones burning in Hell if it existed. Too bad it doesn't!

Answer 4

This question is actually a rather common argument against Protestantism (although, as you said, you are just curious). Generically, the answer is this: if you have been saved or re-born spiritually, then you will lead a good life since you are living your life through our savior, Jesus Christ. The reason why Protestant sects do not believe in the value of good works comes from Ephesians 2: 8-9 when Paul wrote: It is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.

You must realize then that God's grace gives you the strength to repent your sins and lead a good life. I believe that your life reflects what you actually believe. If you are out killing people on Saturday and show up to praise God on Sunday, you aren't taking the covenant seriously.

Answer 5

Hello & Hare Krishna!

On the outset I would like to mention to you that I am not a Christian. But, I do believe that even though there seems to be superficial differences in various religions there is still some kind of unity in them.

Coming to your question - it reminds me when I met a Christian preacher recently where-in I asked him a similar question to which he replied that, even after accepting Jesus Christ as his/her saviour if a person does not change his lifestyle by living a life which is conducive with the teachings of Jesus Christ, then the surrender to Jesus does not have a real meaning.

Of course, there is a devotional aspect involved in the surrender and this is what they want to stress.

Krishna also states in Bhagavad-Gita that:

[ Sarva Dharmaan Parityajya Maam Ekam Sharanam Vraja
Aham Tvaam Sarva Paapebhyo Mokshayishyami Ma Shuchah

"Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear." - BG 18:66 - http://asitis.com/18/66.html ]

So, you can see that there is similarity in the statement of Jesus and Krishna because finally Jesus is the son of God.

But, I think you get the point that the real surrender also should bring a change in the lifestyle of the individual which should reflect that s/he is following the instructions of the person to whom s/he is surrendered.

Hope I have not confused you in regard to your query.

Thank you!

Answer 6

All religions take certain beliefs. Various "sects" or "denominations" focus on certain parts of those beliefs.

There are those Christians, who believe as you say, that if you accept Jesus, you get a free "get out of jail" card.

Others believe that, when you accept Him, you get the card, but you have to live a virtuous life thereafter (repent for sins, etc.).

Others believe that, if you accept Him, you will still be Judged on your works.

Amazing part: Each of these positions has textual support in the Bible, which means that the supporters of each position can quote their source and basis.

Answer 7

I am Catholic and you are absolutely correct in your premise that no just God would ever judge people by their beliefs rather than their actions.
All that you think, say, do, feel and believe defines who you are. You are judged by that, Christian or otherwise.
The central message of Christianity is that, "the fruit of the spirit is love, peace, patient endurance, kindness, generosity, faith, mildness and chastity. The greatest and most important of these virtues is love.
All people will be judged favorably by the extent of their capacity to love; not only their family and friends, but everyone, especially their enemies. A persons capacity to forgive insures a positive journey toward love.
We all have free will. The choices we make have a direct effect on our future. We determine our future by the choices we make in the present. Make positive choices now to insure positive results in the future. Negative choices bring negative results. This is an absolute truth; you reap what you sow.
Christianity teaches us that in all our decisions we should be kind, merciful, generous, truthful, loving and forgiving in order to assure the same for ourselves. Do this and Christian or not, you will enjoy eternal happiness.

Answer 8

You evidently have misunderstood Christianity--or perhaps the Christians you know have misunderstood Jesus.
Jesus isn't a "get out of hell free" card. You don't get to lie, cheat, steal, murder, and then just say the magic word "Jesus", and get away with it, it doesn't work like that. To follow Jesus means to work hard to get rid of sin in your life. Nor does God torture anybody through eternity. The popular idea of "hell" was tossed into the mix much later. The idea of burning, screaming agony through an eternity is a very human notion, don't blame that kind of cruelty on God. Perhaps that is why God insists that vengeance belongs to Him...cuz we humans tend to overdo it.
My advice is to stop listening to Christians who are human and therefore, imperfect...and get to know Jesus for yourself. I think you might like Him.....

Answer 9

The Bible says
I know very well how foolish the message of the cross sounds to those who are on the road to destruction. But we who are being saved recognise this message as the very power of God. As the Scriptures say,
"I will destroy human wisdom
and discard their most brilliant ideas"
So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world's most brilliant debaters? God has made them all look foolish and has shown their wisdom to be useless nonsense. Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never find him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save all who believe. 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 18 - 21

The Bible has all the answers!

Answer 10

This is also ridiculous that Jesus Christ took the sins of all the human beings and died on the cross. Now if you do sin you have already been forgiven...... quite strange.... this belief only encourages a person to do sin......