Do you beleive in heaven or hell...

I don't believe in satan, or hell or the sinful nature of humans. I believe that, when treated right, the vast majority of humans have good natures. However, if people are abused, oppressed, or tortured they will turn into something other than what they were designed by nature to be, and they will do evil things. I also believe that inbreeding and flaws of nature can create people who are monsters. I believe that the vast majority of humans can be wonderful people with good parenting and a little human kindness along the road of life.

I have been on this earth for 51 years, observing people. I have met countless numbers of people who overcame hard lives to become wonderful humans beings, and very few, if any, monsters. I am constantly amazed at the power of the human heart. :D

(I also agree with Candi.)
Nancy
 
I with you Christine. Wish I could meet a Lama. Anyway, I believe the essence of ALL religion/faiths are designed to help one find their true self or God essence. Too bad people take a good thing and use is to control others which is why I don't really agree with organized religions and all their "rules". I believe in reincarnation and I also cannot answer why people do bad things in a lifetime. Some say they may be young souls getting lost in the world, or possibly a soul who made an agreement for the growth of other souls on this plane. Who knows really. Maybe all of it, maybe none of it. :)
 
I was raised Christian but have not been to church since my early teen years. I can not accept the concept of Hell. Most people are the religion that they are because they were raised by parents who taught them that that religion was the right religion. Why should someone go to Hell just because they happen to be born into the wrong family? Some people still live apart from mainstream soceity. If you would mention Jesus to them they would probably ask Jesus who?

My own personal beliefs are closer to the Eastern religions than Western.
 
>>Okay, god can forgive murderers, rapists, etc., but the one
>>thing that is unforgiveable to him is that you don't believe
>>in him? Really?
>>
>>And since you have a hard time grasping that any Nazi
>believed
>>in Christ and accepted them as their personal saviour, I'll
>>use a more personal example.
>>
>>A family of four was murdered during a random robbery. They
>>didn't believe in any god; the good they did wasn't for the
>>hope of everlasting paradise, but just because that was who
>>they were: genuinely good people. The monster who murdered
>>them confessed and is in prison. He's asked god for
>>forgiveness, accepted Jesus as his savior, and believes he's
>>saved (according to an interview with the minister, who was
>>his "spiritual council.")
>>
>>That being the case, the murderer, this monster, who came
>into
>>this family's home, bound them, stabbed and bludgeoned them
>to
>>death, one-by-one, in front of each other, is going to
>heaven,
>>but the victims are in hell? God is so petty that he'll
>>punish good people to an eternity in hell because they
>didn't
>>believe in him, while their murderer/torturer will live
>>forever in paradise, because, eight dead bodies later (he
>had
>>other victims before and after my friends), he is "saved"?
>>Are you kidding me?
>>
>>My friends contributed so much beauty through their actions,
>>their art, their music, their giving, their humor, their
>>children. Their murderer has had a powerful influence, too.
>
>>Not only in the horror and pain he caused his victims, but
>the
>>sorrow and hurt for the many family members, friends, and
>the
>>community who miss these people and have to relive the image
>>of how they probably spent their final moments.
>>
>>If there were a heaven and a hell, I'd much rather go to
>where
>>my friends are. I've seen their murderer's face too many
>>times in the paper, on tv, in my imagination, and in my
>>nightmares, to want to spend eternity with it.
>
>
>I never said anything about a Nazi not believing in Christ. I
>just do not think it is fair to lump all "Christians"
>(denominations, groups, etc.) together and then use the Nazi's
>to characterize us as a whole. I personally would never
>judge or attack someone for not believing in Heaven or Hell.
>It is just what I believe in. We all have different beliefs
>and I would never bring it upon myself to say who is and who
>isn't going to heaven.
>
>I also never mentioned what I do specifically believe in. My
>belief is that all humans are born with a sin nature that we
>inherited from Adam and Eve. I also believe that we all
>deserve hell, but through Christ dying for us on the cross, he
>paid for our sins (all of them) and took our place so that we
>could go to heaven. I believe it is through belief in him and
>acceptance of that gift that we go to heaven. I also believe
>that the Bible teaches that the way to heaven is through
>Christ not works. So I also do not believe that we have to
>earn our way into heaven. It is a free gift that we just have
>to accept. I do not think any person has the right or
>knowledge of who is going to heaven. That is something that
>only God and that person know. Many people can do something
>horrible and then claim that they got "saved", but only God
>knows if there was really a heart change or if they are just
>saying that - to get a lower sentence or parol. Likewise, a
>lot of people profess to be Christians and then perform
>horrible attrocities, such as the Nazis. Are they going to
>heaven? Only God knows.
>
>Again, these are just MY beliefs. Please do not attack me for
>them. That is not what this thread is about. If a person of
>another faith - Jewish, Muslim, etc... posted their beliefs, I
>certainly would not critize or belittle them. We are all
>entitled to our own belief system and there is no reason to
>use this thread to debate differences of opinions and beliefs.
> I think it is interesting just talking about our beliefs.
>Whose to say we aren't all just following different paths the
>same conclusion?
>
>
Liann, I could not improve upon this statement even if I tried. Very well said!
 
"As for me, I just want end up in the same place all my dogs end up..."

Gayle, I agree...couldn't think of a better place than that :)
 
Liann- I agree with you too.

I believe in Heaven and Hell. I believe when we are born with original sin, and blessed with Free Will. I believe in repentance, and that God forgives. I believe we are all God's children. I believe we will all meet our 'maker' when we die. I believe God is all knowing, and knows what our outcome will be. I believe we must trust God and have Faith. I know that sounds simplistic. Yes, there are horrible things that happen. But, there are also wonderful things that happen.

I believe we live in a society - that is trying to push "if it feels good - do it". Everything is "ok". I am not throwing stones, God knows I am far from perfect, but why do so many pick and choose the things they like from a religion? It is not easy to follow a religion. On a daily basis we are faced with chooses. But, what will you choose? Will you choose God's path?

I believe one of the challenges, as humans, we face, are daily decisions of right and wrong? Is everything that simple, of course not. For ex: Do Not Kill. But, what if you are defending yourself, is that murder?? Or a white lie that would spare someones feelings?I believe God, knows what's in your heart.

And if you believe in God and follow a religion - your presumed to be "wacky" religious freak. But, why is it so bad to follow (Catholicism for me) a religion? For me....I'm not willing to give up my freedom of religion, therefore I won't tell someone else how to believe.

I think I went alittle off topic! Sorry....for many, its a personal topic. But, most of all.....It's a personal relationship between you and God :)

Thanks for letting me share!
ALicia;)
 
I've only read the first few posts, but agree with what Ashley wrote (however, I am not familiar with Joyce Meyer).

For anyone wanting to know why there is death and suffering in this world, you can find the answer in the Bible. (Sin is the reason). This website has some wonderful material on answering the tough questions about death and suffering, Noah's ark, Cain's wife, etc. It is www.answersingenesis.org . Many lives have been changed by their minstry. Lots of articles there to read for free too.

C.S. Lewis was once an atheist. He wrote several books that logically explain his conversion to Christianity. His book, _Mere Christianity_ is just wonderful.

Today, I was reading his book, _The Silver Chair_, one of the Chronicle of Narnia books, to my children. The particular chapter we read was such a wonderful illustration of the lies the world tries to tell us.

I pray you will not be deceived.

Fondly,:)

Sandra
 
C.S. Lewis' books are great.

I think that Satan's most effective tool is to convince people that he doesn't exist.

I wonder if anyone is reading ALL the posts and really at all being convinced of anything or we are just talking to ourselves. :)

I think that most people, even if they are raised in X religion, get to be an adult and start their own quest for answers. Therefore, to say that most people are the religion they are because of the way they are raised, I think is not true.

I think I ate too many macaroons. That is the only other thought I have in my head.

Have a great day.
Jen
 
I, too, believe in heaven and hell. I also believe that you can't get to heaven by works only -- you have to believe in Jesus Christ. You are saved by grace and not works. I guess for the people who don't believe in heaven and hell, everyone is entitled to their own belief. However, the question I would like to ask them is, what if after you die you find out you are wrong and there IS a heaven and hell? At that point, it would be too late to make any choices. You then learn because you didn't accept Jesus as your personal Saviour, you will spend your eternity in hell. And from what the Bible says, hell is not a very pleasant place. I guess I just wish everyone would think about that really hard. I respect everyone's belief and if they choose to not believe in heaven or hell, then that is their decision.
 
>C.S. Lewis' books are great.
>
>I think that Satan's most effective tool is to convince people
>that he doesn't exist.
>
>I wonder if anyone is reading ALL the posts and really at all
>being convinced of anything or we are just talking to
>ourselves. :)
>
>I think that most people, even if they are raised in X
>religion, get to be an adult and start their own quest for
>answers. Therefore, to say that most people are the religion
>they are because of the way they are raised, I think is not
>true.
>
>I think I ate too many macaroons. That is the only other
>thought I have in my head.
>
>Have a great day.
>Jen
>

Jen - I totally agree with you on this. I was talking to my DH about it tonight. We were both raised with the same belief system, but at some point we had to decide for ourselves what we believed. My beliefs today are just that, my beliefs, not my parents. When I was a kid, I might have said they were my parent's beliefs, but now that I am an adult, I have made up my own mind that this is what I believe. I was brought up a Christian, but I chose to continue in that path. We all have a free will and we will be held accountable for our decisions and beliefs.
 
I will respectfully disagree that people do not tend to stay with the religion to which they were born. And please note that I do not think this is a bad thing. I just think we are more comfortable with what is familiar, although that's not saying that our beliefs are like our parents - our lives and experiences color our beliefs.

You read my response above. That is what I've found with my life experiences. Whether anyone else agrees with me or not is irrelevant. But, when it came down to raising my daughters - they have both been raised Catholic because I sincerely believe that an organized religion - any organized religion - is crucial for our children. One has to have a foundation on which to build one's beliefs - even to decide that one does not believe in anything before one can start exploring one's own soul.
 
I know you're speaking for yourself here, but my DH has never set foot in a church and he's by far the most morally upstanding person I know. You can teach morals and values without religion.
 
I believe we create Heaven and hell here on Earth. We have all lived through "hells" and "heavens" here on Earth. Anyway, people created the terms heaven and hell anyway. Really, we have no idea. IMHO
 
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