How do you get do heaven then? Will lustfull and immoral thoughts and going around doing whatever I want and not being concerned with my actions toward others have no bearing on my eternal life?

 

I think this speaks to being human and imperfect. My belief is that as long as you believe that God sent his son to die for our sins, then you can get to heaven…but you will have to answer for all the things that you have done. You can also be forgiven for those things while alive, if you ask. As a human, my goal should be to not try to do those things or have those thoughts again.

 

I do think that this is where the difference in religious philosophy comes in. As a general rule, believe in God and you are on the right track…all the rules are man made.

I think this speaks to being human and imperfect. My belief is that as long as you believe that God sent his son to die for our sins, then you can get to heaven…but you will have to answer for all the things that you have done. You can also be forgiven for those things while alive, if you ask. As a human, my goal should be to not try to do those things or have those thoughts again.

 

I do think that this is where the difference in religious philosophy comes in. As a general rule, believe in God and you are on the right track…all the rules are man made.

 

Agree with the first part 100%. When you say "all the rules are man made," that is true concerning nations' laws, business laws, school laws, etc. But moral law is put into our souls at the moment of conception and is not man made. It is like a map God gives us to follow that leads us to Heaven.

I meant the "laws / rules" of each particular religion. The how of religious practice.

 

I agree with the moral compass part

I meant the "laws / rules" of each particular religion. The how of religious practice.

 

I agree with the moral compass part

 

I guess that makes sense. I do believe that the rules of the Catholic Church (since it can be traced back to Christ [God] himself) are not man made or are inspired by the Holy Spirit, but I also believe that other churches do hold parts of Truth. Not the fullness, but parts of Truth. And since you CAN get to heaven without a church, I respect and understand your point.

 

My point was that the only way we KNOW that gets you to heaven is what was discussed above.

How do you get do heaven then?

 

IF you believe and are baptized then you will be saved.

 

That is a passage from Mark, not myself. There are other various passages that add a little to this idea, but all verses in the Bible that deal with your question point to the above passage. Of course, if one does not believe the Bible is true, then the verses will carry no weight with them

So back to the original post...why does a marine punching an atheist make some Christians happy?

So back to the original post...why does a marine punching an atheist make some Christians happy?

 

That never happened. http://www.snopes.com/religion/einstein.asp

IF you believe and are baptized then you will be saved.

 

That is a passage from Mark, not myself. There are other various passages that add a little to this idea, but all verses in the Bible that deal with your question point to the above passage. Of course, if one does not believe the Bible is true, then the verses will carry no weight with them

 

When you say "believe" what do you exactly mean? Is it just to know that God exists and leave it at that?

 

In order to get to Heaven one must not only believe and be a member of a church but the way one acts, thinks, and treats others will have a bearing on whether or not he or she gets to heaven. Otherwise you could get baptized, commit suicide, and instantly be "saved."

JMHO but salvation is much deeper than a short emotional response to a preachers 14 repeats of " just as I am" . Maybe to be clearer , if a group of teens is at a Christian rock concert and the leader of the band does a " hold your head down and close your eyes " and repeat the sinners prayer and then proclaims that anyone who hold their hand up is saved , THEN goes back to living their life after that as if nothing happened then that person is NOT saved . Without true repentance their is not conversion. And Only God knows the heart well enough to judge that . But Believing falls far short of saving a person . The Bible teaches " even the DEMONS believe , and demons are not part of heaven . A person's actions show if they have been converted and a truly a saved person.

 

That never happened. http://www.snopes.com/religion/einstein.asp

 

But I think that the question is still valid. Why would Christians be so supportive of such an action? Because many don't bother to find out if it's true, they just love the concept.

When you say "believe" what do you exactly mean? Is it just to know that God exists and leave it at that?

 

I guess I mean that if you believe that Jesus is the son of God, the perfect savior who died on the cross, then resurrected for the forgiveness of sin. I guess the general idea is that truly believing it should show itself with your lifestyle.

But I think that the question is still valid. Why would Christians be so supportive of such an action? Because many don't bother to find out if it's true, they just love the concept.

 

I wish I knew the answer. I personally would not be. As you can probably tell by my posts I am all for spreading the Word of God, but I try (and I know I'm not perfect) to do it respectfully and politely. Punching someone because of their religion, or lack of, has no place in society. IMO

 

I guess I mean that if you believe that Jesus is the son of God, the perfect savior who died on the cross, then resurrected for the forgiveness of sin. I guess the general idea is that truly believing it should show itself with your lifestyle.

 

This. :thumb:

But I think that the question is still valid. Why would Christians be so supportive of such an action? Because many don't bother to find out if it's true, they just love the concept.

 

If I were there then of course I would not support it. But if I saw it in a movie or read a story describing it I laugh and smile.

If I were there then of course I would not support it. But if I saw it in a movie or read a story describing it I laugh and smile.

 

Why? I don't see that as a Christian example at all.

 

Or would it be something that the irony makes you laugh and then afterward feel badly?

Why? I don't see that as a Christian example at all.

 

Or would it be something that the irony makes you laugh and then afterward feel badly?

 

I don't know. Its like when I watched Dumb and Dumber and see Jim Carrey selling cheap toys and a dead parakeet to a blind kid (very funny, he duct tapes the head on the bird and sells it to the blind kid for 25 dollars) I laughed, but if I actually saw someone take advantage of a blind person, I would put a stop to it.