For followers of "less popular" spiritual path's
Here's my struggle and I would love to hear others comments about it. I was raised Lutheran and essentially learned that only Christian's can go to heaven. I have been on a spiritual journey and am being exposed to other religion/beliefs, ie Toltec,Buddishm, beliefs in law of attraction, and others. My mother would have a cow if she knew I was finding more comfort and wisdom in these other beliefs than in Christianity. How is it that each religion can say only if you believe "their way", will you go to heaven? Is there a right religion or wrong? What if I believe the wrong one (although I feel better and more whole) and go to hell? If I beleive that God scattered people and they all had their own language and religion, wouldn't they share a common basis since God scattered the people? So are the religions that different in the core?
Evening all, I'll get some questions answered and more info to you over the next few days. We had a huge storm hit our area last night, took down power lines, and we would up in the dark until around midnight last night.
I checked with our chase teams and the national weather service today and both have confirmed that a funnel cloud went over the north side of my town..and I live on the north side. My wind gauge stopped at 78.8 mph and is still reading that speed even today. Wires or something snapped up on the tower. The sound was like a huge waterfall hitting our roof except it wasn't raining at the time. Weird and I chase these things for a living, just never sat through one. House is fine, few loose shingles and some vines down but all in all we were lucky.
Back when I settle down a little more..first time in over 20 yrs a storm of this size has bothered me.
I checked with our chase teams and the national weather service today and both have confirmed that a funnel cloud went over the north side of my town..and I live on the north side. My wind gauge stopped at 78.8 mph and is still reading that speed even today. Wires or something snapped up on the tower. The sound was like a huge waterfall hitting our roof except it wasn't raining at the time. Weird and I chase these things for a living, just never sat through one. House is fine, few loose shingles and some vines down but all in all we were lucky.
Back when I settle down a little more..first time in over 20 yrs a storm of this size has bothered me.
"May God grant us the wisdom to discover right, the will to choose it, and the strength to make it endure."
luv cats, I also was raised Luth. and so was my husband. Only Christians do go to heaven..True. Who then is a Christian? Are all Lutherans? Baptists? Catholics etc. No! Going to church does NOT make one a Christian. Only being a follower of Jesus Christ gets you to heaven. He said "I am the way, the truth and the life." No man comes to the Father except thru me." There is a HUGE difference between being a person with religion or having a relationship with Jesus. I was raised Lutheran. I knew all about Him but did not know Him personally. You get to know Him personally by asking Him to come into your heart, talking to Him, I journal to Him and write what He tells me because I don't get it the first time. He is always there for you. He speaks to you thru His word the Bible. People don't understand the Bible but when you ask him into your heart and ask for revelation as you read His word, you understand more.
Oh, my mother did have a cow when we left the Luth. church. She said "your father would roll over in his grave if he knew you switched churches." We are much happier where we are now. That doesn't mean this church is perfect. There is no perfect church. You can know without a doubt you are going to heaven. No ifs ands or buts but I have said enough and may get myself in trouble here. I know everyone has different beliefs and some will say I'm preaching so if you want to know more you can PM me. Once again there are many Christians who do not set a good example and again there are many nice people who are not Christian. You do not get to heaven by being good. It's by God's grace.Hope I answered your questions.
Oh, my mother did have a cow when we left the Luth. church. She said "your father would roll over in his grave if he knew you switched churches." We are much happier where we are now. That doesn't mean this church is perfect. There is no perfect church. You can know without a doubt you are going to heaven. No ifs ands or buts but I have said enough and may get myself in trouble here. I know everyone has different beliefs and some will say I'm preaching so if you want to know more you can PM me. Once again there are many Christians who do not set a good example and again there are many nice people who are not Christian. You do not get to heaven by being good. It's by God's grace.Hope I answered your questions.
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Mark in OP
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Tue May 15, 2007 1:53 pm
LuvCats, although the majority of Christians believe in original sin and therefor the necessity to be saved by faith in Jesus, not all Christians do.
To me the biggest issue is that children are taught this sort of dogma before they have the ability to think critically. No child can be labeled a "Christian Child", they are simply the children of Christian parents. You are one of many who find it difficult to leave the religion of our youth.
Don't fear someone just because they believe in a story. Believing doesn't make it true. Telling us we're going to hell, doesn't mean we will.
To me the biggest issue is that children are taught this sort of dogma before they have the ability to think critically. No child can be labeled a "Christian Child", they are simply the children of Christian parents. You are one of many who find it difficult to leave the religion of our youth.
Don't fear someone just because they believe in a story. Believing doesn't make it true. Telling us we're going to hell, doesn't mean we will.
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Guest
{quote}Only Christians do go to heaven..True. Who then is a Christian? Are all Lutherans? Baptists? Catholics etc. No! Going to church does NOT make one a Christian. Only being a follower of Jesus Christ gets you to heaven. He said "I am the way, the truth and the life." No man comes to the Father except thru me."{quote}
NOT TRUE!!!
Why did you have to come here and ruin this thread BarB??? I was reading, feeling good and then wham...here it starts. This thread was for people of different beliefs. Can for once, there be a thread that DOESN"T envolve the christain beliefs? Can people just feel open to posting about what "they" belief without a christian adding their views? Is it even possible? If you have read this site long enough, it is safe to say that if you didn't know a thing about christianity...you would by now. It's EVERYWHERE. Let those who don't worship your beliefs have their own chat area. Thanks
BTW..I shouldn't even be on here myself..quiting smoking and I am edgy. So I am sorry that I jumped in here but NOT sorry about how I feel.
Christine
NOT TRUE!!!
Why did you have to come here and ruin this thread BarB??? I was reading, feeling good and then wham...here it starts. This thread was for people of different beliefs. Can for once, there be a thread that DOESN"T envolve the christain beliefs? Can people just feel open to posting about what "they" belief without a christian adding their views? Is it even possible? If you have read this site long enough, it is safe to say that if you didn't know a thing about christianity...you would by now. It's EVERYWHERE. Let those who don't worship your beliefs have their own chat area. ThanksBTW..I shouldn't even be on here myself..quiting smoking and I am edgy. So I am sorry that I jumped in here but NOT sorry about how I feel.
Christine
LMAO! Nope, it doesn't seem possible. It has nothing to do with religion, some just can't stop being rude. Christianity is not a free pass to disrespect others. I too am sorry for jumping in but NOT sorry for how I feel. Time to back off when asked politely people. And when you don't, don't be surprised if it's suddenly not so polite anymore.Originally posted by LUVG:
Can for once, there be a thread that DOESN"T envolve the christain beliefs? Can people just feel open to posting about what "they" belief without a christian adding their views? Is it even possible?
Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.
~John F. Kennedy
~John F. Kennedy
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wholegrain
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2007 2:02 am
WOW, this is the most insightful statement I have read in a while. Not particularly just in relation to this thread, but just to everything it seems I've been talking about and reading lately. I'm going to quote you in my blog.Originally posted by Craw:
Christianity is not a free pass to disrespect others.
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Mello Nello
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YoyoyoMo,nica
- Posts: 39
- Joined: Tue May 30, 2006 7:33 pm
Barbg is right in saying that according to the bible and Lutherans, that only "born again" Christians can go to heaven. And I accepted Christ in my life, many, many, many times. Why so many times you ask? Because I always felt like it "should be" more. That I was unhappy because I didn't do it right the first time. Was it anxiety and depression that has made me feel sad? Or is it the rules and the fear of God and sin that added to my anxiety? I am challenging the beliefs I was raised with and I'm struggling with the concepts that are inconsist. There is a truth for ME somewhere and I will find it. Will it include Jesus? Probably. Will it be a limited belief that only if you are born again you will be saved? Probably not.