Hey Christians, what about all those who lived and died before they ....

If religion is what you have then it’s no wonder why those who have that cannot explain what will happen to people who lived and died and have never heard the gospel.

 

I don't see what garyd said that is condemning. He's just quoting Jesus' words that those who are spiritually blind cannot understand the gospel when they hear it.

 

It's that he seems to view anyone who doesn't follow Jesus as "spiritually blind".

That strikes me as being condemning, particularly when taken in light of the topic of this thread and the general view many Christians have of other religions.

 

Well, that is what Jesus said. Jesus came to declare the Father and to reveal the purpose for man's existence and to make it possible for man to get back on track. Religion is a creation of man that is why you will never know what your true purpose through religion because only the creator is qualified to tell us what it is.

 

I know it is what Jesus said. And it is one of the issues I have with Christianity.
And I take issue when it's followers parrot it.

You can believe what ever you like about God, Jesus, and anything else.
What I take offense at is when your religion is used as a scare tactic to pull others into it.

 

It is what it is. Do you really believe that you can know what your purpose is if you are ignorant of why God made you?

What religion? I didn't say anything about religion. I'm talking about the purpose for human existence. You cannot know what your purpose is on your own. You may think you can but you would be like a car that thinks its purpose is to fly, or to be like a submarine. Without divine revelation human beings are like a blind man stumbling around trying to find his way.

 

And that is what I'm talking about.

You do understand that Christianity is no different than Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, or any one of the multitude of religions, right? And that it isn't the sole source of "divine revelation" out there?

And to address your concerns, I do have a God-given path I follow. It's found in the Torah, and it's called Judaism. The difference is that I don't believe that it is the only way.

 

What makes Jesus' alleged sayings any more relevant than any other religious leader such as Mohammed, or Guru Nanak?

 

Well if we are correct he was the Son of God. That trumps any normal man even one that may be very wise. If you truely believe in Christ then realy that person could not accept that any other religion is true. It goes hand in hand with the faiths belief structure. If they were too alow for other faiths being true then that would invalidate key portions of the Holy Scriptures. So as a true believer in the Gospals I have to believe that there realy is only one direct road to heavan and all other faiths are false.

 

And what does Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, or any one of the multitude of religions say is the purpose for man's existence? Do they tell us why the universe was created?

 

Because He is God in bodily form....He is the one that the Father sent to declare the truth of God to man. To reject Jesus is to turn you back on your purpose.

 

Typically, yes.

 

And what do they say it is?

 

It depends on the religion.

 

A fair enough question... One that also doesn't apply to people who KNOW about Jesus and yet reject him. You know what I mean?

I'm not the best person to answer this though, because I'm not exactly a Biblical scholar, and I'm actually an agnostic. But here are a few ways I'd guess the question could be answered.

1) "Everyone can see God through Creation." I thought there's a verse in the Bible about how you simply have to look at the world to see God's existence. Not quite sure where that'd be found in the Bible though, I'm guessing Paul's epistles.
2) For the people who kept God's commandments, obeyed the law, believed in the coming Messiah, etc., you could argue that all those faithful people before the time of Christ went to Abraham's side... Basically there was hell on one side, where all the naughty people went, a chasm, and then on the other side was Abraham and those who were faithful. When Christ died on the cross, he went to Abraham's side, to this little purgatory-like hangout for the faithful, and when he rose he brought those people into heaven or whatever, and now that side of the chasm is empty; the faithful who believed in the promise of Christ have gone up to heaven.
3) And this is the one I'd personally give... In the gospel of John there's an instance where Jesus heals a blind man by smearing mud and spit in his eyes (and you thought modern doctors were odd). The Pharisees couldn't believe that man was blind but now could see. Jesus tells them something like, "I have come into the world that the blind may see, and those who see may become blind." The Pharisees ask, "What? Are we blind?" And Jesus says, "If you were blind, you would certainly not be guilty of sin. BUT NOW THAT YOU CLAIM TO SEE, YOUR GUILT REMAINS." (Pardon me for paraphrasing, I don't have my Bible with me). So, my take on that is that if someone is truly ignorant of Christ, if they've never heard from him, if they're too young to know of him before they die, etc., their sin (or not accepting Christ) won't count against them. Yet to those who DO know of Christ, and yet choose to reject him, then their guilt remains.

But its a good question you asked, and I'm sure many ministers will give different responses to it. But me personally, I'd say that those who never really had the opportunity to decide between Christ or condemnation, God won't hold it against them. But for those who do reject Christ, they won't have a defense. I think there's the line in the Bible that goes something like, "Woe to the man who knows the truth and yet rejects it. Better for him that he'd never lived at all."

But again, you have to pardon me for paraphrasing. I'm absent a Bible here, and I'm only an agnostic.

 

I realize that.....I was expecting you to give some examples of the ones you know about.....what they say is man's purpose and why the universe was created.

 

Don't you know? Why would you choose the one you have, if you don't know what the alternatives offer?

 

I'm guessing you are able to answer the question I asked Tarheeler.

 

Why on earth would you expect me to do so?

The information is easily available to anyone who wants to learn it. The choice is yours.

 

So how do you know that Christianity is no different than all the others? I don't see anything in the Old Testament/Totah that teaches Judaism or that God instituted Judaism.

 

Because I've studied many religions, as well as various topics in religious studies.
It's a course of action I'd strongly suggest you follow if you wish to discuss these issues at length.

For some reason, I don't doubt that at all.

 

Studying religion and understanding the gospel are two different things. The gospel is not about religion it is about the kingdom of God and God's invitation to man to enter it and to rule with Him.

The Old Testament and the New Testament basically is about the same thing.....which is the re-establishment of the kingdom of God back on the Earth.

 

And, in this thread, we're discussing religion. Which includes Christianity.

Yeah, that's like saying a gun and a slingshot are basically the same thing.

 

I go where the opportunity is. But the problem is because most people think the Bible is about Christian religion they would not allow me to discuss the gospel outside of this thread. The gospel is about the government of God and religion has nothing to do with government. Why do you think Jesus is called a king? Don't you know or have you never heard that the Bible says the saints will rule with Jesus? Do you know that Jesus said that Abraham and others will be with Him in the kingdom?

That only proves that you do not understand why God made man. The danger of religion is that it hides and covers up the truth. When God made Adam and Eve He gave them dominion over the Earth......He did not give them a religion. Those who are into religion will not understand the gospel. The Bible says that Jesus preached the gospel of the kingdom not the gospel of religion. The Bible says that Abraham looked for a City whose builder and maker is God.

 

What you don't seem to understand is that all of that means nothing outside of your religion.
And outside of your religion is where this conversation is taking place.

If you are unable to uncouple yourself and participate, that's fine.
I'll just move along.