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Secular Sanity
Feb 12, 2020 04:34 PM
(This post was last modified: Feb 12, 2020 04:36 PM by Secular Sanity.)
(Feb 11, 2020 09:19 PM)billvon Wrote: Quote:Does the belief in an afterlife benefit society?
In some ways - and in some societies - yes.
It can serve as a means of social control. "Don't do X or you will go to hell." (X is dependent on the society, and can range from murder to being gay.)
It can mitigate people's fears of death and abandonment. If you see all your friends after you die - and your dead family member will be waiting for you - it can provide comfort for a society that sees a lot of death.
Most of the problems and heartaches that I face in life are not my own. They stem from my concern for others.
I could be wrong but I think that even the most devout believers have their doubts. They don’t know for sure and not knowing what happens to a lost loved one can prolong the grieving process and even exacerbate it for those who loss someone that was clearly hell bound, e.g., a sinner, a suicide, an atheist, etc.
Like any other belief, religion can unite and divide us. I wonder, though, if more moderates are opening up to the idea that people of all faiths can make it into heaven. If so, do you think that there’s a belief that they’d have to meet specific requirements to do so or do more Christians of today feel that this is something that only God himself can determine?
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Zinjanthropos
Feb 12, 2020 06:31 PM
I think God would be happy that all three Abrahamic religions remain monotheistic. Seems to be the only requirement since God doesn't really seem to care if they murder one another, one god is all you need. I've tried telling that to a Muslim friend of mine and he says in no way, shape or form is the one god the same for all. Same response I get when discussing on forums, not the same god. How hard is this?
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Leigha
Feb 12, 2020 09:45 PM
Well, the majority of Christians believe that God is - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Muslims don't believe that Jesus was divine. Jews don't believe that Jesus was the Messiah. So, it's not hard at all, each religion doesn't agree as to who this ''one God'' is.
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billvon
Feb 13, 2020 12:29 AM
(Feb 12, 2020 04:34 PM)Secular Sanity Wrote: (Feb 11, 2020 09:19 PM)billvon Wrote: Quote:Does the belief in an afterlife benefit society?
In some ways - and in some societies - yes.
It can serve as a means of social control. "Don't do X or you will go to hell." (X is dependent on the society, and can range from murder to being gay.)
It can mitigate people's fears of death and abandonment. If you see all your friends after you die - and your dead family member will be waiting for you - it can provide comfort for a society that sees a lot of death.
Most of the problems and heartaches that I face in life are not my own. They stem from my concern for others.
I could be wrong but I think that even the most devout believers have their doubts. They don’t know for sure and not knowing what happens to a lost loved one can prolong the grieving process and even exacerbate it for those who loss someone that was clearly hell bound, e.g., a sinner, a suicide, an atheist, etc.
Like any other belief, religion can unite and divide us. I wonder, though, if more moderates are opening up to the idea that people of all faiths can make it into heaven. If so, do you think that there’s a belief that they’d have to meet specific requirements to do so or do more Christians of today feel that this is something that only God himself can determine?
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Zinjanthropos
Feb 13, 2020 04:29 PM
(Feb 12, 2020 09:45 PM)Leigha Wrote: Well, the majority of Christians believe that God is - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Muslims don't believe that Jesus was divine. Jews don't believe that Jesus was the Messiah. So, it's not hard at all, each religion doesn't agree as to who this ''one God'' is.
My main concern as the Big Guy would be that they believe in one god. I wouldn't care what they call me or the different takes, I'm number one by any name. Humanity would be like a civilization in a bus depot locker (MIB), as long as they see me as the ultimate power then I'm satisfied.
Then again humans could be like an ant colony to the Almighty, only sees the ants and whatever else they do matters little.
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Leigha
Feb 13, 2020 09:44 PM
(This post was last modified: Feb 13, 2020 09:44 PM by Leigha.)
(Feb 13, 2020 04:29 PM)Zinjanthropos Wrote: (Feb 12, 2020 09:45 PM)Leigha Wrote: Well, the majority of Christians believe that God is - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Muslims don't believe that Jesus was divine. Jews don't believe that Jesus was the Messiah. So, it's not hard at all, each religion doesn't agree as to who this ''one God'' is.
My main concern as the Big Guy would be that they believe in one god. I wouldn't care what they call me or the different takes, I'm number one by any name. Humanity would be like a civilization in a bus depot locker (MIB), as long as they see me as the ultimate power then I'm satisfied. Well, the ''triune'' God is probably the most ''different''. Jesus is divine, and Christians believe that he is also ''I am.'' It seems like semantics to a non-believer, but it's serious business.
Quote:Then again humans could be like an ant colony to the Almighty, only sees the ants and whatever else they do matters little.
That would be Deism, basically an impersonal god.
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