 |
|
|
|
August 3rd, 2011
02:10 PM ET
Big 'response' for Rick Perry?By Jim Acosta, CNN Washington (CNN) – It's likely not the response Rick Perry was expecting. Earlier this year, the Texas Governor called on Christians across the U.S. to come to Houston for a prayer event aimed at bringing God's help to a "nation in crisis." Organizers of the religious gathering, dubbed "The Response," say only 8,000 people have registered on-line to attend this Saturday's event at Houston's Reliant Stadium, a venue with a seating capacity of 71,000. Eric Bearse, a "Response" spokesman and former speech-writer for the potential GOP presidential candidate, says attendance numbers are a non-issue. "Not concerned whatsoever. We think it will be a powerful event whether it is 8,000 or 50,000. The only people concerned about numbers are press," Bearse said. Read the full story here from CNN.com/politics |
  About this blog
The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
|
|
|
To all – I have written some pretty good rebuttals to all of your questions, (just so you know). I am being moderated to no end and have said nothing offensive. I am just going to pray for you all. Hopefully, CNN won't moderate this too!
If you want to see them – convince CNN to let them post. I have responded to ACTS, Magic and Ed. 3-4 different posts all declaring the truth. I'm sorry you all didn't recieve them.
Let me just say this one last thing: All through my time reading your posts, the Book of James keeps coming to mind. I encourage you all to read it and open your hearts to God and let Him reveal Himself to you. Please do it. I'm not trying to belittle you or anything like that. I just want to encourage you to a heartfelt revelation of God and not just a belief. Will you do that?
George they have a program that targets combinations of letters....like ti t etc. I have had mine wiped out then I found the problem words.
yeah so if you have the word att itude you have to make sure the t i t arent together
@George
See the list of "forbidden" words below (in your exchange with civiloutside)
Occult, monotheistic religions are of their nature, intrinsically evil. Religious faith affronts the natural laws of human solidarity. Religion is divisive and exclusionary; if you do not embrace our belief you cannot be one of us. With their exceptions the religious become hostile; if you are not one of us then you must be our enemy. With their hostility, they foster belligerence; as our enemy we must disable and defeat you, your demise is our only solution. From this belligerence comes discord and hate and their prediction of never ending wars becomes reality. Opposition to this theological process is reason; the ability of the human mind to discover, to find supporting evidence, to evaluate that evidence and find solutions, using our natural abilities. We need to avoid at all cost both the influence and intrusion of theism in our government.
Just a matter of time before you and J.W. cross over to the darkside (Agnostic)
I think I a long way from being agnostic. I would say that I am willing to look at it from that view because I like to look at things from multiple angles.
J.W
I think I a long way from being agnostic. I would say that I am willing to look at it from that view because I like to look at things from multiple angles.
-------
It is a journey...but that is how it starts...slowly your eyes will be open.
Acts
Is that not what the snake said to Eve "It will open your eyes" you left out "and you will be like God knowing good and evil"
My friend, you missed the whole point of that post. You are still saying that basically I am wrong. What I presented to you was not a wager, it is a full understanding and conviction. My friend, I am a Preacher. I preach and teach to all who will hear (and have open ears) to the Gospel. I am fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform, as Paul wrote. There is no doubt nor wavering in my profession of faith.
What I ask you to do is search your heart for what premise you anguished so hard for all those years. I do not accept the former christian claims of people. Either you are or you are not. You are either for God or against Him. It seems, like a story out of Charles Templeton's life to me. A life lived in constant search but never having found that Peace of God that surpasses all understanding. It sounds like you've allowed the wisdom of man to distort your own understanding of the wisdom of Almighty God. Do you read the Bible now? Why don't you pick it up today and get started again. Even Peter denied knowing Him and was restored. There is hope for you. Don't let the devil lie to you and convince you that there isn't.
George
My friend, you missed the whole point of that post. You are still saying that basically I am wrong. What I presented to you was not a wager, it is a full understanding and conviction. My friend, I am a Preacher. I preach and teach to all who will hear (and have open ears) to the Gospel. I am fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform, as Paul wrote. There is no doubt nor wavering in my profession of faith.
What I ask you to do is search your heart for what premise you anguished so hard for all those years. I do not accept the former christian claims of people. Either you are or you are not. You are either for God or against Him. It seems, like a story out of Charles Templeton's life to me. A life lived in constant search but never having found that Peace of God that surpasses all understanding. It sounds like you've allowed the wisdom of man to distort your own understanding of the wisdom of Almighty God. Do you read the Bible now? Why don't you pick it up today and get started again. Even Peter denied knowing Him and was restored. There is hope for you. Don't let the devil lie to you and convince you that there isn't.
----
Perhaps I misunderstood you because you hear so many young (in christ) christians use pascal wager. No I have not read the bible. Interesting enough I still have several very old bibles in my house.......early 1800's...as well as hymns from early 1800's. I don't dare open them fear they might crumble. I come from a family of preachers lol. No matter what I say it would not change your views and vice versa. The process was not about anguish rather discovery. When I said it was the hardest thing I meant because of how much faith I had and then to cast that away. Imagine yourself making such a decision your eyes being open and seeing god for what it truly was. A large sense of sadness and disappointment when you come to the conclusion what you believed in was not true. This is my reality and I am just trying paint a picture for you to imagine so you can see what I mean by the hardest decision in my life. In my world the truth hurt very very much. On the flip side it was a huge burden lifted. Super simplified...kind of like the very moment you learned Santa wasn't real as a child.
@ Anti-everything – Have you ever heard of Lee Strobel? He once thought like you and acted like you. Before he accepted Jesus as Savior, he mocked God and Christians also. Now, he is a leading Christian apologist. Do what he did and search for yourself. Or better yet, he's done all of the work for you in the Case for Christ.
Either way, you can laugh all you want. You can be as nasty as you want, but in the end – it boils down to you don't want to accept the fact that you are a sinner in need of a Savior.
Let's suppose that I am right – where does that leave you in eternity? Let's suppose I'm wrong – I've lost nothing. Think about what have you will have lost?
George
@ Anti-everything – Have you ever heard of Lee Strobel? He once thought like you and acted like you. Before he accepted Jesus as Savior, he mocked God and Christians also. Now, he is a leading Christian apologist. Do what he did and search for yourself. Or better yet, he's done all of the work for you in the Case for Christ.
Either way, you can laugh all you want. You can be as nasty as you want, but in the end – it boils down to you don't want to accept the fact that you are a sinner in need of a Savior.
Let's suppose that I am right – where does that leave you in eternity? Let's suppose I'm wrong – I've lost nothing. Think about what have you will have lost?
================
For starters I used to be a christian and was on the path to become a preacher. I did search and found my answer. As for the Pascal's Wager, the person never had faith to begin with if they are "playing it safe". If this is the reason you are a christian then you never were a christian and your wager will not save you. I do not put my faith in man like christians do.
Anti... Could you explain: "For starters I used to be a christian and was on the path to become a preacher. I did search and found my answer"? Just wondering.
George, "Let's suppose I'm wrong – I've lost nothing."
This is another tired repeti.tion of Pascal's Wager - thoroughly refuted since the 17th century (where have you been?)
- What if the real "God" is Allah, or Vishnu, or Zeus, or any of the other of thousands which have been dreamed up over the centuries? Some of them are very jealous and vengeful and will relegate you to nasty places for not worshiping them. You'd better cover your butt by believing in ALL of them and fulfill their wishes and demands.
- What if the real "God" prefers those who use logic and reason and punishes you as a silly sycophant?
- What if the real "God" detests those who believe something just to cover their butts in eternity?
- What if you have caused yourself or others to waste their short lifetimes on endless hours of study of these fantasies when you / they could have made some kind of concrete progress to benefit your/their lives and the lives of future descendants.
Yes, sir, you will have lost something if you are wrong.
Magic – I believe only in the God of the Bible. As I put it in another post, that belief is unwavering. There is no wager. I do not look at faith as a wager at all. I only used that as way to help someone understand my point. Please don't twist my words and suggest that I am saying something entirely different.
I am not trying to "cover my butt" as you put it. No Christian is doing that. What I am doing is trying my best to describe to you a relationship with God that I have but you don't. There are those that no matter what I type on here, they still won't believe. There are those that no matter how many facts that are presented to them, they still won't turn. It was that way all through the Bible and all throughout history. In most cases, those that don't believe were hurt severely by a confessing Christian. Whether that person was a Christian or not, remains to be seen. It is not a wise venture to ignore this great salvation that God has given us all. Salvation is offered to you also. Nobody has withheld anything from you. You can have God's gift of salvation by calling upon Jesus today. Will you call on Him?
GH
Anti... Could you explain: "For starters I used to be a christian and was on the path to become a preacher. I did search and found my answer"? Just wondering.
------
The process I went through took time to undue hardwiring. For the sake of brevity I will just say I came to the conclusion that the source of my faith was in fact in man and never in a god. I removed man and await for a god to present themself if they wish. I am agnostic. I more than anybody know that a person cannot change your faith or view, it has to come from within. Considering my upbringing and where I was the direction I was going in christianity, it has to be one of most challenging things I have had to do in my life....... taking that final step away from fear. I have never felt better and more free since making that final step. It was quite strange standing and seeing things for what they truly were for the first time. My eyes were open you might say.
George
Magic – I believe only in the God of the Bible. As I put it in another post, that belief is unwavering. There is no wager. I do not look at faith as a wager at all. I only used that as way to help someone understand my point.
----------------–
You are making a mockery of your faith by using fear as a tool to explain your position. If you wish to witness, you may wish to look closer at what the men wrote about jesus and his actions. I shook my head when I was a christian and heard other christians act such a way and I still shake my head.
What is funny is the zealots on here cry CNN is making a mockery of christians. In truth it is the zealots making a mockery of christians. Keep it up, you make for great laughs.
Christianity fractures to stay alive. Each time it fractures into a new cult, it slightly changes to stay fresh and different. Catholics are the old and dying. Protestants are starting the down trend. Up comes mormonism the new rising stud. Smaller cults like Jehovah Witn are barely alive when you compare their numbers. As one dies a new rebirthing with new ideas and twist arises. What happened when the roman gods died?
@ peace to all – Read my post towards civiloutside!
@ civiloutside – I don't see us trying to make you pray. Christians are not trying to pass laws to make you pray. We are trying to pass laws that keep you from prohibitting us from praying. It's part of this whole socialism change that you all love so much. I do see atheists and other liberal groups trying to make us stop! Nobody is trying to make YOU do anything. You seem more lost and confused than anyone I've ever heard of.
You're only concern is that you hate God so much, that you want everybody else to hate Him too. I love God because, when I finally understood what He had been trying to tell me all of my life, I realized...life did not have to be so hard for me. I chose to be rebellious and not listen. Just like you are choosing to be rebellious and not listen.
Why are you even posting on Christian articles anyway? Nobody came on here saying that we want Atheists or Agnostics to pray. You obviously don't believe in God, but for some reason MY belief offends you. What you are on here doing is trying to subvert weaker Christians and make them doubt their own beliefs. If you don't want to believe, then go on in disbelief. Don't try to convince us that we are holding you down and oppressing you, just because we BELIEVE and PRAY and have a HOPE and a future. God loves all of us, but only you can decide to love Him back. You seem like an intelligent person and I pray that one day God does present Himself to you openly. Be careful of such things though! He presented Himself to Paul like that and Paul became one of the most zealous Christians around.
George – Many, many things to comment on here. First of all, socialism and atheism have nothing to do with each other. Socialism is an economic system in which the means of producing and distributing goods are collectively or governmentally owned. It has no stance on the existence of gods. Atheism is lack if belief in gods, and it has no stance on economics. You will find atheist capitalists and socialists, libertarians and communists, conservatives and liberals, just as you will find Christians among all those groups (yes, there are even Christian versions of communism). I, for one, do not believe that strict socialism is workable with actual human beings.
Secondly, while I won't say there are no atheists who want to legislate away your right to pray (I'm sure there are, jus as there are Christians who want to legislate away my right *not* to pray... And they are just as much on the fringe). However, the majority of us could care less if you pray, how often, or how publicly. What we protest is attempts to use governmental authority to promote your religion at the expense of all others (or lack of it). Those protests are aimed at Christians for one reason: because they are the only religion in the U.S. that enjoys solid majorities in virtually every lawmaking body, and therefore the only one that ever has a realistic chance of ramming through such legislation. Believe me, if there were ever a realistic chance that a pagan legislature were going to force schools to teach the "scientific" theory that Odin had carved the world from the body of a dead ogre, we'd be all over that as well. And you'd be thanking us for it, if not standing side-by-side with us. I think you and I probably have honest disagreement over what consti-tutes abuse of government authority in the realm of religious belief, but I hope you can see that it's honest disagreement and not a desire on my part to oppress you.
I do not hate your god. I do not believe he exists for me to hate. Elsewhere in these blogs I have stated outright that I don't believe Ra, or Zeus, or Allah exist either – do you think I hate each of them individually and personally as well? I do feel very strongly thar many of the things people do because they believe he wants them to do it are horrific and/or wholly unjustified. It's certain behaviors that some people exhibit in the names of their various conceptions of god that bother me.
My primary purpose here is to combat misperceptions. There are several believers who are quite happy to tell the most outrageous of untruths about what atheists are all about, what we believe, and how we live our lives. Whether they are inventing these untruths out of maliciousness or ignorance, or simply repeating what someone else has told them, wrong information needs to be refuted. The fact is that beliefs matter, especially in a democracy. So yes, I do try to convince people to alter beliefs that appear harmful and/or nonsensical, especially if they seem intent on creating legislation based on that belief that will impact everyone. I won't apologize for that.
I admit to sometimes getting frustrated, snarky, or sarcastic, but by and large I try to keep to the subject of the ideas rather than attacking people. Even the ones who make it so very tempting.
Anyway, I wish you well. I'm certain we'll continue to bump heads, but I hope we can do it with a little better understanding of where each other is coming from.
@ Civil – I typed a really good response to you but I guess its lost in moderation land.
I do look forward to debating you in the future and with great civility. I'm working on my responses and will do my utmost to engage with sincerity and respect. We may have differing views but I appreciate your honesty. I find your arguements very well thought out. You'd make a good Christian! We need more people who can intelligently present OUR belief and convince others.
I will be praying for you though. Hope you don't mind. Try looking into what Noah Webster said about Christianity, if you haven't already. Very wise man. He wasn't perfect now, because he had many flaws, but excellent in presentation. In addition, the arguements of Daniel Wabster is fascinating as well. They both speak about what we are experiencing today.
Lastly, alot of people that claim to be Christians – are really the ones represented in the parable of the seeds falling by the wayside. Some go to extremes. Some are hot one minute and cold the next. They sometimes debate themselves on whether to carry a bottle or a Bible. And then there are some, that when they really understand GRACE, we fall on our knees every opportunity we get and give thanks. Some of the true Christians mean well and still don't know how to present the Gospel. We try our best and then we sometimes let our anger get the better of us.
It is my hope to be able to be a better example of a Christian and Apologist than I have been. Sometimes my heart gets ahead of my faith. I know that God will work it all out in the end. Truth is, the only reason I post, is because I love God so much that it's like someone offending my biological father. For us, God is our Heavenly Father. He doesn't need us to defend Him, but the Bible says, "For The Eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him."
Yeah, the interface on this thing can be frustrating to say the least.
And I don't mind if you pray for me. I only bothers me when people use the phrase as a dismissal, which I don't feel like you're doing at all. Way I figure, it's someone wishing me well in the best way they know, and there's nothing to be offended by in that.
Be well!
@George
When writing your posts keep an eye out for the following words (or word fragments). They will get your post censored:
arse
bastard
bitch
cock
coon
cum
cunt
douche
effing
fag
ftw
fuck
homo
horny
jackass
jap
jism
kooch
nipple
orgy
pis
porn
poo
prick
rape
sex
shit
slut
snatch
spic
tit
twat
vag
whore
wtf
To prevent that you can break up the word by putting an extra character in, like consti.tution (breaking the oh so naughty "tit").
Anything is okay with immoral Westerners except for Christianity. Villains hate the authentic Christianity. They can't tolerate its existence. Europe and America never got a proper lesson from the two world wars. Pathetic. I really, really feel sorry for their forefathers who sacrificed themselves for their descendants who spend their lives with the garbage entertainments.
I see the delusional Korean chic is alive and well.
America, grant religious freedom to Christians, NOW!
The atheists have oppressed us for too long. We are gonna fight back now
@JW, if atheists do atrocities elsewhere, it's natural of their nature, but not on the American soil. This is way too ridiculous. It's a worse parody than the ancient Israelites worshipping Baal instead of the one true God who rescued them and led them.
Paula
America, grant religious freedom to Christians, NOW!
----–
Adelina, FairGarden etc do you realize how foolish you sound? Isn't it time for you to dig up the rotten cabbage you buried?
Millions of Christians all over the world are praying for USA. We know the liberals are oppressing Christians there.
To Paula, the lady of many aliases, some words of wisdom:
Recognizing the flaws, follies and frauds in the foundations of Islam, Judaism and Christianity, the "bowers", kneelers" and "pew peasants" are converging these religions into some simple rules of life. No koran, bible, clerics, nuns, monks, imams, evangelicals, ayatollahs, rabbis, professors of religion or priests needed or desired.
Ditto for houses of "worthless worship" aka mosques, churches, basilicas, cathedrals, temples and synagogues.
Are you referring to the oppression of having solid majorities in virtually every lawmaking body in the nation? Or how they are oppressed with tax exemptions? Or perhaps the oppression of having churches openly and freely proclaiming their faith on every other street corner? Maybe you refer to the oppressive way in which they are allowed to own and operate television and radio stations that proclaim their message 24 hours a day?
Or maybe you just think it oppressive that every other group is also afforded the right to speak their point of view and the Christians aren't legally allowed to silence them?
Paula, I couldn't agree more. It seems that the only protests that are done these days is geared toward Christians. When the budhist have meditations in the parks – no liberal shows up there to rant and picket. When the president announced his support and enthusiasm of ramadan, no liberal opposed. Hindus can walk around with bindi dots and no one is offended by that! But if one Christian announces that he wants to pray, the whole world goes into an uproar. Did you ever stop to think that we are praying for you too. Even if you don't believe in God, we do and are seeking His guidance, protection and love for you as well.
Civiloutside, look at this stupid news article. CNN is out to embarrass the conservatives at all costs and they never report on the perilous dangers on immoral lifestyles and facts on infanticide. Their hatred was subtle before but not nowadays. Why doesn't USA get split? I really feel it's better that way. You guys are divided cleanly.
George, you are right. I'm glad I'm not white. If I were a white Christian in USA and say anything Christian, they'd stone me. I get a lot more respect if I say some Eastern religious stuff. I became "radical" because of liberal Americans' att-itu-de toward my religion Christianity. Something is completely wrong with the secular USA and Americans are unaware of it.
@George
You Said: " Paula, I couldn't agree more. It seems that the only protests that are done these days is geared toward Christians. When the budhist have meditations in the parks – no liberal shows up there to rant and picket. When the president announced his support and enthusiasm of ramadan, no liberal opposed. Hindus can walk around with bindi dots and no one is offended by that! But if one Christian announces that he wants to pray, the whole world goes into an uproar. Did you ever stop to think that we are praying for you too. Even if you don't believe in God, we do and are seeking His guidance, protection and love for you as well."
Christians are in the vast majority in the U.S. and are constantly trying to put religious doctrine into law. The Buddhist's that are meditating are causing -0- harm, and are not trying to put things into law. They just want to be peaceful. Hindu's walking around with their bindi dots are causing no harm. Christians can walk around with 'torture devices' around their necks... and... as far as I know, it is not illegal, nor is anyone saying you can't. And as far as prayer, it's not that we care if you pray... it's that you want to put into law that everyone should have to pray with you, and... to the Christian God.
Are you even able to see the differences here...?
Very different from the evangelical Christians that are trying to insidiously insert themselves into all manner of our society, e.g.. creationism taught in school v. actual science, taking away a women's right to choose, putting the kabash on stem-cell research, telling everyone what is immoral and what isn't, etc...etc... I could go on.
Bottom-line, as Civiloutside basically was saying, you 'poor oppressed Christians.'
---------------------------------
@Paula
You Said: " Civiloutside, look at this stupid news article. CNN is out to embarrass the conservatives at all costs and they never report on the perilous dangers on immoral lifestyles and facts on infanticide. Their hatred was subtle before but not nowadays. Why doesn't USA get split? I really feel it's better that way. You guys are divided cleanly. "
No where in your response to @Civiloutside response to your original posting did you negate nor refute his 'spot-on' posting.
What's up with that...?
I think, Paula, that you really should come to America. I suspect you would find it a very different place than you expect. For one thing, there is virtually no possibility of you getting stoned to death for being Christian.
o Reiteration is great for the learning process. As is reading and rational thinking followed by conclusions based on all of it.
A response to the "Response":
The Apostles' Creed 2011: (updated by yours truly and based on the studies of historians and theologians during the past 200 years)
I might believe in a god whose existence cannot be proven
and said god if he/she/it exists resides in an unproven,
human-created, spirit state of bliss called heaven.
I believe there was a 1st century CE, Jewish, simple,
preacher-man who was conceived by a Jewish carpenter
named Joseph living in Nazareth and born of a young Jewish
girl named Mary. (Some say he was a mamzer.)
Jesus was summarily crucified for being a temple rabble-rouser by
the Roman troops in Jerusalem serving under Pontius Pilate,
He was buried in an unmarked grave and still lies
a-mouldering in the ground somewhere outside of
Jerusalem.
Said Jesus' story was embellished and "mythicized" by
many semi-fiction writers. A descent into Hell, a bodily resurrection
and ascension stories were promulgated to compete with the
Caesar myths. Said stories were so popular that they
grew into a religion known today as Catholicism/Christianity
and featuring dark-age, daily wine to blood and bread to body rituals
called the eucharistic sacrifice of the non-atoning Jesus.
Amen
=================================================================
THANK GOODNESS! Apparently the Lord is sending a message to Ricky Dude. Hey, Rick! He seems to be saying. "You can forget your plan to win the election in 2012 and use that as a mandate to convert this country into a Christian Theocracy." Of COURSE numbers matter and I am loving the message here. Thanks for making my day.
I am glad not many people will be at the event. It tells me either that the extremists are ashamed to show their face or that their numbers are dwindling. Either way, it's good news. It means there's more hope for humanity in this country after all.
I hope we get footage of all the empty seats if Perry goes thru with this farce after all. If he had thought to use this as a PR for his presidential candidacy, he might not want to do it with such a poor showing.
Way to go governor Perry. You truly showed your ability to lead. When things aren't working, pray your heart out. That's the kind of president we need in this country. LOL
______________________________________________________________If Perry were to be elected, my concerns is not if he is a Christian or not, but can he make good tough decisions or will he be like G Bush whom I was greatly disapointed with. I voted for Bush, but just could not agree with many of his decisions, the one in particular was about stem cell research, and I was never in total harmony with him on the war in Iraq, I knew from the beginig that his ideology was wrong. But, I don't think we should be in Libya either._________________________________
Well may God bless you all! By the way, we do, do a lot for our comuity and the surrounding towns. I'll hold on to my faith even as the world it self is falling apart.
A single righteous man's prayer moves the world. But America's godlessness may be showing that America will not have another chance from God. People choose their own fate. Unlike Israel, America has no promise of immortality. America wasted God's blessings by being stupid willfully. CNN is mocking the conservatives again when their nation is falling down because of such att-itu-de.
"A single righteous man's prayer moves the world."
Really? how's that work?
God, who likely doesn't exist, has no effect on the U.S. Otherwise, surely all those prayers from the Bible Belt could deflect a hurricane, or stop a flood, or seal an oil well, or depose a corrupt politician, or ...
@ history
There was only one truthful thing in your entire post. People DO chose their own fate, save for idiots like you who surrender their feel-will to an imaginary being.
@Nonimus, natural disasters hit everywhere. Christians make differences amidst the human sufferings by sacrifice and endurance. God hears every prayer; the reason 2.3 billion Christians are still safe. Atheists have no hope, no compassion, nothing. I pity you.
History – you don't pity us. At best, you pity a caricature of what an atheist is that doesn't actually exist in reality. You keep saying that Christians help, but what you are doing here isn't helping anyone. Judging by the the constant high level if bitterness expressed in your posts – which if anything have gotten worse over time – it's not even helping yourself. I strongly urge you to take a step back and consider whether there's a healthier way to handle your pain.
I rather be wrong then die with nothing next, than, have it wrong then die and suffer eternal torment.
@myklds
You said "I rather be wrong then die with nothing next, than, have it wrong then die and suffer eternal torment."
The two option you present are not mutually exclusive. You can most certainly be wrong (and in your case that is almost a given), yet not escape the eternal torment.
Are you hedging your bets? Are you making sure to stay on the good side of all gods? There are a bunch that won't hesitate to condemn you for not believing in them.
I have tried to do some research as far as what the Bible says about hell. It is strange that the concept of hell is not introduced until the new testament. I have read that the way hell is described is based on a real place where human sacrifices were burned. I think it is possible that that place was used as a metaphor and that the burning for eternity idea is not what hell actually is. I am not sure.
@mykids
Please read carefully what @LinCA wrote in response to you. She made a very good posting.
What 'you' are referring to is a version Pascal's Wager. If you are not familiar with it, please look it up.
Regards,
Peace...
Both Canada and USA were created by Christians and for the Christianity to spread into all the world.
J.W
I have tried to do some research as far as what the Bible says about hell. It is strange that the concept of hell is not introduced until the new testament. I have read that the way hell is described is based on a real place where human sacrifices were burned. I think it is possible that that place was used as a metaphor and that the burning for eternity idea is not what hell actually is. I am not sure.
------
Like mormonism is a cult to christians, christians are a cult to the jews. Christianity is just an older established cult.
Anti...
Jesus spoke more about hell than He did heaven (Matt.)... and if He Himself claimed that "I am the Truth", He wouldn't lie about a literal place, would He? If heaven is the complete fullness of God, then hell is the complete absence of God. And when ppl totally reject God and want nothing to do w/ Him, in the end, God's love is never shown more complete than when He simply gives them what they always wanted... never to have anything to do w/ Him. Ever.
But does absence of God necessarily mean a place where people would burn forever? Could it simply mean that non-believers would stay in the grave and believers would go to heaven? Or is there other possibilities?
Jesus used words like judgement, eternal fire, outter darkness, weeping and nashing of teeth. Everything found in heaven, hell is the extreme opposite. Light – dark, no pain – pain, no suffering – suffering. Everyone will experience eternal life... its just a matter of where.