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> This is true of pretty much any faith group (Baptist, myself). Maybe for Abrahamic/Christian faith groups. Definitely not true for many others like Buddhists

> This is true of pretty much any faith group (Baptist, myself). Maybe for Abrahamic/Christian faith groups. Definitely not true for many others like Buddhists, Sikhs, etc.

smitty1e 6y ago
We'd probably need to explore definitions, because I'm pretty much meaning: "having an identity distinct from non-members of the group".
- viklove 6y ago
  Neither of the religions I mentioned have strong opinions about non-members, they both teach that people are just people and there's really no difference between followers of one faith or another. There's a pretty stark difference between Sikhism and Christianity, for example. Christians believe everyone who is non-Christian is going to hell for eternal damnation. Sikhs believe that everyone is actually just worshiping the same god by different names, and that it doesn't matter what you worship, just that you're not an evil person.
  - lcall 6y ago
    I believe that many belief systems have some truth and some good, and that we will be judged based on our choices relative to what we know, and that all will have the right info & opportunities, eventually. Edit: My faith says: "Keep all the good that you have, and let us see if we can add to it."
  - smitty1e 6y ago
    In Christian circles, the concept you cite is called "universalism" and has plenty of traction. Whether or not the Almighty cares for such stylings remains to be seen.
    - viklove 6y ago
      How do you square that with the biblical assertion that all non-believers are subject to eternal damnation? I don't believe in Jesus, so I'm going to hell -- right? Have modern Christians just thrown this belief out? Can they still be called Christians if they do so? It seems like a core belief of the religion.
      - smitty1e 6y ago
        You're setting me up in judgement of you, and I decline. Jesus clearly asserts that all pass by Him, but what you do with that information is between you and Him. That's about as heavy as I get.
        viklove 6y ago
        > You're setting me up in judgement of you, and I decline. No, you can have whatever beliefs you want. But Christianity's beliefs are codified in the bible, and you seem to disagree with what the bible says. In my mind, you're not really a Christian, but obviously in your mind you can be whatever you want. > John 1:9-1:11 > Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works. This is in the bible. According to Jesus, you should not greet me and by doing so you have taken part in my wicked works. > Revelations 21:8 > But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death. This part of the bible says that since I am faithless, I am as bad as a murderer or rapist, and I belong in lakes of fire and sulfur. You clearly denounce these parts of the scripture. How can you call yourself Christian and still disagree with these core beliefs of Christianity?
        smitty1e 6y ago
        No, I have not disagreed with the Word; merel served it up for discussion. > In my mind, you're not really a Christian, but obviously in your mind you can be whatever you want. [Curtsy goes here] > You clearly denounce these parts of the scripture. How can you call yourself Christian and still disagree with these core beliefs of Christianity? I suppose that I'm supposed to go all Newton's 3rd Law in response to your troll. Is that what you require?

> This is true of pretty much any faith group (Baptist, myself). Maybe for Abrahamic/Christian faith groups. Definitely not true for many others like Buddhists, Sikhs, etc.

smitty1e 6y ago

We'd probably need to explore definitions, because I'm pretty much meaning: "having an identity distinct from non-members of the group".

viklove 6y ago
Neither of the religions I mentioned have strong opinions about non-members, they both teach that people are just people and there's really no difference between followers of one faith or another. There's a pretty stark difference between Sikhism and Christianity, for example. Christians believe everyone who is non-Christian is going to hell for eternal damnation. Sikhs believe that everyone is actually just worshiping the same god by different names, and that it doesn't matter what you worship, just that you're not an evil person.
- lcall 6y ago
  I believe that many belief systems have some truth and some good, and that we will be judged based on our choices relative to what we know, and that all will have the right info & opportunities, eventually. Edit: My faith says: "Keep all the good that you have, and let us see if we can add to it."
- smitty1e 6y ago
  In Christian circles, the concept you cite is called "universalism" and has plenty of traction. Whether or not the Almighty cares for such stylings remains to be seen.
  - viklove 6y ago
    How do you square that with the biblical assertion that all non-believers are subject to eternal damnation? I don't believe in Jesus, so I'm going to hell -- right? Have modern Christians just thrown this belief out? Can they still be called Christians if they do so? It seems like a core belief of the religion.
    - smitty1e 6y ago
      You're setting me up in judgement of you, and I decline. Jesus clearly asserts that all pass by Him, but what you do with that information is between you and Him. That's about as heavy as I get.
      - viklove 6y ago
        > You're setting me up in judgement of you, and I decline. No, you can have whatever beliefs you want. But Christianity's beliefs are codified in the bible, and you seem to disagree with what the bible says. In my mind, you're not really a Christian, but obviously in your mind you can be whatever you want. > John 1:9-1:11 > Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works. This is in the bible. According to Jesus, you should not greet me and by doing so you have taken part in my wicked works. > Revelations 21:8 > But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death. This part of the bible says that since I am faithless, I am as bad as a murderer or rapist, and I belong in lakes of fire and sulfur. You clearly denounce these parts of the scripture. How can you call yourself Christian and still disagree with these core beliefs of Christianity?
        smitty1e 6y ago
        No, I have not disagreed with the Word; merel served it up for discussion. > In my mind, you're not really a Christian, but obviously in your mind you can be whatever you want. [Curtsy goes here] > You clearly denounce these parts of the scripture. How can you call yourself Christian and still disagree with these core beliefs of Christianity? I suppose that I'm supposed to go all Newton's 3rd Law in response to your troll. Is that what you require?