An unbelievable religion

@rajk999 said
Regardless of the reward, personally I would still subscribe to the doctrine of Christ and the Apostles. These principles are good for daily living. The promise of eternal life for followers and keepers of the commandments is just the icing on the cake.

“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”
-James 1:25

James’ words were intended not necessarily for believers but to those who seek “wisdom” and the “tribes scattered abroad, seemingly, regardless of beliefs, culture, or traditions.

Without mention of reward or the promise of eternal life, they appear to be a treatise on living well and with the fullness of humanity.

Disclaimer: As one who questions everything and yet believes the same, even from myriad paths and acknowledging the validity and benefit of religious practices, I am not certain whether I am considered a theist and may disqualify myself from answering by the conditions of the opening post.

@chaney3 said
I think a place called "Heaven" is a requirement. A place where there's no pain, suffering or confusion. A place where everything will make sense.

So you believe a creator being must, by definition, have created a "heaven"? Anything other than that would be "unbelievable"?

@fmf said
So you believe a creator being must, by definition, have created a "heaven"? Anything other than that would be "unbelievable"?

Well, you've stated in the past that one's upbringing and location usually determines, from a young age, how they are going to believe. I happen to agree with that.

I was raised a Christian, so the idea of a "rewarding" place after this life came with the territory.

@chaney3 said
Well, you've stated in the past that one's upbringing and location usually determines, from a young age, how they are going to believe. I happen to agree with that.

I was raised a Christian, so the idea of a "rewarding" place after this life came with the territory.

I know what Christianity is about. Obviously I am not talking about Christianity as it is configured ~ or, indeed, any religion that promises 'everlasting life'. So your answer to the OP question is "yes", then? i.e. unless it's Christianity with Jesus and with a "Heaven", it would be unbelievable, is that your take on it?

@fmf said
I know what Christianity is about. Obviously I am not talking about Christianity as it is configured ~ or, indeed, any religion that promises 'everlasting life'. So your answer to the OP question is "yes", then? i.e. unless it's Christianity with Jesus and with a "Heaven", it would be unbelievable, is that your take on it?

Yes.
In dealing with Christianity specifically, the entire narrative would collapse without a "Heaven".

Without Heaven, Jesus wouldn't have cared about sin, and saving the sinner.

@chaney3 said
Yes.
In dealing with Christianity specifically, the entire narrative would collapse without a "Heaven".

Without Heaven, Jesus wouldn't have cared about sin, and saving the sinner.

This is a thread about believers in a creator being [theists] whose religions do not have a promise of 'everlasting life'. It's not about "Christianity".

And you have said several times that you are not a Christian and never have been.

So your professions of being a Christian aside, would you only be able to believe in a creator being if there were an 'everlasting life' element?

Is that the element that makes a creator being credible to you?

@fmf said
This is a thread about believers in a creator being [theists] whose religions do not have a promise of 'everlasting life'. It's not about "Christianity".

And you have said several times that you are not a Christian and never have been.

So your professions of being a Christian aside, would you only be able to believe in a creator being if there were an 'everlasting life' element?

Is that the element that makes a creator being credible to you?

You're an idiot. I always regret talking to you because you always resort back to passive aggressive insults.

I am a Christian.

Stop being a moron, for once, okay?

@chaney3 said
I am a Christian.

You've also claimed you are not. Several times.

@fmf said
You've also claimed you are not. Several times.

I've claimed doubt.

As a person who supposedly loved Jesus, then threw Him to the curb, you should understand.

@chaney3 said
I've claimed doubt.

At some time or other, yeas, maybe. Who knows?

Meanwhile, you have categorically said you are not a Christian and that you never have been - several times.

So is your answer to the OP question "Yes"?

@chaney3 said
You're correct.

If one realizes that a "creator" exists, then the bible and what we've learned at church since childhood is all we really have in trying to figure out what "he" wants, and what comes next.

You're assuming the 'creator' God is the one spoken about in the Bible, which is quite the assumption. What if the God 'you' learned about at church since childhood was the wrong one?

@ghost-of-a-duke said
You're assuming the 'creator' God is the one spoken about in the Bible, which is quite the assumption. What if the God 'you' learned about at church since childhood was the wrong one?

I am open to that possibility.

The egyptian god 'horus', I believe, seems to be the exact story of Jesus, many years before the NT.

@chaney3 said
I am open to that possibility.

The egyptian god 'horus', I believe, seems to be the exact story of Jesus, many years before the NT.

If you were born in India, you would today more likely than not be a Hindu.

The fact that 'most' peoples faith is linked to random geography is quite telling.

@ghost-of-a-duke said
If you were born in India, you would today more like than not be a Hindu.

The fact that 'most' peoples faith is linked to random geography is quite telling.

I agree with that.

It still does nothing for non atheists who are convinced that life did not originate from nothing.

@chaney3 said
I agree with that.

It still does nothing for non atheists who are convinced that life did not originate from nothing.

Please stop saying that. (Echoing Sonship). I can't think of one person on this site who has ever stated that life originated from nothing. Not one.