A question about Religions

Сообщение от Zoltas

Ok, first of all i'll start off by saying I am an Agnostic, this is just curiosity.

If God is real, why is there so many religions? I know that people say that God lets us make our own choices etc.. but surely it would be beneficial to the entire world if God appears in one way or another and assured us of one religion for us all to follow.

I think this would be helpful as, many of the wars that have happened, are happening, and will happen have roots in Religion. Whereas if we all followed one Religion then that would be one less reason for there to be wars. I have thought about it and can't see a reason why this wouldn't be a benefit to our world.

Сообщение от Hyperspacerebel

Blessed are those who have not seen but believe.

Сообщение от Zoltas

But what about those who have not even heard the Word of God?

Сообщение от Hyperspacerebel

Natural Law is part of every rational creature. Natural Law is the active participation in the Divine Law. There is no need to 'hear the Word of God' to live a good, God-fearing life.

Сообщение от Queggy

And we see evidence of God in all parts of life.

Сообщение от 184848

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Сообщение от Queggy

The thing that confuses me is why we "need" to believe. If I'm a good person, how would being religious really change my character? Why would God send me to Hell? If he's all-forgiving, why would he punish me for not believing in Him?.

Because of sin. By believing that Jesus came, died, and lived again for us saves us from sin.
Why would God place preference upon a particular group of people if we are all His creation? Seems to me that whether I believe in Him or not is irrelevant to my destination postmortem.
The Jews are no longer God's chosen people due to Jesus dieing for us all. (If I remember my theology correctly . . .)

Сообщение от Adamsm

There is one Elder, He who created the everything... he just has a lot of different Names.

Сообщение от 184848

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Сообщение от Hyperspacerebel

I can be a Christian mass murderer or an atheist philanthropist, why would I be barred from heaven while the murderer isn't?

Christianity and non-Christianity has nothing to do with getting barred from heaven or not. God has provided certain means of attaining heaven. The Church is one of those. Say you want to get to an island 40 miles out to sea and God gives you a boat. If you try to swim there don't blame God for barring the island to you if you can't make it.

And why does this topic even exist? We already have a religion thread.

Сообщение от 445568

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Сообщение от Queggy

Why would God place preference upon a particular group of people if we are all His creation? Seems to me that whether I believe in Him or not is irrelevant to my destination postmortem.
The Jews are no longer God's chosen people due to Jesus dieing for us all. (If I remember my theology correctly . . .)

That's wrong (at least according to Catholics and Jews). The Jew were and always will be God's chosen race, and they still have a place in salvation history.
Ummm . . .
I may be pulling this out of thin air but I think I remember Paul saying something about how Jews and Gentiles are now equal because they both have they same ability of pursuing salvation through Jesus. And yes, the Jews are still God's chosen race, but there are no longer any "bonuses" per se. God appears to Jew and Gentile and died for both.
I thought sin was a wrong someone purposely and willingly pursued.
Correct, but we are also born with it.
Christians, then, are just as capable of sinning as Atheists are.
Everyone is as capable of sin as any other person.
If all humans are sinners and all sinners are human, then sinner and human are essentially the same (am I wording this right?),
You could probably phrase it that way.
meaning Religious choice is the only relevant factor that comes into play.
A factor in . . . ? What? Heaven and Hell?
That's horrible... I thought God loved all of his creations...
He does, I meant that they are no longer placed before Gentiles.

Сообщение от Queggy

As to a murderer going to heaven and not the atheist:

God accepts you into heaven whether you accepted him or not. It doesn't matter if you sin because you accepted Jesus which saved you from all sins past, present, and future. Obviously, just because you can sin without going to Hell doesn't mean you should go out and party. A true believer will strive to live as perfect a life as he or she can attain.

Сообщение от 184848

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Сообщение от Hyperspacerebel

Ummm . . .
I may be pulling this out of thin air but I think I remember Paul saying something about how Jews and Gentiles are now equal because they both have they same ability of pursuing salvation through Jesus. And yes, the Jews are still God's chosen race, but there are no longer any "bonuses" per se. God appears to Jew and Gentile and died for both.

Your talk of bonuses just makes me think of the Parable of the Workers. God can give 'bonuses' to whomever he wants.

God does not go back on covenants. They are very much still part of the plan. Those Jews who are still waiting for the Messiah are not waiting in vain. God protects his chosen people.

Сообщение от Hyperspacerebel

It doesn't matter if you sin because you accepted Jesus which saved you from all sins past, present, and future.
I would very much disagree. We still have free will. Jesus died for us and open the way up for our sanctification. We still have to do our part.

Сообщение от Adamsm

I don't know; I think when you die, it's whatever belief you have that chooses where you end up; if your Christian/Catholic, you'll end up in that white heaven place. If your a believer in reincarnation, you'll be reborn as something else.

Сообщение от Hyperspacerebel

Сообщение от 184848

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A question about Religions

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