Yes, that would be fun. And we could all say I told you so!

~ I told you that heaven really existed, and you wouldn't believe me!

~ Ah, yes, but you said I wouldn't get in, yet I'm here!

[b]actually people christianity is about the only relion that says believe this or be damned……… the q'ran tells us to respect alternate faiths ………. somebody here is bound to bring up islami extremists here, but they are not representative of their faith as [b]islam is actually very tolerant of peoples differences.[/b] janimal, before you make a blanket statement as the ones above, please check you facts. Christianity is not the only exclusive religion and nowhere do the Scriptures say not to respect other religions or people of other faiths. There is a difference between a belief being exclusive and a belief being intolerant. The reason we are exclusive is because we believe that there is no way to the father except through Jesus. However we do not say that Jesus died only for those that accept Him, He died for all mankind, from the beginning to the end. He died for the Muslims, the Hindus, for the Buddhists, and all other persons of all other religions. The scriptures tell us that He has put in the hearts of men the truth and His commands. Those that are not Christian will be judge through Jesus on the commands that He has placed in their hearts. [quote] When outsiders who have never heard of God's law follow it more or less by instinct, they confirm its truth by their obedience. They show that God's law is not something alien, imposed on us from without, but woven into the very fabric of our creation. There is something deep within them that echoes God's yes and no, right and wrong. Their response to God's yes and no will become public knowledge on the day God makes his final decision about every man and woman. The Message from God that I proclaim through Jesus Christ takes into account all these differences. (Rom 2:14-16) The Message Bible[/quote]At no time do the Scriptures give anyone, Christian, Jew or otherwise, the right to be hateful, disrespectful and intolerant of other religions and or to the persons who practice them. Once a person comes to the realization of the true God, he is not to return and worship the gods he did before, but if he did it would be his choice and harm to him is not prescribed. The Scriptures tell us to love our neighbors and they also tell us to love our enemies. Now you stated that the Koran says to respect other faiths. Well Sura 2:256 does say “There is no compulsion in religion.” However, the meaning of this statement has been debated. The truth is the other entries of the Koran abrogate this entry. [quote]Sura 2:194 The Koran sanctions revenge: “If anyone transgresses . . . against you, transgress likewise against him” Sura 2:65-66 and Sura 5:60 contain references to Jews as “apes and swine to be despised and rejected.” Sura 2:216 Fighting is prescribed for you, and [some of] you dislike it. But it is possible that you dislike a thing which is good for you, and that you love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knows, and you know not. Sura 2:190-193 Fight in the way of Allah . . . and slay them [the unbelievers] wherever you find them and drive them out . . . and fight them until . . . religion is for Allah. Sura 5:33 For those who do not submit to Allah their punishment is . . . execution or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet, from the opposite sides, or exile from the land Sura 5:51 commands Muslims not to take Jews and Christians as friends. Sura 8:12-14 The Koran specifically commands that those who disobey Allah are to be tortured. Sura 9:5).Fight and slay the pagans wherever you find them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem of war Sura 9:29 commands Muslims to fight against Jews and Christians until they either submit to Allah or else agree to pay a special tax. Surah 9:5 Find and slay the pagans [non-Muslims] wherever you find them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them, in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent [convert to Islam], and establish regular prayers and practice regular charity, them open up a way for them: for Allah is oft forgiving, most merciful Sura 9:12 & Hadith 9:57 The Koran also expresses an intolerant attitude toward any person who decides to reject the Islamic faith or convert to another religion [/quote]When first wrote he did speak highly of Judaism and Christianity, but as the writings progressed they became more and more hostile against them and other beliefs. It is true that the majority of Islamic people are good and these quotes are not intended to inspire hate towards them, but you made some comments that I could not ignore. There are only some are extremists, however the extremist are following the Koran's message to destroy those that are a threat (and this includes not believing) to their faith. Mychal Massie a political columnist wrote: [quote]“Consider: There are about 400 recognized terrorist groups in the world. Over 90 percent of these are Islamist groups. Over 90 percent of the current world fighting involves Islamist terror movements. The vast majority of world terrorism is religiously motivated by Islam. [/quote]

And you don't consider this exclusive and degrading to the other faiths?

To translate:
1)Christianity is the only true faith - the only way to heaven.

2)Jesus didn't die just for the believers, he died for everyone, including the Muslims, Hindus, etc.

3)If you're not Christian, you will still be judged according to Jesus.

Here's news - the Muslims, Hindus, Jews, don't want anything to do with Jesus, and don't accept that they need his "blessing" or "judgement".

Christians can be judged by Jesus, the rest of the world can answer to a higher authority.

Kind of reminds me of the joke:

Why did God create the Christians?

Someone has to pay retail.

It sounds like Christianity is a retail faith, needing an intermediary to get to the goods.

That would be a fine statement if you're right and there isn't really a god. If that's the case we can float our molecules beside each other and have a talk, or however molecules communicate.

But if I'm right I won't even want to visit where you'd be, and you couldn't get to where I was if you wanted to.

No I do not and I do not consider their exclusiveness degrading to me. I accept and respect what they believe to be true. That does not mean that I will not share what I believe to be true.

If by intermediary you mean Jesus you are right, because he is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Because of Him we do no longer have to sacrifice animals in the Temple to achieve forgiveness.

" ..if I'm right I won't even want to visit where you'd be, and you couldn't get to where I was if you wanted to."

What an assumption to make!

Believer, how would you feel if these words were directed the other way round?

[quote]Originally posted by fish: [b] ... When first wrote he did speak highly of Judaism and Christianity, but as the writings progressed they became more and more hostile against them and other beliefs. It is true that the majority of Islamic people are good and these quotes are not intended to inspire hate towards them, but you made some comments that I could not ignore. There are only some are extremists, however the extremist are following the Koran's message to destroy those that are a threat (and this includes not believing) to their faith. Mychal Massie a political columnist wrote: [quote]“Consider: There are about 400 recognized terrorist groups in the world. Over 90 percent of these are Islamist groups. Over 90 percent of the current world fighting involves Islamist terror movements. The vast majority of world terrorism is religiously motivated by Islam. [/quote][/b] There is Islamic terrorism; I don't think that we can doubt that, but there has been a huge amount of 'terror' inflicted on people by Christianity. Terrorising people has got to be regarded as sinful. yet the Inquisition and the Crusades went on in God's name ~ and I think that we must all know of criminal or terrorist movements that consider themselves 'good Christians'. Perhaps it goes back to the idea that you can sin as much as you like, as long as you accept Jesus as your saviour. It seems that some Islamic terrorists believe that they will go straight to 'Paradise' if they die for their cause. This is a strange idea to me - rewarding bad behaviour (sin) with heaven / paradise / whatever one might call it. Yet it occurs in at least these two religions. And from what I have read in the OT, in Judaism, too. Is this a 'people of the book' phenomenon? [/quote]

I'd like to clarify something about the whole agnostic thing.

Look at it this way 3 people witness a crime, say a mugging, one decides "It's not my business, I will not get involved" and walks away. The other chases the mugger and helps the victim. The whole time the third sits there debating what to do, should they act or shouldn't they? If they help they could get killed, but if they don't could they live with themselves? In truth their indecision has already chosen for them, because by the time they're made up their mind it's too late.

To me that is the definition of an agnostic. No offense to anyone here, but sitting on the fense weighing the options is not really a viable solution. How long will it take someone to make up their mind on something that has eternal ramafications?

In the Christian belief not believing is just that, and has an eternal price. So from the Christian perspective if you choose to search and not believe you've chosen not to believe, and are against God.

It's similar to the whole voting issue in the States. I know people who don't vote because they don't feel it will make a difference and they don't like either enough to cast a vote.

We get more votes for MTV awards in this country, or for American Idol than we do for President. To me if you can't decide which to vote for by what you've read, and seen of them and you don't make up your mind by election day, then you have no reason to complain when things go wrong.

Again in my opinion this is the fate of the agnostic. If they spend all of their time searching, and no time deciding then when they finally die, which could be anytime, they have no right to complain about where they end up.

How is this a wrong statement? If I am right and Jesus is the only way to heaven, then all of those who don't accept Jesus will be in hell.

If that is the case then it is a place where I wouldn't want to visit, and again if I am right those who are there are there for eternity, and not just a 3 year sentence, so they won't be getting out. Ever!

So once again how is this a wrong statement to make? As for how I'd feel if it were directed at me. As a Christian I'd feel nothing because I already know my destination, but if I were a non-believer it would seriously shake me up. Enough to motivate me to figure out what this whole Jesus thing is all about.