What's your take? A religious question?

Question

First, a little background. I'm mildly educated (ie halfway through a BA) and I'm mildly (and I do mean mildly) versed in most major religions and their scriptures. So I've heard of all the various supernatural deity types (ie gods and goddesses), but I don't believe in any of them. Not out of spite or hate I just don't buy into it. I have a lack of faith if you will. Nevertheless, I had what I feel is a decent moral compass. I don't harm people directly or indirectly if I can help it and I'm an altruist (meaning I help people in need and don't require or want anything in return). I'm a teetotaller (don't drink) as well. But since I've heard "the gospel" as well as a long list of other doctrines, and have chosen not to believe any of them, does that entail that despite my best intentions that I am still going to roast for all eternity in hell or some unsavory abyss some kind? This being of course if it all turns out to be true, that is. Let me know your take if you would.

Answer 1

You say you've rejected all religions. But you have your own religion. It's the religion of good works. You even identified your question as a religious question. You said "what's your take? A religious question". You're pointing out that you live a good life and implying that if there really is an afterlife, that should get you to heaven.
Let's look at the facts we have about ultimate things. I only see 3 of them:
Fact #1) There is a God. Everywhere we look we see design and where there is design there must be a designer. Anyone who could design a universe must be a God.
Fact #2) You are going to die. Sooner or later it's going to happen. I'm still waiting to see the 1st person to live 1000 years. Death comes to everyone sooner or later.
Fact #3) You do have a religion. as I have already said, it's the religion of good works. Just by listening to what you say, you believe that by being a good person you'll go to heaven.
How do you know that that's the way to get to heaven. What if you're wrong. You’re living by chance. You're playing russian roulette with eternity. You're like a person who wakes up inside of a building and you don't know how you got there. The building is on fire and the smoke is so thick that you can't see even when you go to the window. So you jump out the window, hoping you're on the first floor and the window is just 5 feet above the ground. How do you know you're not on the 10th floor. You don't. It's just a leap of faith. You're whole life is a leap of faith. You have no way of knowing what's on the other side of death. You have a religion, just like the christian, muslim, hindu, jew or buddhist. Just as they say that there's a certain way to get to heaven, you do the same. Your way to get to heaven is by living a good life. Also, how do you know what good is? Maybe, you're definition of good is different than the way God defines good. How does God define evil. Maybe the little things like little white lies, and gossip and even bad thoughts and hurting someone elses feelings are evil to God. Maybe all your good deeds are negated by a ton of little evil things that you overlook. That's my problem with your religion and all others except christianity. You have no way to deal with sin. Your way is to do good deeds to make up for your sins. At least christianity has a way to deal with those sins. Christ died for everyone of them. At least under that plan, when time comes to stand before a Holy, Righteous God, you stand before him clean.
There is a God. Look at the history of man and you'll see that man has an inherent desire to know about God. It's logical to believe that God didn't create us with a desire to know Him but no revelation of Him. I believe that revelation is the bible. I've examined the historical evidence for the bible and have come to believe that it is Gods revelation.
You're probably saying, you're just a narrow minded christian. I say we're a lot alike. I have my religious worldview which I believe is true. You have yours which you believe is true. The difference is my worldview came from intellectually examining a book that I think is from God and I came to believe there was historical evidence that this was from God. Your worldview came from you reasoning out in your mind things that you have no way to prove.
If I'm wrong, I've got nothing to lose because being a christian has forced me to live a good life so even under your worldview I wouldn't have anything to lose. If you're wrong you've got everything to lose.
I don't have a doubt that you are a good person. I just don't think the criterion for entering heaven is to be a good person. The criterion is to have your sins paid for.

Answer 2

Capitao, first i must say, i am a free thinker and have not had the time or chance to take up any religion. It is an extremely difficult decision to put all your time, soul, energies, $,etc into a religion and what happens if your children and grandchildren don't follow suit? There is no continuity and no goals.

My fears during younger days were about religious wars that killed millions, you end up in the fires in a dreadful place called Hell when you commit a sin and other stories. You had to spend time praying numerous times every week and had to sacrifice your work and social commitments. In addition you have to give lots of donations, sometimes compulsory on every visit and a large one every month. When the places of worship have collected millions of $, somebody would squander them because there were no proper system of looking after the funds.

So since life could be lived in many sensible, less committed ways i have decided to indulge in yoga, eastern meditation,etc as ways to connect up to what they called the Supreme Being, Universal Chi/Ether, whatever.

One does not have to feel guilty or sinful if he does not belong to any religion.There are many ways to live life to the fullest.

Answer 3

What is hell? Hell is not a Hebrew or a Greek word. Sheol is Hebrew for hell. It means the grave. Gehenna in Greek can be traced back to the Valley of Hinnom which was the city dump for Jerusalem. In only one case is Gehenna used to denote a burning pit of unending torture and it is reserved for Satan. You are in college, look it up. I am an atheist. It is not a popular position in this forum. Oh, well. I am sure you will hear some variation of Pascal's wager as well. Suspect everything and everyone, including me. The FACTS are out there if you spend the time and effort to investigate.
aen

Answer 4

Maybe you have to much goin on up there. lol Relax. You have a open mind, just open your heart and ask the higher being to show you the truth. I would recommend asking God to tell you the truth while you read the gospel of John in the Bible. You didnt say which "the gospel" you have heard. Humans can tell you about the gospel, but they can mess it up. Read it for yourself. That will make a difference. Well it did for me. I use to be a witch.

God is the one who is going to judge you, he knows what you have in your heart. And if you dont feel him in your heart now, (after reading John) he will give you a second chance.

Answer 5

This analogy should fit rather well to your question... Imagine the Grand Canyon. Pretty big hole in the ground, right? And lets say that you want to jump across the canyon to get to the other side [which is heaven in this case]. I'm not a great jumper, but I get about 7 feet and drop like a rock. You may be the best jumper [morally good person] and only get half way. There's no way you can make it across on you own! What we need is Jesus to lift us up and carry us across to the other side [once again, Heaven, to the Father and Creator of all]. Jesus said, "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; NO ONE comes to the Father except through ME." We require Jesus Christ to get into Heaven. He died on the cross for my sins and your sins. You may not know Him yet, but He knows and loves you dearly; enough to give His life for you! Is there not better way to say "I LOVE YOU" than to die for your friends? Don't wait another day; pray for His grace and mercy to rain down upon you; get to know and love your Savior today! In summation, no matter how good of a person you are, you cannot get to heaven on your own. Also, is not on acts alone that get you salvation, but through faith in the Father, and The Son. Don't make that leap without checking your parachute [Christ]. God Bless!

Answer 6

That all depends on who is right. Some Christian religions believe if you don't accept Christ in this life you are going to go to hell. Other religions, like the LDS, believe that unless you "reject" the gospel (I don't know what it means by reject) you will have a chance to learn in the hereafter. I'm LDS (Mormon) so I believe the latter. It doesn't seem fair that just because you chose a different religion means that you are going to burn for eternity.

Answer 7

According to many religions everyone who is not of that particular faith is going to hell. Your only chance to avoid hell is to follow every religion on the planet. Or, if you think along the lines that I do, that hell is just a tool used by religious institution to control their followers, you do not need to be bothered about hell and should just live your life the way you want.

Answer 8

Your statement that says "I have chosen not to believe in any of them" is quite revealing. It indicates a closed mind. Any religon or philosophy, even though one may not be a follower, will be found to have a lot of truth and wisdom. I would suggest at least acknowledging the wisdom that is found in religions for what it is. And disagree with what is contrary. That is okay.
The idea of hell or heaven is, if you are happy now, you are experiencing heaven, even if only to a small degree. And if you are suffering, now, you are already in hell. You don't have to wait until you die to understand that simple truth.

Answer 9

The natural man can not receive the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but to us who are saved it is the power of God.

Seek, and you will find, but do not hesitate....the time is near, right at the door. Eternity is to long to be wrong.

God be with you,
Reverned William M. Butler, St. Luke Ministries
Emmaus Bible College,
Pillar of Truth Bible Institute,
Guided by the Holy Spirit of God the Father

Answer 10

Jesus is the Son of God
Through Him we have eternal Life

This sums up the gospel.
When God made man in His image and likeness in the garden He said that this man was " very good" not just good:)

Then he put this very good man before the Tree of Life. The human life is a fine life. It is made as a means for man to take in God as the Divine Eternal Life.

So my friend.. you too are a man made in God's image and likeness.. and from what you have shared you come across as a good man... to some a very good man..just like our other friend Nicodemus in the book of John 3 was a good man too but what did Jesus say.. He had to be born again to see the Kingdom Of God
God does not jsut want us to be born of flesh.. He wants us to be born of the Spirit too..
This human life of yours seems to be a fine vessel to contain God's Life deep in your spirit..
It is From your spirit as a starting point that God works His Life out in you to transform you from just being a good man into a God-man
A man conformed into the Image of Christ through the working and operating of the Holy Spirit in you.
Its the real purpose of the Human life.

here's a cool link
www.lsm.org

Interesting question

sandy...