QUOTE
Originally posted by Happyboy
1. Buddism has a good story I found during my studies. It is how they approach the different religions.
Many have heard it...."The blind men and the elephant". It has even made its way into today's movies in the Matrix.
The story basically says that we are all limited in what we see ( I say that is by education) and we all strongly believe that what we see is what it is and that noone else is right. But if you can stand back and look at the world as a whole we are all talking about different pieces of the same entity.
That sums up what I believe in a nutshell. I personally believe that
2. Christ is the son god and he gave his life for us.
3. Is that the requirement for getting into heaven?
4. Are others that have given thier lives for the enlightement of others but didn't believe this going to ****? I sure hope not.
5. If so there are a ton of good people that went to ****.
6. I personally would hope that our God wouldn't be this petty.
Sorry if this got jarbled. Like I said, I certainly don't have the background that I should, so I put this together as best I could.
I have labeled you points and my responses for clarity, I hope. I also would like to state that I am not trying to make anybody mad. These are my beliefs, I welcome any comments.
1. Buddism has a good story. I agree, good story, and some valid points. I have read "the greatest man that ever lived, Buddah." I forgot who wrote it. Unfortunatly it can be refuted with the Bible on pretty much all levels. Buddah never claimed to be a god, Demi god, deity, etc. He was a Prince, Husband and Father, He had responsibilities to Country, Wife, and Child, but he climbed over a wall and left them. Did he tell anyone or did he sneak out? He abandoned all of his responsibilties to become a begger. Not much of a man to follow his example of at this point. There are no witnesses to any of the events that can be varified. No historicial location, people, etc. to even say he lived. I may be wrong and if so please point me to the information. I could go on if you are interested in a Biblicial point by point. The main one being that Buddah, was a sinner, died and is buried somewhere (if he ever lived). Jesus has historical proof outside of the Bible, locations that exist today, people in political power to verify his existance. Never turned from His responsibilities, Death on the Cross to pay for our sins. IS God, and was resurrected, defeating death.
2. Christ is the son god and he gave his life for us. Yes, but the fuller explainationis He IS God. Immanual = God with us. God in the flesh. Third personage of the Trinity (God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit)
3. Is that the requirement for getting into heaven? Yes, Romans 10:9 "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Some people have an intellectual (sp) belief in Jesus. Like they do of George Washington. That won't do it. James 2:19 Jesus says"You believe there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that and shudder." Demons have an intellectual (sp) belief in God. They know who he is.
4a. Are others that have given thier lives for the enlightement of others but didn't believe this going to ****? 4b. I sure hope not.
4a. I can't honestly answer. No man knows what's in another mans heart. The Bible warns about false teachings. Buddah believed that he would accend to nirvana. God says in the Bible that he knows of none that have made it.
4b. I sure hope not also. But **** was not created for Humans. We choose by our unbelief to not be with God. It says in Revelation that in the end times during the coming judgements that man will still curse God, so they Gotta go somewhere.
5. If so there are a ton of good people that went to ****. We come back to the "good people" I don't know any. The standard, or ruler to measure are the 10 commandments. I can't get past the first one. I have broken all of them at one time or another. Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." and Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
6. I personally would hope that our God wouldn't be this petty.
Petty and God I don't think go in the same sentence. Here's why. If you take a 100 gallons of pure white paint, and put one drop of black paint in it, is it still pure white? God is Holy, Pure, Mighty, and rightous, if he allowed for someone in sin to be with him, without accepting Jesus payment for that sin, than he would be like the white paint with the black paint in it. Not really petty, he has a way for people to join him, all you have to do is accept.
I am enjoying the conversation, after an average of two years most christians don't know any non-believers.
Smitty