Is it more important for me to live a good life or to believe in god to go to heaven?
2007-02-08 16:43:57 · 30 answers · asked by Michael M 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
I may not believe in heaven in hell, but you do. I am curious if I am evil in your mind.
2007-02-08 16:55:09 · update #1
I am sorry that I didn't specify that my belief of heaven and hell is that it is a concept within ones mind. It is real enough to you is it not? I am mearly seaking to understand what I am fated in your mind. That is why my question is geared twords you individualy.
2007-02-08 17:01:58 · update #2
I think only the Muslims, Jews, and Christianity have a jealous god, all branches of the same family tree, ya know Abraham, 1st born Ishmael, 2nd born Isaac.
All the rest of the religions like Hindu, Buddhist, Sikhism pretty much view jealousy as bad, or a demon.
Guess we'll all find out when we get there.
2007-02-08 17:19:25 · answer #1 · answered by lepke 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm probably going to catch some heat from some people, but this is what I think...In the Bible, Christ himself says,"My Father's
mansion has many doors. If it were not so, I would not say it."
I have talked to many people about the meaning of this, and what I understand it to mean is that a person doesn't have to go to church, nor is there a right or wrong religion. I believe that it means that as long as a person lives his life while holding himself to the tenets of the Bible, and believes in a spiritual power
greater than one's self, then they stand a good chance of passing on to a better place after physical death.
I myself don't believe that "heaven" is a place of spirits floating around playing harps. Rather, I believe it to be a place where one is closer to "God". The same way that I don't believe that "Hell" is
full of devils, and fire. For me, Hell would be a place where "God cannot be reached. An eternity of being out of "God's" reach. A
place where there is no hope of redemption!
So my answer your question would be, if you live a good life; a
spiritual, if not a religious life, then yes...when you die you would go to a better place.
2007-02-09 02:05:06 · answer #2 · answered by charliecizarny 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the person judging believes that not believing in God means that you go to hell when you die, then of course, they will think you will go to hell, for not believing in God.
As far as leading a good life? I've known at least a couple (not very good?) "Christians" who believed that they could sin all they wanted as long as they asked for God's forgiveness before dieing - and they would then be forgiven and be accepted into heaven. So, if that's the deal, why should any Christian lead a "good" life?
There are better reasons to live a good/decent life - than the threat of hell. Social harmony for one. And knowing you contributed to it, rather than disharmony/unhappiness.
2007-02-09 01:36:15 · answer #3 · answered by Daniel J 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How can you go to a place that doesn't exist?
If there is no god, than that would mean there is no devil,satan,whatever other name there it, so there would be no hell.
I think we all create our own personal "hell" inside our mind.
Additional:
As per your updated explaination, here's what I think is your fate.
Everything is up to what YOU believe in and what YOU believe will happen. Personally, I don't put any weight in anyones preaching of "god" and this storybook called "the bible". Show me proof of the existance of "god" or anything that supposedly happened in the "bible", and i might believe it.I believe people have free will, and are not robots that have to follow program or get tossed to the scrap heap.
I have my own beliefs which do not fall into any one religion, but pieces of many different religions, the pieces that make sence. I believe that when I die, one of two things will happen. First, that's it, poof, The End, roll credits. The Second thought I have is closer to many eastern religions that you will come back to learn from your last life, and try to get things right.
2007-02-09 00:54:22 · answer #4 · answered by Big Cory 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you do not believe in God then there is no heaven or hell. Believing in God is not a guarantee you will go to heaven. The golden rule still applies, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." That is living a good life. Whether or not you believe in God has nothing to do with it. It is how you treat others that counts.
2007-02-09 00:55:51 · answer #5 · answered by rocksterraccoon 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
so tell me something. If you dont believe in god, why do you believe in heaven or hell. Please leave additional info and i'll come back and answer your question (as best I can).
-Re: Oh... alright. Well first off. I dont believe in a heaven or hell. I just think that when you die... you die. End of story. Blackness. No feeling. No thought. Kinda sux but im not going to care when it happens anyways. Besides.. it keeps me from fearing it or looking foward to it. In my eyes - I do not believe you are evil. I dont know what you believe (other than there is no god - assuming you are talking about all gods, depending on the religion of which you speak). I think one of the persons posting below is right - it seems like you fear hell and are asking this question from others to make sure you are making the right desision. If not... then well - I wouldn't worry about it.
2007-02-09 00:51:04 · answer #6 · answered by Kermit 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No Michael you are not going to hell.
Even if God does exist how likely is it that It would be the petty little bundle of insecurities that the worlds organized religions have made it out to be.
I have absolute faith that the source of all that we see in this universe could not be so stupid that it was not able to come up with a plan to get everyone safely back home when the trip was over.
Love and blessings Don
2007-02-09 12:25:41 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on whether god and heaven and hell exist...
Live your life to the best of your possibilities- whether or not the above mentioned exist. There's enough crap in this world already so it's up to each and every one of us to try and make it a better place. Sometimes it's the small things that can make a huge difference...
2007-02-09 01:02:24 · answer #8 · answered by harmony 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nowadays everybody is not actually following God's all Law and Commands.But God has ordered us to follow some basic rule and we should atleast follow them but we r not even doing that too.So... i don't know what will happen to the ppl, but its true that everybody hv to die oneday and after the death there will a special Day for every human being and that is 'THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT' and that will be a great day for those who has followed God's all laws and command and they will go to heaven.So... now u think what will happen to those ppl who didn't follow God's cammand and what will happen to them i think u know that better. Just the opposite situation of good peoples will happen to the worst people.Maybe more than that.The life is full of happiness and sorrows and we enjoy our life in different ways but during our happiness or sorrow we should not forget about God.So.. we should follow God's laws to make our life beautiful on this beatuiful earth and as wel as the life after death too.
2007-02-09 02:47:32 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you don't believe in God I don't know what your eternal fate will be. That's up to a higher power than me.
I think I live a pretty good life and I do believe in God. I hope that means I will spend eternity in heaven. Many teach that nonbelievers will go to hell, and I do think that fate will certainly apply to bad people.
I would say it is important to live a good life and to have a belief and faith in God.
2007-02-09 00:54:49 · answer #10 · answered by Warren D 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋