Now who is the one generalizing? Which church exactly? Maybe they don't believe that "there is no salvation outside the church". Or maybe they don't want to be told that they are the ones with a problem. A lot of people become indoctrinated with beliefs without ever taking the time to really examine them. They just take for granted that they are the truth. Then when they do they might be called out for not having enough conviction. Maybe they just don't want to be around people telling them that they need shut up and re-examine their lives. No, that isn't divisive at all. Btw, Islam and Judaism also believe in the same heaven and hell and idea of a soul so that is no good.
That doesn't matter, You know the commandments, love your neighbor as your self, honor your parents, don't commit adultery etc etc etc... God gave us all the what is good and what isn't good... so If you are good, then I asure you God is just in His judgments and you have nothing to be concerned about you will be judged impartially and absolutely correctly when you stand before God and give account of your life. So relax. EDIT- on further thought... it is a little sticky to say you don't believe in God, you keep all His commands and yet you don't give Him any of the thanks, honor and love He deserves, seeing how He gave you your very life. Not believing in God for me is more not being sure about it. I think not knowing for sure is a better definition of not believing. It's late, just rambling, better go home.
a soul has conscience, imagination, beliefs, affections, desires, reasoning, knowledge and more... you can cut off my legs without my soul falling one inch.
how is that generalizing? that's not even close to it. I'm not telling anyone they have to go to a certain church. And if they're not comfortable with any of the set religions, they can go by their own thinking. so where am I generalizing? I'm not taking the my way or highway approach here. you generalized by saying all Christians or Souther Prrotestants or Bush supporters only care about social welfare and not about wmds and corporate welfare. I'm saying you can go anywhere till you find a viewpoint that you like, and that if you don't find one you like, then go off on your own. and no Islam and Judaism do not share the same viewpoints on Heaven and Hell as Christianity, and we most certainly do not share the same views on how to get there.
Then why do we need brains to think and eyes to see etc? So your soul can still solve physics problems even if you have severe brain damage? Is a soul comprised of atoms? Is it completely independent from everything else? How does it change emotions/forms if it is eternal?
But you do agree that there are such places, and there is a form of a you that will "go" to one of them.
Under karmic belief if you don't lead a good life you could be reborn as a lower being or even worse be reborn into hell realms like the Realm of Hungry Ghosts were you are always starving and no matter how much eat can never be full. So if I hold the belief that there are people who because they don't lead a good life as set out by the Dharma will be reborn as a lower being is that divisive?
Nope. All lawyers will be reborn in the Realm of Hungry Litigants where you will file claims endlessly but never get punitive damage awards.
But if you don't believe in Hell isn't that kind of a silly idea too? I mean lake of fire, guys with horns, whips and pitchforks it all sounds like an S & M theme party..
One thing I really think glynch and Meow are overlooking in their demonization of Southern Chirstians is the fact that the different denominations across the country belong to larger organizations who are the ones that lobby the politicians, and give recommendations to their members. The amount of actual people that are involoved in this practice is actually rather small.....but they claim to speak for many, many more. now, take that fact and combine it with the general laziness of the average Amercian when it comes to the real issues of the day and how the people they vote for stand on those issues. Leadership of national church groups decide who they believe stands for their beliefs, they recommend to their members who these people are, and in general (yes, a generalization) alot of the members of the member congregations vote for those politicans soley based on the recommendations of national organizations. They do this so they have some reassurance (wrongly imo) that the people in power believe what they believe. This does not mean that EVERY Christian that lives below the Mason Dixon line is in lockstep with the republican politicians. Im rambling, which is why I rarely post in here, but I hope my point is clear. The Repubs fooled the christians all over the country into thinking they stood for them, and the general intellectual laziness of the average american combined to create the problem that glynch keeps harping on. have faith glynch....as others have tried to tell you, just because the bad guys claim to speak for christians doesnt necessarily mean they do. and Max, on a personal note If my last church had practiced chistianity as you practice it...I might not have went my own way in my beliefs. I highly respect your attitude towards your faith, and wish more christians were like you.
that's very kind. but it's Jesus you see...not me. seek him out. if that leads you to a church...great. if not...great. but you can find churches that say what i'm saying far more eloquently and live it out far better than i do.
Isn't the way in which we exercise our free will the ultimate determinant of our eternal afterlife? That's what I hear from Christian churches...
