I am not a Christian, but I have a few Christian friends. When I asked them if they believe I am doomed to an eternity in hell because I am a Pagan, they say that one's choice of religion doesn't get someone into Heaven. They agree that if you lead a good life and genuinely try to be a good person, then you'll go to Heaven. Does that make sense to you? Do you agree? Why or why not? Please elaborate.
2006-09-21 08:19:15 · 31 answers · asked by Maria Isabel 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Pogo, I'm not a Pagan/Christian. I'm a PAGAN who has a few Christian friends. See the difference?
2006-09-21 08:37:50 · update #1
Ahmed, I DO have a religion. It's called Paganism. I could have sworn I said I was a Pagan. That's a religion.
2006-09-22 14:53:30 · update #2
According to Christian beliefs, if you don't believe in God and take Jesus Christ to be your personal lord and savior, then you are doomed to hell. Personally, I believe that a kind and loving God will look into your heart, and judge you based on the life you lead, not the church you attend. But that's just my opinion...
2006-09-21 08:22:14 · answer #1 · answered by rita_alabama 6 · 6⤊ 2⤋
Can't say that I speak from experience, but I don't think they're far off. After all, while Jesus said that he was the route to Heaven, he also said that the Righteous Roman (who was a Pagan) would be at his side in Heaven.... so it comes down to a question of if the "route" is the only route for everyone, or just the route for specific folks, and that others would find their own ways. (This of course is skipping past Church doctrine and what others have said about what Jesus said.)
2006-09-22 07:18:45 · answer #2 · answered by ArcadianStormcrow 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is just another example of how religion has become increasingly watered-down to accommodate modern times. No, like most Christians, you're friends don't delve into the book that they supposedly base their lives upon. Nothing to that respect is in the bible. There are many points of which are referenced about how to get to heaven and how to be sent straight to hell. I'm not sure which form of paganism you follow (Wicca, Druidism, Shamanism, etc) but it sounds like you enjoy mysticism if you can swallow not only Paganism or Christianity but being a Pagan/Christian, wow, maybe you should check out Scientology or a Heavens Gate Cult. By the way, if you're looking for some ocean front property in Kansas, let me know.
2006-09-21 08:35:24 · answer #3 · answered by Pogo 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
The after life, I believe that there could be many different dimensions that you can enter in the after life, but you might come back here to live out your Karma or you might go to another dimension to live out your Karma there.
Who knows maybe there is a Heaven dimension, who am i to say there's not if I've never been to the afterlife?
The Universe could have an endless amount of possible places you can go, that's why you find a path that you trust will take you to where you need to go to find Spiritual Enlightenment (A path that will lead you to connect and become one with the Gods or your God).
If your a Pagan you understand that there are many different paths and everyone has their own way of walking.
I think ultimately, we choose where we want to go in our present life, but our actions predict where we will start the next.
2006-09-21 08:35:16 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Sounds like they're among those Christians who don't believe a truly loving god would condemn a genuinely good person who just doesn't happen to be a Jesus-believer.
In any case, the important thing is that, if you lead a good life and genuinely try to be a good person, you'll lead a good life and try to be a good person. What matters is that we make the best use of the time we have on Earth--for that's the only life we know for certain that we get.
2006-09-21 08:25:27 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
I do not know what kind of Christians they are, but they certainly do not understand the gospel of Jesus Christ, or they are trying to spare your feelings because they want you as a friend. Being a good person has nothing to do with salvation. there are a lot of good people going to hell. If you do not accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you cannot enter heaven. Jesus himself is very specific about this. If you have a Bible please read John chapter 3, verses 1 thru 21. Also read Romans chapter 8 in its entirety. God will not allow sin into heaven. We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. It is only through the blood of Jesus that we can enter into heaven. In the future I suggest that you consult a gospel minister such as myself on matters concerning salvation and the Christian life. There are a lot of people with mistaken beliefs and a lot of false prophets running around today. A lot of the false teachers are in the pulpit, unfortunately. I am an ordained minister trained by gospel preachers and teachers. Jesus loves you and he wants you in his kingdom for all eternity, but you must do it his way. God is in charge.
2006-09-21 08:27:50 · answer #6 · answered by Preacher 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Unfortunately, your friends are incorrect. Not all good people go to heaven. Jesus said that the meek will inherit the earth. So there will be good people who will live forever, but they are not awarded life in heaven. Heaven is not something easily attained. Jesus' apostles were rewarded with heavenly life, but look what they went through as his followers. They were thrown in prison, beaten, and persecuted constantly thoughout their ministry. They remained faithful until death. The Bible says that "faith without works is dead." So a person must be more than just good to be rewarded life in heaven. There are many people who may lead a good and respectable life, but they do not believe in God so they would not go to heaven. God has promised us that a "great crowd" of Christians will be given eternal life here on earth. Jesus said that only a "little flock" of Christians would be rewarded life with him in heaven, to be a part of his heavenly government, which will rule over those on earth. Those who receive the reward in heaven will rule as "kings and priests" with Jesus.
All those who died prior to the death of Jesus did not go to heaven because Jesus was the first to be resurrected to heaven. All who died before that will be resurrected. They are still sleeping in death, and are awaiting the time that they will be brought back to life here on earth.
2006-09-21 08:49:04 · answer #7 · answered by Micah 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
First, your friends have no idea what being a Christian really is all about.
Second, nobody will get into Heaven without accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Third, all who do not accept Jesus as Lord and Savior will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire, which is NOT hell. Read the Book of Revelation.
2006-09-21 08:28:45 · answer #8 · answered by Born Again Christian 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
If they were Christian, they wouldn't make such inane responses. (You should ask your friends why Christ sacrified everything--His life, even--for us.)
The Second Person of God, God the Son, or Jesus Christ established His Church on earth (Catholic) as the "ark of salvation". The Church contains all truths necessary for salvation. (Most don't follow them, as we can see.)
"...you can lead a good life..." What is a "good" life? One in which one avoids being an axe murderer or rapist? That's rather vague! One can live according to the Natural Law (not consciously observing God's laws), but one can easily end up in hell, because God was not in the picture. God made us to know, love and serve Him. We aren't here to simply live as we please. We must, through justice, do as God wishes, not as we fancy.
You are not automatically doomed to Hell, because you are a Pagan. However, if you persist in error and die in that state, you must forfeit eternal bliss in Heaven (the presence of God), because you cannot have in eternity, what you spurned in Time.
God has given us the gift of life and He asks that we live it according to His laws. He has also promised an eternal reward, far beyond anything imagined on earth. All we have to do is put Him first--difficult, but not impossible--much as a good husband puts his wife's needs before his own.
2006-09-21 08:40:58 · answer #9 · answered by mrearly2 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Whatever religion you are, should not make a difference whether you go to heaven or hell or even your forms of those two destinations in your religious beliefs. Look at 9/11, those muslims thought they were going to their heaven, by killing all of those people and they thought they were in the right all of long, and the people in different religions thought those muslims were actually in hell on this earth for committing those murders. so, Are do you feel like you are in the right to worship plants and nature and then thinking that is your heaven or do think everyone should stay away and then feel that by you worshipping nature and not Jesus Christ, it that your hell?
2006-09-21 08:24:30 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋