Only believers go to heaven and the rest go to hell.Fine,but who are the believers?Obviosuly those who believe in jesus and his teachings.
Such believers are called as christians.But what is the definition of the term christian?THis definition is important since we should know who is a christian and who isnt, since non-christians are allegedly headed to hell.
www.dictionary.com defines a christian as follows
1.One who professes belief in Jesus as Christ or follows the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus.
2.One who lives according to the teachings of Jesus.
The problem here is "what is the religion that follows the teachings of Jesus?" and "who lives according to the teachings of jesus?"
many religions claim that they are the true followers of christ.For example Islam.Muslims say that they are the true followers of jesus.
So what is the criteria to be called as a christian and enter into heaven?
1)If it is acceptance of jesus as a way to reach god-well muslims,mormons,jehovah's witnesses accept jesus as a way to reach god.
2) If it is acceptance of trinity-well unitary christians dont accept jesus as god.In fact trinity was decided by the meeting held under constantine and till that there was confusion about jesus as a prophet or god.
There is every chance that a real believer in jesus might have been a unitary christian then,since the position of the church wasnt clearcut till that meeting.So belief in trinity cannot be a criteria for entry into heaven.
I am not entering into techinicalities of trinity vs unitary or differences between islam and christianity.Muslims believe that they follow the right path shown by jesus.so will they be denied entry into heaven?If yes,why?
If it can be argued that they dont follow the right path, then even in christianity there are various sects which are different from each other.Catholics believe in "faith and deeds" whereas protestents believe in faith alone as the way to salvation,so only one of these groups are following the "right path".where are the rest headed to?
so what is the parameter used by god to refuse the sects that follow jesus like muslims,jehovah's witness , mormon's etc to heaven and allow catholics,protestents etc only to heaven?
Are Muslims christians?
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- sin_is_fun
- Sage
- Posts: 528
- Joined: Sat Jan 15, 2005 8:58 pm
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Post #21
so lying isn't a sin either then? murdering isn't a sin? coveting isn't a sin?sin_is_fun wrote:because 100% of humans have it.what 100% of people do aint sinmikka wrote:Hey SIF, how do you know lust isn't a sin?
hmm....
Post #22
Firstly, I wasn't aware lying was a sin.so lying isn't a sin either then? murdering isn't a sin? coveting isn't a sin?
Secondly, not everybody murders.
Thirdly, it shouldn't be one, because it sorta drives our economy.
"Secular schools can never be tolerated because such schools have no religious instruction, and a general moral instruction without a religious foundation is built on air...we need believing people."
[Adolf Hitler, April 26, 1933]
[Adolf Hitler, April 26, 1933]