NationStates Jolt Archive

I always wonder...do the religious people on this forum think that hose of us who aren't religious (agnostic, atheist, etc) or hav opposing religious views, are going to hell?

Just curious...

I always wonder...do the religious people on this forum think that hose of us who aren't religious (agnostic, atheist, etc) or hav opposing religious views, are going to hell?

Just curious...
Doesn't really matter, because everyone except the mormons are going to hell.

http://marc.merlins.org/perso/bm/2005/Pix/130_People.jpg

You don't go to hell if your a good person, basically. Good person, be you religous or not.

If your bad, like really bad, then your going to hell. Religous or not.

Quite simple, really.

Doesn't really matter, because everyone except the mormons are going to hell.

Didn't you hear they started letting more people in since that whole satan's army incident.

I always wonder...do the religious people on this forum think that hose of us who aren't religious (agnostic, atheist, etc) or hav opposing religious views, are going to hell?

Just curious...
I don't think it, I know it.

j/k but really yeah, that is the way my religion works, there one way to get there and if you choose not to, then you don't get to go to heaven.

sorry.

I always wonder...do the religious people on this forum think that hose of us who aren't religious (agnostic, atheist, etc) or hav opposing religious views, are going to hell?

Just curious...

Yes... But it's just the viewpoint of my faith... Hell is going to be a very populated place.

Oh, fuck, we're all going to hell!

http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/images/usa/new-jersey.jpg

I don't think it, I know it.

j/k but really yeah, that is the way my religion works, there one way to get there and if you choose not to, then you don't get to go to heaven.

sorry.
Thats ok. If your god won't let me into heaven because I don't drink his blood every sunday, he's a dick anyways! :D Tell him I'll be in hell banging his mom when you see him.

Yes... But it's just the viewpoint of my faith... Hell is going to be a very populated place.
DITTO

Thats ok. If your god won't let me into heaven because I don't drink his blood every sunday, he's a dick anyways! :D Tell him I'll be in hell banging his mom when you see him.
oh, I don't have to drink his blood every sunday either, I am protestant. ;)

and uh.......God doesn't have a mom, but I will pass along the message for you if you'd like.

DITTO
It'll be a party.

I don't believe in Hell, because I believe in a benevolent deity, and I don't think a benevolent being would send people to eternal damnation.

That's not to say that I think people who have done evil things get off scot-free, but I don't believe that you get punished in a place of fire and brimstone forever.

Obviously, I disagree with many denominations of Christianity.

I always wonder...do the religious people on this forum think that hose of us who aren't religious (agnostic, atheist, etc) or hav opposing religious views, are going to hell?

Just curious...
Hell is a purely theoretical state whose existence some deduce because of the reality of War.

i beleave if i go to hell santa may bring me a letter from my fairy god mother inviting me to the nexus for the the jackson reunion tour:gundge:

Doesn't really matter, because everyone except the mormons are going to hell.

NOT Every Mormon is going to get into the celestial. Only a ritous Mormon will. If you are mell you have to hold the preisthood, if you are female you have to live a life with fedlity. All goes for vice versa.

As for the rest of all of you: Death------->spirit world or Spirit Prison (her you will be judged) then you will move to one of three kingdoms.

Celestial (This is where LDS Mormons who are worthy go)

Terrestrial (the General Population will go here, it is nice, and not HELL. It will be a peaceful place)

or Teelestail: this is where you go if you murder someone, do drugs or do other very bad stuff.

Outer Darkness: This is hell basically. If you we're to witness Christ and you denide him, you would be casted here. Extreemly bad stuff will land you here.

Next time, do a little reasearch before you slander, k?

A literal reading of Revelations has only 144,000 virgin males being saved.

It'll be a heaven of 12 year olds and ugly guys.

Define 'bad stuff'.

Didn't you hear they started letting more people in since that whole satan's army incident.
Thats just a rumour. There is only one non-morman in heaven, well two if you include god.

I always wonder...do the religious people on this forum think that hose of us who aren't religious (agnostic, atheist, etc) or hav opposing religious views, are going to hell?I can't really believe a loving and compassionate God would torture anyone for all eternity. Maybe delete them, but not torture them. What'd be the point anyway.

If you are a Jehova's Witness. The 144,000 that will be saved will live with god, the rest will live on the Clensed Earth

Of course we're going to hell.the important question you have to ask is where in hell are you going to?enter internet quiz
OMGWTFHELLZORZ (http://www.4degreez.com/misc/dante-inferno-test.mv)

im going to the Sixth Level of Hell - The City of Dis

You approach Satan's wretched city where you behold a wide plain surrounded by iron walls. Before you are fields full of distress and torment terrible. Burning tombs are littered about the landscape. Inside these flaming sepulchers suffer the heretics, failing to believe in God and the afterlife, who make themselves audible by doleful sighs. You will join the wicked that lie here, and will be offered no respite. The three infernal Furies stained with blood, with limbs of women and hair of serpents, dwell in this circle of Hell.

A pimp is a good thing to be. TRUE TRUE TRUE

As a Buddhist, I'm in Hell already. I'm just working on getting out.

If you are a Jehova's Witness. The 144,000 that will be saved will live with god, the rest will live on the Clensed Earth

144K Virgin Male JW's. (shudder)

As a Buddhist, I'm in Hell already. I'm just working on getting out.

I thought hell was somewhere else on the wheel of life.oddly enough i thought i was in the hells realm.but im not a buddhist and all my knowledge of buddhism comes from a computer game

The very idea that a loving God would send anyone to hell who has a different idea is ridiculous. I'm willing to bet NO ONE believes EXACTLY properly.
The important thing is some sort of faith.
But I don't think not believing is an instant ticket to hell... I mean, God gave us free will, right? If you choose to not believe, can God really blame you?
So, for those with faith, and who live reasonably good lives and pray for forgiveness cuz we're a bunch of lowly mortal morons... yay for heaven.
For those with no faith who live reasonably good lives... I dunno... Limbo of some sort? :) Or maybe you get your wish, and get nothing in the end. Sometimes reincarnation even makes sense to me. ;)
And for those who don't even try to live good lives, and don't give a damn... happy toasting, if that's God's will. :)

A literal reading of Revelations has only 144,000 virgin males being saved.

It'll be a heaven of 12 year olds and ugly guys.
They have to be Jewish as well.

The very idea that a loving God would send anyone to hell who has a different idea is ridiculous. I'm willing to bet NO ONE believes EXACTLY properly.
The important thing is some sort of faith.
But I don't think not believing is an instant ticket to hell... I mean, God gave us free will, right? If you choose to not believe, can God really blame you?
So, for those with faith, and who live reasonably good lives and pray for forgiveness cuz we're a bunch of lowly mortal morons... yay for heaven.
For those with no faith who live reasonably good lives... I dunno... Limbo of some sort? :) Or maybe you get your wish, and get nothing in the end. Sometimes reincarnation even makes sense to me. ;)
And for those who don't even try to live good lives, and don't give a damn... happy toasting, if that's God's will. :)
so....you are kinda unsure about what you believe?

The very idea that a loving God would send anyone to hell who has a different idea is ridiculous. I'm willing to bet NO ONE believes EXACTLY properly.


You'ld be surprised. I have some very close friends who believe I'm going to hell because I'm not a christian.

They have to be Jewish as well.
yep, equal # from each of the 12 tribes.

Doesn't really matter, because everyone except the mormons are going to hell.

NOT Every Mormon is going to get into the celestial. Only a ritous Mormon will. If you are mell you have to hold the preisthood, if you are female you have to live a life with fedlity. All goes for vice versa.

As for the rest of all of you: Death------->spirit world or Spirit Prison (her you will be judged) then you will move to one of three kingdoms.

*SNIP*

Next time, do a little reasearch before you slander, k?

Errrr.... wth? Where'd these different kingdoms come from? I don't remember hearing anything about them in the Bible before... did some religion make shit up on their own and say "God said it" again?

They have to be Jewish as well.

Or at least descended from the original 12 tribes.

I always wonder...do the religious people on this forum think that hose of us who aren't religious (agnostic, atheist, etc) or hav opposing religious views, are going to hell?

Just curious... I always take Pius the wassisname's take on this… and I don't know how to find it…:(

so....you are kinda unsure about what you believe?

Oh, not really. I know what I believe for myself. I'm open to other people's opinions, tho, and don't like the organized religion viewpoints of, "We're better than all you other religions cuz.... GOD SAID IT!"
Bah.
I have no use for priests, clerics, monks, popes, or anyone else who has a position of power and TELLS people what to believe, or they're going to hell. Doesn't sound much like the message of peace and love that Jesus and other prophets have espoused, does it?

Errrr.... wth? Where'd these different kingdoms come from? I don't remember hearing anything about them in the Bible before... did some religion make shit up on their own and say "God said it" again?
that would be the Mormons, they still have apostles who talk to God and make statements as to what He told them, I just got off the phone with one, he wanted to bring me the book of mormon, because apparently I can't get into heaven because I don't have the sacred underwear. I am not kidding.

oh, I don't have to drink his blood every sunday either, I am protestant. ;)

and uh.......God doesn't have a mom, but I will pass along the message for you if you'd like.
Oh, well sorry then! :D

OOOOOH OOOOOH I know! *waves hand excitedly* Tell Jesus that! He has a mom, right?;)

I don't believe in Hell, because I believe in a benevolent deity, and I don't think a benevolent being would send people to eternal damnation.

That's not to say that I think people who have done evil things get off scot-free, but I don't believe that you get punished in a place of fire and brimstone forever.

Obviously, I disagree with many denominations of Christianity.

I believe in a Benevolent deity as well. But I also believe this Deity has more aspects than mere benevolence.

that would be the Mormons, they still have apostles who talk to God and make statements as to what He told them, I just got off the phone with one, he wanted to bring me the book of mormon, because apparently I can't get into heaven because I don't have the sacred underwear. I am not kidding.
Oh, you must have the sacred underwear. God demands it.

that would be the Mormons, they still have apostles who talk to God and make statements as to what He told them, I just got off the phone with one, he wanted to bring me the book of mormon, because apparently I can't get into heaven because I don't have the sacred underwear. I am not kidding.

i can sanctify your underwear,cos i technically have a position in the church.
technically i'm the religion officer of 9th Kildare Venturers(who no longer exist)

that would be the Mormons, they still have apostles who talk to God and make statements as to what He told them, I just got off the phone with one, he wanted to bring me the book of mormon, because apparently I can't get into heaven because I don't have the sacred underwear. I am not kidding.

My friend is a mormon and he doesn't wear the "sacred underwear." He's a very low-key mormon, though. He doesn't talk about his religion mach.

I have had people try to give me religious tracts though. Maybe I should start carrying a Satanic Bible (even though I am not a satanist at all) to try to give them in return.

that would be the Mormons, they still have apostles who talk to God and make statements as to what He told them, I just got off the phone with one, he wanted to bring me the book of mormon, because apparently I can't get into heaven because I don't have the sacred underwear. I am not kidding.

THAT REMINDS ME!!! I had this awesome conversation with a mormon who came to the door a few months ago... he was telling me all about their beliefs and stuff (I wouldn't actually let them in at the time, as I was busy, but they never did call me back... :( ) and he said that God had a prophet on earth and I was like, "REALLY!? Any idea where he's hiding?" The guy named some state in the US and I was in total shock... I wasn't actually expecting an answer.
I think if God sent down a representative, he'd try to get in touch with more than just Mormons... unless the mormons are right of course! :rolleyes:

I believe in a Benevolent deity as well. But I also believe this Deity has more aspects than mere benevolence.

See, if it was somehow revealed to me that God was vengeful and did damn people to hell, I wouldn't worship him/her. I refuse to worship a being that is not benevolent.

Oh, not really. I know what I believe for myself. I'm open to other people's opinions, tho, and don't like the organized religion viewpoints of, "We're better than all you other religions cuz.... GOD SAID IT!"
Bah.
I respect others rights to have thier own opinions, but they don't influence mine.


I have no use for priests, clerics, monks, popes, or anyone else who has a position of power and TELLS people what to believe, or they're going to hell.
I have no use for anyone who tries to tell me what to believe.

Doesn't sound much like the message of peace and love that Jesus and other prophets have espoused, does it?

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh to the Father but by me." John 14:6.

The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.
Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.Matthew 25:40-46

Where'm I going? Everywhere and nowhere, probably. I'll pass a little of me on to everyone I meet. After all, all I am is a combination of everyone else; the pattern is bound to propagate.

Oh, fuck, we're all going to hell!

http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/images/usa/new-jersey.jpg
What's with the map? Is NJ supposed to be hell? I guess it would explain the Jersey Devil. Clicky (http://theshadowlands.net/jd.htm)

My friend is a mormon and he doesn't wear the "sacred underwear." He's a very low-key mormon, though. He doesn't talk about his religion mach.

I have had people try to give me religious tracts though. Maybe I should start carrying a Satanic Bible (even though I am not a satanist at all) to try to give them in return.
You have to get high up in the church to recieve your sacred underclothes and then you are threatened that they will kill you if you talk about it.

They actually call them Temple Garments (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_garment_(Mormonism)), and I really upset a Mormon on here once by calling them magic underwear, so I should probably stop refering to them like that.

I respect others rights to have thier own opinions, but they don't influence mine.

Others influence mine. :) I don't claim to have all the answers... so I've listened to a lot of people from a lot of religions talk about their beliefs, and I look for common threads... I tend to believe that a lot of the religions are tied together, and we simply all separated over time, much like how the Christian church has splintered over the ages.


"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh to the Father but by me." John 14:6.

The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.
Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.Matthew 25:40-46

Yeah, I've heard those before... Jesus has said a lot of things... but I haven't seen a passage where he says, "Be a Catholic."
As far as I've seen, all the different christian religions take different passages from the Bible to honour, and discount others. So, I figure I'm just as safe doing my own thing, as I would be following any specific organized group. :)

A literal reading of Revelations has only 144,000 virgin males being saved.

It'll be a heaven of 12 year olds and ugly guys.
Is that where the 72 virgins for the terrorists come from? They might be a little disappointed when they find their virgins are overweight, male, pimple-faced Dungeons and Dragons players.

Yeah, I've heard those before... Jesus has said a lot of things... but I haven't seen a passage where he says, "Be a Catholic."
As far as I've seen, all the different christian religions take different passages from the Bible to honour, and discount others. So, I figure I'm just as safe doing my own thing, as I would be following any specific organized group. :)
yeah, I haven't found a verse that says "be a catholic" either.

THAT REMINDS ME!!! I had this awesome conversation with a mormon who came to the door a few months ago... he was telling me all about their beliefs and stuff (I wouldn't actually let them in at the time, as I was busy, but they never did call me back... :( ) and he said that God had a prophet on earth and I was like, "REALLY!? Any idea where he's hiding?" The guy named some state in the US and I was in total shock... I wasn't actually expecting an answer.
I think if God sent down a representative, he'd try to get in touch with more than just Mormons... unless the mormons are right of course! :rolleyes:
I heard once that the Mormons think that Eden was in Missouri or that God will establish his kingdom in Missouri or something like that. All I know is, any religion that believes that Missouri is THAT good has got to be wrong.

As a priest once said to my entire school (catholic school): "If you are not catholic and do not believe in the One True God, you are going to hell." I am now agnostic because of that guy.

As a priest once said to my entire school (catholic school): "If you are not catholic and do not believe in the One True God, you are going to hell." I am now agnostic because of that guy.

Reminds me of a joke:

A man dies and meets St peter at the gates. St. Peter is giving him a tour, showing him where all the different religions tend to congregate. Noticing a large brick wall, the man asks why it is there. St Peter replies " The Catholics are on the other side. They think they're the only ones up here. "

:)

Reminds me of a joke:

A man dies and meets St peter at the gates. St. Peter is giving him a tour, showing him where all the different religions tend to congregate. Noticing a large brick wall, the man asks why it is there. St Peter replies " The Catholics are on the other side. They think they're the only ones up here. "

:)

LMAO! Good one.

As a priest once said to my entire school (catholic school): "If you are not catholic and do not believe in the One True God, you are going to hell." I am now agnostic because of that guy.

It's sad that fundamentalist loons like that exist, scaring more people away from religion than they attract. There are some VERY good points to religion, but it's rare we hear about them because you get crazy people espousing ridiculous things all the time.
Anyone who can out of hand claim to know how God works raises alarm bells to me. If you can say, "You're going to hell because..." I automatically can't believe you. If God's all that they say he is, I think it's impossible to guess how He would judge people.

I always wonder...do the religious people on this forum think that hose of us who aren't religious (agnostic, atheist, etc) or hav opposing religious views, are going to hell?


Not only do I not know, but I am incapable of knowing and, frankly, I don't really care either way as it's none of my business.

It's sad that fundamentalist loons like that exist, scaring more people away from religion than they attract. There are some VERY good points to religion, but it's rare we hear about them because you get crazy people espousing ridiculous things all the time.
Anyone who can out of hand claim to know how God works raises alarm bells to me. If you can say, "You're going to hell because..." I automatically can't believe you. If God's all that they say he is, I think it's impossible to guess how He would judge people.
Yep, I hate them fundamentalist whackjobs, too. Like Jesus.

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh to the Father but by me." John 14:6.

The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.
Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.Matthew 25:40-46

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh to the Father but by me." John 14:6.


David Koresh and Jim Jones and Charles Manson all said the same thing. I didn't believe them either.

First, we postulate that if souls exist, then they must have some mass. If they do, then a mole of souls can also have a mass. So, at what rate are souls moving into hell and at what rate are souls leaving? I think that we can safely assume that once a soul gets to hell, it will not leave. Therefore, no souls are leaving.

As for souls entering hell, lets look at the different religions that exist in the world today. Some of these religions state that if you are not a member of their religion, you will go to hell. Since there are more than one of these religions and people do not belong to more than one religion, we can project that all people and all souls go to hell.

With birth and death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in hell to increase exponentially.

Now, we look at the rate of change in volume in hell. Boyle's Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in hell to stay the same, the ratio of the mass of souls and volume needs to stay constant.

So, if hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls enter hell, then the temperature and pressure in hell will increase until all hell breaks loose.

Of course, if hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in hell, than the temperature and pressure will drop until hell freezes over.

One of many - remember to use Snope! (http://www.snopes.com/college/exam/hell.asp) :D

David Koresh and Jim Jones and Charles Manson all said the same thing. I didn't believe them either.
yeah, I guess I have more of a reason to believe Jesus when he says it.

I'm actually covered either way. I'm a "non-believer" but my wife is a fairly devout christian.

"For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her husband ." (1 Corinthians 7:14)

I'm actually covered either way. I'm a "non-believer" but my wife is a fairly devout christian.

"For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her husband ." (1 Corinthians 7:14)
Now that's a hell of a loophole. You can be a godless heathen like me, marry a cute Christian chick, and get heaven thrown in (if it's real) as a bonus.

I'm actually covered either way. I'm a "non-believer" but my wife is a fairly devout christian.

"For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her husband ." (1 Corinthians 7:14)

Is that why Catholics have to marry other Catholics? So they're not going around sanctifying people who don't deserve it? :P

"... when you know for yourselves that certain things are unwholesome (akusala) and wrong and bad, then give them up ... . And when you know for yourselves that certain things are wholesome and good, then accept them and follow them."- Bhuddist Sutra

This is what I believe.

Now that's a hell of a loophole. You can be a godless heathen like me, marry a cute Christian chick, and get heaven thrown in (if it's real) as a bonus.

Plus if you look at 12 & 13, she's not allowed to divorce me. I made some veins pop when I brought these up to some christian friends of mine that were trying to "witness". They brought up the "only through me" clause w/ my response of "So only parts of it are true?"

That effectively ended the conversation.

That and vegetarians are bringing on the end-times are two of my favorite parts.

yeah, I guess I have more of a reason to believe Jesus when he says it.

Meh ... he wasn't even the first Jew to say it. Self-proclaimed Messiah was a popular job-title in the day. Even though it's clearly written that Israel would be united and set free in the single lifetime of the Messiah, it still took a few thousand dieing at the hands of the Romans before the general Jewish populace said, "Ok ... maybe we shouldn't be so quick to join these cults."

Jesus saying it carries no more weight than Jim Jones saying it. It's a silly and inaccurate thing to say and anyone who buys it is cheapening their relationship with the Almighty and spitting in his face.

Is that why Catholics have to marry other Catholics? So they're not going around sanctifying people who don't deserve it? :P

Pretty much. Other religions state this as well. I was raised Lutheran and a pastor openly said we shouldn't even have non-lutheran friends.

Now that's a hell of a loophole. You can be a godless heathen like me, marry a cute Christian chick, and get heaven thrown in (if it's real) as a bonus.

Yep ... you can get to the Father through your believing wife .... kinda makes Jesus look like a liar, don't it? Or maybe Paul's the liar. Ah, hell ... I dunno ... other people can sort that one out. Through Jesus ... through your wife ... David Berkowitz did it through his neighbors's dog.

*shrug*

Plus if you look at 12 & 13, she's not allowed to divorce me. I made some veins pop when I brought these up to some christian friends of mine that were trying to "witness". They brought up the "only through me" clause w/ my response of "So only parts of it are true?"

That effectively ended the conversation.

That and vegetarians are bringing on the end-times are two of my favorite parts.
Other than the gospels and a little of Revelations I haven't studied the NT. Vegetarians?

Meh ... he wasn't even the first Jew to say it. Self-proclaimed Messiah was a popular job-title in the day. Even though it's clearly written that Israel would be united and set free in the single lifetime of the Messiah, it still took a few thousand dieing at the hands of the Romans before the general Jewish populace said, "Ok ... maybe we shouldn't be so quick to join these cults."

Jesus saying it carries no more weight than Jim Jones saying it. It's a silly and inaccurate thing to say and anyone who buys it is cheapening their relationship with the Almighty and spitting in his face.
yeah, I can see where you are coming from. doesn't change anything with me though.

although I could argue against a literal reading of the prophecy about being set free, but I think I should probably just agree to disagree with you on this one, because I have to go to church now. ;)

I always wonder...do the religious people on this forum think that hose of us who aren't religious (agnostic, atheist, etc) or hav opposing religious views, are going to hell?

Just curious...

Hell is essentially separation from God. One could argue that one who chooses that separation is not being punished by its continuance.

Pretty much. Other religions state this as well. I was raised Lutheran and a pastor openly said we shouldn't even have non-lutheran friends.

Wow... that's pretty crazy. As someone who's spiritual, I'm kinda glad I'm with someone who's not. We get to have pretty interesting conversations about belief and religion. :) Sticking to your own religious circle seems a little like inbreeding to me...

yeah, I can see where you are coming from. doesn't change anything with me though.

Not intended to. You're free to follow your way.

I think I should probably just agree to disagree with you on this one

That's usually best in these sort of discussions.

because I have to go to church now. ;)

Tell Jesus I said, "Hey".

Other than the gospels and a little of Revelations I haven't studied the NT. Vegetarians?

1 Timothy 4:
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving.

Wow... that's pretty crazy. As someone who's spiritual, I'm kinda glad I'm with someone who's not. We get to have pretty interesting conversations about belief and religion. :) Sticking to your own religious circle seems a little like inbreeding to me...

Literally, in the case of the Amish.

I'm Buddhist, so I think that everyone's coming back (which, in some ways, is worse than the concept of Hell *shudder*), but assuming there is a Hell, I've got me my bag of Jet-puft marshmallows.

1 Timothy 4:
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving.
Cool! Another reason PETA's wrong.

Cool! Another reason PETA's wrong.


I actually got that one from the PETA v NRA debate when the PETA guy tried argueing that Jesus wouldn't hunt or eat meat.