I refuse to read the rest until you explain this. Are you honestly saying there is no way I can escape your ridiculous beliefs LEGALLY?

How about (not sure if I’ll get the spelling right), sheol.

Please show me:

There are plenty of places in the Bible that refer to hell as burning, wailing, gnashing of teeth

I HAVE read the text for myself—ALL of it, and while it has been MANY years since I’ve done so, I can’t recall. So, please, point me in the right direction. Chapters, verses. Thank you. Because I was under the impression that “burning in Hell” was something the church leaders dreamt up to scare the illiterate followers into falling in line.

Romans says the wages of sin are death, and mentions eternal life as a gift from God through Jesus. That is not the same as eternal life in one place vs. another; ONLY death being final vs. not final.

Revelations has things that indicate a possible eternal torment in its “lake of fire”, but that is only after the Return, and not at each and every person’s death. And it’s interesting how Revelations says the dead are judged according to works, rather than simply their acceptance of Jesus the Christ. Just a side observation, another inconsistency, to me.

This is obviously a spoiled, self-centered society.

Still Christianity

All of which proves nothing. Ideas often outlast the fame of individuals.

TURBO-PUNS!!!

there is a direct correlation between education and political beliefs. having an education gives people a high propensity to being liberal. there are some facts out there on it, but I’m not gonna look for it.

I call bullsh*t.. Most of the people I know have college degrees, and I would say their party affiliation is running about 50-50. If you’re going to make that claim, you’re going to need to back it up with a cite.

i think it has do with basing political views on facts v. values. an educated person analyzes and investigates a situation before stating an opinion. in contrast, an uneducated person vociferously makes a statement without giving it much thought. hence misspelling a common word like marriage on a sign that is intended to make a loud public statement. this sign is an obvious display of ignorance on many levels.

another interesting fact is that without an education people often seek information within their reference groups, which sometimes happen to be their favorite t.v. talk show, radio host, friends, church, etc. they don’t often investigate a statement before adopting it as their own. they don’t check out a political science book in their local library to see how policies really impact their lives. often, their values are based on second hand information.

Of course, there are exceptions…Like the ones who responded to your question.

but, like it or not these are just the facts in regards to people that make signs like these.

Life isn’t fair and it’s hard as hell, and it sucks! And rather than *interfering* in others’ lives, we should be asking each other how we can help.

And reusing a soul from an aborted fetus is just silly. If god is all knowing he is already aware that little zygote isn’t going very far so attaching a soul to it is a waste of time. God works smarter not harder

Well, yeah, it *is* just silly. But then, even using their own religious tenets sometimes doesn’t help when arguing with the anti-abortion crowd. They sputter and fall back on “you’re killing the babehs!”

– - God already knows what will happen/God has a plan for all of us/God works in mysterious ways/etc. > Then don’t interfere!

That thing wasn’t MEANT to be born, didja ever think of that? Huge numbers of fertilized eggs are flushed down the toilet every day, sometimes without the bearer even realizing it, and you’re not holding candlelight vigils for them! That’s N A T U R E. They estimate that only a percentage of the fertilized eggs ever make it very far at all. Trillions of chromosomal combinations are possible; oftentimes there are screwups, and those are discarded.

“God” seems to be to be a cruel bastard, who really doesn’t differentiate between good and innocent or evil and depraved, not when he’s doling out the suffering. A sweet reprieve from the worldly suffering for the little zygote should be looked upon as a blessing . . . but yeah, if he’s omniscient, why would he bother attaching a soul to it at all . . . ?

My advice to ‘em? Worry about the suffering of the ones who are ALREADY HERE, sentient, awake, ALIVE, and possibly needing your help.

(For F&@K’S SAKE, this topic always pisses me off! I like to poke fun, but it’s a frustrated, teeth-grating fun sometimes, only because it seems simple to me, and I want to drill the logic into their heads, preferably with a power tool. I need some sleep. Good night.)

Some centuries the Catholic church sent missionaries to Asia. Now the goal of a number of religions in the area is to join with your ancestors when you die. This was problematic when trying to gain converts as the locals were told their ancestors were in hell and if they continued to not worship christ they too would join their ancestors in hell. Since they wanted to join their ancestors converting seemed like a bad idea. So the bishops and cardinals and pope in Rome decided that if you had never heard the word of god but had otherwise lived a good life god would probably let you into heaven. Now the ancestors are in heaven. To join the ancestors you have to convert and become christian.

And reusing a soul from an aborted fetus is just silly. If god is all knowing he is already aware that little zygote isn’t going very far so attaching a soul to it is a waste of time. God works smarter not harder

Also, you get a cookie for that

*stares longingly at leather chest, among other chests*

That and more. Much more.

Utterly and completely.
Forgive me?