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[–]coachreptar 26 points27 points ago

As a wavering southern baptist, our beliefs are that people that haven't heard still go to hell.

[–]Zealex 16 points17 points ago

Ain't that nice, eh?

[–]Ray57 3 points4 points ago

Does that include all abortions/miscarriages?

If not, at what age does someone becomes morally responsible enough to pay the ultimate price for not accepting an offer never made?

[–]coachreptar 2 points3 points ago

I believe that there is an age of accountability, but the age is different for everyone.

[–]Ray57 1 point2 points ago

So you have twin brothers born in Patagonia who have very different personalities.

One is practical: always playing at hunting. The other is more introspective: talking to his elders, thinking deeply about moral problems etc.

One day they are out fishing in their boat. A freak wave capsizes the boat and they both drown. One goes up, the other goes down?

[–]grgisme 2 points3 points ago

Yes, that is exactly what most non-denominational Christians I know believe as well.

[–]Ray57 4 points5 points ago

Wow. That's really messed up.

[–]coachreptar 1 point2 points ago

It's possible. It has to do with whether the kid has come to the realization of a higher being and how he has acted on it. Again this what we believe, I don't think it to be an absolute truth but logically that's how I see it.

[–]Ray57 0 points1 point ago

So what if this kid hears about the tribal god FooBar but rejects his worship because their god is a genocidal misogynist?

Does he get in because he rejected a false god?

[–]coachreptar 0 points1 point ago

I couldn't tell you, it has to do with people's personal mind and thoughts.

I'm trying my best to speak on behalf of southern baptists, most of my beliefs line up with theirs.

[–]Lemur_Lord 0 points1 point ago

Key word being beliefs. Belief can be described as something you arbitrarily decide upon with no evidence. Basically, beliefs are completely pointless without a reasonable backing. Is this not obvious?

When given specific questions even you cannot decide using your own belief system what is the correct consequence. Let alone if it's moral or not.

[–]coachreptar 0 points1 point ago

I say beliefs because I have no idea how God will judge people.

[–]ziuziak 0 points1 point ago

And so again it proves, that satan is more powerful than so called god.

[–]SPARTAN-113 -1 points0 points ago

Yeah, us Methodists don't think that God would be so harsh. Given the fact that someone has had no opportunity to accept Christ due to, isolation maybe?, they might simply be judged on how they lived their life instead. Then again none of us really knows all this, we just believe it, or hope it's true, so before the atheists start ranting, no, I don't give a damn if you don't believe in my deity or religion, I don't even go to church anymore (too early honestly to wake up) and am not here to tell others what to believe. You'll find that out when you die. Or... You will just die.

[–]mirrax 1 point2 points ago

Kind of goes against Romans and falls in the wishful thinking category

Romans 3:23

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"

Romans 6:23

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

[–]SPARTAN-113 0 points1 point ago

Yeah, it IS wishful thinking, otherwise we're almost all going to go to hell, and I must say, I doubt I'd enjoy that. And quote all you want, I am not a Fundamentalist. Some of the book's contents I do not believe to be fact or truth. I think that this argument has little merit to begin with, since I seriously doubt one of us is going to convince another that our view is right and win them over. The belief I have is logical, but I do not know of a means of which to convey it to you adequately. The fact that I am autistic no doubt has a role in this.

[–]mirrax 0 points1 point ago

I guess I understand that even less. Where do you then decide which parts are true if it isn't all of it? Even Jesus affirms the that the whole of the scriptures are true. I wouldn't put that in the realm of logic but in cognitive dissonance. Either he is God and he what he says is true otherwise what is the point of believing of him as a deity?

The problem is that absolute truth statements are made and it doesn't leave room for grey. If there are parts that you find not to be true, you may want to have a serious evaluation of your beliefs. It's rather all or nothing. Unless you want to believe that those passages aren't true either...

Either way your views are not internally consistent and discussing them is pointless exercise.

[–]SPARTAN-113 0 points1 point ago

I see your point, but the idea of "All or nothing," does have a few problems. Firstly, the scripture often says one thing, then says the opposite later. Secondly, we know that AT LEAST one book is completely fictional: the Book of Job. The idea that God would make a deal with the devil, using a man's soul as a prize, would never occur. He said it himself, after-all... Do not make deals with Satan, and do not offer your soul or that of another. I find it unlikely that He would break this rule that he himself layer out. Not saying he never did on other things, but this was just an example.

[–]mirrax 0 points1 point ago

Here is the problem, the book of Job was canon in both the Tanahk and the Septuagint when Jesus said that not a dot or tittle would pass. Further than that 2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is "god-breathed" (referring to the Old Testament). So you can't throw out Job without making the words of both Jesus and Paul wrong. If the words of Paul and Jesus aren't reliable you don't have a New Testament. Because if one piece is fictional it makes the absolute truth statements false.

So if scripture says one thing and then contradicts itself later, you are making a case against it. You either have to make peace and justify the parts that are problematic and contradictory, or throw it out. You can't have both.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

uhhh. I don't think NdGT said that.

[–]apoutwest 13 points14 points ago

"This is why it's vitally important to shoot all missionaries on sight"

-Terry Pratchett

[–]Xanzent 3 points4 points ago

Luke 19:40 - "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."

Many interpret this to mean that there's no excuse for not believing, thus all non-believers are damned to hell, whether or not they have been told about Jesus from people.

I'm still waiting for these fucking rocks to cry out.

[–]mirrax 1 point2 points ago

That is untrue. Christians believe that people who haven't heard are still judged by God.

Romans 10:9-1 ESV

"because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? "

[–]Urbano35 1 point2 points ago

The argument is that God reaches out to each and every person somehow.

[–]Dantheunicornman 3 points4 points ago

But still wont show himself to each and every person

[–]COKeefe88 1 point2 points ago

As a Catholic: it's heaven or hell for everyone, but that's a major oversimplification. Not all damnation is equal. Dante represents that well in the Inferno. Those who lack faith in Christ, whether by ignorance or denial, need not have such a bad fate if they live basically good lives. Aristotle does a good job of laying out the requirements of pagan virtue in the Nichomachean Ethics. So, for the non-believer who is mostly virtuous, regardless of whether he's heard of Christ, he might have a fate which is just kind of...empty. It might even not be all that different from life on earth in certain respects. He wouldn't have the supernatural addition of great goods, but he also wouldn't necessarily have the pain of great evils.

[–]Ohnoeee 1 point2 points ago

That's cute, you think you know how the world works through fairy tales.

[–]syphilis_smile -1 points0 points ago

You can get an accurate depiction of Christian theology through Dante. That Virgil was his guide in the classical series (in addition to the souls he meets on the 9th ring of hell) shows the baseline pre-Reformation Christian belief that even non-initiated souls are condemned to hell in their version of events if they haven't accepted Christ.

With that being said, I always use that fact to question why such people as the Buddha or other goodly humans are condemned to hell, while Nazi catholics are allowed into heaven simply because they ask for forgiveness. Hail Satan is the only answer I can come up with.

[–]Ohnoeee 0 points1 point ago

Or the answer is that religion is just bs.

[–]kenneth1221 0 points1 point ago

Well, seeing as though Christians violate half the rules and guidelines of the bible...

Misery loves company.

[–]mirrax 0 points1 point ago

Nearly all Christians believe that everyone is fucked up. The whole point of Christianity instead of Judaism was that no one could perfectly keep all the rules. That everyone is depraved. And that the only way to get to heaven isn't to follow the rules. But once you are on the way you want to follow the rules.

You aren't going to catch anyone on the hypocrite card because that's part of their central doctrine.

[–]delafey1777 0 points1 point ago

I've heard of Heaven and Hell.....and given the choice, I choose to rock out and catch a buzz. \m/

[–]LoveKebab 0 points1 point ago

Haha in that case:

http://qkme.me/3od9l8

[–]thetheist 0 points1 point ago

There are two kinds of "hellfire" Christians that you meet. One kind is concerned that you're going to burn in hell. (Hi Mom!) The other kind is concerned with making sure that you know you'll be burning in hell while they're in heaven.

[–]otakuman 0 points1 point ago

Think of it as a chain letter. If people don't know about hell, they won't go to hell, but if you don't warn them, then YOU'RE going to hell.

[–]typtyphus -1 points0 points ago*

me being a Christian: Yes

[–]djm1st -1 points0 points ago

It's kinda like going to a nice resort on the beach... you don't want any poor or ugly people there... oh, or any hispanics... unless they're cleaning or providing drinks

/sarcasm