To Believe or Not To Believe? (SHOW RESPECT, OR RISK A BAN) - Part 2

[TheDreamMaster]

They took the believe or not believe thread down

No but this thread makes some sense because I have non-religious friends who believe in the idea of a higher consciousness beyond our bodies.

 

[Human Torch]

For me, I believe in Jesus's promise that there is an afterlife & that one day we will see our loved ones again.

 

[Human Torch]

How was everyone's Easter? I watched ten commandments for the first time ever great movie!

I got to see the last couple of hours of it.Yeah,it's a classic.

I saw most of the original silent version of The King of Kings on TCM too.

 

[Lead Cenobite]

I'm agnostic and I hope there's some form of afterlife, but hope isn't the same thing as belief, hence being agnostic. Still, I'll never understand or relate to people who can be so.. OKAY with not existing, who say there's nothing to fear because you can't feel pain or fear when you're dead. I'd personally rather feel ANYTHING after death, even pain and fear, as opposed to being nothing. I like science, but it's revealed a lot of things I would have rather remained ignorant about, because even if being nothing is painless, I'll still have the knowledge of there not being an afterlife as long as I'm alive and that does cause pain.

 

[Kelly]

I checked out A.D yesterday. Not entirely impressed. I liked the "villains" storylines the most. (Pilate & his wife,Caiaphas debating Joseph) The stuff with the disciples was fairly underwhelming. I guess they couldn't afford to put all 11 in,since we only got 4.(John,Peter and two "nameless" ones)

I think it was a mistake not using the same actors from "The Bible", since we never get to know this version of Jesus beyond the trial/crucifixion. I don't feel that we get the same emotional attachment to him.But the story was more or less sound,scripturaly.

I also saw a bit more of Killing Jesus (against my better judgement). I admit,I admire their guts in showing Jesus abuse at the hands of the Sanhedrin. (the PC police generally won't allow it) But, it had the most anticlimactic finish. After seeing the empty tomb,Jesus is not seen,but Peter catches a lot of fish,prompting his belief in the Resurrection.

It is because you are watching it through the wrong lens. The book was written as a historical piece, not a religious piece. If you have read Killing Kennedy, and Killing Patton you could see the direction it was taking. When seen ONLY through the lens of a historical piece of literature, the film followed that line perfectly. I really wish it had not been shown during Easter week, because people watched it as a religious, resurrection film, rather than a historical film. It was not a movie about his resurrection, it was a movie about his death.

 

[BatmanVSuperman]

I'm agnostic and I hope there's some form of afterlife, but hope isn't the same thing as belief, hence being agnostic. Still, I'll never understand or relate to people who can be so.. OKAY with not existing, who say there's nothing to fear because you can't feel pain or fear when you're dead. I'd personally rather feel ANYTHING after death, even pain and fear, as opposed to being nothing. I like science, but it's revealed a lot of things I would have rather remained ignorant about, because even if being nothing is painless, I'll still have the knowledge of there not being an afterlife as long as I'm alive and that does cause pain.

You might be more of an agnostic theist.

Also, I understand your point about science. As children we are so much more ready to believe in supernatural ideas like God and heaven. There was a real feeling that we all, as well as our pets go to heaven. As we study biology, psychology, sociology, etc... we find a lot of natural secular world logic that makes such ideas that we believed as children, unlikely.

 

[Gort Baringa]

Yes, I definitely believe in the afterlife.

I have accepted Christ and His Word as my guide. If someone chooses to ridicule my beliefs I will tell him that: if Christianity is wrong and there is no life after death then I have lost nothing . . .

BUT ----

If Christianity is correct then if I did not believe in Jesus as the doorway to heaven and eternal life then I have LOST EVERYTHING! I have gone to the real, existing hell that He spoke about - and there is now absolutely no hope for me at all to change anything.

Author C. S. Lewis wrote that Jesus could be one of four things:
1. A myth or legend - we know that this is not true from historical documents.
2. A madman - and one that is not worthy to have a following.
3. A liar - also not worthy.
4. The Son of God (as He said He was) - AND WORTHY OF OUR FOLLOWING HIM AND ACCEPTING HIM AS OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR!

So in the end, a person needs to be sure of what he believes in . . .

EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON THIS!

 

[Human Torch]

Yes, I definitely believe in the afterlife.

I have accepted Christ and His Word as my guide. If someone chooses to ridicule my beliefs I will tell him that: if Christianity is wrong and there is no life after death then I have lost nothing . . .

BUT ----

If Christianity is correct then if I did not believe in Jesus as the doorway to heaven and eternal life then I have LOST EVERYTHING! I have gone to the real, existing hell that He spoke about - and there is now absolutely no hope for me at all to change anything.

Author C. S. Lewis wrote that Jesus could be one of four things:
1. A myth or legend - we know that this is not true from historical documents.
2. A madman - and one that is not worthy to have a following.
3. A liar - also not worthy.
4. The Son of God (as He said He was) - AND WORTHY OF OUR FOLLOWING HIM AND ACCEPTING HIM AS OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR!

So in the end, a person needs to be sure of what he believes in . . .

EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON THIS!

If the dead are not raised,
“Let us eat and drink,
for tomorrow we die.”
Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.

1 Corinthians 15:32-34

 

[Human Torch]

I don't necessarily have a grievance with more secularly skewed accounts of Jesus life. Some might be surprised to learn I can actually enjoy Jesus Christ Superstar if I turn the theological portion of my brain off. (as an aside,I wonder what other Hype Christians think of JCS? I don't remember the subject ever coming up.) But,I just didn't get the sense of Killing Jesus being very compelling even as a historical drama. That's just my impression.

 

[jerkhero]

Good old Pascal's wager. One problem is that if the God you believe in happens to be the wrong one, you have spent your life serving a false god and you still might end up in some kind of hell. Plus wouldn't God know if you believed because of odds or "just in case" (not saying anyone here believes because of those reasons).

 

[ShadowBoxer]

Yes, I definitely believe in the afterlife.

I have accepted Christ and His Word as my guide. If someone chooses to ridicule my beliefs I will tell him that: if Christianity is wrong and there is no life after death then I have lost nothing . . .

BUT ----

If Christianity is correct then if I did not believe in Jesus as the doorway to heaven and eternal life then I have LOST EVERYTHING! I have gone to the real, existing hell that He spoke about - and there is now absolutely no hope for me at all to change anything.

Author C. S. Lewis wrote that Jesus could be one of four things:
1. A myth or legend - we know that this is not true from historical documents.
2. A madman - and one that is not worthy to have a following.
3. A liar - also not worthy.
4. The Son of God (as He said He was) - AND WORTHY OF OUR FOLLOWING HIM AND ACCEPTING HIM AS OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR!

So in the end, a person needs to be sure of what he believes in . . .

EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON THIS!

Pretty much this. I am not a christian solely because I am afraid of going to hell its because I believe in my heart that Christ is real and God is real and the bible is indeed the word of God. And like you said, if I am wrong I lost nothing. But If I lived my life as an non believer than I am taking the biggest risk there is!

 

[Greens]

I think this discussion fits in the other thread..

 

[BatmanVSuperman]

I think this discussion fits in the other thread..

Indeed.

 

[BatmanVSuperman]

Quick thought...

I wonder how many christian believers are in the faith for the purpose of a payoff at the end?

I mean, worship God correctly and get into heaven.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

Would people follow it, without the reward or "life is just the test" aspect?

 

[Human Torch]

Christianity is about a relationship with God,our Creator. That itself is the reward. I don't think you can really have one without the other.

But there are some people who treat their religion as a "insurance policy". My uncle was raised Catholic,but pretty much considers himself Agnostic. He says he doesn't believe the OT,but he accepts the NT in sort of an "What have I got to lose?" 'Pascal's wager' mentality. "If the NT is right,I'm going to Heaven as a believer. If not,what have I lost?"

I try to explain to him he's kinda missed the point....

 

[Pink Ranger]

Christianity is about a relationship with God,our Creator. That itself is the reward. I don't think you can really have one without the other.

But there are some people who treat their religion as a "insurance policy". My uncle was raised Catholic,but pretty much considers himself Agnostic. He says he doesn't believe the OT,but he accepts the NT in sort of an "What have I got to lose?" 'Pascal's wager' mentality. "If the NT is right,I'm going to Heaven as a believer. If not,what have I lost?"

I try to explain to him he's kinda missed the point....

On the bright side, if there is a heaven, think about the hilariously awkward conversation your uncle will have on that side.

: Welcome to heaven! So you're a practicing Christian then?

: Uhhh, yeah. I mean yes, totally.

: Great, glad to hear it. Finally, I have someone here to talk about the Bible with. So what was your favorite part?

: Oh, you know. Like, so much. Soooo much. It was like, biblical. Especially the stuff near the end.

: Oh yeah, I like the gospels too. Which was your favorite?

: The, um, the middle one. The cover was like, green, or something.

: Okaaay ... what was its name?

: Um, A Feast For Crows?

: *sigh* Fine, just go through the gates.

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

Thread mergers always confuse me when I go to get caught up

 

[Greens]

On the bright side, if there is a heaven, think about the hilariously awkward conversation your uncle will have on that side.

: Welcome to heaven! So you're a practicing Christian then?

: Uhhh, yeah. I mean yes, totally.

: Great, glad to hear it. Finally, I have someone here to talk about the Bible with. So what was your favorite part?

: Oh, you know. Like, so much. Soooo much. It was like, biblical. Especially the stuff near the end.

: Oh yeah, I like the gospels too. Which was your favorite?

: The, um, the middle one. The cover was like, green, or something.

: Okaaay ... what was its name?

: Um, A Feast For Crows?

: *sigh* Fine, just go through the gates.

Reading A Song of Ice and Fire can get me into heaven? I'm settled, then.

 

[Pink Ranger]

Reading A Song of Ice and Fire can get me into heaven? I'm settled, then.

Only if the book series is completed before you die. So, be nervous.

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

I guess the only way to fathom about life after death, is to try and think about what life was like before birth...but that's almost just as impossible, you know

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

Well technically speaking all the parts that make you have been around for awhile before anyone was born. Everyone lived as a sperm and egg in their parents bodies and before that in the same way with your grandparents and so on. Obviously we would have no recollection of that but everyone was technically there for longer than we realize just in different parts haha

 

[XtremelyBaneful]

Well technically speaking all the parts that make you have been around for awhile before anyone was born. Everyone lived as a sperm and egg in their parents bodies and before that in the same way with your grandparents and so on. Obviously we would have no recollection of that but everyone was technically there for longer than we realize just in different parts haha

but we didn't have a conscious mind until we were like 4 months in the womb. dat genesis of intellect

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

Ya I know I was just being smart ass haha

 

[chaseter]

You might be more of an agnostic theist.

What's with all these middle terms popping up? Someone in here already claims to be an agnostic atheist...which makes no sense to me. You either believe, don't believe, or unsure what to believe (very boiled down but true). Believing in an afterlife is a theist...they just don't know which religion suits their beliefs best.

 

[\S/JcDc\S/]

Middle terms are for dem college folks trying to be showing their smartz!