It goes deeper than that though. First, we are supposedly BORN as sinners, meaning that no matter how good you thought you've been living your life, being a good and peaceful person is not enough.
I believe that we are not born sinners. Essentially, Jesus said that a child is precious, if you look through the eyes of a child, you will go to heaven. I believe sin is learned.
I'm not a perfect person, but I strive to constantly be a better person. I have no love for violence or the will to take a life. I am also not a believer. I find it highly spurious that an all-powerful all-benevolent being, one who is supposedly responsible for my creation, would damn me to hell for not believing when a reformed murderer who has caused more pain than I ever could can "become one with God" simply through his belief in Christianity. This does not sound benevolent to my ears.
There are many who believe the same in every denomination, but that is not technically a theological statement that non-Christians go to hell. I know I said this already, but people not of the Christian faith can still go to heaven, actually, they have about the same chances. Another belief on the matter, is that a reformed murderer, even if he is Christian, might follow God, but he doesn't follow his plan. An atheist of any sort, can follow the plan of God, but not Him Himself. The plan of God is to have the lion lay down with the lamb, for peace among us. He knows we aren't perfect, as he created us, so as long as we try our best to be a good person, he'll know.
I was raised Presbyterian, and my mom is a religion
major(all religions, not just Christianity) she also moved many religions, but came back to Christianity. So I can pretty freely ask questions and get what she believes, what my denomination believes, why, how, when, why.... Like the following example:
I asked my mom what she thought of heaven and hell
She told me she believed that there was no hell except for eternal separation from God. Heaven was when we become one with God.
I asked her where she got the belief from, because I ha never heard it before.
She told me that scientifically, the energy in our bodies has to go somewhere, but also, in the bible it doesn't say anything about fiery hell and torture, that's actually, most likely, an adaptation from Greek culture into Christianity about their afterlife, which is supported because our version and the Greek version of hell is the same. We even sometimes call it the Greek name Hades. She explained that the bible tells us that the evil will be thrown to the darkness where there will be gnashing of teeth.
Then I wondered why would there be that separation, why not treat everyone equally?
She told me that the point of heaven is to become one with God, if we are violent or evil, we cannot be one with God because God uses the good in us. If we have the hearts, or lack there of, to murder someone in cold blood, then we really have no good in us that ever shows.
I want to kind of clear up some things here... I'm Presbyterian, so we are taught to question, not just flat out believe so I may have a few more opinions than most Catholicism or stricter denominations...so I'll list a few things here:
1. Many things in the bible are symbolic including the Garden if Eden Story(Adam and Eve). The bible lists two different stories of creation next to each other, they aren't supposed to be factual.
2. The amount of information about God is something Christians struggle with as well... But the reasons why there isn't much on God, is because
- The people who wrote the bible didn't know much about God either.
- The disciples who probably did know about Him, thought that he was going to come back in their lifetimes
3. Actually our religion is based on this: "Love your neighbor as yourself". We actually believe (I'm not trying to make a generalization, so when I say we, I mean Presbyterians, Lutherans, and other theologically similar faiths) that even people who are not Christian can still go to heaven, atheists included. Judgment is based on the good of a person. To support that, I use the example of a Buddhist in Nepal was born Buddhist, grew up Buddhist, died Buddhist, and was not able to know Christianity through their whole life, they should not be punished for their life, as long as they I'd good unto others... "for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.'
Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink?
And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee?
And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee? And the King will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.'" (Matthew 25:31-46)
4. We can go around with smiles on our face knowing that if we do the right thing, or at least try not to do bad things, we will be saved. Which again goes to the point above.
Isn't is better to believe in a God and find out there isn't one than not believe in a God then find out there is one?
Just saying, historical evidence such as death records and manuscripts verify That he was a person, whether or not he is Christ is the actual argument...
Sustainability is a human need that demands to be met. When the legal methods of obtaining food and shelter have been exhausted, citizens have no choice but to turn to criminal means.
The links between extreme deprivation, delinquency, and violence, then, are strong, consistent, and compelling. There is little question that growing up in extreme poverty exerts powerful pressures toward crime. The fact that those pressures are overcome by some individuals is testimony to human strength and resiliency, but does not diminish the importance of the link between social exclusion and violence. If participating in the work force does not sustain a person, and a life of crime does, then most likely, a person would move to a life of crime.
The impacts of violence in a country are numerous. The intimate relationship between poverty and crime create a cycle of instability. A living wage must be required by the government in order to stop this perpetuating cycle.
(Ronald C. Kramer, professor of sociology and director of the Criminal Justice Program at Western Michigan University, Poverty, Inequality, and Youth Violence, July 13 2014 )
Sustainability is a key to life. Without a livable wage, many workers would not theoretically have life, and would then not allow them to participate in the work force.
A living wage would greatly decrease the amount of people resorting to crime to receive basic resources.
(Social Environment Contributes to Crime." Humanism by Joe. Joseph C. Sommer-Author, Attorney at Law, Humanist, 2009. Web. 17 Dec. 2014)
What do you have this to compare to.... Technically there is no just society and therefore we can not debate against this. What other system wold there be, specifically, not just a different one, that would solve this problem, if there is one.There have always been problems with systems, but no system can technically be perfect. The monetary system is described as sets of --internationally-- agreed rules, conventions and supporting institutions, that facilitate international trade, cross border investment and generally the reallocation of capital between nation states. It's like arguing that the whole world is corrupt. What is there to compare it to since we know no other system except our world.
When man people say that he is not mentioned,they are looking at the newly translated versions of the bible, many Hebrew and Latin bibles have Muhammad in them.
הפה שלו הוא כל כך מתוק. כן, הוא מוחמד. זה אהוב שלי, ואת זה הוא חבר שלי, בנות הו ציון.
Guttur illius suavissimum et. Guttur illius suavissimum et Machometum. Talis est dilectus meus et iste est amicus meus filiae Hierusalem dabit.
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is mentioned by name in the Song of Solomon chapter 5 verse 16:
"Hikko Mamittakim we kullo Muhammadim Zehdoodeh WA Zehraee Bayna Jerusalem."
Translation:"His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is Mohammad. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem."
In the Hebrew language im is added for respect. Similarly im is added after the name of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to make it Muhammadim. In English translation they have even translated the name of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as "altogether lovely", but in the Old Testament in Hebrew, the name of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is yet present.
