Is the Christian concept of the afterlife too simplistic?

Question

How can all of the people of the planet be lumped into two opposite groups of Christian-good and not Christian-bad? The first group gets infinitely rewarded for being born into and taught the 'correct religion' while all others are infinitely punished for being born into or taught an 'incorrect religion or philosophy'. Why is such a black and white picture of justice considered fair when it fails to take into account peoples' altruism, good intentions, and positive impacts upon society?

Johnny, the part I have trouble understanding is how people can be categorized as good or bad based on what they believe rather than how they treat each other.

Answer 1

Life isn't that black and white - it's that simple. It's a known fact that the bible was not written by God, which is something I believe most people fail to realized. "Back in the day" of Christ, life really was that black and white - if you were bad, you were punished and if you were good, you were rewarded. However, there's a while scale of human emotions, human actions, and many other factors (some which are uncontrollable) that play into the question and it's become obvious that life really isn't that black and white anymore.

Many people however, still follow that black/white principal as if we were still living in the times of Christ without politics, without television, without every aspect of basic human life in the 21st century.

Answer 2

To avoid any real religion bashing or degradation of ones belief I'll try and keep this as neutral as possible. But the idea of Good/Bad - Heaven/Hell being the only possibilities for people in life or belief of the Christian faith can probably be traced to the Dark Ages or Middle Ages (take your pick.) In that time period for anyone that has any quality education in the era, knows that the churches were inherently corrupt and were major points of power. The easiest way to gain and retain power is with fear, the easiest way to scare people is with consequences that are yes/no only. The afterlife was a major point of interest because in those times, the average life expectancy was somewhere in the thirties.

It's simple to say that the idea that there is only Good Christians and Bad Christians could have easily spawned from this area of greed. You want to go to heaven, be a Good Christian and attend mass, give all if not nearly such of your money to the church whenever you can and obey the word of your lord as he has the right of god. If you don't do this, you'll die and go to Hell where you'll suffer forever and ever.

That view has progressed some from that time of course but it's still rather white and black. The ones that are that White and Black tend to be radical Christian groups that the majority don't accept/recognize their convictions. The actual religion doesn't really have things so cut and dry with clear divisions. The main belief is that if you hold love in your heart for others and yourself, that's the same as holding god and if you continue such a benevolent life you'll be rewarded for it. What is commonly preached is dogma and the beliefs of man, even the Bible itself. It's a holy book but it's not meant to be the definitive be all and end all guide to the Christian faith. People just take it as such because the implication traces back to centuries if not millennia ago that this is how you worship and not anything else.

Answer 3

The Holy Bible states that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Good intentions and deeds in themselves are simply not enough to save us from our sins for we all fall short
in the glory of God. That's why we need Christ, for he is the only way to salvation. And as for being born into the wrong culture which teaches a modification of the right religion...the Holy Bible has been translated in all languages and is available to all whom seek its contents. Besides, God is merciful and does not punish us for the things which we do not know.
Too simplistic? If it was all so simple then why all the complications and debates as to how and why does it function? Would you prefer changing a light bulb or to actually have to built a new light bulb each time one blows? In other words, why does something have to be a complex mass of
encryption in order to retain a more sophisticated directive?
If simple can't be properly analyzed and understood then what makes you think that a more complex explanation would
become better absorbed and identifiable?
It is what it is...nothing more, nothing less. God bless you.

Answer 4

Simplicity is at the core of Christian beliefs - believe in Christ, repent, conduct yourself as a believer and be saved for eternity - whats wrong with that ?- or would you rather try to live under a law that nobody could live under OR spend eternity in reincarnation trying to work out salvation yourself ?

Further, you have a very mortal view of Justice - who are you to question the infinite mind - the author of the universe ?

Altruism, good intentions, charity and positive impacts on society are usually evidenceor the results of "faith" - but they have little to do with Salvation.

Answer 5

From an historical context, most religions are a reflection of the history, biography, and culture of the times when the religions were concieved. The beliefs also serve the party/parties in power at that time. I simply can't buy into any one concept of afterlife. For me, hell would be watching reruns of the Price is Right day in and day out. For others, that would be heaven! There is such a need for moral superiority that people lose sight of the "thall shalt not judge, lest you be judged" clause, hehe.

Answer 6

it extremely is Shabbes. The slow reaction should not be surprising. i'm purely on because of fact i'm crammed with the chilly and can't sleep. there is not any single Jewish thought of the afterlife. There are a sturdy many recommendations, of direction, yet base line is we can't understand. So as a substitute of fussing approximately that, we concentration on what we do understand for particular -- that our strikes will impact the lives of others, alongside with those yet to be born. we are saying of somebody who's died, could his/her reminiscence be for a blessing, in acceptance of the constructive that the guy did in the process existence. Ritually, we mark the separation from close associates and kinfolk by making use of asserting a version of the prayer that's used to split the various prayer centers. it extremely is in Aramaic and has a stunning rocking cadence interior the language. The Mourner's Kaddish can purely be reported whilst there are a minimum of ten Jews contemporary, because of fact of this we flow to great lengths to make confident that we've a quorum. Outsiders see that as legalistic. In prepare, although, it potential that the mourner is properly supported by making use of the community. The Mourner's Kaddish is asserted for 11 months. there is an thought that everybody is 'punished' for their blunders as quickly as they die. The longest that 'punishment' can probable be is a million 3 hundred and sixty 5 days -- and since the Kaddish is asserted to shrink the severity of that and additionally you extremely do no longer choose to point that your dad and mom are that undesirable, it extremely is purely reported for 11 months. some Jews have self assurance that as literal fact. some see it as metaphorical. regardless of the case of which may be, it extremely is dazzling psychology, offering help and education in the process the grieving technique. i understand you weren't finding for all of that, however the fact is in what concerns to those that stay it.

Answer 7

I am a christian and i dont believe everyone is lumped together in either catagory.It is all done on an individual basis
because GOD knows each one of us on a personel level
it depends on which law you lived under and whether or not
you received the opportunity to accept that law as truth.You cant say that Moses is going to hell because he didnt know
Christ.And there is people that are a little confused but have
the basic idea(God knows your only human).
But there is people who know the truth in their heart but choose to reject it.

Answer 8

No.

Many people like simple answers to complex questions. If your objective is to get someone into your flock, "follow me today and everything will work out tomorrow" is the right mantra - doesn't cost you anything, and if just 10 people listen, well it's ten more than what you had.

Giving people a way in without following you merely encourages people not to follow you.

Answer 9

I've got news for you. hose that are taught wrongly are not necessarily doomed and those that have been taught correctly, if there exists such a thing, are not necessarily good people. I'm sure Falwell and baker were taught everything there was to know about God and scripture.

Answer 10

You're so wrong. nobody is born into anything. It is a choice you have to make. God gave us free will and we can decide for ourselves where we want to spent eternity. It has nothing to do with race, ethnicity or culture.
God gave Jesus and revealed His plan of salvation to all man and he is no respecter of persons. 'For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that ALL who believe in Him may have life everlasting."
The choice is not God's... it is yours and yours alone.

By the way..hell is full of people with good intentions....