Is there a GOD? - ding! ding! ding ding geeeeet reaaaaaady toooooo rummmmble!!!!

[Epoman]

Ok inspired by thread: http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?topic=620.0 that topic was getting off course, it was about gays and marriage. It turned into a GOD debate. Well lets continue the debate here.

Is there a GOD? I personally believe YES! I can't imagine that with the complexity of the human body especially the brain, and all the feelings we have, that go hand in hand, for example sex, it serves a purpose and it FEELS GOOD!  I just can't imagine that we were an accident, a "Big Bang" happened and a million years later we have Tivo.  There are so many beautiful things in this world that are just too perfect. Some people say we evolved from apes, well they can bite my ass. If apes evolved into man, why are there still apes? Is the bible right I hope so! remember though, it was written by man, and things do get lost in translation. I don't know which religion is correct, there are so many! Catholics believe Christians are going to hell and Christians believe Catholics are going to hell, and everyone thinks buddhists are all going to burn. Who is right? I personally think that as long as you believe in a GOD and live a good life, you will go to heaven when you die, if I didn't believe in GOD and NO forgiveness for the ultimate sin (suicide) I would have offed myself 13 years ago. But I fear GOD and I try to follow his rules as much as possible. Because when I die I want to go to heaven and chill with "THE MAN" and talk about the mysteries of the universe, things like what ever happened to Jimmy Hoffa?

Well that should start things off....

DISCUSS!

[Rerun]

Catholics believe Christians are going to hell and Christians believe Catholics are going to hell, and everyone thinks Buddhists are all going to burn. Who is right?

At least you have it right.  There is a difference between Catholics and Christians.  Most people think they are the same.  That is what I didn't like about the Davenci Code (the book).  It kept referring to Catholics and Christians as if they were one.  NOT!     I am a Born Again Christian and I don't need to go through any Priest to talk to God.

[kevno]

Hate is a strong word. But I made a packed with so called god a long time ago I hate him/she and I hate him/she right back. If there is the White gates the first thing I will do is give god a Punch in the nose, see how him/she likes having crap done to him/her. Lost my faith a long time ago, the only thing I believe in is myself, which is all you need. I have posted a message about this before. Can not remember where If faith keeps a person happy then I have no problem with that, I am glad for them that they have something to believe in. I go my own way, everyone else can go there own way.

Kevno

P.S DV Code a good read and that is all, a good read.

[hyperlite]

hahahaha Catholics ARE Christians. A Christian is anyone that believes in Jesus Christ. Catholics are a type of Christian. Just like Protestants, and Orthodox Christians, and Evangelists...etc. Some of these "terms" can be broken down further too. Like Protestants can be broken down into Anglicans, Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Calvanists...etc

Epoman: Nobody is saying that we evolved from apes. That is a hugely common misconception. We did however evolve from a similar ancestor, that does not exist anymore. Evolution usually occurs through the splitting of species. So a common ancestor (probably way way way before humans and monkeys or gorillas or whatever) would have been divided somehow, whether it be geographically or through a disease or one of another million possibilities. This separation would have caused this common ancestor to diverge genetically. Now it doesn't work like "the trees were tall, so their babies were born taller"...its actually that due to random mutations, the babies that were born taller were able to survive and carry on their genes... so the same would have happened. Maybe in one part of the world, the smarter "ape-like creatures" survived, whereas in the other part, the more limber, and stronger ape-like creatures survived...and you have to remember this happened over millions of years. We've seen so much evolution over the past couple of hundred years, that this is not that much of a surprise. Look at how tall people are now. Look at skin colours. Look at the ability of humans to learn...

Evolution is a proven fact, through examining genetic codes, and the genomes of animals. Take the influenza virus for example. It evolves every year...

Now I don't know if God exists or not. I think thats the point. We're not supposed to know for sure, we have to have faith. That's why the notion of God is still around, and always will be. If you believe, then hes there. If you don't believe and need proof, then you'll never get it, because you shouldn't need proof to know that he's there. It's the perfect way to make people believe.

I also think that the reason humans need a God, is because it is part of our genetics. That's why everywhere in the world, each society has some sort of God or religion. It's a survival tool. The holes we can't explain, God fills those in for us. It's part of our cognitive behaviour to need a God. It hurts to try and think that out of nothingness, something was created randomly. Or even there never was nothingness, and there has always been something there. Or things like infinite. To think that the universe goes on forever. Mind boggling. But that's because I'm using a human brain to try and grasp these ideas. My brain isn't "hard-wired" to do so. I like the idea of a God starting everything, because it's simple, and it explains everything.

And if I'm going to burn in Hell for thinking this way, well then so be it. I don't believe in a Hell, so I'm not really scared. I think that when I die, theres going to be nothingness. Just like when I go to sleep and can't remember my dreams from the night before. It's as if that time between when I was awake, went to sleep, and then woke up again, never really happened. Or if I drink too much and can't remember what happened the night before (  ) there's a void...a nothingness. Is that depressing? no because I have tomorrow to look forward to. I don't need an eternal afterlife. All I need is to make the most of the time I've got here on Earth.

And as for religion, I like the idea of a church, because it is somewhere I can go, the people are nice, the message is relatively uplifting, and the morals are good. Its a good setting to raise a family, and live an honest and fulfilling life. But that doesn't mean I buy it all. In the back of my head, I try to be a good person because of the whole "heaven and hell" thing, even though I don't really believe it. But what's the harm in that? Although, the main reason I dont break the law, is because I'm afraid of the judicial system, I still have a conscious...where does that come from? probably from my Christian up-bringing. So yeah, I'll take my kids to church...But I'll also teach them the wonders of science...

And as for Jimmy Hoffa, he's probably living it up right now with Tupac, Elvis, and JFK

[hyperlite]

Just found this article on the net...pretty interesting! 

http://technology.sympatico.msn.ca/Home/ContentPosting.aspx?newsitemid=179860&feedname=PCMAGAZINE&show=False&number=0&showbyline=False&subtitle=&detect=&abc=abc

I like the quotes at the end of the article:

"For example, according to a 2005 Pew Research poll, 42 percent of Americans believe that "life on Earth has existed in its present form since the beginning of time."
Stoeger called the faith of those who believe in the literal account of creation as described in the Book of Genesis as belief based on ignorance.
"Their theology is very primitive and they have no adequate means ... to integrate their (religious) tradition with the real world," he said.
Corbally said a split between science and religion was dangerous for society and the world. "Having truths in opposition is hurtful. We live in a world in which we have to understand nature in order to live with it correctly," he said.

[hephziba]

I used to hate God, well I didn't believe in him, but if He did by any chance exist then I hated Him, My dad spent so much time in church and at work that we never saw Him, and My mum had a breakdown and ended up in and out of psychiatric hospitals, if thats the work of a loving God well shame on Him.

as a result of the mess in my family, I began taking my mums antidepressants and anti psychotics with some beer at age 14 attempted suicide at twelve, and ended up bouncing around on weed, speed, ketamin, crack cocaine, and huge ammounts of alcohol, I smoked 70 ciggeretts a day or more, and was miserable, I deliberatly done everything I could that I knew was offensive to the christian God. or the God of my father. I hated my dad so much I bust his lip one time in a fight and was ostracised by my family as a result, well not completly but if you've ever had your brother and sisters and dad give you the cold shoulder at age 14, its not nice. I was a closet homosexual and had absolutly zero sexual attraction to the opposite sex.

So what changed, well I met God,

I no longer smoke, I like a beer occaisonally, Im married to my wife who I am very much attracted to, I am no longer atracted to men, Im no longer doing drugs, unless you class epo, and bp meds as drugs.
 I have a good relationship with my dad, and my siblings, my mum recieved prayer and after 3 years of not leaving the house because of her fears, she now goes out again.. and talks occaisionally.

also i have seen and know many people who have recieved miracles from God through Jesus Christ, two people completly healed of m/e(chronic fatigue syndrome) I know two women who were barren, and one now has two beautifull children and the other 5. I have seen the deaf hear, one man who had been completly deaf for fifty years. to list off the miracles that follow Jesus would take a long time.

people who dont seem to know God think christians simply believe in someone they cannot see hear or experiance, but the truth is that through faith we come to know God,

as a correction, catholics are not christians , a christian is not simply someone who believes in Jesus, satanists and demons, and druids and all kinds of people believe in Jesus, in the new age their is a spirit called Jesus who is invoked.

A christian believes Jesus is the christ the son of God, and the only mediator between God and man. ie the only way to God, the only acceptable doorway to Gods heart.

the catholic church teaches that mary is also a mediator, the catholics say the pope is the head of the church, the bible says Christ is the head of His own church,

The pope is called holy father by many catholics, the bible says we have one father(God) and He alone has the title of Holy. So no even in the very simple tenets of the faith catholics are not Christians, allthough their are many sincere and loving catholics, and many have come to believe Jesus is the way the truth and the life.

I cant believe they say the evolving ape thing is scientific, the first trick is to say the earth is millions of years old, so that way you may never see another creature evolve in your life time, as the last one was a few million years ago, isnt that conveniant.

So yeah I believe In God as I have met Him,

[hyperlite]

I'm sorry but you are wrong. Catholics are Christians. The Catholic church is a Christian church. They believe that Christ was the son of God. That is the fundamental belief behind the religion of Christianity. Yes they may have different interpretations of the Bible, but they are still Christians.

Hahaha I'm very amused at how you find the fact that the Earth is millions of years old, a trick. There is scientific proof that the Earth is millions of years old. A technique called carbon dating. The carbon atom has certain isotopes (the same atom except with a different number of neutrons). These isotopes have a property called "half-life", which means that they give off a certain amount of radiation, which halves at a certain length of time. Well this half-life is really really really long. So by taking samples from the earth, the carbon atoms can be examined, and the length of time that those molecules have existed can be determined. Next thing you know it, you'll try to tell me that Dinosaurs never existed! (speaking of which, aren't mentioned at all in Bible...probably because they hadn't been discovered yet)

And evolution is happening all around us, as we speak. There are species that have evolved, while we have been alive. Like I said before, the influenza virus evolves every year. Its genetic make-up changes drastically each and every year...Its is because the genome of higher-order animals is so complex, that it is almost impossible to see subtle changes through the years, however some changes are noticeable. Experiments involving moths living close to industrial areas have shown that they have become very dark in appearance, to blend in with the "soot" covered surroundings, whereas moths further away from these areas have remained lighter and more brown in appearance, to blend in with the naturally occuring colours of their surroundings.

A clear case of evolution as an ongoing, observable fact involves the hawthorn fly, (Rhagoletis pomonella). Different populations of hawthorn fly feed on different fruits. A new population spontaneously emerged in North America in the 19th century some time after apples, a non-native species, were introduced. The apple feeding population normally feeds only on apples and not on the historically preferred fruit of hawthorns. Likewise the current hawthorn feeding population does not normally feed on apples. A current area of scientific research is the investigation of whether or not the apple feeding race may further evolve into a new species. Some evidence, such as the fact that six out of thirteen alozyme loci are different, that hawthorn flies mature later in the season and take longer to mature than apple flies; and that there is little evidence of interbreeding (researchers have documented a 4-6% hybridization rate) suggests that this is indeed occurring. The emergence of the new hawthorn fly is an example of macroevolution in process...

And by the way, I'd just like to say how wonderful it is that you were able to change your life for the better. Some people find God to do so, others find themselves. Tom Cruise found scientology and was "cured of his dyslexia"  ...But whatever the case may be, if it works for you, who am I to say that its wrong, or youre wrong. Its just not, as they say, "my cup of tea"...

[Epoman]

hahahaha Catholics ARE Christians. A Christian is anyone that believes in Jesus Christ. Catholics are a type of Christian. Just like Protestants, and Orthodox Christians, and Evangelists...etc. Some of these "terms" can be broken down further too. Like Protestants can be broken down into Anglicans, Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Calvanists...etc

Epoman: Nobody is saying that we evolved from apes. That is a hugely common misconception. We did however evolve from a similar ancestor, that does not exist anymore. Evolution usually occurs through the splitting of species. So a common ancestor (probably way way way before humans and monkeys or gorillas or whatever) would have been divided somehow, whether it be geographically or through a disease or one of another million possibilities. This separation would have caused this common ancestor to diverge genetically. Now it doesn't work like "the trees were tall, so their babies were born taller"...its actually that due to random mutations, the babies that were born taller were able to survive and carry on their genes... so the same would have happened. Maybe in one part of the world, the smarter "ape-like creatures" survived, whereas in the other part, the more limber, and stronger ape-like creatures survived...and you have to remember this happened over millions of years. We've seen so much evolution over the past couple of hundred years, that this is not that much of a surprise. Look at how tall people are now. Look at skin colours. Look at the ability of humans to learn...

Evolution is a proven fact, through examining genetic codes, and the genomes of animals. Take the influenza virus for example. It evolves every year...

Now I don't know if God exists or not. I think thats the point. We're not supposed to know for sure, we have to have faith. That's why the notion of God is still around, and always will be. If you believe, then hes there. If you don't believe and need proof, then you'll never get it, because you shouldn't need proof to know that he's there. It's the perfect way to make people believe.

I also think that the reason humans need a God, is because it is part of our genetics. That's why everywhere in the world, each society has some sort of God or religion. It's a survival tool. The holes we can't explain, God fills those in for us. It's part of our cognitive behaviour to need a God. It hurts to try and think that out of nothingness, something was created randomly. Or even there never was nothingness, and there has always been something there. Or things like infinite. To think that the universe goes on forever. Mind boggling. But that's because I'm using a human brain to try and grasp these ideas. My brain isn't "hard-wired" to do so. I like the idea of a God starting everything, because it's simple, and it explains everything.

And if I'm going to burn in Hell for thinking this way, well then so be it. I don't believe in a Hell, so I'm not really scared. I think that when I die, theres going to be nothingness. Just like when I go to sleep and can't remember my dreams from the night before. It's as if that time between when I was awake, went to sleep, and then woke up again, never really happened. Or if I drink too much and can't remember what happened the night before (  ) there's a void...a nothingness. Is that depressing? no because I have tomorrow to look forward to. I don't need an eternal afterlife. All I need is to make the most of the time I've got here on Earth.

And as for religion, I like the idea of a church, because it is somewhere I can go, the people are nice, the message is relatively uplifting, and the morals are good. Its a good setting to raise a family, and live an honest and fulfilling life. But that doesn't mean I buy it all. In the back of my head, I try to be a good person because of the whole "heaven and hell" thing, even though I don't really believe it. But what's the harm in that? Although, the main reason I dont break the law, is because I'm afraid of the judicial system, I still have a conscious...where does that come from? probably from my Christian up-bringing. So yeah, I'll take my kids to church...But I'll also teach them the wonders of science...

And as for Jimmy Hoffa, he's probably living it up right now with Tupac, Elvis, and JFK

With the intelligence humans have and the power that our brain is capable of and the complexities of the human body, I don't see how anyone could think that we evolved.

You said:

I think that when I die, theres going to be nothingness. Just like when I go to sleep and can't remember my dreams from the night before. It's as if that time between when I was awake, went to sleep, and then woke up again, never really happened. Or if I drink too much and can't remember what happened the night before (   ) there's a void...a nothingness. Is that depressing?

Yes, I find it very depressing, when you have your first child you will understand, until then you will not, believe me your views on everything change when you become a parent. I would hate to have your beliefs and know that once I or my son dies, we will never see each other again. I like the fact that in my belief I know that even after our deaths my son and I will re-unite. With your beliefs you will NEVER know the secrets of the universe, you will not be able to ask questions that have pondered man since the the beginning of time and get factual answers. In my belief I will be able to get answers to all my questions.

With your belief you have EVERYTHING to lose. If you are wrong you will go to hell, If you are right then you have lost nothing. But in my belief I have everything to gain, If I am correct I have a paradise to look forward to when I die, if I am wrong then I have lost NOTHING, I will simple cease to exist and be void. Think about it for a second. If there is a GOD (which obviously I believe there is) then by you not having faith, and believing in evolution then you are basically denouncing GOD and therefor forsaking him. Which will not allow you to enter the kingdom of heaven.

[hyperlite]

Yes, I find it very depressing, when you have your first child you will understand, until then you will not, believe me your views on everything change when you become a parent. I would hate to have your beliefs and know that once I or my son dies, we will never see each other again. I like the fact that in my belief I know that even after our deaths my son and I will re-unite. With your beliefs you will NEVER know the secrets of the universe, you will not be able to ask questions that have pondered man since the the beginning of time and get factual answers. In my belief I will be able to get answers to all my questions.

With your belief you have EVERYTHING to lose. If you are wrong you will go to hell, If you are right then you have lost nothing. But in my belief I have everything to gain, If I am correct I have a paradise to look forward to when I die, if I am wrong then I have lost NOTHING, I will simple cease to exist and be void. Think about it for a second. If there is a GOD (which obviously I believe there is) then by you not having faith, and believing in evolution then you are basically denouncing GOD and therefor forsaking him. Which will not allow you to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Yes I know that with my beliefs I won't get to see my parents or my siblings or my granparents or my future wife, and kids after I die. But I will get to see them tomorrow (well not the wife and kids part), so I should make the most of it while I still have it. And yes I know that I will never know all of the secrets of the universe, and you know what? that sucks! But I can do my best to try and find out as much as I can while I'm still alive...

I like your statement about "everything to lose, and nothing to lose..." it reminds me of a quote I learned in philosophy class. Basically its the "betting man's theory to God": If you believe and are right - you win. Jackpot. Heaven. If you believe and are wrong. well you were wrong all along, but theres nothingness so you can't really think about it now. If you don't beleive and youre right, whoop-dee-doo, nothingness...so who cares? If you dont believe and youre wrong, well you're screwed. Welcome to eternal Damnation. SO, the Betting man would believe...

But I've got too much pride in my beliefs. That may be foolish, but oh well. I could try and force myself to believe, but I don't really think that would serve a purpose.

And by believing in evolution, I'm not denouncing God. I'm denouncing the Bible's "Genesis". There's too much proof that things didn't happen the way that it was written. It's just a classic story of creation. The type of story that humans have been telling for years to set their mind at ease. That's why every religion has it's own creation story. Every civilization has it's own way of describing how the world came to be. Some are similar, some are really different.

Maybe it was God that "snapped his fingers" and made the first cell by forcing a few key nutrients to work together in a cycle? I dunno, I wasn't there. But I know that didn't make the world as we know it today, in 6 days...

[Epoman]

By Hyperlite

Maybe it was God that "snapped his fingers" and made the first cell by forcing a few key nutrients to work together in a cycle? I dunno, I wasn't there. But I know that didn't make the world as we know it today, in 7 days...

How do you know it wasn't created in 7 days? (yeah, yeah he rested on the 7th) You may argue,well carbon dating has proven the earth is millions of years old, TRUE, I will buy that however, for all we know 1 day may equal a million or several millions of years in GODS time.

Here is the timelime of creation according to the King James Bible:

1. Light
2. Sky & Ocean
3. Land
4. Sun, moon & stars
5. Birds & Fish
6. land Animals & Man
7. Rest

It states 7 days, However, a day in GODS time could be any amount of years. So that would explain the earth having rocks that are 4.5 Billion years old. And that could also explain the dinosaurs: GOD made the land animals on the 6th day well maybe in GODS time that could explain the dinosaurs were around for millions of years, THEN he man man after they become extinct. I hope you get what I'm trying to say here, I am trying to say that just because the bible says days, it doesn't have to mean 24 hours, it could mean 24+million years.

- Epoman

[hyperlite]

Ok yeah...I'll buy that. (I also like the fact that you accept that the Bible can't be taken 100% literally)
But I'll also take it one step further.

Maybe God did take millions of "our years" to do these things...but maybe he didn't just snap his fingers and the animals and plants...etc popped up. Maybe he was the cause of random genetic mutations that caused these things to evolve over this time.

Land animals were before birds though...but now we're getting picky 

So yeah, I'll agree with you on that, but I won't agree with the fact that these things just "poof" out of nowhere were on Earth.

[Epoman]

Ok yeah...I'll buy that. (I also like the fact that you accept that the Bible can't be taken 100% literally)
But I'll also take it one step further.

Maybe God did take millions of "our years" to do these things...but maybe he didn't just snap his fingers and the animals and plants...etc popped up. Maybe he was the cause of random genetic mutations that caused these things to evolve over this time.

Land animals were before birds though...but now we're getting picky 

So yeah, I'll agree with you on that, but I won't agree with the fact that these things just "poof" out of nowhere were on Earth.

And I'll give you that.  It is possible that GOD just set things in motion. But you can't say you have any proof that GOD didn't just snap his fingers, and when I say fingers I mean that literally, because man was created in his image.

But about taking the Bible literally, no of course there are many parables in the bible, this reminds me of the episode of the "West Wing". Here is a transcript:

TRANSCRIPT

President Josiah Bartlet: You're Dr. Jenna Jacobs, right?
 
Dr. Laura-type character: Yes, Sir.
 
Bartlet: ....Forgive me, Dr. Jacobs. Are you an M.D.?
 
Jacobs: A Ph.D.
 
Bartlet: A Ph.D.
 
Jacobs: Yes, Sir.     
 
Bartlet: Psychology? 
 
Jacobs: No, Sir.   
 
Bartlet: Theology?     
 
Jacobs: No.
 
Bartlet: Social work? 
 
Jacobs: I have a Ph.D. in English literature. 
 
Bartlet: I'm asking cuz on your show, people call in for advice and you go by the name Dr. Jacobs on your show, and I didn't know if maybe your listeners were confused by that and assumed you had advanced training in psychology, theology or health care.
 
Jacobs: I don't believe they are confused, no, Sir. 
 
Bartlet: Good. I like your show. I like how you call homosexuality an
abomination.
 
Jacobs: I don't say homosexuality is an abomination, Mr.  President, the
Bible does.
 
Bartlet: Yes, it does. Leviticus.
 
Jacobs: 18:22.
 
Bartlet: Chapter and verse. I wanted to ask you a couple of questions while I had you here. I'm interested in selling my youngest daughter into slavery as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7.  She's a Georgetown sophomore, speaks fluent Italian, always cleared the table when it was her turn. What would a good price for her be? While thinking about that, can I ask another? My chief of staff, Leo McGarry, insists on working on the sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly says he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or is it OK to call the police?  Here's one that's really important cuz we've got a lot of sports fans in this town.Touching the skin of a dead pig makes one unclean. Leviticus 11:7. If they promise to wear gloves, can the Washington Redskins still play football? Can Notre Dame? Can West Point? Does the whole town really have to be together to stone my brother John for planting different crops side-by-side? Can I burn my mother in a small family gathering for wearing garments made from two different threads? Think about those questions, would you? One last thing, while you may mistaking this for your monthly meeting of the Ignorant Tight-ass Club, in this building, when the President stands, nobody sits.

--Exchange between President Bartlet and a character clearly meant to be
Dr. Laura Schlessinger, Oct. 18 on NBC-TV's The West Wing.

[hyperlite]

hahaha that's hillarious!  

[Bajanne]

I was really glad to see this thread.  Yes, I know there is a God and that He revealed Himself in Jesus Christ.  I also know that this life is not all there is and that in this life we need to come to terms with God/Jesus Christ in order to enjoy this life and the other.

[kitkatz]

I believe......I will have another beer.  LOL

[Naggy6]

I do believe there is a God especially after loosing my mother recently. I do believe she saw some thing just before passing that made her not afraid any more. My mother was for as long as I can remember afraid of dying. Two days before she died she kept pointing in the air in her room to a spot where there was nothing and saying there was some thing there. I do believe she was seeing an angel. I have heard stories like that before.

Not only that but my father said when he was younger and his baby brother was sick one night his mother told him that his father who was already dead came and took him by the hand just a few short moments later the hospital called to inform them that the baby had passed away.

The day my mother died I do believe she was not afraid and I can only think that is because she was given a glimpse of a good thing to come.

[hyperlite]

I don't mean any disrespect with this post, and I certainly don't know what your mother experienced before passing away. But I'm just going to explain a theory that I heard about "near death" experiences.

Most people report of seeing a bright light, or some sort of "spot", when they have a near death experience, or have actually died and come back to life. Well the theory goes, that when the body is dying, the brain shuts down (so like a heart attack, or some other cause of death, that isn't brain related). In doing so, the brain goes through a sequence of events that results in the person seeing some sort of light, and also a sense of well being.

Some people might call this seeing heaven, or an angel. Some might just call it some neurological sequences that the brain goes through when it "shuts down". I have no idea. I've never died...I guess I'll find out when the time comes. But thats just a theory I heard once. Pretty interesting

[Sara]

Catholics are Christians, they are the original Christian church.  Everything else (every other Christian denomination anyway) has been a spin-off from Catholicism.  Catholics don't think non-Catholics are going to hell.  Actually, they teach that we can't and shouldn't judge who we think is going to hell. 

[Sara]

Catholics believe Christians are going to hell and Christians believe Catholics are going to hell, and everyone thinks Buddhists are all going to burn. Who is right?

At least you have it right.  There is a difference between Catholics and Christians.  Most people think they are the same.  That is what I didn't like about the Davenci Code (the book).  It kept referring to Catholics and Christians as if they were one.  NOT!     I am a Born Again Christian and I don't need to go through any Priest to talk to God.

Catholics don't teach you have to go through a priest to talk to God.  If you are referring to Confession there is a Bible basis for it. 

[Rerun]

Catholics are Christians, they are the original Christian church.  Everything else (every other Christian denomination anyway) has been a spin-off from Catholicism.  Catholics don't think non-Catholics are going to hell.  Actually, they teach that we can't and shouldn't judge who we think is going to hell. 

Okay, I'm a Christian, so therefore I'm a Catholic?  Mormons think they are Christians too, so I guess I'm a Mormon now too. 

Do Catholics read the bible?

[hyperlite]

hahaha you don't get it...

Catholics are Christians. Christians aren't necessarily Catholics.

Its like Americans are North Americans. But North Americans aren't necessarily Americans.

Christianity is a religion. Catholocism is a denomination of that religion.

Mormons are Christians too.

Yes Catholics read the Bible.

[Sara]

Catholics are Christians, they are the original Christian church.  Everything else (every other Christian denomination anyway) has been a spin-off from Catholicism.  Catholics don't think non-Catholics are going to hell.  Actually, they teach that we can't and shouldn't judge who we think is going to hell. 

Okay, I'm a Christian, so therefore I'm a Catholic?  Mormons think they are Christians too, so I guess I'm a Mormon now too. 

Do Catholics read the bible?

Do Catholics read the Bible? - Uh, YEAH!  The Catholic Bible actually has more books than the Protestant Bible b/c when the Reformation and stuff was going on, if a book was not particularly favored by the public, or the leaders didn't want to follow or adhere to that part anymore, they left it out.  At mass, we read part of the Bible every time.  It's a 3 yr cycle, so at the end of 3 yrs, we will have read the whole Bible except for a few small parts.

Christian = Catholic? - Well Catholics are Christian.  Protestants don't believe everything the CC teaches so no, they are not Catholics.  And I don't THINK I am a Christian - I KNOW I am. 

[Sara]

Thank you Hyperlite.  That was a good analogy.

[Epoman]

Catholics are Christians, they are the original Christian church.  Everything else (every other Christian denomination anyway) has been a spin-off from Catholicism.  Catholics don't think non-Catholics are going to hell.  Actually, they teach that we can't and shouldn't judge who we think is going to hell. 

Okay, I'm a Christian, so therefore I'm a Catholic?  Mormons think they are Christians too, so I guess I'm a Mormon now too. 

Do Catholics read the bible?

Do Catholics read the Bible? - Uh, YEAH!  The Catholic Bible actually has more books than the Protestant Bible b/c when the Reformation and stuff was going on, if a book was not particularly favored by the public, or the leaders didn't want to follow or adhere to that part anymore, they left it out.  At mass, we read part of the Bible every time.  It's a 3 yr cycle, so at the end of 3 yrs, we will have read the whole Bible except for a few small parts.

Christian = Catholic? - Well Catholics are Christian.  Protestants don't believe everything the CC teaches so no, they are not Catholics.  And I don't THINK I am a Christian - I KNOW I am. 

Wait, so your saying your a Christian Catholic? I was raised in Christian school and I have never heard of Christian Catholics. But I guess hyperlite in his last post summed it up best. I by the way am Protestant and I only read the King James Version. I personally hate all these new wave bibles that make it easier for the reader to understand, The Psalms just don't sound as beautiful in those new bibles.

- Epoman

[Sara]

Catholics are Christians, they are the original Christian church.  Everything else (every other Christian denomination anyway) has been a spin-off from Catholicism.  Catholics don't think non-Catholics are going to hell.  Actually, they teach that we can't and shouldn't judge who we think is going to hell. 

Okay, I'm a Christian, so therefore I'm a Catholic?  Mormons think they are Christians too, so I guess I'm a Mormon now too. 

Do Catholics read the bible?

Do Catholics read the Bible? - Uh, YEAH!  The Catholic Bible actually has more books than the Protestant Bible b/c when the Reformation and stuff was going on, if a book was not particularly favored by the public, or the leaders didn't want to follow or adhere to that part anymore, they left it out.  At mass, we read part of the Bible every time.  It's a 3 yr cycle, so at the end of 3 yrs, we will have read the whole Bible except for a few small parts.

Christian = Catholic? - Well Catholics are Christian.  Protestants don't believe everything the CC teaches so no, they are not Catholics.  And I don't THINK I am a Christian - I KNOW I am. 

Wait, so your saying your a Christian Catholic? I was raised in Christian school and I have never heard of Christian Catholics. But I guess hyperlite in his last post summed it up best. I by the way am Protestant and I only read the King James Version. I personally hate all these new wave bibles that make it easier for the reader to understand, The Psalms just don't sound as beautiful in those new bibles.

- Epoman

I am not a "Christian Catholic."  That sounds like I happen to be Christian while other Catholics are not.  By definition a Catholic IS a Christian.  It wouldn't surprise me that you never knew that.  There is a lot of prejudice against Catholics.  People teach things that are wrong.  I agree that the Psalms are beautiful in the King James Version.  The Catholic Bible is not like one of those new fangled study Bibles or whatever that you see all the time.  It is the Bible Catholics use.  Period.  Been around for a while.