god?


do you believe in god?  

754 members have voted

  1. 1. do you believe in god?

    • yes
      294
    • no
      149
    • he's there when u need him most
      16
    • yes, but i dont pray
      53
    • atheist
      134
    • anarchist
      8
    • i don't know
      78
    • i don't want to answer, call me later
      22


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"it isn't being a christian or believing in god what makes of you a good person." - No, you can be a very good person and still not believe in God, but this does not mean your saved.  Likewise, just because you believe on God doesn't mean your a good person.  Cain killed Able, I bet he is in heaven because he believed in a savior that would come to die for his sin(s), but even so God branded him on his forehead as a bad person.

"and he who claims otherwise is inconsistent and musn't go out much to know people and the different ways of living those people have." - How am I inconsistant?  There are MANY MANY beliefs that go against Christianity and still these people call themselves Christians.

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this is why i entered so late in this debate or exchange of ideas.

afterlife? does it really exist? i rather be a good person and choose not to have christianity ruling my life.

if when i die i'll be judged for being christian or not, don't you think the right way is for me to be judged for being a good person or not?

that's one of the things i hate most about religion..

it doesn't matter if you're a good person or not because if you are christian you'll go to heaven even if you have comitted sins but prayed for forgiveness.

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And so, let's say little Tommy Jenkins steals from his neigbour, are you all for the branding of his forehead? Surely what he has done is wrong, and there are no degrees of wrong are there? Surely his actions conflict with the teachings of the good book and so a branded forehead would be appropriate, would it not?

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lol, the people of the old testement lived under different laws than believers do now under the teachings of Christ. I don't go around sacraficing lambs anymore because Jesus was that sacrafice. :yes:

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OK, so what should be the solution in your view? What should happen to little Tommy, and, more curiously, is his sin any less or more in value than say, murder?

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i just want to say i am a happy athiest! i like my life and YES i am happy. i think i have a good sense or morals. i was brough up without relgion in my life, and i have a good sense or morals. u don't see me out killing and maming people. that sort of thing is a person to person thing, religion has no part in it.

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this is why i entered so late in this debate or exchange of ideas.

afterlife? does it really exist? i rather be a good person and choose not to have christianity ruling my life.

if when i die i'll be judged for being christian or not, don't you think the right way is for me to be judged for being a good person or not?

that's one of the things i hate most about religion..

it doesn't matter if you're a good person or not because if you are christian you'll go to heaven even if you have comitted sins but prayed for forgiveness.

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Christianity teaches only one judgment... Is Jesus your savior or not? If not, even if you are a good person, you still end up on the wrong side of heaven.

"it doesn't matter if you're a good person or not because if you are christian you'll go to heaven even if you have comitted sins but prayed for forgiveness."

Sure it does. Just because I sin just as much as the next guy doesn't mean that I have more of a reson to be able to sin because I am a Christian. Um... Actually, the more a person sins, the more they seperate themself from God, the more grasp satan holds on your heart, why wouldn't I want God to take care of me instead of myself living in sin?

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In Catholic thought there are two kinds of sins venial and mortal. Murder and stealing are not the same so that the punishment is lessened the knowledge and intent of the sin.

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OK, so what should be the solution in your view? What should happen to little Tommy, and, more curiously, is his sin any less or more in value than say, murder?

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While it is possible on the basis of Scripture to make certain distinctions regarding the nature or "gravity" of specific sins (John 19:11; Luke 12: 47-48), Scripture clearly teaches that all sins come equally under God's judgment: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law" (Gal. 3:10). Likewise, James reminds us that no breaking of God's commandments, however small from our perspective, is exempt from God's verdict "guilty": "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it" (2:10; see also Matt. 5:18-19).

Small sins become great when they are regarded as small. The equality of all sins, however, reminds us of how great the love of God is for us in Christ Jesus, who has "redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us" (Gal. 3:13)...a curse for all of our sins.

If little tommy repends for his sins and acknowledges that Jesus has died for the sins of the world (his sin included) there should be nothing that should happen to little Tommy because Jesus already paid the penalty for that sin. :yes:

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In Catholic thought there are two kinds of sins venial and mortal. Murder and stealing are not the same so that the punishment is lessened the knowledge and intent of the sin.

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Interesting, so already wrong has degrees of being. You see that's where I struggle. How can one wrong be more wrong than another?

If old Farmer Giles needed that prize turnip to win his contest to feed his family, how is the theft of that turnip any less serious than stabbing his family to death.

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While it is possible on the basis of Scripture to make certain distinctions regarding the nature or "gravity" of specific sins (John 19:11; Luke 12: 47-48), Scripture clearly teaches that all sins come equally under God's judgment: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law" (Gal. 3:10). Likewise, James reminds us that no breaking of God's commandments, however small from our perspective, is exempt from God's verdict "guilty": "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it" (2:10; see also Matt. 5:18-19). 

Small sins become great when they are regarded as small. The equality of all sins, however, reminds us of how great the love of God is for us in Christ Jesus, who has "redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us" (Gal. 3:13)...a curse for all of our sins.

If little tommy repends for his sins and acknowledges that Jesus has died for the sins of the world (his sin included) there should be nothing that should happen to little Tommy because Jesus already paid the penalty for that sin.  :yes:

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Tommy still has to suffer for his sins before he can get into heaven.

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While it is possible on the basis of Scripture to make certain distinctions regarding the nature or "gravity" of specific sins (John 19:11; Luke 12: 47-48), Scripture clearly teaches that all sins come equally under God's judgment: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law" (Gal. 3:10). Likewise, James reminds us that no breaking of God's commandments, however small from our perspective, is exempt from God's verdict "guilty": "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it" (2:10; see also Matt. 5:18-19). 

Small sins become great when they are regarded as small. The equality of all sins, however, reminds us of how great the love of God is for us in Christ Jesus, who has "redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us" (Gal. 3:13)...a curse for all of our sins.

If little tommy repends for his sins and acknowledges that Jesus has died for the sins of the world (his sin included) there should be nothing that should happen to little Tommy because Jesus already paid the penalty for that sin.  :yes:

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Tommy still has to suffer for his sins before he can get into heaven.

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If little tommy repends for his sins and acknowledges that Jesus has died for the sins of the world (his sin included) there should be nothing that should happen to little Tommy because Jesus already paid the penalty for that sin.  :yes:

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OK, now I'm getting very interested. So should this also apply to our court systems? If I murder but sit in the dock proclaiming that I am really sorry and that I repent, etc, you would be happy for me to walk free?

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Tommy still has to suffer for his sins before he can get into heaven.

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says who :no:, not in Christian doctrine, at least in Reformed Christianity.

"Tommy still has to suffer for his sins before he can get into heaven."

Well, actually he DOES if he does NOT acknowledge that Jesus is his savior from his sin. The penalty of sin is death.

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Christianity teaches only one judgment...  Is Jesus your savior or not?  If not, even if you are a good person, you still end up on the wrong side of heaven.

"it doesn't matter if you're a good person or not because if you are christian you'll go to heaven even if you have comitted sins but prayed for forgiveness." 

Sure it does.  Just because I sin just as much as the next guy doesn't mean that I have more of a reson to be able to sin because I am a Christian.  Um...  Actually, the more a person sins, the more they seperate themself from God, the more grasp satan holds on your heart, why wouldn't I want God to take care of me instead of myself living in sin?

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jesus saved our souls? and we still comit sins? than what was the purpose of his life being sacrificed for ours?

i can't see a reason in that, it simply makes no sense.

i think that the world would be exactly the same, would christ sacrificed his soul or not? and how can you prove that or otherwise?

christians are usually certain of what and why, but you just base your views on a book, i could go read some mythology books like the "odyssey" and base my life and knowledge on that.

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OK, now I'm getting very interested. So should this also apply to our court systems? If I murder but sit in the dock proclaiming that I am really sorry and that I repent, etc, you would be happy for me to walk free?

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Murder depends just punishment whether that be life in prison or death. This is where i would say that the Catholic systems of reparation for sins is more in line with your thinking.

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Alas, time for me to go. I just want to stress that I'm really not out to belittle anyone's belief or otherwise, I just like to play devil's advocate and test things in a practical modern thinking way.

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OK, now I'm getting very interested. So should this also apply to our court systems? If I murder but sit in the dock proclaiming that I am really sorry and that I repent, etc, you would be happy for me to walk free?

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We are not talking about justifying sin with man, thats a whole other political topic. Im talking about the weight of sin in the eyes of God, as it says in the world of life. A short answer to your question is no, because its not the repenting that makes you free from your sin, it was the acknowledgment of Jesus dying for your sins. You still have to be accountable for the laws of your country. "Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's" Luke 20:25. :rofl:

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God is real. How else can you explain our existance and how the Bible has stood the test of time. This is my opinion, but I know I'm right.

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Really? You seriously think that the Bible has stood the test of time? With all of its provable fallacies?

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jesus saved our souls? and we still comit sins? than what was the purpose of his life being sacrificed for ours?

i can't see a reason in that, it simply makes no sense.

i think that the world would be exactly the same, would christ sacrificed his soul or not? and how can you prove that or otherwise?

christians are usually certain of what and why, but you just base your views on a book, i could go read some mythology books like the "odyssey" and base my life and knowledge on that.

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Oh please, thats one of the oldest arguments on reccord.

If the Bible is indeed what it claims to be, the implications for us are considerable. The Bible candidly claims to be "given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16). Of course, the Bible is not the only book to claim divine inspiration, but it is unique in that it offers substantial evidence to back its claims. It even goes so far as to challenge its readers to put it to the test, exhorting us to "Test all things" 1 Thessalonians 5:21.

Really? You seriously think that the Bible has stood the test of time? With all of its provable fallacies?

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Provable? Not likely. There are no proven fallacies in the Bible at all.

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I'll leave with a genuine interest to how this question is answered. It's a question I posed a few posts back.

Given by someone who claimed that if I have enough faith and belief then I can fly:

Matthew 21:21 Jesus answered them, "Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ?Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,? it will be done. 21:22p[/quotMy Question

Now imagine I attended a school full of small children today and reported the same to them. "Kids, if you believe it, you will be able to fly off that canyon." I'll then walk them to the canyon and encourage them to test their new found skill. I would have millions, no billions of people (religious and non-religous alike) decrying my action as wreckless, cruel, and a myriad of other true and negative terms. How is your scripture any different to this? Do you suppose that I could get away with "God said it was true..."?

For context, this post Post No. 398

Later all. It's been eductional.

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Oh please, thats one of the oldest arguments on reccord.

If the Bible is indeed what it claims to be, the implications for us are considerable. The Bible candidly claims to be "given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16). Of course, the Bible is not the only book to claim divine inspiration, but it is unique in that it offers substantial evidence to back its claims. It even goes so far as to challenge its readers to put it to the test, exhorting us to "Test all things" 1 Thessalonians 5:21.

Provable?  Not likely.  There are no proven fallacies in the Bible at all.

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it's one of the oldest arguments huh? than please enlighten me.

I, me, myself could also write a book saying it was "divine inspiration", you know?

why does the bible contradicts itself at times?

why does god claim we must suffer for our sin but still is all benevolant(sp?) and forgiving?

i remember the episode in egypt, the grasshopper plague one with all the other plagues, why did a COUNTRY had to suffer for the supposed wrongs of ONE MAN?

if i remember correctly :unsure:

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Provable?  Not likely.  There are no proven fallacies in the Bible at all.

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Ok. How about proof linking humans to apes? That sorta contradicts the story of Adam and Eve. What about the fact that the Earth is over 11 million years old? Existence of dinosaurs...

I'm sure others could help me out with more.

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I'll leave with a genuine interest to how this question is answered. It's a question I posed a few posts back.

Given by someone who claimed that if I have enough faith and belief then I can fly:

My Question

Now imagine I attended a school full of small children today and reported the same to them. "Kids, if you believe it, you will be able to fly off that canyon." I'll then walk them to the canyon and encourage them to test their new found skill. I would have millions, no billions of people (religious and non-religous alike) decrying my action as wreckless, cruel, and a myriad of other true and negative terms. How is your scripture any different to this? Do you suppose that I could get away with "God said it was true..."?

For context, this post Post No. 398

Later all. It's been eductional.

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Talk about taking it out of context.

The Fig Tree Withers

18Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, ?May you never bear fruit again!? Immediately the tree withered.

  20When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. ?How did the fig tree wither so quickly?? they asked.

  21Jesus replied, ?I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ?Go, throw yourself into the sea,? and it will be done. 22If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.?

Trust me, you can't fly. Jesus is simply saying that if you bear fruit (again, not literally, but bear fruits of the spirit, ie love joy peace paitience kindness goodness faithfullness and self control, im sure there are more, i can't remember any off the top of my head) that you can do great things.

Sure flying would be a great thing, but is it neccessary for the kingdom of God? You would say so if it would make people believe in Christ, right? Well, I figure we should just call the entire human race Thomas: Thomas says, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe." Thomas decides he too wants to "see" the Lord. He too wants to see what all the others are claiming to have seen: a Lord who bears the marks of death- and yet is alive.

Jesus does not condemn Thomas- but he affirms him. With approval and joy Jesus is saying, "Thomas- you have seen me and believed!" It is only after he blesses Thomas- that Jesus then goes on to also bless those who have not seen, yet still believe.

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