Thread Tools

**Evo** · 06-20-2010, 03:50 PM

OP, you want your answer, here it is:

If you're looking at any form of Christianity that is basing their beliefs off of fear and fear of punishment, then they're not Christians. Yeah, I said it. They are NOT Christians. Unfortunately, that's a lot of what you'll find on the internet. Radical websites that look absolutely ridiculous.

Actual Christianity pushes hope, love, and forgiveness. Actual Christianity doesn't use scare tactics to try to "convert" people.

And those that do absolutely make me sick.

Hotdiggity11 · 06-20-2010, 03:52 PM

God is a concept by which we measure our pain. - John Lennon

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvoLution™

OP, you want your answer, here it is:

If you're looking at any form of Christianity that is basing their beliefs off of fear and fear of punishment, then they're not Christians. Yeah, I said it. They are NOT Christians. Unfortunately, that's a lot of what you'll find on the internet. Radical websites that look absolutely ridiculous.

Actual Christianity pushes hope, love, and forgiveness. Actual Christianity doesn't use scare tactics to try to "convert" people.

And those that do absolutely make me sick.

The supposed creation of heaven and hell and its qualifications for going into heaven is a bit of a scare tactic.

DR JUPES · 06-20-2010, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dan_marino

You could just make stuff up if it will help you feel better. That's pretty much the basis of religion today anyway, when most completely disregard all the stuff God did in the Old Testament (bar those Phelp Fundies)

I would word it more as taking a metaphorical look at some of the OT stories, the book of Job and Genesis are great examples.

**Evo** · 06-20-2010, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hotdiggity11

The supposed creation of heaven and hell and its qualifications for going into heaven is a bit of a scare tactic.

Yes, consequences are talked about and readily addressed, but it's forcing the issue that makes it a problem. "You're a sinner," "You're going to hell," "You're going to hell," and "You won't be good enough to get into heaven unless you do this, this, and this."

And by the way, it is specifically addressed in the Bible that there are no "qualifications" for getting into heaven. By grace, not by good works.

**LadyCroft** · 06-20-2010, 03:59 PM

You still can't get around the scare tactic used by Christianity. To say it doesn't exist is being short-sighted or naive.

**Evo** · 06-20-2010, 04:01 PM

Which is why I didn't try to. It's a scare tactic no matter what. That's just kinda the nature of it. I'm just not a fan of the people who use it at will.

A Random Person · 06-20-2010, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMister

Every Mormon I've ever known takes their religion more seriously than any other religious person I've met. Which is weird because Mormonism is one of the more far fetched denominations of Christianity around. My anecdotal evidence doesn't prove anything though. This I realize.

Agreed they are crazy about missions as well every 16y/o had a manditory bible study at 5 or 6 in the morning every school day... can you tell me that that is not serious?

DR JUPES · 06-20-2010, 04:04 PM

There is no mention of heaven in the OT torah, no so sure about Christian OT because this life after death idea only came around during the time of which the Persians had control of Jerusalem. That's why Jesus is so important in Christianity, failure to believe in him is sort of a failure of all apocalyptic beliefs associated with Christianity.

Hotdiggity11 · 06-20-2010, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvoLution™

Yes, consequences are talked about and readily addressed, but it's forcing the issue that makes it a problem. "You're a sinner," "You're going to hell," "You're going to hell," and "You won't be good enough to get into heaven unless you do this, this, and this."

And by the way, it is specifically addressed in the Bible that there are no "qualifications" for getting into heaven. By grace, not by good works.

Why did you say there are no qualifications and then say it is "by grace" which according to the Bible is through faith. Is that not clearly a qualification?

A Random Person · 06-20-2010, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jupiter

There is no mention of heaven in the OT torah, no so sure about Christian OT because this life after death idea only came around during the time of which the Persians had control of Jerusalem. That's why Jesus is so important in Christianity, failure to believe in him is sort of a failure of all apocalyptic beliefs associated with Christianity.

I have researched this aswell, it was a progressive revalation, there was a holding area of souls waiting for judgement for when the massiah came (or comes), then the massiah would separate the sheep from the goats.

However this was not revealed until around the time of david, I believe.