It isn't about what you feel at all. Have you ever lied? stolen? lusted? hated? blasphemed? If you stand before God on judgment day having broken His commandments, on what basis should He let you into heaven?
Because He loved you, he sent His son to take the punishment for your sin. That was Jesus. If you don't "feel" it in your heart, I wouldn't worry about that now--I would worry more about the truth. God says whoever seeks Him shall find him.
I think the answer is to stop focusing on yourself and what you feel and focus on God and what He can give you and what He wants from you in return. Feelings are misleading and can lead to destruction; for instance, if I am married (which I am) but have feelings for another man. Do not trust your feelings above God, above the Bible, above your logic, and above the truth.
2006-08-19 06:48:30
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answer #1
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answered by ©2007 answers by missy 4
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De Profundis clamo...
I respect your honesty. It's not easy when your world view changes. Get as much perspective as you can, read some good work on the phenomenology of religion. It doesn't rule religious belief or experience in or out, if focuses on how people experience religious phenomena and tries to understand that. It might tell you something about human experience of it and your own psychology. What you do with it is up to you. I was brought up Christian fell in to depression when a certain form of spirituality changed. It was so important to me that I did a degree in Theology. Read Ecclesiastes on change,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenomenology_of_religion
I would also read something on Hell, an academic work on the subject, the idea is historically conditioned and reinforced through fear. There's a good book called "the devil, a biography"- that might also make the idea less terrifying. I'd also look at God: A biography, by Jack Miles. Rudolph Otto's the Experience of the Holy.
Approach your scepticism with an open mind and heart. If God is
perfection, the highest good, then the whole of creation , including your own thoughts is a book to read and a thread to follow.
Feel free to send me a mail,
2006-08-19 07:05:38
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answer #2
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answered by Hoolahoop 3
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The problem is not about you being a christian. The problem is you not being your own man. You dont even know what you want or believe. Before you even ponder this christian question, figured out your real inner desire. Why you are really in this "double mindedness" ? What do you think life is all about ? Just hold your breadth for 5 mins and its sayonara. Death is but 5 minutes away ? What happens after that ? What is death ? What is dying ? Why blood is needed for sacrifice ? Obviously you are searching but in a struggling way. Listening to too many people. Just get quiet and start writing down your burning questions. Search for answer, Ask God to reveal to you one by one. God is like a sales man sometimes, He will explain to you one by one, one to one till you get it then He will sell it to you. Get real with yourself. And God can be real to you. ITs something you will have to find out for yourself. Whether hell or no hell. Jesus or no Jesus. You ask He will answer. You knock, He will open.
2006-08-19 06:56:26
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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If you confess with your mouth and believe with your heart, you are saved, end of story. Some feel it, some don't but the righteous shall live by faith. I have had many friends who never had a rock-my-world born again experience, they however do sense God in answered prayers, in protection and other ways. Don't base your beliefs on feeling, base them on scripture. Remember, it is not the Lord's will that anyone should perish, Jesus stands at the door and knocks, it is not hard to accept Jesus.
2006-08-19 06:47:58
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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Don't worry, there isn't any god nor heaven or hell. It's just this life we have. So do the best ,treat your fellow man with respect, and everthing will take care of itself. Jesus didn't want you to do, unto others as you would want them do unto you, to get into heaven. He wanted you to do that because it's the right thing to do.By the way Jesus was studing to become a Rabbi who studied and taught the Talmut, read what Mimonities said don't do to others what you would not want them to do to you. He said that 200 years before Jesus arrived, so he really didn't say anything new , he just repeated what he had learned . Remember it is more important what you do then doing it for some reward.
2006-08-19 07:07:00
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answer #5
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answered by gary s 1
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Your just fine, Love! Your heart rings truth...common sense & inner voice are not in sync with aspects brought before you & this is an opportunity to THINK/FEEL/LISTEN/LEARN ! Soooo, do just that! Take what's true to YOU in the knowledge coming your way, and simply leave the rest...This is you being & becoming.
Clearing a little air in the mean time...but do your own research to verify to Self,,,Your inner spirit voice is your direct line to God/Goddess...it is your most sacred of gifts while here...your tie to reality. Jesus was truly a sacred gift as well...a great example of the relationship we can all have with God, but he never meant for he, himself, to be placed on a pedestal...he meant for his life to speak.
Now, as far as Hell...no such place...it was a fear-based concept implanted to create a control factor for human mgmt....why would an unconditionally loving entity, of which you are a piece of, condemn any part of Itself to banishment? What purpose of either He or We would that serve? So keep thinking...you're right on track!
Suggest..."Conversations with God" trilogy by Neale Donald Walsch...Any of Sylvia Brown's books...And, if you feel closeness to Native Americans, Mary Summer Rain's writings...Great Reads... good perspectives...perfect starts to get the brain & heart really cookin'...Good Journey!
2006-08-19 07:13:56
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answer #6
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answered by MsET 5
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This is a question you should ask your respected religious leader. Go to your pastor or who ever leads your church. Explain to him or her what is in your heart and see what it gets you. If you still can't accept the answer then you're not a christian. It's ok. Only christians believe they go to hell if they don't worship christ. if you're not a christian then it's not your concern. Find a religion that works for you. There are thousands of them, literally.
2006-08-19 06:47:25
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answer #7
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answered by Angelina DeGrizz 3
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Hell is a over used word. God is in your Spirit or you would never have tried to have faith, faith you know, is the substance of something you hope for revealed. and we cannot please God with out faith, it is in your spirit, the same for all, but only those who use it, is it counted for. Faith with out Works in James. Should read faith not used is dead, We all have a measure of Faith we use it to take trips, to embark on new adventures. but we forget it is there to be used any time, any place for Good and we should never be ashamed. Remember God is with you through his Son Jesus and in the Authority of Jesus you are recounceled to God Don't give up.
2006-08-19 06:51:52
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answer #8
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answered by kritikos43 5
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To accept Jesus in your heart as Christians say you should, you first have to shut off your head. Since you have had the fear of hell pounded into you, it's probably only a matter of time until you stop thinking and start believing. Fear has a way of sealing minds shut.
2006-08-19 06:49:54
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answer #9
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answered by Sweetchild Danielle 7
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There is no hell. It is a story used to manipulate you. Try not to be afraid, you are on the right track.
Think about this, if you went to heaven and your spouse, mother, father and siblings went to hell, would that be heaven?
Why would God make mankind, many with the deck stacked against them, and put them in hell for eternity for poor performance. If that is true God should be in hell also because God made the imperfect product.
2006-08-19 06:52:46
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answer #10
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answered by Ned 3
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