I know that is confusing, but basically believers will stay with Him and non-believers will go to hell.

I am finding this post/topic to be one that is very very interesting. You know it is not often that people of different opinions especially where God is concerned can actually be respectful and have an actual discussion. I want to say bravo for everyone being so mature with this topic.

Now that being said LOL.......I am a lot like Gemma is. I have my beliefs perhaps that is because I have been a questioner. I dont believe in the bible nor any other man written documents or organized religion. Many I dont believe in those because they were made by man and it has been proven so many times throughout history and even the bible that man is a deceitful creature that will make things up in order to get what they want.

I think that faith and belief is very important for humans because it keeps them grounded and focused. I dont think it matters where that faith is from so long as there is something. I was raised in Christian/Pentecostal beliefs and my grandparents were devout catholics. It is by the examples that I saw and the things I was taught had to be truth that brought me to where I am today with my belief system.

The funny thing is is that many times I have been told I am possessed by the devil or demons because I dont believe right. For one I dont believe in the devil and for my demons are nothing more than the evil ghosts left by evil humans upon their death.

I understand your veiws 100% I used to think the same way.

shannon - you summed it up perfectly with this - "I am finding this post/topic to be one that is very very interesting. You know it is not often that people of different opinions especially where God is concerned can actually be respectful and have an actual discussion. I want to say bravo for everyone being so mature with this topic.

Now that being said LOL.......I am a lot like Gemma is. I have my beliefs perhaps that is because I have been a questioner. I dont believe in the bible nor any other man written documents or organized religion. Many I dont believe in those because they were made by man and it has been proven so many times throughout history and even the bible that man is a deceitful creature that will make things up in order to get what they want.

I think that faith and belief is very important for humans because it keeps them grounded and focused. I dont think it matters where that faith is from so long as there is something."

i would like to believe there is "someone" above us all to look after us an dguide us, i think everyone does no matter what there beliefs! and i do have faith in alot, i just dont think in 1 "man" or god as he is named.
and i find it almost unbelievable someone so wonderful in some peoples eyes "god" would send people to hell on judgement day because they didnt believe? this sound to me like the religion is trying to scare people into believing god? that i dont agree with at all!

Well, I take that back, not so much believed or didn't. More of who served Him and who didn't.

define serve?

I had all the same thoughts and did not agree with any of it either, until my husband started dragging me to church, almost kicking and screaming.
When things started to get my attention and I became more and more interested, I start noticing changes in me and in everything. Ever since, I believe, because I know my crackhead butt, didn't do or deserve anything...lol

Follows commandments, prays, walks in love, just generally doing God's will.

ok i well i do pray i admit when i need god i pray, when something good happens, although i dont think god did it, i thank him (strange even saying this to myself as why would i thank god for something i didnt believe he did for me?? lol) and to be honest i know very little about the comandments?? (i apolgise if people are thinking how i can question what i dont even know about, and maybe this is why i do question them)
I admit i have been tempted to go to church but not when there is a service on, idont want people to preach to me, i want to find out what i want to know in my own time. see what religion is "offering" as such and make my own mind up. But i get put off that i will be guilted into having to change my way of life to be accepted into the religion (again i dont agree with this as i was under the impression god loved u no matter what, i dont mean change my life as in i want to stop killing people etc, i mean other simple things, smoking, drinking, and other things id expect the church would frown upon?

i have just looked up the comandments.....
1 I am the LORD your God, which have brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
3 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
4 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
5 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
6 Thou shalt not kill.
7 Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8 Thou shalt not steal.
9 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
10 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

and i do live by 3,6,7,8,9,10
2 and 4 i dont understand too well but 1 makes me think if you worship god you cant believe any other religion? you can not look to buddhism or anything else?

Drinking is not considered horrible, but the bible does state often, to not get drunk. Smoking, I don't know that it was an issue then, so... But, I myself smoke, I have tried and tried to stop, to no avail, but I figure it is the lesser of my evils...lol Really depends on the church. Some churches seem to think everything is bad, others are more leniant(sp?).

Honestly, most people really don't need to change as much as they think. I for one, was pretty ok, aside from the crackhead liar thing...lol I was good to people, didn't kill or steal, I didn't cheat on my husband, etc... I think everyone just needs to be themselves, whether a church approves or not. My church is filled with everyone from tattooed rocker types to granny's. I can go in wearing jeans and feel comfy. Some churches are very preachy and expect you to look like you are going to a funeral...lol

thank you just kelly, you seem like the type of person i would get on with, determind with strong beliefs but openminded to everyone that doesnt believe the same as you. I have thoughrly enjoyed this discussion and mayb ei will look more into things.
I do believe with some type of faith in your life you would be empty, faith can be determind in many diferent ways and i think you have restored mine a little! ;)

"without" some faith in your life i meant lol

Thank you. I have enjoyed it, too!! It are converstations like this that make me feel like everyone can get along, regardless of beliefs!!

of course they can, its matter of using not only the mouths "someone" gave us, whether it be god in your case or a tiny spec of all grown up bacteria in mine, but also EARS! people who are not willing to listen to other peoples views arnt right they are ARROGANT or too scared they will be shown a path more convincing than there own!!