Any mythos in current use more open than christianity? I would like the fellowship without the negativity.?

Question

Back when I was being raised catholic I asked several priests about this issue and never received a satisfactory response.

I posed it thusly:

Suppose a tribe of cannibals living in the wild. They live a good life, are good tribesmen and help thier neighbors. They war with thier rivals for hunting grounds and honor. They have never been introduced to Christianity. Do they go to heaven or hell, or nowhere?

The priests said they would go to heaven assuming they lived thier life as was accepted by local custom and law.

I then asked to imaging a missionary comes across the tribe, and attempts to convert them to christianity. Since the tribe has never heard of this thing, and it goes against thier tradition and culture, they do not convert. Would they still go to heaven?

The priests all say no. They would go to hell because they were introduced to christ and denied him.

That's not a religion I want to be a part of. I'm Discordian and loving it, but I'm the only one I know.

I'm fine with the basic concept of hell, it's just all the faulty logic that seems to be inseperable from the church that gets to me. So many conflicting details, and all of it is supposed to be truth.

That's why I am currently leaning towards Buddism. I will start reading up on it now. Thanks for all the answers and keem em coming! This is useful information.

After some research, it seems Buddhism has much in common with Discordianism. I think I may actually already be Buddhist without realizing it.

Answer 1

Paganism seems to be big on the community concept. A guy greeted me as family the other day just because I was wearing my pentacle.

Answer 2

If the concept of hell bothers you, why not try one of the more liberal Christian denominations, such as the Unitarian Universalists, Metropolitan Community Churches, Unity, the Episcopal Church, Quakers, the Swedenborgian Church or any number of other progressive groups?

If you're not interested in Christianity, there's always Buddhism, Eckankar, Wicca, or many other groups. And don't forget the Church of the SubGenuis, which as a Discordian, would probably be right up your alley.

Answer 3

Hello, no my friend you are not alone. I have done a dialectic of the very question you posed to your priests, which was a good one! I never bothered with priests, or any other clerical folk. My reasoning is this, right or wrong, I can live with it. The clerics, put their pants on ,one leg at a time, just like you and I. The eat like your and I, they breath like you and I, and to believe that they know some secret of the universe, for which there is no empirical proof, astonishes me. I have come to believe that religion is really a persons way of ceding power over to one person or denomination. By doing so we are placing in the hands of fellow mortals, the questions we should arrive at for ourselves. Those are the answers that will truly have value, not second hand opinions that have a very self serving interest. Heaven nor hell is part of my belief system. It simply does not resonate within me. People are all to skilled at creating hell on earth. Look at our current government! Not because it is a republican regime, or a democratic one. But by their actions, their deceptions, their double standards, their cruelty, not just to people abroad, but to our own. Yet they receive the blessings of these so called religious leaders. How do they square that? For all of the judging and the devision, only to discover the secret hypocrisies of the very people shoveling this nonsense, and being paid very well for it, has to make rational people begin to reason." Is this worth believing in?" I don't think people will ever know what is truly possible in their own lives, and for humanity, until we choose to wean ourselves off of the dependence of having other flesh and blood humans do our deciding for us. One thing that it appears you have discovered, is the power of reason, that begins with a simple question," What if?"

Answer 4

SCIENTOLOGY!!!!


**Warning: prepare to be poor.

==========================================
You never got an answer from the priests? They go to Purgatory where they have a chance to hear God's gospel since they didn't have a chance on earth.

If they have truly heard the full gospel, and they reject it, they go to Hell...if they do not pass it on to the next generation, then the next generation goes to purgatory...

If it's not a religion you want to be a part of, then you'll go to Hell, with your church's logic. If you've accepted Jesus then you have nothing to worry about. They had their chance, you had yours, not your fault they didn't accept it.

P.S. Jeremiah 33:8 “I will cleanse away their sins against me, and I will forgive all their sins of rebellion”

That is what I use against that theory.

Answer 5

Buddhism believes your actions determine your next life, not your willingness to convert. Buddhists are told to not believe everything in the Buddhist doctrine; but to study it and if it is not useful to you discard it. You shouldn't immediately choose Buddhism though, study all the religions and see which one suits you. Buddhism works for me, it may not work for you.
LOL- at Scientology answer. I bet that's not Tom Cruise.
I left the Catholic church when a priest said my dog wouldn't go to Heaven. I still have respect for the faith, I just don't believe their concept of Heaven.

Answer 6

They would not be held acountable for a level of knowlege unavailable to them however they do have the base level knowlege of God availble that is the same for all peoples no matter where they live and to this level they would certainly be accountable.

Romans 1
18The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

24Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

Answer 7

I hadn't heard of Discordianism until now, thank you. Didn't know I was a Pope.

With all due pomp and under said circumstances, I hereby do canonize you a Saint.

Answer 8

Yeah Scientology. Just don't drink the koolaid it's designed to disable the male sex drive and decrease mental capacity.

Answer 9

That is because they don't have one. You have been questioning and that is good. Now it is time to dig deeper. Really start to dig into what is faith and religion.

Seek your answers on your own and make your own decisions.