Religion Americans Skeptical Of God But Think Heaven Is Real, Somehow

There are many examples of both empathetic/altruistic behavior - and self destruction and apparent malevolence elsewhere in the animal kingdom. Homo sapiens are not special in that regard.

I doubt any think we will as a species intentionally cause it to happen.

Also not unique to homo sapiens, and would obviously not be intentional.

There are many factors that lead to extinction for any species. 99.9% of species that have ever existed are extinct.

The way homo sapiens ARE unique is we have reached the intellectual capacity where we might see it coming and be able to avoid it. That's obviously what most of us want. I don't know anyone that's rooting for it.

 

So you mean religions other than yours are bullshit.

However modified your belief system is clearly derived from a specific religion.

 

no, quite the opposite

many religions are a derivative of what I believe. A set of practices and rituals created by men, not the word of God

I understand, you dont get it. See, I enjoy a fellowship with God, but I never want to "get religion" . God frees us that so choose while religion enslaves

 

For those that do believe in Heaven:

What do you guys think happens when we die? Do we as our person actually go to another place, or do we go there in our minds?

 

If you are defining religion just as ritual then I can see your point. But what you believe is clearly a modified version of Christianity, or at least something derived from it specifically, so in that sense you are adhering to a specific religion.

 

meh I dont want to have the history of religion conversation. To be succinct, again you have it backwards. Christianity is based upon the belief in Jesus, not the other way around. Religion is a derivative of the former.

 

I base my beliefs on exactly what Jesus said'

 

I wasn't aware the bible answers that question. I know it talks about walking in the house of the lord, but still that could go either way.

 

Actually I don't think the mission is to go to Heaven. The more immediate need is to avoid Hell here during your alloted time. Perhaps there is another state for the soul to progress after the biology
here ceases to function. Seems a terrific waste if not, not even logical. Heaven is only a name, we know nothing of the state of being, but I am sure it will only accommodate the soul, no biology.

 

Phrasing it that way doesn't change anything. The Bible is derived from Christianity and your belief is derived from your interpretation of the Bible. It's all one big wad of religion. You're just choosing to use oddball semantics.

 

Sorry but that is incorrect. But even you must know this so why do you post this?

 

No it's correct. If you define Christianity as belief in Jesus then the Bible is the result of that belief, both as individual books and later as what was deemed worthy of the Canon.

 

I thought I might try a little more to explain what is meant by the Soul since some seem so intent on discounting the concept. But I really can't. The meaning in other religions is about the same as I have already stated as my understanding.

Soul is defined in the English language and I think it is so for Christians.

"The immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life"

Buddhist

Do not have a word for Soul, but there is an idea of the concept.
In "as an unchanging personal principle that continues in time infinitely."

Hinduism
Has the word Ātman (Sanskrit)
Meaning inner self, the true self beyond the biological, the essence of the individual.

I think I came quite close in describing the idea in the prior post, Covering most peoples understanding.
" I am not sure we all have a soul, some sure live their lives as if it was never completely outfitted.
And then perhaps the soul need nurturing to become complete, so that leaves room for incompleteness.
But it does seem there is a sense of being, that is beyond the body and biology. My being that I first remember as a toddler, is the same guy it was twenty years later, and then the same guy is still here today. He asks different question, he seeks different things, and yet he is the same. His body is sure as hell different, but he is not. He could move right into another and be right at home.

I am with you on God, while I am sure we were created by god, I have no sense that he interferes with us daily or actually at all. Probably does not need to since most of us have the soul created by god to guide the biological creature at the higher level, conscience, morality, spiritually."

If a person can't understand any of this, then there probably isn't any other Specific way to communicate the idea, indeed there are probably those that never feel the presents of the the soul so words do not work well in describing that which they do not have.

 

Well I am not a Christian but I do know the books Old Testament is lifted from the Jewish Torah. Then the New Testament are for the most part written by the Disciples of Jesus.
The first Ecumenical Council defined the Cannon, the books to include in the Bible. And so the teachings of Jesus became Christianity for a period. It no longer exists in unity only as
a plethora of different churches. Even so, nothing in the old testament must be accepted to be a Christian. At best it is collection of stories that reflect the history leading to Jesus as
seen by the Jews.

 

Because you aren't actually conceptualizing anything.

This is pretty standard religious/cult double speak. The experience always seems to be conveniently impossible to describe to someone who hasn't had it.

 

Naw, Mar. The entire book is needed to have a complete understanding. Yeah, the game changed when Jesus died for our sins. This created a new covenant with mankind.

 

Many people say that, but they dont take the time to consider the difference between true, biblical christianity, and religion. I hate all religion, especially the brand that calls itself christianity but wants nothing to do with the real message and likes to twist the words to take advantage of emotionally damaged people. I can see why jesus flipped over the merchants tables, one of a standard atheists favorite examples of jesus "sinning." Though the apologist in me says anger is not a sin, there is righteous anger. It should make you mad when someone suicide bombs a market with innocent people for example. It's wrong.

Its not that I believe my "religion" is right and others are wrong. It's that I believe all religion is wrong.

Study other religions, including the modern versions of christianity, you will find they all require you DO something. From jihad to enter paradise, to meditating on nothingness until you reach nirvana, all religion says DO. Reading the bible however, you learn Christ fulfilled the DO for you, and therefore your religion is DONE. There is no need for religion, and that was ultimately why I chose to believe. I can dig freebies, I cant get on board with passing offering plates, protesting gays, singing shitty songs, flopping on the floor, tax exempt building projects, and tax exempt paid preachers however.