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Post by snow on Apr 5, 2015 12:30:50 GMT -5
Actually some eastern religions do have the equivalent of a good guy/bad guy, but they are viewed somewhat differently. There is usually a creator God and a destructor God because of their belief in how things need to be torn down for new to be built up again. In Hinduism this is most evident. The difference is they don't see destruction as a bad thing, but more of a balance between good and bad, life and death etc. I meant to comment on this earlier this week but didn't have time. I don't know a lot about Eastern religions and I'm probably guilty of Orientalism with my comment, that is, thinking Eastern religions are anywhere near alike. Islam is more dualistic than Christianity from what I know of it, and I also wasn't thinking about Hinduism. Buddhism supposedly is not dualistic at all. (The Dali Lama walks into a pizza shop and orders 'one with everything'.) I suspect you know more about this than I do. I should really start reading the Tao Te Ching soon, which is neither here nor there as far as dualism is concerned, but strikes me as a good first step. I enjoyed the Tao Te Ching. It needs to be read slowly to get a lot of the meaning. I remember reading it through the first time and thinking, so what's the big deal? Then I read it again and slowed down. There are many good philosophies to live by. Buddhism is a religion I have a love hate relationship with. While on the one hand there are many good aspects and philosophies about Buddhism, there are also things that just don't jive for me. The levels of hell/heaven after death and before reincarnation is one of those things. The Tibetan Book of the Dead is a good read. I will link to it's pdf too if you're interested. Here is the pdf version of the Tao Te Ching. www.with.org/tao_te_ching_en.pdfThis writer is good to read his thoughts on the interpretation of the Tao probably a good read before you attempt to read the Tao Te Ching. www.integralbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Tao-Te-Ching.pdfwww.holybooks.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Tibetan-Book-of-the-Dead.pdf
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stevo
New Member
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Post by stevo on Apr 5, 2015 19:06:10 GMT -5
You seem to be worried about this point whether someone who does not believe in God could go to heaven. I would be more worried about, am I doing Gods will so that he would even consider me. I believe we are on this earth as a test, take for instants you want to learn to drive, you have a driving instructor he tells you the wrong and the rights of the law of motoring then once you have learnt you are tested and you have the chance to pass. If you do pass you can then drive on your own for the rest of your life but you must obey the laws otherwise your licence will be taken away from you. But if you are not willing to learn you will never pass because you don't know what the examiner is going to ask you to do Have a look at Romans 1 and 2 where Paul considers the question of those who never had a chance to hear the Gospel, that is, Gentiles before his time. Somehow they can still figure out right and wrong through the use of their conscience and will be judged according to that. It strikes me that, in the afterlife, a similar logic might apply to those who can no longer accept some of the more arcane, superstitious aspects of the Bible text. Hi What, I've been pondering over what you asked me to read in Romans 1&2. I must say your right were we cannot judge anyone especially the people who don't know God, having not had a chance to know him and they are doing Gods Will and don't even know they are doing it, They have a kind nature and do good to their neighbour and anything that is good will always go back to God. Some would even put me to shame even me knowing God. God wants us all and it's better to get to know him through the Lord Jesus Christ because we are all sinners but through his life we can become better servants to God and he will use us for all good. If we know the truth and we got that from God and through Gods people then we come accountable for our actions, as God walks with us. We wouldn't like to disappoint our parents by not doing the things that they taught us and not listening when we where children, just as God would want us to listen to him like we are his children if you know what I mean .
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Post by What Hat on Apr 5, 2015 20:07:10 GMT -5
Have a look at Romans 1 and 2 where Paul considers the question of those who never had a chance to hear the Gospel, that is, Gentiles before his time. Somehow they can still figure out right and wrong through the use of their conscience and will be judged according to that. It strikes me that, in the afterlife, a similar logic might apply to those who can no longer accept some of the more arcane, superstitious aspects of the Bible text. Hi What, I've been pondering over what you asked me to read in Romans 1&2. I must say your right were we cannot judge anyone especially the people who don't know God, having not had a chance to know him and they are doing Gods Will and don't even know they are doing it, They have a kind nature and do good to their neighbour and anything that is good will always go back to God. Some would even put me to shame even me knowing God. God wants us all and it's better to get to know him through the Lord Jesus Christ because we are all sinners but through his life we can become better servants to God and he will use us for all good. If we know the truth and we got that from God and through Gods people then we come accountable for our actions, as God walks with us. We wouldn't like to disappoint our parents by not doing the things that they taught us and not listening when we where children, just as God would want us to listen to him like we are his children if you know what I mean . Yes, I agree. If we feel God speaking to us that is all that counts, and we are accountable. Still life is a journey and our perceptions can change, but I think it is a journey of progress and discovery. You mention "God's people" so do you still go to fellowship meeting? We did go for 30 years, but have parted ways. We do meet with another small group now, so God has favoured us and continued with us.
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stevo
New Member
Posts: 34
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Post by stevo on Apr 6, 2015 2:08:22 GMT -5
Hi What, I've been pondering over what you asked me to read in Romans 1&2. I must say your right were we cannot judge anyone especially the people who don't know God, having not had a chance to know him and they are doing Gods Will and don't even know they are doing it, They have a kind nature and do good to their neighbour and anything that is good will always go back to God. Some would even put me to shame even me knowing God. God wants us all and it's better to get to know him through the Lord Jesus Christ because we are all sinners but through his life we can become better servants to God and he will use us for all good. If we know the truth and we got that from God and through Gods people then we come accountable for our actions, as God walks with us. We wouldn't like to disappoint our parents by not doing the things that they taught us and not listening when we where children, just as God would want us to listen to him like we are his children if you know what I mean . Yes, I agree. If we feel God speaking to us that is all that counts, and we are accountable. Still life is a journey and our perceptions can change, but I think it is a journey of progress and discovery. You mention "God's people" so do you still go to fellowship meeting? We did go for 30 years, but have parted ways. We do meet with another small group now, so God has favoured us and continued with us. So what do you believe in now? Do you believe in the same way just on a smaller group or totally something new.
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Post by What Hat on Apr 10, 2015 4:50:39 GMT -5
Yes, I agree. If we feel God speaking to us that is all that counts, and we are accountable. Still life is a journey and our perceptions can change, but I think it is a journey of progress and discovery. You mention "God's people" so do you still go to fellowship meeting? We did go for 30 years, but have parted ways. We do meet with another small group now, so God has favoured us and continued with us. So what do you believe in now? Do you believe in the same way just on a smaller group or totally something new. In a sense there is only one Way as far as the Way God sees things, but there are many ways (small 'w') to make that real. I'm on the same Way, but a little different way. Still serving, still trying, just not in friends' meetings.
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