Just a regular middle-aged, former hippie-grandfather dude, loyal to his wife, loving life; lucky to live in sunny California, did good work, not a (total) jerk. Must be good for something, the wife has kept me 30 years. So why MUST I believe in a dead Jewish carpenter god myth(or insert here your god-myth) to be happy? I am happy now!
PS I did try the christian bit. THe more I read bibles AND studied their origins, the less I believed until i realized that the Jesus myth is just another myth like THor, Odin , or Isis.
B:
2006-10-25 08:46:39 · 29 answers · asked by theagitator@sbcglobal.net 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
"Do good and be good and that will lead you to whatever truth and happiness there is." Thats the philosophy I live my life by, seems like you're doing the same. Keep it up :p
2006-10-25 08:54:13 · answer #1 · answered by Om 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Hmm, I guess the concept of being saved only really makes sense to those who believe in the religion in question. For example, Christians obviously believe that when you are saved you get to go to heaven. If you die without being saved, you go to hell. If you don't believe in heaven or hell though, this really means nothing, so it doesn't really seem appropriate to use the word saved, but I totally know what you mean.
I'm a christian, but I'm not pushy and don't try to smother others with my personal beliefs. I don't think you need Jesus or Odin or Allah to be happy, or to have an enjoyable life. Children often know nothing of a God and are still reasonably happy, so why can't adults? I think it's more the belief that if you 'know' God etc. you will have a more fufilled life, that it will give you a feeling of purpose. Without God, it's entirely possible to be happy, but maybe with God you'll find a space filled you didn't know was empty.
That sounds kind of cheesy, but that's how I see it. Less that you're being saved from something, rather that you're being saved to something. Does that make any sense?
2006-10-25 15:56:16 · answer #2 · answered by gruvypie 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
One Day , all will see that Jesus Christ is not a myth but it may be too late for some that will have to face the power of God, then all will know that there is a God.[read chapter]
John 3:18 - Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. [2] [read chapter]
2006-10-25 16:00:15 · answer #3 · answered by kettycat 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Man, you wanted the Christers to descend on you with that one, I guess? I've traveled much the same path as you, and you'll be fine. My take on it is that ALL religion is an attempt to make sense of a crazy, unpredictable world. Sometimes I see lightning or video of an earthquake or tornado and think how utterly terrifying such things would be to ancient peoples. How could they NOT think there was some angry being up in the skies who was pissed at them? And whether it's Aztecs ripping hearts out of thousands of innocents in one day or Jesus on the cross or any of the rest of it. I firmly believe that's where it ALL came from. You'll be fine. And it kinda shows you have a decent soul that you even contemplate these things....
2006-10-25 16:13:47 · answer #4 · answered by chiennoir54 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dude,sounds like you quit too early.Let me guess,you got to the part where Jesus resurrects from the dead and you just couldn't comprehend how that that could physically happen,right?
Guess what,that is a true story.All those mythological characters everybody talks about are the false ones.Worship one of them,then you can call yourself a pagan,falls right in line with the Muslims and people like them.
Jesus Christ is the whole reason Christianity got started.The disciples were told to spread the word,therefore they did.Which brings us to where we are now.You can choose the ways of the world,and believe all the useless crap they can offer,or you can humble yourself and choose the path Jesus has paved for us.
Jesus Christ is the one and only way to save your soul from eternal damnation.Pray the sinners prayer with conviction in your heart,and he will open your eyes to the dangers and lies in the real world.
2006-10-25 16:09:38 · answer #5 · answered by Derek B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't HAVE to do anything.
Why might you consider asking for salvation from the only one who can offer it and actually save you? Because there are times when no matter how much you might like to be good, ethical, and moral, you behave in ways that are bad, unethical, and immoral.
Jesus offers salvation to people who cannot be 100% good 100% of the time. Do you fit into this category? Have your experiences been contradictory to what I suggest to you here? That is, have you succeeded in being 100% good 100% of the time? If so, wow. If not, you may come, eventually, to see the need for the salvation of your soul by the only one who walked the earth and did not sin.
If you are content because you feel that you have temporal rewards, then you will allow some temporal comforts to be your sole aim. When those temporal comforts either vanish or else cease fulfilling you--which they will, one or the other, guaranteed, since all good things must, and do, come to an end--you may find yourself fallen upon your knees and asking God's mercy into your life.
Or you may not.
2006-10-25 15:52:39 · answer #6 · answered by Gestalt 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Even though you seem to have a great life and you do, finding Jesus will help you have a great eternal life. What happens when you die? The people you love wont be able to see you in the after life if your in hell. People that are less fortunate and don't have family and a happy life need help, you can help them by helping them find the lord just like you have. If you are so happy then isn't it fair to help others that aren't as happy as you are? Good luck!
2006-10-25 15:54:36 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The point is not happiness. The point is that God made us and deserves our honour, which our sin prevents us from giving him, which sin Christ died to erase if we accept it. Even good guys are sinners. I believe it is a myth, too...the only completely true myth.
2006-10-25 16:00:29 · answer #8 · answered by Selkie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By who's standards are you a good guy? Yours or God's? Take out that old Bible of yours and run through the ten commandments one more time and ask yourself if you've really kept them all perfectly your whole life and therefore in no need of a savior.
Have you EVER told a lie?
Have you EVER stolen anything even if it's small?
The Bible says that if you hate your fellow man you are committing murder so by that standard are you a murderer?
I submit that the average person has kept none of the commandments in his own heart. I KNOW none of us are perfect and all fall short of the standard God gave us.
Because of this we all deserve the wrath of God. We all deserve death. But by the Grace of God we are given hope and victory in Christ Jesus.
2006-10-25 15:55:42 · answer #9 · answered by Josh 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
God has given us all free will and choice, you have made yours, so why are you even asking this question? unless there is still a nagging doubt deep inside that jesus really is who he said he was, and the cost of following him is just too much of an effort and it seems easier too deny him, than truly surrender to our loving saviour.
2006-10-25 16:00:01 · answer #10 · answered by Sentinel 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you compare your life to the perfect life of Jesus Christ, I doubt that you would find yourself so perfect and in need of nothing. Either you are having trouble being honest with yourself, or you are not good at introspection. I suggest you ask others, perhaps your lovely wife, to point out your shortcomings, being as you are so blind to your faults. Revelation 3:17 might describe you. I know that it does me frequently.
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.
2006-10-25 15:54:02 · answer #11 · answered by 19jay63 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋