God

[srjjs]

Originally posted by Matt Attallah
I think there is. If not - than i'm just playin' it safe!

Good point. (If certain people are to be believed) Those who don't believe in God will go to hell if there really is one, but just die if they're right. However, those who believe go to heaven if they're right, and if there really isn't a god, they just die.

I'll take my chances, but it doesn't hurt to keep that in mind.

[Ken Leung]

Originally posted by srjjs
Those who don't believe in God will go to hell if there really is one, but just die if they're right.

Seems rather unfair to cultures who were never exposed to the concept of God.

[generalbrando]

Not only unfair, but also remember that not everyone who believes in God believes that they will go to hell if they don't believe in him. It may be written in different scriptures, however not everyone follows those. So is it possible that someone could not believe in God and have it turn out that there is one and he/she doesn't go to hell?

[KenWittlief]

What exactly is the author talking about here? If he isn't talking about beating, smacking, humilating, kicking, etc., exactly what kind of discipline IS he talking about?

spanking. When I was in 2nd grade (public school in buffalo, NY) one boy in my class threw a snowball and hit a girl in the eye. She told the teacher, the student was made to stand in front of the class, and the teacher paddled his behind with the 'board of education'. Spanking was always reserved for those situations where a student physically hurt or attacked another person. We knew full well that if we 'laid hands' on someone else, that a teacher or the principle WOULD lay hands on us. This form of discipline was very effective, both as a deterrent, and as punishment.

Funny... as I recall, there have only been around 20 or 30 kids at most who have killed strangers, classmates, and themselves with no conscience...

you are talking about high profile, multiple killings that happened inside the school buildings - The US has [I believe] the highest percentage of its own population in prison - our prison system is overwhelmed - Most of those people in prison were brought up in our public education system.

I dont know the exact number, but somewhere around 100 people are murdered in the US every day.

Those who don't believe in God will go to hell if there really is one, but just die if they're right. However, those who believe go to heaven if they're right, and if there really isn't a god, they just die.

this idea that religion is about what happens to you when you die is misleading. If there is a God, then why would He only be interested in you after you die?

Religion is about your personal relationship with God, now - here - today

if you dont want God to be a part of your life now, then He wont be present with you after this life is over either (that would be hell)

and if you DO want God to be personally involved with your life here and now, He will continue that relationship after this physical life is over.

[anna~marie]

well heres the Bible's view on that all

say ur driving down a road and u happen to be going over the speed limit, right? well lets just say that you didnt know what the speed limit was. does that mean that u are exempt from the law? by no means! it is accessible to anyone to know. the same goes with God and the Law

[George1902]

Originally posted by anna~marie
well heres the Bible's view on that all

say ur driving down a road and u happen to be going over the speed limit, right? well lets just say that you didnt know what the speed limit was. does that mean that u are exempt from the law? by no means! it is accessible to anyone to know. the same goes with God and the Law

Actually, if the speed limit is not clearly posted, they can't say you were exceeding the posted limit. Can they?

George

[KenWittlief]

I think the analogy that was being made is we all are born with a conscience, with a sense of right and wrong

and Im not aware of any culture or group of people who do not have some concept of God.

It seems to be a part of our human nature to think, feel, or otherwise know that something greater than ourselves exists.

[Madison]

Originally posted by KenWittlief
and Im not aware of any culture or group of people who do not have some concept of God.

Athiests, maybe?

Where can I collect my prize?

[KenWittlief]

no I dont mean individuals, I mean a culture, for example, if the native americans had no concept of God, or the people on Hawaii or tahiti, something along those lines

[Blacknight]

and athiesm isn't a cult, a cult must have some spiritual purpose and athiesm just doesn't have it.

[Madison]

Originally posted by Blacknight
and athiesm isn't a cult, a cult must have some spiritual purpose and athiesm just doesn't have it.

Perhaps you mean culture, rather than cult?

[anna~marie]

heres my comments on the whole right and wrong issue on this thread

u believe in one thing as morally incorrect, and ur friend another. so whos right? where are u to draw ur morals and laws at without "violating" another person's right? i mean one person could entirely think that killing people is right, but you dont. so whos to say he's right? its all a matter of opinion.
well thats where God comes in! He, being perfect and, well, God, can set all the rules. they unite us where our petty opinions are miniscule in comparison to God. Just look! He created everything! You would think He would know best.
and to all of you that think that there are no absolutes and no absolute rules, are u absolutely sure?

[DanL]

Originally posted by anna~marie
heres my comments on the whole right and wrong issue on this thread

u believe in one thing as morally incorrect, and ur friend another. so whos right? where are u to draw ur morals and laws at without "violating" another person's right? i mean one person could entirely think that killing people is right, but you dont. so whos to say he's right? its all a matter of opinion.
well thats where God comes in! He, being perfect and, well, God, can set all the rules. they unite us where our petty opinions are miniscule in comparison to God. Just look! He created everything! You would think He would know best.
and to all of you that think that there are no absolutes and no absolute rules, are u absolutely sure?

Back to the point I made in my first post on this topic... if you expand on your idea to all the religions, how do you know which religion is the 'right' religion? What makes one g/God(s) more 'right' than another g/God(s)? Ghandi did not believe in Christianity, but if Christianity is the 'right' religion, does that mean Ghandi's going to hell? It seems to me that all the contradictions between religions is proof that religion is just a creation of man... if there really was one true religion, I'd think the g/God(s) of that religion would make it clear, not have a different religion for every major cultural group throughout the history of the world.

[anna~marie]

look around, you must be able to see that all this did not happen just by a mere accident! there fore, there is a supreme being.
next off, why the God of Isreal? For starts, He answers prayers! You ask, and the God who made you gives! He give peace that you cannot comprehend or explain, just try to get to know Him if you dont believe me.
Besides, this God isnt some stupid statue made by human hands. He lives!
You might want to talk to some people who were once other religions who came to know God and His grace, it would really do good. There are many books and t hings.

[JAH]

I, like many of you others, believe in God but, as Ryan Dognaux said, am shakey. I do not attend church regularly but I do believe. Whenever I've got into a debate with this with my friends, I just plainly state. Ok, you believe one thing, I believe another. You may be right, I may be right. We can believe separate things and no one is harmed. It is usually dropped at that point. My belief is very shakey, I believe in God, am just not sure which religion I really am. I'm not overly worried about it at the moment, I believe and that is enough for me at the moment. Everyone has different thoughts on everything. It is no different than did you like this movie or that CD...except a bit more weighty. Over ones choice of God or not, you shouldn't dislike the person or like them more over their choice. Would you really hate someone if they didn't like your favorite movie? I'd certainly hope not. The subject of a higher being shouldn't be any different. Respect other's choices and don't criticize them for their choice.