People who believe their religion is the only true religion

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know some very intelligent people who are Christian and believe that Christianity is the only religion that is “right”. — all other religions are wrong and followers of those religions are going to hell. How can anyone honestly believe this? It seems incredibly ethnocentric to me given so many ancient religions, billions of people who follow other religions, and the fact that there is no proof that any religion is superior. I respect those who have faith and believe that all have the right to their own beliefs, but why so judgy? What makes your book more credible than other texts?

I'm a Christian. I believe that Christianity is the most "complete" religion but that many religions offer truth and that Christianity as it is understood currently in American society is limited. I believe in heaven but think there will be people there from all parts of history, geography, etc. I think that we are all accountable for the knowledge we do have. A baseline for me (and I may be wrong) is recognizing that there is a loving creator, that we live in a "broken" world, that we need God and that there is hope for us as individuals/humanity/earth.

When you say that people from all geographies and parts of history will be in heaven do you include people from other faiths?

Yeah, that poster you're quoting left out the most controversial parts of Christianity. Can we get into heaven by some way other than through believing in Jesus?

And what if we think that Jesus was probably a really great guy who we can all learn from but we’re not sure that he was the son of God. Maybe he was. But how can I really be sure? Am I hell bound in your eyes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Christians are hardly the only groups who believe this.

Look at fighting between Buddhist, Hindus, and Muslims in Asia.

Do Buddhists really believe their religion is the only true one and that everyone else will go to hell? I don't think so.

Don't paint these religions with such a broad brush.

yes- ask hindus living in sri lanka. Buddhism is just as varied in how it is interpreted as any other faith, there is just as much violence and intolerance and denigration of women in certain pockets of the buddhist world as in any other. just b/c they don't believe in hell-doest mean anything since certain groups think non buddhists lives are not as evolved and can be erased without any karmic consequence which is frankly more dangerous than evangelicals saying ppl are going to hell if they don't believe in jesus. I'm speaking from a cultural anthro background and am neither christian, hindu or buddhist. hindus in general are incredibly laid back and tolerant but there are some who kill people suspected of killing cows or unscheduled caste members who try to marry into a higher caste. There are extremists in all religious groups b/c religion is used to control people and create order in societies.

ps he map thing is amazing !!

Sometimes it's used that way. Not always. Religion can be a force for good.

You can also have both good and bad without religion

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love the map description. I wish everyone could follow that and accept that some don’t want a map at all.

There are extremists in all religions so singling out one is not helpful. I just don’t understand how intelligent people can be so tunnel visioned.

As was said earlier -- they learn it as kids from authority figures and it sticks -- in some cases.

[Anonymous]

Those kinds of people are the ones with the weakest faith.

Being resistant to learning about, entertaining, and seeing the perspective of other beliefs means your conviction is just tremendously weak.

[Anonymous]

Religion is an excuse for everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Also that the bible says "when 2 or more are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst" so really church can be anywhere at anytime, God doesn't care.

The verse you quoted is about church discipline.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know some very intelligent people who are Christian and believe that Christianity is the only religion that is “right”. — all other religions are wrong and followers of those religions are going to hell. How can anyone honestly believe this? It seems incredibly ethnocentric to me given so many ancient religions, billions of people who follow other religions, and the fact that there is no proof that any religion is superior. I respect those who have faith and believe that all have the right to their own beliefs, but why so judgy? What makes your book more credible than other texts?

I'm a Christian. I believe that Christianity is the most "complete" religion but that many religions offer truth and that Christianity as it is understood currently in American society is limited. I believe in heaven but think there will be people there from all parts of history, geography, etc. I think that we are all accountable for the knowledge we do have. A baseline for me (and I may be wrong) is recognizing that there is a loving creator, that we live in a "broken" world, that we need God and that there is hope for us as individuals/humanity/earth.

When you say that people from all geographies and parts of history will be in heaven do you include people from other faiths?

I am a DP, but I am specifically Eastern Christian and believe the same.

Essentially, my belief is that to those who have been given more, more will be expected.

In other words, those who have the 'map' will have the most expected of them when they reach the awesome judgement seat of Christ. Those who do not have a map will be judged based on how well they understood the love of God imprinted in their hearts (even if they did not understand it) and acted on it.

Also-- when we say that Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and that no one goes is saved except through Him, that is because He is the one who conquered death. God became man so that man can become like God. The only way any of us reach Heaven is because of Christ's sacrifice. He opened the gates for us all, including those who never heard of Him, He made it possible for anyone to reach heaven.

We want to welcome people into the Church because the path becomes easier to understand and maintain through the lens of Christ, thus making it easier for them to reach Heaven. That does not mean someone who has never heard of Christ, or (for example) had a terrible experience with Christians who made it impossible to see the true love of Christ, will not be able to reach heaven.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know some very intelligent people who are Christian and believe that Christianity is the only religion that is “right”. — all other religions are wrong and followers of those religions are going to hell. How can anyone honestly believe this? It seems incredibly ethnocentric to me given so many ancient religions, billions of people who follow other religions, and the fact that there is no proof that any religion is superior. I respect those who have faith and believe that all have the right to their own beliefs, but why so judgy? What makes your book more credible than other texts?

I'm a Christian. I believe that Christianity is the most "complete" religion but that many religions offer truth and that Christianity as it is understood currently in American society is limited. I believe in heaven but think there will be people there from all parts of history, geography, etc. I think that we are all accountable for the knowledge we do have. A baseline for me (and I may be wrong) is recognizing that there is a loving creator, that we live in a "broken" world, that we need God and that there is hope for us as individuals/humanity/earth.

When you say that people from all geographies and parts of history will be in heaven do you include people from other faiths?

I am a DP, but I am specifically Eastern Christian and believe the same.

Essentially, my belief is that to those who have been given more, more will be expected.

In other words, those who have the 'map' will have the most expected of them when they reach the awesome judgement seat of Christ. Those who do not have a map will be judged based on how well they understood the love of God imprinted in their hearts (even if they did not understand it) and acted on it.

Also-- when we say that Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and that no one goes is saved except through Him, that is because He is the one who conquered death. God became man so that man can become like God. The only way any of us reach Heaven is because of Christ's sacrifice. He opened the gates for us all, including those who never heard of Him, He made it possible for anyone to reach heaven.

We want to welcome people into the Church because the path becomes easier to understand and maintain through the lens of Christ, thus making it easier for them to reach Heaven. That does not mean someone who has never heard of Christ, or (for example) had a terrible experience with Christians who made it impossible to see the true love of Christ, will not be able to reach heaven.

That's a lovely rationalization that allows you to keep you religious beliefs while not excluding others from the promise of eternal life. However, there no basis for this thinking in the Bible or church dogma.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know some very intelligent people who are Christian and believe that Christianity is the only religion that is “right”. — all other religions are wrong and followers of those religions are going to hell. How can anyone honestly believe this? It seems incredibly ethnocentric to me given so many ancient religions, billions of people who follow other religions, and the fact that there is no proof that any religion is superior. I respect those who have faith and believe that all have the right to their own beliefs, but why so judgy? What makes your book more credible than other texts?

I'm a Christian. I believe that Christianity is the most "complete" religion but that many religions offer truth and that Christianity as it is understood currently in American society is limited. I believe in heaven but think there will be people there from all parts of history, geography, etc. I think that we are all accountable for the knowledge we do have. A baseline for me (and I may be wrong) is recognizing that there is a loving creator, that we live in a "broken" world, that we need God and that there is hope for us as individuals/humanity/earth.

When you say that people from all geographies and parts of history will be in heaven do you include people from other faiths?

I am a DP, but I am specifically Eastern Christian and believe the same.

Essentially, my belief is that to those who have been given more, more will be expected.

In other words, those who have the 'map' will have the most expected of them when they reach the awesome judgement seat of Christ. Those who do not have a map will be judged based on how well they understood the love of God imprinted in their hearts (even if they did not understand it) and acted on it.

Also-- when we say that Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and that no one goes is saved except through Him, that is because He is the one who conquered death. God became man so that man can become like God. The only way any of us reach Heaven is because of Christ's sacrifice. He opened the gates for us all, including those who never heard of Him, He made it possible for anyone to reach heaven.

We want to welcome people into the Church because the path becomes easier to understand and maintain through the lens of Christ, thus making it easier for them to reach Heaven. That does not mean someone who has never heard of Christ, or (for example) had a terrible experience with Christians who made it impossible to see the true love of Christ, will not be able to reach heaven.

That's a lovely rationalization that allows you to keep you religious beliefs while not excluding others from the promise of eternal life. However, there no basis for this thinking in the Bible or church dogma.

Ha! Oh yes it does. Please see to get started:

Origen (his writings were condemned for other reasons)
St. Gregory of Nyssa
St. Isaac the Syrian
Hans urs van Balthasar
scholar-bishop Hilarion Alfeyev of Volokolamsk
Met. Kallistos Ware

A quote to get you started
"Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus. All the categorical strength and point of this aphorism lies in its tautology. Outside the Church there is no salvation, because salvation is the Church" (G. Florovsky, "Sobornost: the Catholicity of the Church", in The Church of God, p. 53). Does it therefore follow that anyone who is not visibly within the Church is necessarily damned? Of course not; still less does it follow that everyone who is visibly within the Church is necessarily saved. As Augustine wisely remarked: "How many sheep there are without, how many wolves within!" (Homilies on John, 45, 12) While there is no division between a "visible" and an "invisible Church", yet there may be members of the Church who are not visibly such, but whose membership is known to God alone. If anyone is saved, he must in some sense be a member of the Church; in what sense, we cannot always say.[4]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know some very intelligent people who are Christian and believe that Christianity is the only religion that is “right”. — all other religions are wrong and followers of those religions are going to hell. How can anyone honestly believe this? It seems incredibly ethnocentric to me given so many ancient religions, billions of people who follow other religions, and the fact that there is no proof that any religion is superior. I respect those who have faith and believe that all have the right to their own beliefs, but why so judgy? What makes your book more credible than other texts?

I'm a Christian. I believe that Christianity is the most "complete" religion but that many religions offer truth and that Christianity as it is understood currently in American society is limited. I believe in heaven but think there will be people there from all parts of history, geography, etc. I think that we are all accountable for the knowledge we do have. A baseline for me (and I may be wrong) is recognizing that there is a loving creator, that we live in a "broken" world, that we need God and that there is hope for us as individuals/humanity/earth.

When you say that people from all geographies and parts of history will be in heaven do you include people from other faiths?

I am a DP, but I am specifically Eastern Christian and believe the same.

Essentially, my belief is that to those who have been given more, more will be expected.

In other words, those who have the 'map' will have the most expected of them when they reach the awesome judgement seat of Christ. Those who do not have a map will be judged based on how well they understood the love of God imprinted in their hearts (even if they did not understand it) and acted on it.

Also-- when we say that Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and that no one goes is saved except through Him, that is because He is the one who conquered death. God became man so that man can become like God. The only way any of us reach Heaven is because of Christ's sacrifice. He opened the gates for us all, including those who never heard of Him, He made it possible for anyone to reach heaven.

We want to welcome people into the Church because the path becomes easier to understand and maintain through the lens of Christ, thus making it easier for them to reach Heaven. That does not mean someone who has never heard of Christ, or (for example) had a terrible experience with Christians who made it impossible to see the true love of Christ, will not be able to reach heaven.

? But what about Muslims and Jews, for example. They don't believe Jesus is the way, the truth and the Life and no one can be saved except thru him. Can they get into Heaven, yes or no?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Christianity is the only religion that is fundamentally based on faith instead of works

That's a key difference and why I believe in Christianity over other religions.

Not all of us Christians. Only the Protestants. Speak for yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why bother believing in a religion if you do not think it is the right one?
If another religion or faith is right, then why are you wanting your time with that one instead of the other

My middle school religion teacher said something that has stuck with me all this time.
We're all just people wandering through the forest, hoping to find our way out without getting eaten by bear or something. We have a map - our religion's teachings. We are confident that this map is correct, and if we follow this map we'll end up out of the woods and into heaven.
But just because we firmly believe our map is right, and we will continue to follow our map, that doesn't mean that other people's maps are wrong. Some people (ie, other denominations of Christians, in our case), seem to be walking on nearly identical paths and trails through the woods. Other people (even some with a map labeled the same as mine!) seem to be walking in circles or backwards.
I can, and should, share my map with anyone who wants it - and even invite people to follow me and my map, especially if they seem lost in the woods.
But it's really not my place at all to be snatching maps from other people or to be denigrating other maps.
I'm deep in the woods. I can't see the exit. Maybe their maps get to the exact same place, just on a different path. Maybe there path is more direct and easier. Maybe it's more circuitous and harder.
All I know if that I believe my map will get me out of the woods, so follow my own map, invite anyone who wants to join me on my trails, and leave everyone else to follow their own map without my making things harder for them.

I like this too, but the problem is that most religions, doctrine-wise, are mutually exclusive. Catholics, for example, believe that Christian baptism is necessary for salvation. It's unclear whether this means Catholic baptism, but let's just say any Christian baptism will work. This means that anyone not baptized will go to hell. It's not fashionable to talk about this right now, but that's the deal. Of course, there are many other religions, mutually exclusive from Catholicism, that believe the opposite when it comes to their rituals. Therefore, one of three things is true:

1. One of the religions is right, therefore everyone other than that religion's adherents are going to suffer eternally in hellfire, and only their people get to go to heaven;
2. All of the religions are right, therefore everyone is going to simultaneously be in heaven and hell at the same time for eternity (doesn't seem likely);
3. None of the religions is right, therefore no one is going to suffer eternally in hellfire or go to heaven, or maybe if there is an afterlife, it's open to everyone, or at least to people who didn't totally suck in their time on Earth

I tend to go with (3.)

That actually is a not what current-day Catholicism teaches, but it is what a lot of people think it says, even some Catholics (usually those who never studied the religion past grade school). Actually, those who die without baptism are "entrusted by the Church to the mercy of God." The Church has it "map" and doesn't pretend to know God's will for those who don't have that same map.

Hellfire and brimstone is very old fashioned, by the way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why bother believing in a religion if you do not think it is the right one?
If another religion or faith is right, then why are you wanting your time with that one instead of the other

My middle school religion teacher said something that has stuck with me all this time.
We're all just people wandering through the forest, hoping to find our way out without getting eaten by bear or something. We have a map - our religion's teachings. We are confident that this map is correct, and if we follow this map we'll end up out of the woods and into heaven.
But just because we firmly believe our map is right, and we will continue to follow our map, that doesn't mean that other people's maps are wrong. Some people (ie, other denominations of Christians, in our case), seem to be walking on nearly identical paths and trails through the woods. Other people (even some with a map labeled the same as mine!) seem to be walking in circles or backwards.
I can, and should, share my map with anyone who wants it - and even invite people to follow me and my map, especially if they seem lost in the woods.
But it's really not my place at all to be snatching maps from other people or to be denigrating other maps.
I'm deep in the woods. I can't see the exit. Maybe their maps get to the exact same place, just on a different path. Maybe there path is more direct and easier. Maybe it's more circuitous and harder.
All I know if that I believe my map will get me out of the woods, so follow my own map, invite anyone who wants to join me on my trails, and leave everyone else to follow their own map without my making things harder for them.

I like this too, but the problem is that most religions, doctrine-wise, are mutually exclusive. Catholics, for example, believe that Christian baptism is necessary for salvation. It's unclear whether this means Catholic baptism, but let's just say any Christian baptism will work. This means that anyone not baptized will go to hell. It's not fashionable to talk about this right now, but that's the deal. Of course, there are many other religions, mutually exclusive from Catholicism, that believe the opposite when it comes to their rituals. Therefore, one of three things is true:

1. One of the religions is right, therefore everyone other than that religion's adherents are going to suffer eternally in hellfire, and only their people get to go to heaven;
2. All of the religions are right, therefore everyone is going to simultaneously be in heaven and hell at the same time for eternity (doesn't seem likely);
3. None of the religions is right, therefore no one is going to suffer eternally in hellfire or go to heaven, or maybe if there is an afterlife, it's open to everyone, or at least to people who didn't totally suck in their time on Earth

I tend to go with (3.)

That actually is a not what current-day Catholicism teaches, but it is what a lot of people think it says, even some Catholics (usually those who never studied the religion past grade school). Actually, those who die without baptism are "entrusted by the Church to the mercy of God." The Church has it "map" and doesn't pretend to know God's will for those who don't have that same map.

Hellfire and brimstone is very old fashioned, by the way.

That doesn't make it untrue. It's in the Bible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know some very intelligent people who are Christian and believe that Christianity is the only religion that is “right”. — all other religions are wrong and followers of those religions are going to hell. How can anyone honestly believe this? It seems incredibly ethnocentric to me given so many ancient religions, billions of people who follow other religions, and the fact that there is no proof that any religion is superior. I respect those who have faith and believe that all have the right to their own beliefs, but why so judgy? What makes your book more credible than other texts?

I'm a Christian. I believe that Christianity is the most "complete" religion but that many religions offer truth and that Christianity as it is understood currently in American society is limited. I believe in heaven but think there will be people there from all parts of history, geography, etc. I think that we are all accountable for the knowledge we do have. A baseline for me (and I may be wrong) is recognizing that there is a loving creator, that we live in a "broken" world, that we need God and that there is hope for us as individuals/humanity/earth.

When you say that people from all geographies and parts of history will be in heaven do you include people from other faiths?

I am a DP, but I am specifically Eastern Christian and believe the same.

Essentially, my belief is that to those who have been given more, more will be expected.

In other words, those who have the 'map' will have the most expected of them when they reach the awesome judgement seat of Christ. Those who do not have a map will be judged based on how well they understood the love of God imprinted in their hearts (even if they did not understand it) and acted on it.

Also-- when we say that Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and that no one goes is saved except through Him, that is because He is the one who conquered death. God became man so that man can become like God. The only way any of us reach Heaven is because of Christ's sacrifice. He opened the gates for us all, including those who never heard of Him, He made it possible for anyone to reach heaven.

We want to welcome people into the Church because the path becomes easier to understand and maintain through the lens of Christ, thus making it easier for them to reach Heaven. That does not mean someone who has never heard of Christ, or (for example) had a terrible experience with Christians who made it impossible to see the true love of Christ, will not be able to reach heaven.

? But what about Muslims and Jews, for example. They don't believe Jesus is the way, the truth and the Life and no one can be saved except thru him. Can they get into Heaven, yes or no?

Not according to CHristians, But according to their own religion, yes.

It's a crap shoot -- you find out after you die, assuming there's anything to find out by that time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know some very intelligent people who are Christian and believe that Christianity is the only religion that is “right”. — all other religions are wrong and followers of those religions are going to hell. How can anyone honestly believe this? It seems incredibly ethnocentric to me given so many ancient religions, billions of people who follow other religions, and the fact that there is no proof that any religion is superior. I respect those who have faith and believe that all have the right to their own beliefs, but why so judgy? What makes your book more credible than other texts?

I'm a Christian. I believe that Christianity is the most "complete" religion but that many religions offer truth and that Christianity as it is understood currently in American society is limited. I believe in heaven but think there will be people there from all parts of history, geography, etc. I think that we are all accountable for the knowledge we do have. A baseline for me (and I may be wrong) is recognizing that there is a loving creator, that we live in a "broken" world, that we need God and that there is hope for us as individuals/humanity/earth.

When you say that people from all geographies and parts of history will be in heaven do you include people from other faiths?

I am a DP, but I am specifically Eastern Christian and believe the same.

Essentially, my belief is that to those who have been given more, more will be expected.

In other words, those who have the 'map' will have the most expected of them when they reach the awesome judgement seat of Christ. Those who do not have a map will be judged based on how well they understood the love of God imprinted in their hearts (even if they did not understand it) and acted on it.

Also-- when we say that Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and that no one goes is saved except through Him, that is because He is the one who conquered death. God became man so that man can become like God. The only way any of us reach Heaven is because of Christ's sacrifice. He opened the gates for us all, including those who never heard of Him, He made it possible for anyone to reach heaven.

We want to welcome people into the Church because the path becomes easier to understand and maintain through the lens of Christ, thus making it easier for them to reach Heaven. That does not mean someone who has never heard of Christ, or (for example) had a terrible experience with Christians who made it impossible to see the true love of Christ, will not be able to reach heaven.

Did you devise that yourself or were you taught it be an open-minded cleric? Either way, it does not negate church dogma, which says no such thing.

It's a nice thought, but rules are rules.