InChrist
Free4ever
I agree and feel it is best to live with the love of God as motivation for one's actions. I believe love is a personal attribute of God, just as is His goodness and justness. Love is also relational.
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What do I need to be saved from?
- Thread starter Quintessence
- Start date
Just a reminder, it's not only members of certain religious traditions who think you need to be saved from things.
I've seen some atheists looking to save you from...I dunno...theism, I guess.
The Kilted Heathen
Crow FreyjasmaðR
Re•li•gion n
1. The belief in the existence of a god or gods, and the activities that are connected with the worship of them.
2. One of the systems of faith that are based on the belief in the existence of a particular god or gods.
3. A particular interest or influence that is very important in your life.
Your particular spin on Christianity meets the first definition, and arguably the second. You have a religion.
Interesting; do tell.
Not with your god, perhaps, but I have quite a relationship with my Gods. And yet... I belong to a religion all the same.
I haven't discussed any rituals in my video.
james bond
Well-Known Member
True salvation is becoming the flame so that there is no distinction. Fire can't burn itself.
The important part is to not let your spiritually perfect self, i.e. the ideal representation of your identify, be lost forever in the afterlife.
Daisies4me
Active Member
(quote)
that's funny. it is a bit annoying, isn't it? haha
I think that probably the only thing that fits is to be 'saved' from eternal death. But just saying "I am saved" is being a bit presumptuous , to be sure.
Don't think anyone can will themselves out of a death sentence. We might have hope that we can be among those whose sins are forgiven, and names are written in the Lamb's Book of life, but no one knows or can predict what may happen in the future, imho. Some of those who claim to 'be saved' are among the worst people as far as supposedly living a clean moral life, that I have encountered. Not all, now--- but some. They seem to use it as a power trip, or an arrogant declaration of being superior and trying to denigrate others. Again-- not everyone-- but some are very judgmental. With no apparent reason to think that much of themselves. It is amusing at times to me, but it probably hurts the feelings of those who are beat over the head with it, so to speak. smh.
james bond
Well-Known Member
By then the teaching should've been established. I'm basing part of it on my Catholic upbringing in elementary school. I checked the OT and hell is not described as someplace where one burns forever. First and foremost, hell isn't a pleasant place, but the idea of permanent torture sounds like an embellishment. Furthermore, there is no Book of the Dead as in popular mythology.
"The modern Western understanding of hell derives from the latest period in ancient Israel's history, and it was more fully developed by early Christianity. The chief suggestion of such a place in the Hebrew Bible (or Old Testament) is a brief reference in Daniel. The place reserved for the wicked dead was called Gehenna by Jews. Early references depict it as a place of temporary punishment, similar to the Roman Catholic purgatory. By the time Christianity was established, it had become a permanent abode. The torments inflicted there were largely imaginative projections of the worst tortures devised in this world. Eternal fire is the most common punishment, though perpetual cold also has been accepted."
HELL IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
james bond
Well-Known Member
This is not an easy question to answer if the one asking it won't believe in God or disavows God. They claim to want evidence for a God in order to believe, but I do not they really want evidence for God. There will be no evidence they will accept. Thus, they will not accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and the afterlife. If you haven't figured out why you need a Savior by now, then no one will be able to help you.
In my case, when I was in my late teens and early 20s I wasn't satisfied with my life. Something was missing in the sense that I knew what I was against, but what was I for? Next, due to discontent and problems in my life, I ended up doing drugs. It was a fun time, but not a productive time. The higher the highs, the lower the lows. After having faith and believing in God, I was able to overcome my spurious life style. I was able to find the answers to questions I was seeking. Then in 2012, I became a born-again Christian and was baptized. Through my faith in Jesus, I was able to find satisfactory answers to creation vs evolution and the afterlife.
For some, the period of life after death will be darkness. It will be a disorienting time. The ones who will counsel and console you will be the ones you listened to in life. In this disorienting period, you will be brought forth for judgment be assigned to your final resting place. For others, it will be a journey where one travels to a destination. It could be by train, plane or some other supernatural method. You will be judged favorably and find your name in the Book of Life. Everyone will want to get into heaven, but not all will be able to. If I die tomorrow, then I will be ready and happy. There are still things I want to do and accomplish, but it's to serve Jesus in the best way I can.
In my case, when I was in my late teens and early 20s I wasn't satisfied with my life. Something was missing in the sense that I knew what I was against, but what was I for? Next, due to discontent and problems in my life, I ended up doing drugs. It was a fun time, but not a productive time. The higher the highs, the lower the lows. After having faith and believing in God, I was able to overcome my spurious life style. I was able to find the answers to questions I was seeking. Then in 2012, I became a born-again Christian and was baptized. Through my faith in Jesus, I was able to find satisfactory answers to creation vs evolution and the afterlife.
For some, the period of life after death will be darkness. It will be a disorienting time. The ones who will counsel and console you will be the ones you listened to in life. In this disorienting period, you will be brought forth for judgment be assigned to your final resting place. For others, it will be a journey where one travels to a destination. It could be by train, plane or some other supernatural method. You will be judged favorably and find your name in the Book of Life. Everyone will want to get into heaven, but not all will be able to. If I die tomorrow, then I will be ready and happy. There are still things I want to do and accomplish, but it's to serve Jesus in the best way I can.
Haha... yes, there is that too, certainly! Lord Science, save my irrational theist soul from outdated superstition and backwards primitivism!
(What I find particularly ironic about those narratives is the monotheistic religions used similar tactics against indigenous Paganisms back in the day... and as a Pagan I get to hear this kind of crap from theists and atheists alike)
As someone who used to be one of those atheists, they're jerks. It's the same sort of special clubism they dislike in (pretty much just Christianity and Islam since that's all most bother to learn about.) Except instead of the special club word being the coopted words salvation or The Truth, the coopted words are logic and reason, which they guard jealously and with projected exclusivity to atheism.
How does God resolve names like John Smith in the Lamb's Book of life?
Ciao
- viole
Daisies4me
Active Member
(quote) a seemingly daunting task for mere humans, to be sure. heh.
If I believe that God Almighty knows how many hairs we have on our heads, sorting out the plethora of John Smith's that have resided upon the earth shouldn't be a problem.
Daisies4me
Active Member
(quote)
Thanks you for sharing your journey with us. Many of us have tried many avenues to find a purpose in life that is satisfying or fulfilling.
Serving God is the best life that there is, imo.
He instructs us in his ways, and warns us of the pitfalls of life, so that we are not caught unawares.
I wonder, however, since you mentioned 'going to heaven', if you understand fully what those who 'go to heaven' will do when they get there?
Also, what do you think the future of the earth that we are residing upon is?
Daisies4me
Active Member
(quote)
Far be it from me to second guess God Almighty. I am thankful for the Book. It is my most valuable possession. It has the sayings of life therein.
You possess the Lamb's Book of life? Cool.
Do you see someone called viole in it?
Ciao
- viole
Kilgore Trout
Misanthropic Humanist
I assume that everyone has a unique primary key, in addition to their other attribute fields, such as first_name and last_name. Assuming, of course, that god is familiar with basic information theory and database design.
I had the same thought.
I am sure that the Almighty must, at least, use a relational database with UNICODE support. Books are so out. It can take ages to browse those billion pages. Especially with all those Chinese names, if any, in it.
I don't know. Something like the Lamb's MySQL DB of life.
Ciao
- viole
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Daisies4me
Active Member
(quote)
Cute. ha. only you seem to be confused. Jehovah is God Almighty. Jesus, (the sacrificial Lamb of God) is a separate entity. They are not the same. 'The Book' referred to is the Holy Writings of God, the 66 books commonly called 'the Bible'. But I suspect you know that.
InChrist
Free4ever
I think when individuals were labeled "righteous", such as, Abraham, Noah, or others it was because they listened to God and trusted Him and this faith God calls righteousness. It was. not because they were perfect in themselves. The words of Jesus you have mentioned are in context of Him speaking to the scribes and Pharisees, who considered themselves to be righteous. I believe His words were rhetoric in order to point out their self-righteousness. The New Living Translation says it well...When Jesus heard this, he told them, "Healthy people don't need a doctor--sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners."
Not sure what you mean.
Humans may lie, but I don't believe God's Word does.
Agreed. It makes no sense. HOWEVER, permit me a thought experiment: God doesn't stop the good things coming to you, but you find out that immoral things had to happen in order for you to get those things (God killed someone and you inherited their stuff or let an evil person lead a country and your stocks go up or something [that last one is bothering me a bit, actually]). Do you love morality enough to gripe to God about how you're getting your blessings? He supposedly has high standards for YOU, but is HE willing to live up to those same standards?
Interesting questions. First, I don't think I have anyway of really knowing whether or not something bad happened so that I directly benefit. Secondly, things happen in this world because it is fallen and the consequences of sin are intertwined with the good. I definitely bring my concerns to God about what I perceive to be evil, but I also trust His goodness to prevail through my limited ability to understand the big picture. The account of Joseph who was abused and sold into slavery by his brothers is a good example. Joseph was favored by his father and started off with a rather arrogant attitude which provoked his brothers. Still, no excuse for the way they treated him. Yet, God used the time of Joseph as a slave in Egypt to humble him and strengthen his trust in God. God then raised him up to a position of power where Joseph was instrumental in saving the lives of many, including his own brothers who came to sorrowful repentance for betraying him. In his attitude of forgiveness and trust in God's goodness through it all Joseph said...But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Genesis 50:20
Daisies4me
Active Member
(quote)
You offer many good points. It is nice to see ones who actually are believers who trust in the Bible as having been sent to us by God Almighty, the One teaching us to benefit ourselves thru obedience.
The ridiculers are abundant among us.