Intro to my theology (as I see it today)

It isn't a big deal. I believe that a person will either go own to live with God for eternity in heaven, or that person will cease to exist.

For the chosen that go to heaven, they will have an awkward life on Earth, because they just don't fit in. The reason for this is, this world or earth was created by God to appeal to our every sense. The sights for our eyes, the sounds for our ears, the tastes for our mouth, the scents for our smells, and the sensation to feel all that which is around us.

God created a wonderful place that can often bring pleasure to each of our senses, so in that regard it can be hard to live here, and at the same time realize that this place is tainted. This is why in my theology, the Jews from Abraham onward had such a tough time with the laws, because the sensations of this world many times led down the wrong road. For example when Moses was in the wilderness and receive Manna from heaven, the people began to grow tired of this, because they want the pleasures of other foods.

However, for those that are not religious or those that do not believe as I do, they will enjoy this world very much so, for said reasons above. It can be quite a lovely place. In fact it can be absolutely amazing!

To me this is where the mercy of God comes in. Even those that are not going to heaven, were able to enjoy a bit of God while they lived. They may have enjoyed a coastal sunset or sunrise, or the birth of a loved one, or the taste of a warm cookie coming out of the oven. Either way, life wasn't that bad for them, even though they are not interested in God.

Once both parties die, one shifts to heaven, and the other shifts to the grave. Next thing the one that entered the grave will know is judgment day. This will be a period of time where they realize that God was real, and all they enjoyed came from God, and then will understand why they will cease to exist. After this they will just disappear.

The big question is, why? Why bother doing that if they are just going to disappear? What many don't realize is that a great many people are not as passively anti-God as others. There are many that openly challenge and talk bad about any idea of God. It is because of these people that God will make aware to all people that do not go to heaven, that He is God.

This is my thread, if you have questions about my beliefs please ask. If you want to preach your beliefs, start your own thread.

How do you feel about the Sufi sentiment of:

“O God, If I worship You for fear of Hell,
burn me in Hell without end.

And if I worship You in hope of Paradise,
Forbid it forever to me.

But if I worship You for You,
do not hold back from me Your everlasting Beauty.”

–Rabi a al-Basri

Mr Cheese said:

How do you feel about the Sufi sentiment of:

“O God, If I worship You for fear of Hell,
burn me in Hell without end.

And if I worship You in hope of Paradise,
Forbid it forever to me.

But if I worship You for You,
do not hold back from me Your everlasting Beauty.”

–Rabi a al-Basri

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Cheeze, the hell part would be noteworthy if I felt the bible taught such a thing, but it is clear to me that it does not.

As far as the tone of the writing, it is not bad at all. We all must admit at one point our goals with God are self serving, but it does not end there for me. While I admit that the nature of my being can be self serving, I also find plenty that is not this way.

When I learn more and more about God, I come to Love Him for Him, I begin to see how beautiful He is, and my longing for heaven is becoming such that it is so I can be with this being or creator known as God. Which I admit in times past it was out of fear I wanted to be with Him. That is changing in my life.

May I ask what you believe about people who are born into cultures isolated from monotheism?
What about isolated African, South-Asian or South American tribes, who just never get the message of one G-d and who are born, grow up and die worshipping several gods, or the Earth, or a tree?

I'm also curious as to what you base your theology on. What are the texts you use? Do you see anything as the direct word of G-d?

itwillend said:

the hell part would be noteworthy if I felt the bible taught such a thing, but it is clear to me that it does not.

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Hmm.. I know plenty of verse that'd contradict.. :sarcastic Where exactly are you baseing this knowledge?

itwillend
It isn't a big deal. I believe that a person will either go own to live with God for eternity in heaven, or that person will cease to exist.

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Any proof?

God created a wonderful place that can often bring pleasure to each of our senses, so in that regard it can be hard to live here, and at the same time realize that this place is tainted.

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I fully agree with this part…

To me this is where the mercy of God comes in. Even those that are not going to heaven, were able to enjoy a bit of God while they lived.

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I feel that the image of God given is an image of a kind mother..
It’s like the image of a kind mother who has an evil child…

The mother is angry about the child…and also she betowed him with her mercy…It’s unlikely that she could punish him at some point…When he will commit a crime against a stranger..it’s likely that she will be injustice and biased against the stranger…
She will suffer herself (emotionally) by punishing her child…

The above description shows limitations of the mother…

How a God has limitations?

Once both parties die, one shifts to heaven, and the other shifts to the grave. Next thing the one that entered the grave will know is judgment day. This will be a period of time where they realize that God was real, and all they enjoyed came from God,

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I fully agree.

and then will understand why they will cease to exist. After this they will just disappear.

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How to prove this?

^ Agreed.

In this thread I'm seeing guesses but no proof.

Evee said:

May I ask what you believe about people who are born into cultures isolated from monotheism?
What about isolated African, South-Asian or South American tribes, who just never get the message of one G-d and who are born, grow up and die worshipping several gods, or the Earth, or a tree?

I'm also curious as to what you base your theology on. What are the texts you use? Do you see anything as the direct word of G-d?

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Within the bible we find that even those that have the laws of God are often destroyed by God. The opposite is true as well, there are those that humbly wish to know God, and admit they are only a mere human.
It is quite possible because of both of these instances that God ultimately chooses a person from the intent and content of their heart, rather than their association with a certain group or way of life.
A person of another culture is not automatically an evil person, this would be an absurd notion. In fact even within the Christian churches many search their heart with a longing to know the truth. So to can the individual you ask about from another culture have a longing in their heart to know the truth. Maybe it is blocked from obtaining the entire truth, but the culture can not block the desire within the heart.

Let me know if this makes sense or not, and maybe I can elaborate a bit further if need be.

As to what I base my theology on, I study the bible on my own, and read other theological writings to compare against my own studies.

Light On said:

Hmm.. I know plenty of verse that'd contradict.. :sarcastic Where exactly are you baseing this knowledge?

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One of the first mistakes I made joining the RF was assuming I knew what others knew. So, take a friendly piece of advice, don't assume I am as simple as your tone suggests.

Light On said:

^ Agreed.

In this thread I'm seeing guesses but no proof.

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I have never in 30 + years seen any proof of anything spoken of in the bible. Check the forum I am writing in, it is call theological concepts.

If I understand correctly, you're saying that G-d will judge us by what we fell in our hearts, by our desire for Truth, rather than by our actions alone?

Forgive the bluntness of my next question, but I can't think of another way to say it.

Do you believe that Jesus is the son of G-d? Do you believe it's possible for G_d to have offspring? If not, then what do you make of the New Testament, specifically the Gospel of John?

Shia Islam said:

Any proof?
How to prove this?

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The concept of cessation of life is fairly new, but there is much to support its existence. Consider the following from a book called "To God Be The Glory"

...the word “torment” is not found at all in the Old Testament, and only 22 times in the New Testament. ...the context in which this word “torment” is used can range anywhere from among the following.
1. The torment of the unsaved as they hear the true Gospel (Revelation 11:10).
2. The torment of suffering from illness (Matthew 8:6; Matthew 4:24).
3. The torment of stinging scorpions (Revelation 9:5).
4. The Greek word usually translated “torment” is also translated “vexed,” when the Bible speaks of Lot’s righteous soul being “vexed” by the sins of Sodom (II Peter 2:8).
5. The Greek word that is translated “torment” is also translated “sorrowing” (Luke 2:48; Acts 20:38).
6. Torment with fire (Revelation 14:10; Luke 16:24).

We have learned that the final end of God’s judgment process is death. This concept is thoroughly supported by the Bible’s generous use of words like “perish,” “destroy,” and “destruction.” Incidentally, it might be noted that words like “death,” “dead,” and “die” can be found more than 1,300 times in the Bible. It is no wonder then that the Bible declares that the last enemy to be destroyed is death (I Corinthians 15:26).

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The idea here is to challenge the traditional view of an eternal place of torment, and introduce:
1)Why this teaching has been taught for so long, borrowing heavily from the story of the "rich man and Lazarus" where someone is speaking from hell.
2)By further study how the idea of cessation of life seams to be strongly supported with biblical passages.

Evee said:

If I understand correctly, you're saying that G-d will judge us by what we fell in our hearts, by our desire for Truth, rather than by our actions alone?

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This does seem to be what the bible indicates. I look at verse like

Hosea Ch 6 vs 6 : For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

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I find many verses like this where God is desiring a pure heart and not dead rituals.

Do you believe that Jesus is the son of G-d? Do you believe it's possible for G_d to have offspring? If not, then what do you make of the New Testament, specifically the Gospel of John?

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I made this thread to discuss a theological point of view, and not specifically what I believe. However, what I am writing is what I think is supported by scripture.
I only say this because you seem to be asking what I believe personally.
So to answer you questions I would just point you to what you already know the bible says. The new Testament is clear that Jesus is the Son of God.

However, what is not as apparent as the Book of John is what I see supported in the bible that Jesus has been the acting agent from the beginning of time. It can be explained that Jesus was the one who asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, and was with God as God when the world was formed. I wouldn't expect you to swallow that at all since I have provided no scriptural basis for it at this time, but thought you might think it interesting.

In fact, I think it can be argued that Jesus actually died and paid for all the sins before the world began, and what was done at the cross was the second time he died, and was just a example or symbol of what was done at the beginning, before the world was formed.

itwillend said:

As to what I base my theology on, I study the bible on my own, and read other theological writings to compare against my own studies.

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It shows ...

Jayhawker Soule said:

It shows ...

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That's OK, we have to start somewhere.

I have never in 30 + years seen any proof of anything spoken of in the bible. Check the forum I am writing in, it is call theological concepts.

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Pardon?

Light On said:

Pardon?

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Sure I pardon you.

No, I didn't mean that in a sarcastic way. Nor am I asking for an excuse. I truly don't know what you are trying to get across.

You are saying that you've never seen real proof of anything in the bible (supposing you're an atheist)?

Light On said:

No, I didn't mean that in a sarcastic way. Nor am I asking for an excuse. I truly don't know what you are trying to get across.

You are saying that you've never seen real proof of anything in the bible (supposing you're an atheist)?

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I am not an atheist. I am Christian.

Care to explain then?

itwillend said:

The big question is, why? Why bother doing that if they are just going to disappear? What many don't realize is that a great many people are not as passively anti-God as others. There are many that openly challenge and talk bad about any idea of God. It is because of these people that God will make aware to all people that do not go to heaven, that He is God.

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A god who can be driven to cruel and pointless behavior by some insecure need to prove himself to atheists is not a god I could respect or love.