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One thing that should be apparent is that everyone dies. What then? Do we just cease to exist? If you think so then you had better be sure. If the Bible is accurate then there are only two possible destinations for people after they die. One of those is not very pleasant. Jesus died so that we could be forgiven for all of the wrong things that we have done. The Bible says that we will all face judgement after we die. If we do not accept the gift of forgiveness that Jesus is offering and allow him to run our lives, then we will be punished for all of these things we have done wrong, and each of us has a long list. The punishment for these things is eternal suffering. I hope that nobody who reads this will suffer such a fate. Like I said, if you think that there is no God then you had better be sure. The consequences for being wrong are too serious.

Tuna wrote: One thing that should be apparent is that everyone dies. What then? Do we just cease to exist? If you think so then you had better be sure. If the Bible is accurate then there are only two possible destinations for people after they die. One of those is not very pleasant. Jesus died so that we could be forgiven for all of the wrong things that we have done. The Bible says that we will all face judgement after we die. If we do not accept the gift of forgiveness that Jesus is offering and allow him to run our lives, then we will be punished for all of these things we have done wrong, and each of us has a long list. The punishment for these things is eternal suffering. I hope that nobody who reads this will suffer such a fate. Like I said, if you think that there is no God then you had better be sure. The consequences for being wrong are too serious.


This is just silly! For a 'Tuna' you're not very in 'Tune'!

One thing that should be apparent is that everyone dies.

Surely this is accepted by everyone as an unquestionable absolute!

To whom would it NOT be apparent? A two-year-old?

Have you met people who know they will never die??

Perhaps you've been watching too much 'Highlander'! (Its not true, you know!)

What then? Do we just cease to exist?

Until we die, nobody actually knows. It doesn't matter what anybody tells you. Priests don't know; Rabbi's don't know; Buddha doesn't know and even the Pope doesn't know! They may try and tell you they know ... but they DON'T!

If you think so then you had better be sure.

How can YOU be sure, if even the Pope doesn't know?

If the Bible is accurate then there are only two possible destinations for people after they die.

The Bible is a selection of stories which were passed down by word of mouth for hundreds of years before they were written down. Many religions are based on Biblical teachings and yet they all interpret the words differently within their own religions. Surely then, they are more of a guide than a rigid way to lead your life.

The Bible doesn't just talk of Heaven and Hell. What about Purgatory? God's waiting room. How many aeons must one wait there before moving on?

One of those is not very pleasant.

So it is said, but what proof have you?

Jesus died so that we could be forgiven for all of the wrong things that we have done. The Bible says that we will all face judgement after we die. If we do not accept the gift of forgiveness that Jesus is offering and allow him to run our lives, then we will be punished for all of these things we have done wrong, and each of us has a long list. The punishment for these things is eternal suffering. I hope that nobody who reads this will suffer such a fate.

Hundreds of years ago we burnt women at the stake, believing them to be witches because they had moles on their bodies. Priests preached sermons of fire and brimstone where the slightest infraction would damn your soul to the depths of hell!

People don't talk like that these days!

People don't believe that is true in our more enlightened times!

Like I said, if you think that there is no God then you had better be sure. The consequences for being wrong are too serious.

And 'Like I said,' you have NO proof, you have NO WAY to know, let alone to be sure!

WHAT IF ... everyone goes to Heaven, regardless of how they lives their lives?

WHAT IF ... everyone goes to Hell, regardless of how they lives their lives?

WHAT IF ... everyone's soul just disintegrates into dust, regardless of how they lives their lives?

NOBODY KNOWS! People preach and promise and threaten - but NOBODY ACTUALLY KNOWS!!

All you can do is life life as best you can and as honestly as you can and be as Christian as you can to everyone whom you meet in this world. If you can do that, you are a good person and no-one can do more.

If you want a Theological discussion, ask Ted. He will guide you kindly along the paths of Biblical Knowledge.



Welcome to FG Tuna, I hope you stay and post again. I'm sorry to be so negative to your first post, but to be honest it sounds like someone standing on a soap box and yelling to the world about something they know nothing about.

Interesting first post. I wonder if you will be back to answer the very valid questions folks are posting here.?

I am not a religeous person, and while I hope we do not cese to exist, and go somewhere plesant, who really knows? No one has come back to report.

The Bible is simply a written report based on the experiences of a few men. They were the followers of Jesus..and therefore believers in his word.

But what was the question???

What about God? Why is there more focus on Jesus than God these days?

Well Tuna,You have come in with one the controversial subjects one would ever debate in all of history.More people have died in the name religion than any other subject.

I am a middle class white family man American,being that means:

I will never win a lottery too secure my future so my government will make me work until I drop dead.

I will never get a break on anything or from anyone because all help goes too people from outside my country that come in to support from our tax dollars.Tax breaks,free Medicare,free education, or any help with my job placement are part of my life.

I have seen death,seen starvation,seen people the best possible who were great examples of humanity die of cancer,one the most terrible ,cruelest suffering fates one can have.And yet watched people who are a menace too humanity,child molesters,rapists,wife beaters,pimps,drunk drivers who have killed live long happy lives because they have gotten a education and support in prison just come out and pick up where they left of,some getting out way before there term for "good behaver".

I grew up a good Catholic,Seeing all this that society has too offer,I can't see Hell being much worse than the cesspool I am standing right now.

That leaves Heaven,A place where the norm is too take people loved ones before there time and leaving family's with out moms,dads,brothers,sisters,and shattering homes with little children that need the guidance of a good person.

If they are that powerful,why can't they stop people from high jacking planes or stopping some nut job from snatching a little kid from a play ground or some young girl from a car wash?

Why can/t god influence the court system and make it right.?

long gone are the days that we had control of "the list".

Back then,you had a problem,you took the person out too the street,fastest gun wins.Some one threatens your family,You could shoot too kill.

Send them too god too be judged,we got too pick and chose,some times you win some times you don't.But It make people think.

My day will come and i Will have answer for myself then,but for now I can be who ever I want because How do know for sure that this Not hell I'm mucking through right now.

I would encourage you to read Isaiah, chapter 53. This is a book that was written 700 years before Jesus lived and it described in detail what would happen to Him.

If someone has a proven ability to tell you what will happen that far in advance then you might want to hear what they have to say about other things as well. The same Bible that predicted these events tells us that God loves us and wants us to accept the gift of eternal life that He is offering. This gift comes from accepting what Jesus did on the cross for us. The same Bible teaches that there is no other way to get to heaven than through Jesus. Before you convince yourself that this isn't true, read that chapter of Isaiah and think long and hard about it. As I said, the consequences of being wrong are serious and permanent.

Tuna:-6

Don't let this lot scare you away. They are all decent folks but have the habit of speaking their minds which I think is great.

Welcome.

Even though I am a Christian pluralist I think Arnold has offered some excellent advice. Jesus did say we would know the truth and it would set us free. Never be afraid of the truth.

Questions of faith are very personal and can neither be proven or disproven. However, one's faith is very important to them and is often a source of comfort. On this forum you will hear many points of view and they will differ from yours. The recommendation for an open mind is good advice.

Concerning the question of Jesus' death on the cross; there is more than one interpretation to this event and you have only given one.

In reading and interpreting the Bible it is not just that easy. One must understand the history of the era, the language, the culture, the religious beliefs, the fund of knowledge, the conceptualization ability of the people. In addition it is a must to understand the style of writing being used by the ancient Hebrews. Without some of this knowledge one is really reading blindly and will not likely ever get back to the truth of what the author intended. It is also important to understand how the Bible came to be in its present form.

Shalom

Ted:-6

Rapunzel:-6

Thanks.

Shalom

Ted:-6

An interesting question is how, when one presents as Tuna, do you convince a Muslim who knows, absolutely surely, that s/he is on the right path and whose sacred writings claim to be the inspired word of God?

I've asked that question many times but have never recieved a satisfactory answer. It is a very difficult question.

Shalom

Ted:-6

onsekiz:-6

Any individual on this earth can assume and belief or non-belief they choose. My question is how does one convince a devout Muslim, who knows he is on the right path, to change to the Christian faith? The same question could be asked in reverse. What could a devout Muslim say to a devout Christian to make him/her change to Islam?

There are, of course, folks changing, all the time, from one faith to another or to atheism.

Shalom

Ted:-6 .

Pinky:-6

I think you are right on with that one.

Shalom

Ted:-6

onsekiz:-6

That might work with some but not all. Besides that it is highly unethical. As Christians we do not need to denigrate someone elses faith in order to boost ours. That is not what we are called to do.

One of the church fathers once said something to the effect, evangelize yes, but with words only if necessary. If we have something to offer let them see it in our lives and there is no need to denigrate another's faith.

As far as faith goes, historical questions are generally provable within the limits of history but questions of faith are neither provable or disprovable.

Shalom

Ted:-6

onsekiz:-6

You are right. It is sad.

The first nations of North America were treated in the same way if not more shabbily.

Shalom

Ted:-6