Is Jesus The Only Way To Heaven?

[roli]

Roli,
You obviously completely misunderstood what I was saying. On your first point I highlighted, I never said the WORLD doesn't know any better than to do such awful things. As a matter of fact I said that as long as a person led a good, kind, and fruitful life what difference does it make what religion they are.

Second, just FYI, the founding fathers were deists, not Christians.

Third, My comments were talking in general of people the world over who have not even HEARD of Christ or know extremely little of Christianity because they were raised in an area/country/ region, where another religion is dominant, taught, and passed down through family and culture as a proud way of life.

End note...I was RAISED Christian, I found it held no truth for ME and found what did. I have no problem with Christians in general, I just don't believe that way. Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and no one should ever try to change them. Belief makes up an intregal part of who someone is, change that and you change the person...for all anyone knows it could be for the worse. Live and let live.

Ok,God is Holy,Righteous and just,because your good,kind and fruitful, will mean nothing to a God on Judgement day when he will bring justice and punishe sin and unrighteousness where it is found, other religions are more tolerable on violation of moral law. They might have some consequences but they are always reversed if you try harder next time , confess you sin to the priest etc or do some form of works,that is why they are more desirable to follow.
Christianity always will appear too severe to many people,so they choose to disbelieve or question and critize
Tell a judge when you stand before him for theft, murder, lying, etc. and your about to be sentenced, I am a good guy, and I am kind to people and by the way judge, I know your a nice guy , I want to ask the court for forgiveness, I did'nt mean any of what I did.
Will the judge let you go, not likely, justice must be served, and so it is with God
Unholiness and sin can not enter His kingdom
Why do you say the forefathers where diest , do you think for a moment they left their world and came over here to start new colonies and started some of the major universitiest like,princeton, harvard ,yale etc, purely on head knowledge of God .
They had some spiritual experiences to birth this Country under God
They came over to evangelize their new world and make it a God fearing Country,which we have been for years,
But now the Country that was birthed years ago,as a Nation under God in whom we trust that once lived according to morals and standards has become subject to secular humanism and an allowance or pursuit to remove the very backbone of North America which is God of the scriptures,that is the Holy scriptures, God of creation

 

[Saint Xtreme]

I do not believe that Jesus is the only way to Heaven. I believe in a very personal and omnipotent God that takes what ever form the person needs or desires. Through him we will reach what ever it is we seek, for he wants us to be happy. I am sure that my version of God is (and arguably should be) different than yours.

 

[Quoth The Raven]

I do not believe that Jesus is the only way to Heaven. I believe in a very personal and omnipotent God that takes what ever form the person needs or desires. Through him we will reach what ever it is we seek, for he wants us to be happy. I am sure that my version of God is (and arguably should be) different than yours.

Keep that sort of talk up and you'll end up doing the happy heathen pagan dance with the rest of us in Hell.:jiggy:

 

[john313]

that would be a No for me. that would exclude all the people who died before Jesus was turned into God, which would be all the great prophets before Jesus. I look forward to hanging out with Moses in heaven. it would also exclude everyone that never heard of christianity.
following the teachings of Jesus would be good for getting to heaven, but saying Jesus is God is a good way to assign partners to God/have false Gods.

 

[Quoth The Raven]

Tell a judge when you stand before him for theft, murder, lying, etc. and your about to be sentenced, I am a good guy, and I am kind to people and by the way judge, I know your a nice guy , I want to ask the court for forgiveness, I did'nt mean any of what I did.Will the judge let you go, not likely, justice must be served, and so it is with God.Unholiness and sin can not enter His kingdom.

If you show remorse and demonstrate the ability and willingness to change, depending on the crime you may get a lighter sentence.

Why do you say the forefathers where diest , do you think for a moment they left their world and came over here to start new colonies and started some of the major universitiest like,princeton, harvard ,yale etc, purely on head knowledge of God .
They had some spiritual experiences to birth this Country under God
They came over to evangelize their new world and make it a God fearing Country,which we have been for years,

Of course, there were no economic considerations at all. British colonial policy was driven by Britains trading interests. Even The Pilgrims had some economic reasons for emigrating in conjunction with the whole religious freedoms thing.
And it always helps to get people on side when they can kill the native inhabitants based on the theory that they're not actually people, just a really advanced form of animal.
Quite God inspired.
By the by, I'm not all that sure that some minister leaving all his books to the local centre of learning when he dies constitutes a Godly inspiration for said institutions foundation, either.

 

[scitsofreaky]

NOt all of the founding fathers were deists, in fact many were christian. But, they still purposefully kept religion out of government. They did not come to America for the purpose of spreading the word of God, not even the christian ones.
Some of the most well known and influential founders were diests, like Washington, Franklin and Jefferson. Why would we say such things, perhaps because they said that they were.

 

[Melody]

NOt all of the founding fathers were deists, in fact many were christian. But, they still purposefully kept religion out of government. They did not come to America for the purpose of spreading the word of God, not even the christian ones.
Some of the most well known and influential founders were diests, like Washington, Franklin and Jefferson. Why would we say such things, perhaps because they said that they were.

Why would a deist like Ben Franklin believe that the Christian Bible should be one of the subjects taught in school? This stuck with me from one of the readings in one of my political science courses. This seems at odds with deist belief (based on my understanding of a deist).

 

[Green Gaia]

Why would a deist like Ben Franklin believe that the Christian Bible should be one of the subjects taught in school? This stuck with me from one of the readings in one of my political science courses. This seems at odds with deist belief (based on my understanding of a deist).

This may not be relevent... but it ws my understanding that the reason the Bible was used in schools back then, was that most people had a Bible in their homes, but not many, if any, other books. They wouldn't have to buy books for school if the school was using the Bible to teach reading. It's unthinkable in today's world, but it made sense back then, especially in poor farming areas.

 

[Melody]

This may not be relevent... but it ws my understanding that the reason the Bible was used in schools back then, was that most people had a Bible in their homes, but not many, if any, other books. They wouldn't have to buy books for school if the school was using the Bible to teach reading. It's unthinkable in today's world, but it made sense back then, especially in poor farming areas.

If I remember correctly, he said that it should be taught as "one" of the subjects....not just use it for reading, etc. Then again, I also have a vague recollection that he felt this way because it was good for teaching morals and values...which may still fit in with a deist view.

 

[Green Gaia]

You're probably right, Melody. I was just throwing that info out there because I've always found it interesting.

 

[EnhancedSpirit]

They did not come to America for the purpose of spreading the word of God, not even the christian ones.
Some of the most well known and influential founders were diests, like Washington, Franklin and Jefferson. Why would we say such things, perhaps because they said that they were.

To step aside from our sugar coated history. Weren't our forefathers actually merely a colony of criminals? Who later declared freedom from taxes and persecution of religious beliefs?

 

[Pah]

***Mod Post***

Please folks, religious origins of a country is not the topic of the thread

 

[Fluffy]

I believe that, if Christianity were true, people were admitted to heaven before Jesus came along and therefore Jesus is not the only way.

I think that following Jesus, and not the Bible as a whole, is a way to gain access to heaven but not the only way.

 

[Druidus]

I believe that, if Christianity were true, people were admitted to heaven before Jesus came along and therefore Jesus is not the only way.

I think that following Jesus, and not the Bible as a whole, is a way to gain access to heaven but not the only way.

Catholics believe that those before Jesus awaited their chance for heaven in a place called purgatory. (Might have been somewhere else, I don't remember).

I don't believe in heaven, but, if it existed, I'd say that Jesus is not the only way, and possibly not even a way. It is not who we emulate that makes us, but what we are.

 

[robtex]

Catholics believe that those before Jesus awaited their chance for heaven in a place called purgatory. (Might have been somewhere else, I don't remember).

I don't believe in heaven, but, if it existed, I'd say that Jesus is not the only way, and possibly not even a way. It is not who we emulate that makes us, but what we are.

I am going to concur with Druidus post heavily and here is why. It doesn't say much for Jesus to be presented as they way by the apostles and than him not show up for his own party. I mean at the very least if a religion is going to make the claim of having a "personal savior" show up to help one into the afterlife wouldn't it strenghten the arguement if someone could actually produce the fella?

 

[scitsofreaky]

If I remember correctly, he said that it should be taught as "one" of the subjects....not just use it for reading, etc. Then again, I also have a vague recollection that he felt this way because it was good for teaching morals and values...which may still fit in with a deist view.

You are right. Franklin, along with the others, was a classical deist and was heavily influenced by christianity. Deism does not reject the bible completely, many believe that there is truth in every religion.

Weren't our forefathers actually merely a colony of criminals?

No, that was Australia.
Ok, sorry, just needed to get that out. Back on topic....

 

[Doc]

Melody,

When I said dangerous I meant that many people have used the 'one path' belief' as a way all throughout the past 2000 years to manipulate governments, and force people to do things against their beliefs. I am referring to the extremists in the past. Almost all the Christians I know personally are very kind, loving, and pretty tolerant. I am Christian, but I was just stating that I was confused on that statement of one way.

 

[Melody]

Melody,

When I said dangerous I meant that many people have used the 'one path' belief' as a way all throughout the past 2000 years to manipulate governments, and force people to do things against their beliefs. I am referring to the extremists in the past.

I see....thanks for the clarification.

 

[Steve]

that would be a No for me. that would exclude all the people who died before Jesus was turned into God, which would be all the great prophets before Jesus. I look forward to hanging out with Moses in heaven.

I believe that, if Christianity were true, people were admitted to heaven before Jesus came along and therefore Jesus is not the only way.

Wouldnt it make sense to actually go to the bible and see what it says about an issue befor you make a conclusion like that about Christianity.

This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished– he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. Romans 3:22-26


All who are in heaven are there because Jesus paid for their sins, God was able to have his justice served and people are still be able to enter heaven because they have the the righteousness they need if they are to stand before God "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe." because they no longer are indebt to Gods law their sin is already paid for when they stand befor Him. It is the most precious gift from God to mankind so i sometimes wonder why so many people hold the name of Jesus with such contempt. But then verses like the following make it quite clear.

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. John 3:18-19

but saying Jesus is God is a good way to assign partners to God/have false Gods.

If God is infact a trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit = God)then saying that he isnt would be to have a false god.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. ....14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1-2, 14

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 1 john 5:7

For much more about this have a look at this link.
http://www.jesus-is-lord.com/jesusgd2.htm

 

[Quoth The Raven]

He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished– he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. Romans 3:22-26

If he demonstrated such a level of forbearance prior to Jesus, why was he even necessary then? Did God run out of patience or something?
The interesting thing about Christianity is not that God had a human son - because lets face it, that's a relatively common mythology - but that the son is considered to be basically a manifestation of his father rather than just his father's son.