NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm Jewish (both by birth and practice). I have many friends who are Jewish. I also have many friends who are not Jewish. I have friends who are Christians, Hinduists, Muslims, Shintoists, Buddhists, and even some Taoists. I even have somes friends who are Atheists. Want to know something? I'm fine with them, and they're fine with each other. I respect their choices, and they respect mine.

This isn't even a "Oh, I'll let them believe their heathen religion now cause they'll burn for it later" type thing. I have no doubt that a few of my friends, regardless of their religion, are definitely getting into Heaven (If heaven exists). I, and they, believe it is more important to act good rather than to pray properly. To quote a famous Atheist (and a major role model of mine) "I believe that God, should he exist, would favor an Atheist whose every action is good rather than a priest whose every other word is 'God, God, God' and whose every other action is 'Sin, Sin, Sin'" (Okay, I actually shouldn't say I'm quoting him since I can't remember the exact words and that is the point of quoting. However, that is almost what he said)

Thoughts?

Well, being Bah'ai ("DO A DAMN GOOGLE SEARCH!!!" newest world religion) I don't believe in anything after death, because there is no proof. I however agree with you, that if God did offer a better ending, he would offer it for those who led just lives wether they were religious or not, and no matter how religious you are, if you led a bad life, you wouldn't get that better ending. However, I don't believe in the afterlife, or God, not really anyway. I try to follow my religion, but I'm too scientific to believe on something based on faith.

Damn straight...you people make a lot of sense...

I myself belong to no particular religion, but instead find all religion's fascinating...including Bah'ai, a very interesting religion, even though I know very little about it.

Anyway, the point is, I tend to lean towards Witchcraft, which hold's the belief that you must act good to get into heaven, or whatever the afterlife holds (they actually believe more in reincarnation, but there's a bit about heavan as well)

And you people are awesome...(That's a fact, not an opinion!)

I, and they, believe it is more important to act good rather than to pray properly. To quote a famous Atheist (and a major role model of mine) "I believe that God, should he exist, would favor an Atheist whose every action is good rather than a priest whose every other word is 'God, God, God' and whose every other action is 'Sin, Sin, Sin'" (Okay, I actually shouldn't say I'm quoting him since I can't remember the exact words and that is the point of quoting. However, that is almost what he said)

Thoughts?

I have a bit of an observation that may interest you. I saw a quote once by C.S. Lewis (a Christian apologist) that was nearly identical...I believe it was somewhere in his book Mere Christianity, but don't hold me to that. While Lewis had certain views that were colored by the time in which he lived, he had other views that were quite forward-thinking, and that was one of them. As for me, I happen to agree. Belief and action are inextricably tied. And what's more, nonverbal communication is more likely to tell the truth about a person than the words they speak. Someone who just says the words but makes no effort to act in a moral way seems to be exercising a form of hypocrisy. But I think that someone who acts sincerely in a moral way is doing quite well, regardless of religion or lack thereof, is acting in a way that will benefit his or her soul. They are showing belief, even if not necessarily in God, but in principles I believe He supports. Of course, not BEING God, I have no way to know for sure how He handles stuff like that (and that's why I don't like to condemn people...I know I lack the wisdom for it), but it just seems sensible to me.

Celestrial those who are married in the temple, also good person.
Terrestrial those who are good people such as the atheist who is a good person
Telestrial anyone who is a bad person and not committed the unforgivable sins.

So yes you will get in heaven.

What do you mean with those descriptions "Celestrial", "Terrestrial", and "Telestrial".

Celestrial those who are married in the temple, also good person.
Terrestrial those who are good people such as the atheist who is a good person
Telestrial anyone who is a bad person and not committed the unforgivable sins.


And what do you mormons believe are the unforgivable sins?

What do you mean with those descriptions "Celestrial", "Terrestrial", and "Telestrial".
There are the three kingdoms of Heaven in the bible you can find them too.The major clue that they exist is that one apostle said, I knew a man who was caught up in the third heaven"
But eh, you can disagree with me. Just answering the first posters question.

And what do you mormons believe are the unforgivable sins?
I can't remember rest but major one is knowing fullness of Gospel (basically knowing without a doubt that church is true, that jesus is the son of god, everything) and then denying it.
A good example is Judas, he knew without a doubt who jesus was but he chose money over his beliefs.
I'm not good at remembering any others.

There are the three kingdoms of Heaven in the bible you can find them too.The major clue that they exist is that one apostle said, I knew a man who was caught up in the third heaven"
But eh, you can disagree with me. Just answering the first posters question.

It's okay, BastardSword...even though I don't see Heaven that way (I'm not Mormon), I was just curious to understand what you meant.

Wow, this is the best thread on religon I have seen to date. I might have just jynxed it, but I am amazed at how little flaming there has been.

Raishann, this may seem a bit off-topic, but when did C.S. Lewis write his book? I'd like to look it up and see if maybe my role model was quoting him, or the other way around (or if it's just one of those cooky coincidences)

Whether or not the quote was from Mere Christianity, I'd recommend reading it as it's a great book :) And C.S. Lewis stuff in general.

I think he wrote around the 30s, 40s and 50s - he died in 1963 so it couldn't have been any later than that!

Book recommendation: The Question of God: C.S. Lewis and Sigmund Freud Debate God, Love, Sex, and the Meaning of Life by Dr. Armand M. Nicholi, Jr.

I just finished reading it and it's amazing. You learn a lot about these two men's lives and personalities, a bit of psychology, a bit of positive Christianity, and loads of philosophy and worldview. Whether you're firmly atheistic, devoutly religious, or somewhere in the middle, it's definitely worth reading. It makes you think. A lot.

A friend of mine (an athiest) once said: "I don't belive in god. But, if it turns out I'm wrong and there IS a heaven and a god, then I think he will understand why I can't belive in him" (becuase evidence points away from it).

What really counts is how one's life is lived.

"It is not those who say to me, 'Lord, Lord" who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven." (Matthew 7:21, Jerusalem Bible)

Certainly as a Catholic Christian I would hold that the fullest revelation of God is through Jesus Christ, however there are those who have never had the chance to hear the Gospel of Christ--and I would wager that many who the fundamentalists would see as having "rejected Christ" have actually heard the Gospel only in a very distorted way, or been repelled by the actions of alleged "Christians" and so have never really heard the Gospel as it is meant to be heard and received. God's grace is bigger than one religion, as the Church acknowledges in Vatican II's Dogmatic Constitution on the Church,
"Lumen Gentium", , in chapter II, "The People of God".

Raishann, this may seem a bit off-topic, but when did C.S. Lewis write his book? I'd like to look it up and see if maybe my role model was quoting him, or the other way around (or if it's just one of those cooky coincidences)

Mere Christianity was first published in 1956, but some of its contents date all the way back to 1943. Again, I cannot swear to if that comment came from that particular book, but I know it was C.S. Lewis. His writings on Christianity were from about 1940 up until his death in 1963.

I'll be sure to look it up.

Lewis' way of phrasing it was to say that he believed some atheists were likely "closer to God" than some who claim the name Christian. I can't remember exactly how the quote went, but it certainly got across the same idea the quote you had did.

Good luck, and do let me know if you find it! :)