NationStates Jolt Archive

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Beliefs/story?id=1422658

This story amazes me...Well because I am sure that everyone that beleives in heaven, believes they will get there. Well from my protestant background(not here to flame anyone or anything like that) I would say only 3/10 will actually goto heaven. It also makes me wonder that if this many people believe in heaven in some way, then why are they not trying to get there by living their lives faithfully?

any thoughts?

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Beliefs/story?id=1422658

This story amazes me...Well because I am sure that everyone that beleives in heaven, believes they will get there. Well from my protestant background(not here to flame anyone or anything like that) I would say only 3/10 will actually goto heaven. It also makes me wonder that if this many people believe in heaven in some way, then why are they not trying to get there by living their lives faithfully?

any thoughts?
Who said the requirements for entry into heaven for all thoes religions is "faith"?
9/10 believe in heaven but almost all of them disagree with eachother at least in part

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Beliefs/story?id=1422658

This story amazes me...Well because I am sure that everyone that beleives in heaven, believes they will get there. Well from my protestant background(not here to flame anyone or anything like that) I would say only 3/10 will actually goto heaven. It also makes me wonder that if this many people believe in heaven in some way, then why are they not trying to get there by living their lives faithfully?

any thoughts?

Only 3 in 10 huh? My thoughts are that you don't have a great deal of faith in humanity. ;)

Who said the requirements for entry into heaven for all thoes religions is "faith"?
Ok..let me reword..Why aren't people living more faithfully in accordance to their religious beliefs.



9/10 believe in heaven but almost all of them disagree with eachother at least in part
Thats so true.

Only 3 in 10 huh? My thoughts are that you don't have a great deal of faith in humanity. ;)
I think his 3/10 calculation comes from the “protestant” sector as a whole
Sense from his or her point of view only they are truly right that is a MAX possible

I'm so glad I tend to associate with that 1/10th.

Only 3 in 10 huh? My thoughts are that you don't have a great deal of faith in humanity. ;)


Your thoughts are correct, young grasshopper. I mean...Have you picked up a newspaper lately? Plus i live my life around psalms 118:8 "It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man." :D

I think his 3/10 calculation comes from the “protestant” sector as a whole
Sense from his or her point of view only they are truly right that is a MAX possible

Actually..the 3/10 was just a random number that sounded good. :p...but yeah..I guess in my "closed minded" view on faith, that only those that adhere to the teaching of Christ, are going to heaven

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Beliefs/story?id=1422658

This story amazes me...Well because I am sure that everyone that beleives in heaven, believes they will get there. Well from my protestant background(not here to flame anyone or anything like that) I would say only 3/10 will actually goto heaven. It also makes me wonder that if this many people believe in heaven in some way, then why are they not trying to get there by living their lives faithfully?

any thoughts?

i'm not certain of this, but i think something like 75% of Americans celebrate Christmas

...and yet marketers are afraid to say Merry Christmas. So because some of a very vocal minority bitch about Merry Christmas not being PC enough, marketers instead say Happy Holidays...

if they don't want to offend anyone, they ought to say Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukkah (sp?) and Kickin' Kwaansa (sp?).

hehe

Happy Holidays pisses me off. I'm surprised marketers aren't more in-step with what the majority want to hear. Actually, this is a good poll idea (although we'll get a skewed result as this is a very liberal/PC/non-christian forum, by and large).

It also makes me wonder that if this many people believe in heaven in some way, then why are they not trying to get there by living their lives faithfully?Because they don't share your image of what heaven is, how you get there, and who runs it. ;)

Because they don't share your image of what heaven is, how you get there, and who runs it. ;)


Well I am sure for the most part the three abrahamic faiths have a similar thought about heaven. please God(allah or yaweh) and you will get there, while everyone else burns in hell

i'm not certain of this, but i think something like 75% of Americans celebrate Christmas

...and yet marketers are afraid to say Merry Christmas. So because some of a very vocal minority bitch about Merry Christmas not being PC enough, marketers instead say Happy Holidays...

Actually, it's because they don't want to offend anyone. The only people bitching are the Christians, because they'd rather declare a liberal war on Christmas (which is actually a pagan holiday) in the US than deal with real issue likes poverty and genocide.

if they don't want to offend anyone, they ought to say Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukkah (sp?) and Kickin' Kwaansa (sp?).

Or they could say, "Happy Holidays". The President does it and it's a helluva lot cheaper than saying "Happy Hannakah! Merry Christmas! Happy Kwanza! Happy Saturnalia! Happy Winter Solstice!" ad nauseum.

hehe

Happy Holidays pisses me off. I'm surprised marketers aren't more in-step with what the majority want to hear. Actually, this is a good poll idea (although we'll get a skewed result as this is a very liberal/PC/non-christian forum, by and large).

OK, if Happy Holidays pisses you off, Merry Christmas pisses me off. Now we're even.

If there is a heaven then there is a hell and that makes for one sick creator. Let me create a world with free will - better yet, let me fuck with them even more and make everything I consider 'bad' a primal urge and then I'll watch as most of them doom themselves to an eternity of suffering. God is one sick puppy.

Well I am sure for the most part the three abrahamic faiths have a similar thought about heaven. please God(allah or yaweh) and you will get there, while everyone else burns in hellAh, but even agnostics have some notion of an afterlife. And not everyone that considers themselves Christian would necessarily be Christian in your book. It's all a matter of personal definition.

If there is a heaven then there is a hell and that makes for one sick creator. Let me create a world with free will - better yet, let me fuck with them even more and make everything I consider 'bad' a primal urge and then I'll watch as most of them doom themselves to an eternity of suffering. God is one sick puppy.


I see your point. I myself have thought that many times, and have yelled at God for that. Thats when i hit the lowest point of my life. But I realized all we have to do is sumbit..Thats all..do whats right..get saved..and boom..nothing else. You know i always like to bring up the point that in Galations...5 i think it is..there are like 17 works of the flesh(evil) and 9 works of the spirit..so thus wouldn't it be less work(easier) to do the works of the spirit than of the flesh? and if we are true to our Lord, then really what do we have to worry about hell for?

Ah, but even agnostics have some notion of an afterlife.
I'm not sure I understand. Surely, being agnostic, they hold the view that they don't know about it?

Actually..the 3/10 was just a random number that sounded good. :p...but yeah..I guess in my "closed minded" view on faith, that only those that adhere to the teaching of Christ, are going to heaven

Hmm... going to Heaven, where I will sit around playing harps all day, talking to the fundamentalist Christians about how great God is, and how bad the gays are, and how great God is, and how the world is going to shit, and how great God is, and how great Jesus is, and how great God is. Even without this crap, eternal bliss would get boring after a while.

Or going to Hell, where most people will go anyhow, where all the outgoing, fun, interesting people go, you could amuse yourself forever. Not only this but it would prove that God is an asshole for putting the Jews, Muslims, Buddhists etc there too, as well as the people who live their life in a good way, being decent people but never praise God.

Hell it is!

I'm not sure I understand. Surely, being agnostic, they hold the view that they don't know about it?Agnostic can be to all sorts of degrees. Or what would you call someone that is pretty sure of an afterlife, but unsure as to which religion this afterlife belongs to?

Agnostic can be to all sorts of degrees. Or what would you call someone that is pretty sure of an afterlife, but unsure as to which religion this afterlife belongs to?
Hmm. I'm not sure.
The way I had always heard "Agnostic" used, it would seem to refer to someone who doesn't claim to know, but I can't really think of a better label to stick on your example either.

Only 3 in 10 huh? My thoughts are that you don't have a great deal of faith in humanity. ;)


well from a protestant backround if you dont believe christ is the son of god and believe that he died for your sins, you dont get into heaven. Eternal life isnt something you earn, its a gift, all you have to do is accept it, but with that gift comes certain responsabilities, thats why the numbers so low, caus the bannar off christ isnt always comfertable to wear, people reject it because god didnt do anything for me why should i do something for him

Hmm... going to Heaven, where I will sit around playing harps all day, talking to the fundamentalist Christians about how great God is, and how bad the gays are, and how great God is, and how the world is going to shit, and how great God is, and how great Jesus is, and how great God is. Even without this crap, eternal bliss would get boring after a while.

Or going to Hell, where most people will go anyhow, where all the outgoing, fun, interesting people go, you could amuse yourself forever. Not only this but it would prove that God is an asshole for putting the Jews, Muslims, Buddhists etc there too, as well as the people who live their life in a good way, being decent people but never praise God.

Hell it is!

That seems to be most people's viewpoint of how heaven and hell will be. Unfortunately, it has nothing to do with the truth.

In heaven, there will be more adventure and more amazing things than the most creative Hollywood genius can imagine. After all, he is the one who created the entire universe---space, time, galaxies beyond number, star systems for us to explore, and so much more.

And in hell, there will be nothing to do but suffer. After all, the source of everything good is God. Love, comfort, peace, joy, light, refreshment, variety and more will all be absent in hell. So if your idea of a great time is burning in darkness forever, at least you won't have to be with that *boring* God you hate so much...:(

Your thoughts are correct, young grasshopper. I mean...Have you picked up a newspaper lately? Plus i live my life around psalms 118:8 "It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man." :D

Uh, that would probably be old grasshopper by your standards, but even without picking up a newspaper I can relate to your lack of trust in mankind. I worked in a max prison for 16 years, so, while I haven't seen it all, I bet I came closer than almost anyone.
On the brighter side and in defense of mankind, I can tell you one thing for certain. Most people do change, and usually for the better as they age.

Regardless of its existence, people believe in Heaven because it's a lot more satisfying to them than the idea that death will bring annihilation and your good deeds and morality are in vain.

well from a protestant backround if you dont believe christ is the son of god and believe that he died for your sins, you dont get into heaven. Eternal life isnt something you earn, its a gift, all you have to do is accept it, but with that gift comes certain responsabilities, thats why the numbers so low, caus the bannar off christ isnt always comfertable to wear, people reject it because god didnt do anything for me why should i do something for him

Of course if you die and find out that Allah is actually in charge then you're screwed:D .

That seems to be most people's viewpoint of how heaven and hell will be. Unfortunately, it has nothing to do with the truth.

In heaven, there will be more adventure and more amazing things than the most creative Hollywood genius can imagine. After all, he is the one who created the entire universe---space, time, galaxies beyond number, star systems for us to explore, and so much more.

And in hell, there will be nothing to do but suffer. After all, the source of everything good is God. Love, comfort, peace, joy, light, refreshment, variety and more will all be absent in hell. So if your idea of a great time is burning in darkness forever, at least you won't have to be with that *boring* God you hate so much...:(

But we will get to have long, interesting conversations with Plato, Aristotle, Caesar, Confucius, Buddha, and others to pass the time until St. Micheal decides to come liberate our asses. And then we'll probably get kicked out of heaven for how unorthodox the philosophies we invented while we're down there are.

While you're engaging in astral snowboarding, we'll be suffering. Sounds like you'll be in the US and we'll be in sub-saharran Africa, to me. You probably wouldn't care less about us, either, the same as most Americans don't give a rip about genocides in Africa. But I digress.

Is it better to suffer for an eternity to earn your place in heaven or to simply have been lucky enough to select the correct dogma and have the same end result?

i'm not certain of this, but i think something like 75% of Americans celebrate Christmas

...and yet marketers are afraid to say Merry Christmas. So because some of a very vocal minority bitch about Merry Christmas not being PC enough, marketers instead say Happy Holidays...

if they don't want to offend anyone, they ought to say Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukkah (sp?) and Kickin' Kwaansa (sp?).

hehe

Happy Holidays pisses me off. I'm surprised marketers aren't more in-step with what the majority want to hear. Actually, this is a good poll idea (although we'll get a skewed result as this is a very liberal/PC/non-christian forum, by and large).

You're fairly ignorant, aren't you? :) I prefer Happy Holidays. It makes more sense, because it is 'happy holy days'. Because guess what. Kwanzaa is a holy day. Christmas is a holy day. Winter Solstice is a holy day. Et cetera and ad nauseum.

So instead of naming them all individually, someone actually engaged the grey matter between their ears and came up with a non-offensive phrase for anyone who accepts the fact that their religion/traditions are not better than anyone else's.

Happy holidays to you.

Of course if you die and find out that Allah is actually in charge then you're screwed:D .

Except Allah is the Merciful and Compassionate, which is more than can be said about the god of most (religious) Christians. What's more is that in the Muslim End-of-Days scenario, Jesus comes down and helps the Muslims and the 'good' Christians (once the battle's over, though, he renounces Christianity) fight off the 'bad' Christians.

Who's right is there to claim who goes into the next life? The is no telling who will because the Bible is a depiction of life over 4 thousand years ago and forward, but to none of todays aspects of life.

And less we keep in mind, there are thousands of other religions out there who have been consumed by the "christian assumption" during the rise of the faith. The people murdered to submission and the countless murders in return to avenge their own faith. It seems to me that people should stop fighting with their gods as if it were a giant RPG of all time and actually understand and enjoy whats here and now. Who gives a crap if I get into heaven? And to be honset, like it was any of your business, which leads us to another situations that should be brought up and some point, but not now.

Now I'm Alive, and where my faith comes from, heaven isn't the after life; it's only the next one.

i'm not certain of this, but i think something like 75% of Americans celebrate Christmas

...and yet marketers are afraid to say Merry Christmas. So because some of a very vocal minority bitch about Merry Christmas not being PC enough, marketers instead say Happy Holidays...

if they don't want to offend anyone, they ought to say Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukkah (sp?) and Kickin' Kwaansa (sp?).

hehe

Happy Holidays pisses me off. I'm surprised marketers aren't more in-step with what the majority want to hear. Actually, this is a good poll idea (although we'll get a skewed result as this is a very liberal/PC/non-christian forum, by and large).

Yeah, odd how that works out, isn't it?

And you don't hear many people giving any sort of Ramadan greeting, either...
come to think of it... I've never heard any form of Ramadan greeting in my life...

So why do we bow to the whim of the minority, again?
Come to think of it, I've only ever met one person who was offended by my wishing a "Merry Christmas," and he was an Orthodox Jew.
I mean, Happy Holidays does tend to cover all the bases, but why not just wish what you'd be wishing? It's the thought that counts, right?


About heaven... yeah it makes sense that 9 in 10 believe in heaven.
Atheists are one of the few socio-religious groups to not believe in some form of an afterlife.
And seeing as only 8% (to my knowledge) of the American population are devout atheists, this ratio seems correct.

The only other group that comes to my mind that didn't believe in an afterlife were the Jewish Sadducees (sp?), but they kinda just wanted an excuse to misbehave. (Not that I'm grouping them with atheists in the misbehaving area).

Except Allah is the Merciful and Compassionate, which is more than can be said about the god of most (religious) Christians. What's more is that in the Muslim End-of-Days scenario, Jesus comes down and helps the Muslims and the 'good' Christians (once the battle's over, though, he renounces Christianity) fight off the 'bad' Christians.

Damn you and your facts! Since when did fact have any place in an NS general debate? Now I'm going to have to use the Invisible Pink Unicorn as an example.:(

Incidently, is Christianity the only religion that says you must believe in it to reach heaven (or alterate paradise of your choice)?

So why do we bow to the whim of the minority, again?
Come to think of it, I've only ever met one person who was offended by my wishing a "Merry Christmas," and he was an Orthodox Jew.
I mean, Happy Holidays does tend to cover all the bases, but why not just wish what you'd be wishing? It's the thought that counts, right?

Yes, it is the thought that counts. And seeing as how, in saying 'Merry Christmas' to my family, I include only my father, who is Roman Catholic and exclude my mother, an atheist and my sister, a practitioner of Wicca, I say 'Happy holidays'. Because that's what I wish them. That their winter break, when the majority of religions celebrate a holy day, is full of joy. I don't wish people a happy Birth-Of-Christ day. After all, sensible people know that the Christians stole the holiday from the Pagans.

But yes, about heaven. I'm agnostic, and therefore make no claim about whether or not one exists. I realize fully that if one exists, I'm going to hell for not believing in that one particular religion, but it really doesn't matter to me. I refuse to commit the grave error of tying myself down to a church when I can make peace with the (G/g)od(s/ess/esses) myself. I just try to be a good person. Makes sense to me.

i'm not certain of this, but i think something like 75% of Americans celebrate Christmas

...and yet marketers are afraid to say Merry Christmas. So because some of a very vocal minority bitch about Merry Christmas not being PC enough, marketers instead say Happy Holidays...

Happy Holidays pisses me off. I'm surprised marketers aren't more in-step with what the majority want to hear. Actually, this is a good poll idea (although we'll get a skewed result as this is a very liberal/PC/non-christian forum, by and large).

the goddam pc police really ticks me off. according to the cia factbook, 78% of americans are christians. last time i cehcked, that is a significant majority.

Freedom of religion means not having to say "happy holidays".

if someone wishing you a merry christmas even if your not christian is not a bad thing. it is a wish for happiness. are you pc morons really gonna turn around and say "uh, no. i don't celebrate christmas. So why don't you take your good cheer and shove it"?

if you do, you have bigger problems than "merry christmas".

the goddam pc police really ticks me off. according to the cia factbook, 78% of americans are christians. last time i cehcked, that is a significant majority.

Freedom of religion means not having to say "happy holidays".

if someone wishing you a merry christmas even if your not christian is not a bad thing. it is a wish for happiness. are you pc morons really gonna turn around and say "uh, no. i don't celebrate christmas. So why don't you take your good cheer and shove it"?

if you do, you have bigger problems than "merry christmas".

I'd simply turn around and wish them a 'Happy Overcommercialized Day When Jesus Was Allegedly Born', too. In quite literally those words.

the goddam pc police really ticks me off. according to the cia factbook, 78% of americans are christians. last time i cehcked, that is a significant majority.

Freedom of religion means not having to say "happy holidays".

Yes, and you're free not to say that.

D'oh!

if someone wishing you a merry christmas even if your not christian is not a bad thing. it is a wish for happiness. are you pc morons really gonna turn around and say "uh, no. i don't celebrate christmas. So why don't you take your good cheer and shove it"?

if you do, you have bigger problems than "merry christmas".

Probably. But so long as Christians get upset over people choosing to say 'Happy Holidays', there's no reason for the PC police to not get upset about Christians using 'Merry Christmas'.

I'd simply turn around and wish them a 'Happy Overcommercialized Day When Jesus Was Allegedly Born', too. In quite literally those words.

I so have to use that!

I so have to use that!
Feel free to do so. And may you have happy holidays.

Damn you and your facts! Since when did fact have any place in an NS general debate? Now I'm going to have to use the Invisible Pink Unicorn as an example.:(

Incidently, is Christianity the only religion that says you must believe in it to reach heaven (or alterate paradise of your choice)?

Islam believes only monotheists will go to heaven, be they Jews, or Christians. Muslims simply have a more perfect vision of what God wants humanity to do. (Or so they believe.) Even if you're a polytheist or atheist, you'll get into Paradise sooner or later, it's just that if you've been a bad person you'll go to hell. If you've been a good person, you'll suffer a lot, but still get there. Muslims don't have to suffer.

Some Jews believe that there's an afterlife, some do not. Those who do believe that, believe only Jews will get to heaven. The rest, well, they're a mystery to me.

Buddhism really doesn't give a rip. You could, potentially, spontaneously achieve nirvana while praying to, say, God or vishnu. And karma doesn't care who you believe in, it only cares about how good a person you are. In fact, you can embrace and live by the Eight-fold Path and not believe in Buddha. You could potentially live by the Eight-fold Path and pray five times a day, or on Sundays, or not at all. It really doesn't matter.

Shinto doesn't seem to care either. When you die you become a kami, bar none. You don't even have to die to be a kami, nor do you have to adhere to shinto or be Japanese. It usually helps, though.

Norse paganism doesn't give a rip either. You're weighed by your sins and your virtues. Dependant upon them, you will awake in the afterlife in a number of virtual paradises, tailored to meet most everyone's tastes. If your sins are too heavy, you'll go to what's basically hell. Basically. Again, there are a number of hells to choose from.

When you get right down to it, though, the Big Three are the most exclusive in who, how, and why one gets to heaven.

the goddam pc police really ticks me off. according to the cia factbook, 78% of americans are christians. last time i cehcked, that is a significant majority.

Freedom of religion means not having to say "happy holidays".

if someone wishing you a merry christmas even if your not christian is not a bad thing. it is a wish for happiness. are you pc morons really gonna turn around and say "uh, no. i don't celebrate christmas. So why don't you take your good cheer and shove it"?

if you do, you have bigger problems than "merry christmas".
If you've got your panties in a bunch over someone saying 'happy holidays' you've got bigger problems than red herrings like 'pc police.'

The hullaballu is not from people not wanting to hear 'merry christmas,' it's from fucktards who can't wrap thier fucking brains around the fact that christmas happens at the same time as a bunch of other holidays including fucking new years and is in fact a fucking holy day and saying 'happy holidays' does not mean 'happy everything except christmas.'

Fucking unclench with your made up controversy.

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Beliefs/story?id=1422658

This story amazes me...Well because I am sure that everyone that beleives in heaven, believes they will get there. Well from my protestant background(not here to flame anyone or anything like that) I would say only 3/10 will actually goto heaven. It also makes me wonder that if this many people believe in heaven in some way, then why are they not trying to get there by living their lives faithfully?

any thoughts?
In related news:

In a poll released this morning, nine in ten Americans are frightened by John Bolton’s mustache. Bolton is President Bush’s nominee to become the US ambassador to the United Nations.
http://www.kevmo.net/2005/07/31/poll-9-in-10-americans-find-john-bolton%E2%80%99s-mustache-scary/

Of course if you die and find out that Allah is actually in charge then you're screwed:D .

...by 72 virgins. HELL YEAH.

...by 72 virgins. HELL YEAH.

Or 72 black olives. Dependant upon translation.

Nine tenths of people are easily-frightened, gullible fools. So what?

Nine tenths of people are easily-frightened, gullible fools. So what?

Do you believe in Democracy?

i'm not certain of this, but i think something like 75% of Americans celebrate Christmas

...and yet marketers are afraid to say Merry Christmas. So because some of a very vocal minority bitch about Merry Christmas not being PC enough, marketers instead say Happy Holidays...

if they don't want to offend anyone, they ought to say Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukkah (sp?) and Kickin' Kwaansa (sp?).

hehe

Happy Holidays pisses me off. I'm surprised marketers aren't more in-step with what the majority want to hear. Actually, this is a good poll idea (although we'll get a skewed result as this is a very liberal/PC/non-christian forum, by and large).

Meh. Take a deep breath and relax.

"Happy Holidays" and "Season's Greetings" are traditional phrases that were used long before "PC" was even invented. Several holidays are grouped together during the same time period -- including Christmas and New Year's.

the goddam pc police really ticks me off. according to the cia factbook, 78% of americans are christians. last time i cehcked, that is a significant majority.

Freedom of religion means not having to say "happy holidays".

if someone wishing you a merry christmas even if your not christian is not a bad thing. it is a wish for happiness. are you pc morons really gonna turn around and say "uh, no. i don't celebrate christmas. So why don't you take your good cheer and shove it"?

if you do, you have bigger problems than "merry christmas".

You've been arrested for saying Merry Christmas ?

You've been forced to say "Happy Holidays" against your will?

No?

I thought not.

Or 72 black olives. Dependant upon translation.

Each to their own

don't look at me like that...

i'm not certain of this, but i think something like 75% of Americans celebrate Christmas

...and yet marketers are afraid to say Merry Christmas. So because some of a very vocal minority bitch about Merry Christmas not being PC enough, marketers instead say Happy Holidays...

if they don't want to offend anyone, they ought to say Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukkah (sp?) and Kickin' Kwaansa (sp?).

hehe

Happy Holidays pisses me off. I'm surprised marketers aren't more in-step with what the majority want to hear. Actually, this is a good poll idea (although we'll get a skewed result as this is a very liberal/PC/non-christian forum, by and large).

I guess I'm one of the few Americans who don't believe in a heaven. :)

I say Happy Hollidays, not because of any PC BS, but because I honestly want whoever I'm talking to, to enjoy whatever they celibrate.

I work with the public, so you never know who celibrates what. To the people I know celibrate Christmas, I say Merry Christmas of course, to those I know celibrate Chanukah, to people who celibrate the Solstice (And yes, I know quite a few people who do) I wish them a happy Solstice.

If I don't know what a person likes, or if they even like anything, I just say Happy Hollidays. Maybe because I really don't believe in any of them, that's why I actually lean towards saying that instead of automatically saying "Merry Christmas" in a sincere way.

A stupid poll answers a stupid question.

Islam believes only monotheists will go to heaven, be they Jews, or Christians. Muslims simply have a more perfect vision of what God wants humanity to do. (Or so they believe.) Even if you're a polytheist or atheist, you'll get into Paradise sooner or later, it's just that if you've been a bad person you'll go to hell. If you've been a good person, you'll suffer a lot, but still get there. Muslims don't have to suffer.

Some Jews believe that there's an afterlife, some do not. Those who do believe that, believe only Jews will get to heaven. The rest, well, they're a mystery to me.

Buddhism really doesn't give a rip. You could, potentially, spontaneously achieve nirvana while praying to, say, God or vishnu. And karma doesn't care who you believe in, it only cares about how good a person you are. In fact, you can embrace and live by the Eight-fold Path and not believe in Buddha. You could potentially live by the Eight-fold Path and pray five times a day, or on Sundays, or not at all. It really doesn't matter.

Shinto doesn't seem to care either. When you die you become a kami, bar none. You don't even have to die to be a kami, nor do you have to adhere to shinto or be Japanese. It usually helps, though.

Norse paganism doesn't give a rip either. You're weighed by your sins and your virtues. Dependant upon them, you will awake in the afterlife in a number of virtual paradises, tailored to meet most everyone's tastes. If your sins are too heavy, you'll go to what's basically hell. Basically. Again, there are a number of hells to choose from.

When you get right down to it, though, the Big Three are the most exclusive in who, how, and why one gets to heaven.

Thanks for enlightening me.:)

Of course, what one in ten Americans didn't admit to was that THIS (<img src=/images/greenlight.gif>) is the Heaven they were hoping to go to.....

:D