If a person grows up in a remote part of the world, never having a chance to learn the teachings of Christ, or Islam, they have no fault in their failure to follow what those religions teach are requirements in order to enter Heaven.
If a child is born to a family in a rural part of the world in an area that is 100% Islamic, that child will become a muslum and may never be expose to Christianity. How can that person be faulted by (Christian) God for not following his commandments?
One of my problems with religion are these types of dilemmas. To me the above two examples are of people to whom a God that exists would not object to them not following a certain set of rules. Therefore if they can find salvation without these restrictions, why can't anybody?
Who says I have to go to church on Sunday? What need is there for me to eat a dry cracker and drink fake wine? I don't believe I have to. I think if you are a good person who is kind to others, thats all you need to do.
2007-02-04 15:36:38 · 26 answers · asked by Lazirell 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
To jinjalina:
Actually I am as American as apple pie.
To others:
I am not an atheist; I just fail to see the church as an answer. How many people do you know who go to church simply to be seen at church. How many adulterers, liars, and cheats put on their fancy dress and head to church on Sunday. How can a minister, pastor, or preacher claim to know what god wants when the guy talking at the next church down the road has something totally different to say? How many people attend a specific (type of) church simply because that’s the one their parents went to? If you gave me a child and enough time I could having him praying to Elmo. Now that I have children I see a need to reflect on my own religious beliefs and think about what I want to teach my own children, and apparently I lack much of an answer.
2007-02-04 16:03:16 · update #1
God has a plan for us that takes this all into account. He has given all of us at least part of his truth, and it is our duty to do the best with what we know and to seek out the most truth in our lives. After we die, we will have a chance to hear his full gospel if we have not had a chance to accept it.
2007-02-04 15:41:48 · answer #1 · answered by moonman 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
you are basing your theory on facts that you claim to see yet not have read. the bible clearly answers these for you.
it says to those that never can hear my name, I will save you based on the life you hold. so if you are on a island and never hear the words of religion, then you will be judged on the life you hold as the basic of good and evil is in all of us.
to grow up in any religion is fine as the bible states this.....as there is only one God and he is the God of all Gods. This includes ancient times, indian gods, islam, jews, etc.
" I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last."
" I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Issac, the God of Judah".
The problem is too many try to say what religons say....instead of just reading them for what they are. Many think that the religions are against each other and each believes theirs is right.
But again the Bible even states that when God created all this, he split up man into 7 churches (7 religions) and he changed the tongue of man to speak different languages so they would be confused till the end of days. If you notice, many are starting to realize this message and are "coming together". Another sign of the end of time as most of Revelations has already happened or came true.
And when you see Hillary take office, like she will (not a hillary fan by the way), another part of Revelations will come true. " And I looked, and I saw a no named woman riding the Beast ". Well we all know the USA is the beast due to other passages and messages. Woman riding the beast can only mean a woman in power, and we never have had that......yet.
2007-02-04 15:44:37 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well, first of all you can't be held accountable for what you don't know. I don't believe God is like that. If you have an opportunity to know and shun that opportunity this is where accountability comes in. If we know better, then God expects better of us. Biblically, Sunday was not the day chosen by God as his holy day of rest. That is man's law. See Exodus 20: 8-10. Communion or the breaking of bread and the wine is done in remembrance of Christ who died for us and was implemented at the last supper just before his Crucifixion. Both of these things he asked us to remember. His sabbath and Him. He also says that if we love him, we will keep his commandments. In other words, we will do what he asks. Faith without works is dead. This doesn't mean that we can work our way into Gods good graces but rather, If we love him and believe as we claim, then we will automatically want to do the good things he requires of us. How many of us love someone? We love them so we want to please them and it should be the same with God. We should want to please him.
As for going to church, I've always heard a comparison of the church to a hospital. The people who go are not perfect and never will be because people make mistakes. The point is, just like you go to a hospital for physical healing, We go to church for a spiritual healing. We go to be among people who can not only empatize with our struggles but help uplift us and or we can uplift one another through prayer and sharing.
I hope this was of help to you and eased your dilemma a bit.
Good luck and God Bless!
2007-02-04 16:12:01 · answer #3 · answered by qpi 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Dilemma...
Even IF you grew up in remote part of the world, God can and does reach people, they will believe, and they will go to Heaven.
Second, God will reach out to that person if He so chooses to reach that person.
Third, God is presented in the USA 24 hours a day on TV, Radio, Internet... In today's time, no one has an excuse for not being able to find information. Do not be fooled, Christianity is separated from all other religions on the face of the Earth. If you'll notice, there is no other that teaches about God saving man. All other religions teach about man trying to please God.
You don't have to go to church on Sunday. You don't have to eat a dry cracker or drink grape juice.
The Bible says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast."
You can give all your money to the poor, give your house to the homeless, your clothes to the naked, visit the sick, etc etc etc...
If you are not born again (spiritually), then according to what the Bible says, "You're not going to Heaven."
God provided the means... He did the perfect work of a lifetime and ended that with His death on the cross. He bore the sin of the world, why? Because He loved His creation that much. He was willing to die for your sins that you could spend eternity with Him.
You know. The strangest thing is that once you surrender your life to Him and you'll realize. You want to go to church, you want to partake in communion, you'd give up everything for Him if He asked... People with everything this world has to offer will give it up and do the strangest things. Like Move to some Muslim country and face death to spread the Gospel to the one kid that he too may go to Heaven.
What people don't realize is God and Heaven is a reality that has been hidden from them. Their spiritual eyes and ears have not been opened. It all starts with the rebirth of the spirit.
Anyway, I don't mean to bore you. If you wish to learn more, and God is allowing you to wonder. Ask the Lord to deliver someone to you that will explain these mysteries more in depth with you.
2007-02-04 16:11:19 · answer #4 · answered by James B 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You bring up some hefty questions. Questions I do not believe I can satisfy, but I will try my best to help you.
God is going to be the sole judge of We do not get the mystery door on judgment day. We either believed in Jesus and his atoning sacrifice or we do not. We follow the examples set forth by Jesus and his disciples or we do not. We enter our reward either way Heaven or Hell.
The Bible says in Hebrews 10:23-25 tells us that we should be with other believers ie church. The whole chapter is good to answer your questions. We need each other. To share, pray, laugh communicate with and worship God.
As to the sacraments Communion and Baptism. Jesus set up the one and participated in the other. They help us focus on Him and show our dedication to him. Think of it like Veterans Day or any other Holiday. At those times we think on those who fought and served some giving the full measure so that those of us who have come after are better for their doing so. Only with communion it is the ultimate remembrance when God came down in human form to pay the sin debt he required to free us from our own folly.
Hope this helped
2007-02-04 15:55:47 · answer #5 · answered by crimthann69 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your point of view seems to be reflecting the Roman Catholic Church. I am a methodist myself and i grew up in India for the most of my life and now i live in the US. people say, to each his own. Every Religion has its own guidelines and has its own teachings for the so called "requirements" to be accepted into the god's kingdom, come judgment day. Catholics believe strongly in the laws of moses and pretty much every law that was written in the Old testament. Same thing with Jews, their holy book has many in similarities with the Quran and also the Old Testament. Protestants (Lutherans, Methodists, etc) believe in the teachings of Christ and believe that as long as they repent for their sins and accept Christ as their Lord and Saviour, they can find their place in the Lord's Kingdom.
The holy book is not the means of restrictions of laws to be dictated, but much rather a guideline of how to live a modest and yet successful life free of anything that may steer you away from doing productive things.
No one says you have to go to Church on Sunday, there is no need for you to part take in the Lord's Holy Communion. But like i mentioned, to each his own. The holy bible says that where there are a group of people gather in the lords name, his presence will be there. The Holy Communion is not just eating cracker and drinking wine, its a place and a doing where you remember why you follow the religion and why believe in the Lord. The meaning of it goes way past the act itself and the meaning is what i have said above, its a reminder why the lord died for us, to save us.
PS: i can go all night long and try and explain to you why your thoughts are the same as my Uncle's and remember, Belief in Religion goes way past Human Logic.
2007-02-04 15:50:20 · answer #6 · answered by Smufguy 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I have heard this argument many times before, But you will have to read the whole bible. It says "this gospel shall be preached unto the ends of the earth and then the end will come". So, everyone will get an opportunity to hear the gospel. As for being good, you good works can save you. Everyone is born into sin and the only thing which can save them is the Blood of Jesus Christ.
2007-02-04 16:06:27 · answer #7 · answered by super saiyan 3 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
*PLEASE DO NOT DISREGARD THIS ENTRY BECAUSE IT IS VERY LONG-YOUR LIFE MAY DEPEND ON IT!
11:22 o' clock-RESPONDING TO YOUR DETAILS! (read the whole thing the first time!!!)Really!
Your examples are both worthy of heaven, seriously as long as they had NEVER heard of God.
Church isn't for the reasons you said, like a hypocrite breeding ground is what i call 'em (no offense to myself) It's to strengthen your faith like counseling (The verse " give us our daily bread" is the best way to describe church.)I know what your talking about like people who go crazy if they miss even one day of church. My opinion is that churches with dominions(baptist, catholic, etc.) are the strict ones who are crazy.(NO OFFENSE TO ANYONE WHO IS.)One example of a mistaken belief is the belief of a purgatory. "WHERE IS THAT IN ANY BIBLE!?" My statement will offend the deluded "Sunday christians" as they are resistant to change of tradition, You need a church that tells the truth-a lot of people don't like truth, but the "truth will set you free!"You don't have to go to church every sunday, just find a church who bases all their services on the actual bible, (like mine)you will see a huge difference between churches and see actual miracles and you will WANT TO go to church every sunday. God is real, and a blessed pastor will "give you the daily bread" "and healing"(Stated by qpi) you need. If you get real serious about this then remember to go to church in ALL CONDITIONS-even if your life seems perfect and not just when you're in trouble. Failure to do this often results in a dramatic change in a person's life which appears to be what you are going through. I implore that you find a true pastor or any spiritual leader and have them pray for you.
-God bless and congatulations for reading the entire entry(It was hard to type it all)I have faith in you-I'm just a teenager and if I can do it with all the peer-pressure in high school, anyone can.
***If you have any further questions, feel free to e-mail me.***
2007-02-04 15:58:12 · answer #8 · answered by Dustin Jr 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dude, seriously. you have the idea of what religion is. That's all od wants from you. Just try your hardest to be a good human, and accept His love. That's it. There's no way that you can atone for all of your sins. Man is sinful by nature. This whole thing about rules is ridiculous. Nobody says you have to go to church on Sunday. Do what you want. If you can accept God in your heart, then he will forgive you. God is represented all over the world in various forms. Accept him, and you are saved. Too easy.
2007-02-04 15:41:49 · answer #9 · answered by interrohater 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
What do Christians know? Those fools went centuries w/o a decent public (or private) sanitation system (even though the ancient Romans and Greeks had used some before so the technology was there) b/c of religious rules about cleaning. How could they believe 'God is love' and not have proper toilets?!
2007-02-04 16:03:04 · answer #10 · answered by strpenta 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
That's a beautiful dilemma to be having, if you have to have a dilemma!
Could anyone in the modern world ever even be a "good person" were it not for all the religions thrashing out ideas of goodness/badness for all these centuries? When you say "good person" you locate yourself within the indo-european linguistic heritage and identify yourself with the muslim/christian world view.
2007-02-04 15:51:03 · answer #11 · answered by jinjalina 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋