Atheists are going to hell, and Christians are ignorant. (ritual, beliefs)

[kdrier]

So naturally being on a religious forum, the term "god" comes up quite frequently. I've always thought the bible, like most religions, can be interpreted on an individual level, whether you believe or not.

Therefore there is a good chance my idea of god is a lot different than your idea. Surely everyone has their own concepts and ideas of who or what god is. You have christians who believe that all atheists are going hell because they don't believe in god while all atheists are believing christians are, not to be blunt, but idiots for believing that.

A few questions to ask yourself, if you already have not, please share.

What do you think "god" is? And are you certain your belief in "gods" existance, or lack of existance is true? or just fairly sure? Can you accept the fact, that your belief may be wrong, and most likely is? Do you judge those who believe any differently than you?

[kdrier]

What do you think "god" is? And are you certain your belief in "gods" existance, or lack of existance is true? or just fairly sure? Can you accept the fact, that your belief may be wrong, and most likely is? Do you judge those who believe any differently than you?

I don't really have a solid idea or concept of god. I suppose I think god is more of a force than anything else. I think god is is what html is to a website, but living on some level. In my mind I'm certain of gods existance, I can't imagine there not being a higher level of intelligence, simply because life is too intricate and seemingly planned in my opinion. I can accept the fact that my belief is wrong, and most likely is, simply because it's my own human intelligence that has come to that conclusion. I only judge people based on their actions. I hate christians who shove their religious propoganda down peoples throats, and I hate atheists who try to convince harmless believers their wrong.

[Fluffy]

Originally Posted by kdrier

What do you think "god" is?

I have no idea what God is. I am aware of a huge variety of concepts of God some of which I don't understand.

Originally Posted by kdrier

And are you certain your belief in "gods" existance, or lack of existance is true?

No.

Originally Posted by kdrier

or just fairly sure?

I am sure enough to hold it as my belief which means that it seems more probable than the alternatives.

Originally Posted by kdrier

Can you accept the fact, that your belief may be wrong, and most likely is?

Yes and no. I accept that any of my beliefs could be wrong and it is very likely that at least some of my beliefs are wrong. However, I don't find it likely that any particular belief that I hold is wrong. Similarly, it is very likely that you will get stopped by a traffic light (or many, many traffic lights) during your lifetime but it is not very likely that you will get stopped at any particular traffic light.

Originally Posted by kdrier

Do you judge those who believe any differently than you?

It is obviously quite difficult not to judge others but I think it is important to put constant pressure on yourself to overcome this natural tendency.

[Dunemeister]

I hold that God is as described in the classic Christian (pre-schismatic, universal) creeds. I'm confident that this view is true, but I believe that, despite whatever assurance I have now, I could be wrong. However I don't think my view is "most likely" wrong. I just accept the real possibility that it is.

Do I judge those who believe differently than me? Well, that depends on what you mean by "judge." I don't believe that atheists automatically go to hell just for being atheists. However, I believe that all persons of normal and mature intellect, regardless of race or creed, have been given sufficient information through creation and conscience to render them culpable for failing to believe in (not just give intellectual assent to the existence of, but actually put trust in) God. This I take is the scriptural point of view (Romans 1 - 3). I take this to be the default position of all humanity.

Does this belief of mine constitute "judging"? Some would say so. I disagree. Does this mean that I as a believer am somehow superior to the unbeliever (a reverse form of judging, perhaps)? Again, no. For I also hold that although we are all culpable for our failure to believe in God, God must take an active role in rescuing us from our spiritual blindness. So it's not as if the believer was simply more virtuous than the atheist. That may or may not be true (we can all think of Christians who were scoundrels and atheists who were saints -- for lack of a better word). Rather, God Himself directly takes some action to rescue people. Those people become believers. I believe only because God intervened in my case. As a result, I cannot boast about the fact that I believe and others don't.

[Storm]

Originally Posted by kdrier

What do you think "god" is?

What one clever wag dubbed "the living Godiverse." I believe that the universe as we know it is a living, sapient being, and I call it God.

And are you certain your belief in "gods" existance, or lack of existance is true?

Yes.

Can you accept the fact, that your belief may be wrong, and most likely is?

Second only to my belief in God is my belief that none of us understand it, myself included. We're all just guessing. That means my God-concept is almost certainly wrong, and maybe even my certainty that God exists. As to the former, I don't merely accept the possibility of being wrong, I take it as a given.

Do you judge those who believe any differently than you?

Absolutely not. What's the point in condemning the wrongness of other beliefs when mine are wrong, too?

[angellous_evangellous]

Originally Posted by Dunemeister

I hold that God is as described in the classic Christian (pre-schismatic, universal) creeds.

Really? There aren't any...

[kdrier]

Good post Storm, I agree with you.

[kdrier]

And Dune, when I say judge people, I mean think less of them, if you will. For example my girlfriend is a christian, she believes in jesus, god, and all that stuff. She used to go to church all the time, and recently stopped going. Most of her friends were very religious people... they went to church all the time, don't have pre-marital sex, don't drink, things of that nature. My girlfriend more recently has been enjoying those things, and not going to church. All her friends are mad and upset with her, saying she's lost her faith, always arguing with her, telling her she is doing bad things. My gf has been sexually active for years now, but she has more recently been partying with me and our friends, going out to bars, dancing, etc.

I told my her she should enjoy life, and should enjoy all the things that make her happy as long as they don't burden others. Also I told her I didn't think she had to go to a church in order to be accepted by god, but if she wanted to that's great. I told her her that I was under impression the only person that could judge her in such a way is god, and god only.