Shalom from Sidney,
First of all, I don't want to shit on anybody's religion. I understand that almost everybody needs something to believe in, else they couldn't get their asses out of bed in the morning. That said...
First, let's start with the math. I think a lot of Americans consider themselves to be fundamental christians, which is, in their not-so-humble opinion, the only "true" religion. This immediately eliminates 95% of the human population, if you consider all the Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Catholics, Mormons, Atheists, Luciferians, and Wiccans, just to name a few.
This suggests that god's plan initially starts with sending the vast majority of humanity to hell.
I was "raised" (for lack of a better word) as a baptist. I know for a fact that most baptists consider many (at least half) of their brethren to not be "real" christians. This always cracked me up, but that's beside the point. Let's assume that they're right - they oughtta know, after all.
Ok, that brings the grand total of humanity destined to hell up to 97.5% There are currently 6 billion people on the planet, which is roughly 20% of all the "humans" who have ever lived. Therefore, 97.5% of the 30 billion human beings who have ever lived (29.25 billion and counting) are slated for hell, while only a paltry 750 million get to go to "heaven". That's 39 to 1 for the mathematically challenged among you.
Baptists are pretty much black and white like that... if you ain't going to heaven, guess what?
This is primarily why I have such a difficult time buying fundamental christianity - it's the numbers. I don't even want to go into how much blood has been shed in jesus' name. I also will not bring up the stats on boy scout leaders, good christians all, who have been convicted of child molestation. Nor will I bring up any of those pesky televangelists who literally rob folks blind.
Nope, I'm taking the moral high-ground in all this.
To be honest, the only "religion" I've ever heard about that I think is remotely reasonable is Wicca. All I know about them is their motto: "An' it harm none, do what ye will." Translation, as long as you're not hurting anybody, do whatever you want. That's all I really needed to know. Hell, I might even convert! Well, I guess I can't convert since I don't really subscribe to any particular religion, but if I did, I'd convert in a heartbeat.
Ok, that's all for part 1. That's probably enough to shake the faith of at least half of you. On the other hand, if you can finish this multi-part post without losing your faith, consider yourself a true Christian.
Next, the Mormons!
Now, if you really were a good christian, you'd go out there and buy my house!
p.s. I purposely left all the proper nouns lower-case - I know it drives you crazy! hehehahahah.
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12 comments:
One reason people cling to religion is that it's a default answer to everything they don't understand. However, I think it raises more questions than it answers. For example, a common argument is that the universe is so complicated that it couldn't have just "happened", and must have been created. But who created the creator? They'll say he just is and always has been. If you believe an all powerful being could just "happen", why not the universe?
If you want to have peace and true happiness in your life you will let Jesus into your life.
I work with Stephanie. She probably will not like this but this is exactly why she doesn't have faith in Jesus. You should really think about your daughter and help encourage her. Have you read the left behind series?
She doesn't have faith in jesus because of the math? Well, unfortunately for her, the numbers don't lie. Have I calculated incorrectly? Are my results skewed somehow? I'm curious what part of my logic is, uh, illogical... ;-)
AnthonY
I don't want to insult anyone (today) (though I find that it's very difficult to not insult fundie christians) but I think that Reva just implied that reading a set of fictional books might help you to become more likely to believe in another fictional book, which is all about the life of a very interesting character who may or may not have actually existed. You really shouldn't try to insert the word "logic" into a conversation like that.
Yikes! I find it interesting that people are so quick to denounce Jesus. He is not about rules and strict guidelines. It is about a relationship you have with Him. He helps you become a better person. He helps you get through the day to day crap WE ALL deal with. Now, who does not want that?
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. Gen 1:1, Job 38:4, Isa 44:24, Rom 1:20, Col 1:16, Rev 4:11
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Gen 15:1 Psa 58:11, Psa 84:11
Faith is the absolute conviction that a thing is true. That which is true here is the Gospel, the good news that Christ is come, and has paid the penalty eternally for our sins.
Faith is not only the substance, or the essence of our certain hope, it is also the evidence of, or proof of the things we look forward to. Since our faith is the conviction of the truth, the fact that we have such confidence is proof positive of the Holy Spirit's presence in our lives. And that makes it the proof that the promise of the Gospel is true. Faith is the key to the door to the grace of God, a door that opens when we have faith, allowing God's grace to pour out on us providing for our salvation. The fact that we have faith in the first place is the evidence of the power of God in our lives.
I know that the Left Behind series is Fiction. It is an inspiring series to read.
Unfortunately, your daughter feels that when she dies she will be worm food. She says she will know when she dies. Unfortunately, if she waits until she dies before accepting Jesus into her heart it will be too late.
Tobi -
I, on the other hand, don't understand people who take the Jesus myth as being the absolute truth, in spite of there being no evidence aside from the book that's trying to convince you that he was real.
The whole thing about no "rules and strict guidelines" really depends on which branch of the church you belong to, doesn't it? Some actually have _very_ strict rules and guidelines. For that matter, Paul set up some fairly strict rules and guidelines himself, in the letters that follow the book of Acts.
Reva -
It doesn't actually help anything to quote a fictional book to someone who believes that the book being quoted is fiction :) Please believe me that I'm not trying to insult you - it's simply a matter of that faith that which you've alluded. I've read the bible several times, cover-to-cover. Nothing in that book has given me any evidence that it's really the words of the magic man in the sky.
Of course, none of those things are what Anthony's post is about. His statement is that 97.5% of all of the humans who ever existed are damned to eternal hellfire, for the crime of not believing in the correct religious sect. Isn't that the case? And if so, why would a god who so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son be happy with that situation?
It's a puzzler!
Tim:
I don't believe that 97.5% will be damned to hell. God gave all of us free will to choose to have faith in him or not to believe in him. God does not like that some people will be going to hell but that is their choice.
Tim, this message is for you. Clearly you know the Bible. And you are correct, Paul did set guidelines for every Christian to follow. The beauty of following Christ is that once the Holy Spirit lives inside of you, you want to strive to live within those guidlines. Am I perfect, heck NO! But I strive to be the person that Christ wants me to be.
So if God is all knowing, but we have free will... do we really have free will? Or is he just not all knowing?
God is all knowing. Though he knows the outcome of you life he still gives you free will to choose Him.
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