Don't quote the Bible, the Qu'ran, or any other religious-type manuscript, just use your OWN thoughts, your OWN opinion, and your OWN reasoning, not anything borrowed from anyone or anything else. I want to know what YOU think.
2006-10-21 17:06:03 · 50 answers · asked by Deus Maxwell 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Why in the world would a superior being care what you said one hour a week; as opposed to what you DO all 24 / 7 / 365?
It would truly have to be an insecure, immature "superior" being to give a rats behind!
2006-10-21 17:23:47 · answer #1 · answered by erickersh 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If that were true, then Abraham is in Hell.
And, if I'm not mistaken, he is the Faith Icon of all Hell-centric religions.
Church is really a convenient way of communing with fellow faith/believers. However, for many persons church is a big pain--where egos and personality conflicts create more stress than enjoyment. Despite the warm fuzzies that many Christians exude in forums, they're still humans who seek out their own interests as they find 'the way'. Some persons find it more pleasing to float from church-to-church or commune with Divine day-to-day in their own style of 'church'.
Some believers choose smaller communion groups due to the distracting "junk" that larger church groups can present.
Also, established churches are very reluctant to change---lest they offend the 'status quo' [example: women ordination & the gay/lesbian issues], so newcomers or persons who were "born" into the environment can find it a stuffy and stifling engagement.
They may find some megachurch or maverick group and get invigorated about being spiritual because it is offering a different style and openness to change. Others discover (or assume) that life in another group is pretty identical to the last horrific experience and start a spiritual journey tailored to their needs.
2006-10-21 17:28:14 · answer #2 · answered by RiverMarketRat 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't believe there is a hell. Why would there be? Do the things we do here on Earth deserve an eternity of pain and suffering?
I think you get to move to the next journey regardless if you go to church. It's just a building. God isn't an idiot and so simple minded as to punish people for not going to a building to worship.
2006-10-21 17:10:45 · answer #3 · answered by aplusjimages 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No way in hell. ( pardon the pun. ) If that means going to three different churches when you were in high school, having dogma shoved down your throat in grade school and being supposedly baptised in water and born again, then I would have been in hell years ago for my way of thinking! My reasoning is this: if you take the " word " of the bible at face value that means you're a literalist. You asked for an opinion and thoughts, that's my answer. So mote it be. I like your question, we need more like it to challenge ourselves!
2006-10-21 17:22:05 · answer #4 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Does not sitting in your garage make you not a car? What?!
Not going to church means you didn't go to church. Not sitting in your garage, making engine noises, means you are not insane.
Since I don't know what kind of church you are suppose to attend, I have no idea what hell you speak of. One person's hell is another's paradise.
Some Christians say as long as you are baptised you go to heaven... others say you must believe in Jesus to go to heaven... some say you must be born again... Everyone one wants to use fear of hell to encourage people to attend some church or other. It's about money.
I think you go to hell if you think you are going to hell. You get what you desire. Careful what you wish for... you might just get it.
Why would entering a building or not entering a building get you in to heaven or hell? Where is the reality of this? Something like king's X? Does going to school make you smart? I wish that was true... just like owning a book makes me smart...owning a computer makes me smart?
I doubt skipping church is going to send anyone to hell, unless that hell is the golf course or a fishing hole.
2006-10-21 17:20:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My opinion and $1 will buy you a cup of coffee. It isn't my opinion that counts, or anyone elses for that matter, but what GOD thinks.
Now it is true, that you can go to hell, even after you sat in church your whole life, but that is if you are a lukewarm Christian.
On the other hand, you could never ever step foot in a church, and still go to Heaven, if your heart is right with GOD.
He doesn't take into account of your attending church, as much as if you have accepted Him into your heart. Yes sitting in church can cause you to go to Hell, if you hear the truth, and you fail to follow it. Once you have heard it, you are made accountable of it.
2006-10-21 17:17:07 · answer #6 · answered by rufinius 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The term church was not totally intended to mean a place of physical construct where worship must take place, but the continuance and spread of the word of the Son of Man. It is the sharing and living in the word and ways of the Lord and King.
2006-10-21 17:13:11 · answer #7 · answered by DanZrn 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ok, let me try to make this a simple answer. No! I don't believe that not going to church makes you go to hell. Now, more organized religious people may disagree but I will give you my reasoning. I believe in Jesus. He is my Saviour. I have believed in God pretty much all my life. Did I make all the right decisions? No! Try crazy things? Yes!! Make bad choices in life?? Oh yes!! I have made many mistakes in my life. And guess what? God has never turned his back on me. His love always pours into my soul. And you think? How do I know that? Well, it's all about faith. I never really was a regular church attendee. It's whatever your heart calls you to do. I recently started going back to church. I hadn't been going to church regularly in 10 years or more, but I really like this place and the pastor's messages. Honestly, God looks at your heart. No one knows your heart like God does. He made you. It's not about what anyone thinks or feels what you should do to get into heaven. It's all about you and your relationship with God. Look, I have been up and down with my walk with God. I can't begin to explain to you how but He never lets me down. I have learned so much throughout my life. The greatest thing is even when I didn't go to church, God was there for me regardless. You see, God does not fit into any religion or organized way of thinking. You know the Father through Jesus. People make God so complicated. He just wants to know us at our level. That's my answer. Take care. Jesus loves you!
2006-10-21 17:23:36 · answer #8 · answered by t_b05 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It would seem that many people whom do attend faithfully do so out of ritual and not so much out of love to their Higher Power. So then the question really becomes, does just attending church, and not having a personal relationship WITH the Higher Power you are there to worship, garuntee you a one-way, non-exchangable, and non-refundable ticket to heaven?
2006-10-21 17:21:07 · answer #9 · answered by jlomalley 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, because some people go to church but sin, before, during and after the service. While some don't go and live a very holy life. I am not just saying that its the truth and I think living a holy life is more important.
2006-10-21 17:12:49 · answer #10 · answered by Adelaide V 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋