- 05 Apr 2017 11:12
#14793750
This sort of thing confuses me. As I understand it, good works alone don't get you into heaven, one has to have faith too, so good people who are not Christians don't go to heaven.
I realise that this seems pretty mean to Christians who have an emotional attachment to non-Christians, it's a hard message. Fortunately I don't subscribe to any particular religion and therefore can be a little more objective, therefore the above message doesn't frustrate me in any way.
I suppose that, in considering religions, I gravitate towards and favour the simpler messages, and Christianity is fairly woolly compared to Islam for instance. Messages such as the one above would stick in my mind as being pretty central. Islam is easier to understand, even though it is pretty harsh, contradictory messages are resolved by the principle of abrogation, there's no such yardstick in the bible (that I know of) leaving more room for personal choice and personal choice does seem to be a component of Christianity.
Drlee wrote:Well. I can't really say. I have always been a Christian of one kind or another and have frequently performed acts of compassion. Here is what I can say. In the past 10 years (and remember for me that is from 55 years old on) I have become less concerned with the administrivia of denominational religion and more interested in the essence of Jesus' teachings. As I have gotten older I have realized how much life can hurt people and how hard it is for some people to catch a break. There really are "lost souls" out there. As (I by faith believe) I get closer to my own end I want to try and use the time I have left to do some serious good. I believe that God will like this but I do not believe it is necessary for my eternal reward at this point.
But I am the one here repeatedly asserting that, as I see what Christ taught, you do not have to be a Christian to get into heaven. Good people can rely on a just God. Christianity is my path to understand Gods will.
This sort of thing confuses me. As I understand it, good works alone don't get you into heaven, one has to have faith too, so good people who are not Christians don't go to heaven.
I realise that this seems pretty mean to Christians who have an emotional attachment to non-Christians, it's a hard message. Fortunately I don't subscribe to any particular religion and therefore can be a little more objective, therefore the above message doesn't frustrate me in any way.
I suppose that, in considering religions, I gravitate towards and favour the simpler messages, and Christianity is fairly woolly compared to Islam for instance. Messages such as the one above would stick in my mind as being pretty central. Islam is easier to understand, even though it is pretty harsh, contradictory messages are resolved by the principle of abrogation, there's no such yardstick in the bible (that I know of) leaving more room for personal choice and personal choice does seem to be a component of Christianity.