Do you think you have to be religious to believe in God?

So do you think you have to go to church, become baptized etc...for God to love you and for you to get into heaven?

Religious

GOD

Nope,

If God is so marvellous, he won't discriminate in any respect. Faith is not a measure of one's ability to get into Heaven. Those who say that are kidding themselves, and are blinded by the fact that the Church is so commercialised that it isn't a religion anymore.

No. There are many laid back people that believe in a higher power.

I'm Christian and I stand by that.  I draw somewhat profane comics and watch South Park.  I have a strong religious side but am also open-minded and can laugh at something that might be considered blasphemous.

I think you can have beliefs in God and not be religious, I'm that way myself actually.

Yea, i'm sorta the same way. People judge me because of my avatar and sig but really they are just pictures. I am open minded ...but when it comes to faith..for me there is no question. I really dont like it when people judge, assume and try to place people into catagories just to keep everything straight in their minds.AngelB1ack

Its hard not to judge you though. Seriously, no offence, but the first thing we see is Jesus staring back at us with a crown of thorns... that tells me you are religious and are projecting it outwards for people to see. I can't help but judge. I mean.. am I right to assume that you are religious based on your avatar and sig?

Based on my avatar and sig I like Nine Inch Nails and Half-Life and others would be correct to assume that I like NIN and Half-Life. 

[QUOTE="AngelB1ack"]Yea, i'm sorta the same way. People judge me because of my avatar and sig but really they are just pictures. I am open minded ...but when it comes to faith..for me there is no question. I really dont like it when people judge, assume and try to place people into catagories just to keep everything straight in their minds.tequilasunriser

Its hard not to judge you though. Seriously, no offence, but the first thing we see is Jesus staring back at us with a crown of thorns... that tells me you are religious and are projecting it outwards for people to see. I can't help but judge. I mean.. am I right to assume that you are religious based on your avatar and sig? 

[QUOTE="tequilasunriser"]

[QUOTE="AngelB1ack"]Yea, i'm sorta the same way. People judge me because of my avatar and sig but really they are just pictures. I am open minded ...but when it comes to faith..for me there is no question. I really dont like it when people judge, assume and try to place people into catagories just to keep everything straight in their minds.AngelB1ack

Its hard not to judge you though. Seriously, no offence, but the first thing we see is Jesus staring back at us with a crown of thorns... that tells me you are religious and are projecting it outwards for people to see. I can't help but judge. I mean.. am I right to assume that you are religious based on your avatar and sig?

So you are not religious? You have a cross and a Jesus purely for decorations?

So you are not religious? You have a cross and a Jesus purely for decorations? tequilasunriser

[QUOTE="tequilasunriser"]So you are not religious? You have a cross and a Jesus purely for decorations? AngelB1ack

Answer the question without asking another question. Are you religious? 

no, i don't think god would've given us the choice to shun religion if our purpose in life is to praise him/her/it.Kook18

God would rather have us believe in him, than have some superficial belief in him.  He gives us a choice.

Answer the question without asking another question. Are you religious? 

tequilasunriser

[QUOTE="Kook18"]no, i don't think god would've given us the choice to shun religion if our purpose in life is to praise him/her/it.jackelhunter

God would rather have us believe in him, than have some superficial belief in him. He gives us a choice.

[QUOTE="tequilasunriser"]

Answer the question without asking another question. Are you religious?

AngelB1ack

At least you aren't lying. Baby Jesus doesn't like lies. The fact that you won't lie by saying, "no," leaves only one option so I am satisfied. Good night. 

At least you aren't lying. Baby Jesus doesn't like lies. The fact that you won't lie by saying, "no," leaves only one option so I am satisfied. Good night. 

tequilasunriser

[QUOTE="jackelhunter"]

[QUOTE="Kook18"]no, i don't think god would've given us the choice to shun religion if our purpose in life is to praise him/her/it.Kook18

God would rather have us believe in him, than have some superficial belief in him. He gives us a choice.

he doesn't necessarly punish you.  think of it this way, if you've done nothing for God and never put your faith in him, why should he let you into his kingdom?  so, there would really be nowhere else to go, so there is only one other place.  details about Hell in the Bible are not very explicit, but I would rather not find out.  people put too much emphasis on Hell on these forums, God is very forgiving, and he will forgive you no matter what you have done if you are willing to do so.

[QUOTE="Kook18"][QUOTE="jackelhunter"]

[QUOTE="Kook18"]no, i don't think god would've given us the choice to shun religion if our purpose in life is to praise him/her/it.jackelhunter

God would rather have us believe in him, than have some superficial belief in him. He gives us a choice.

he doesn't necessarly punish you. think of it this way, if you've done nothing for God and never put your faith in him, why should he let you into his kingdom? so, there would really be nowhere else to go, so there is only one other place. details about Hell in the Bible are not very explicit, but I would rather not find out. people put too much emphasis on Hell on these forums, God is very forgiving, and he will forgive you no matter what you have done if you are willing to do so.

[QUOTE="jackelhunter"][QUOTE="Kook18"][QUOTE="jackelhunter"]

[QUOTE="Kook18"]no, i don't think god would've given us the choice to shun religion if our purpose in life is to praise him/her/it.Kook18

God would rather have us believe in him, than have some superficial belief in him. He gives us a choice.

he doesn't necessarly punish you. think of it this way, if you've done nothing for God and never put your faith in him, why should he let you into his kingdom? so, there would really be nowhere else to go, so there is only one other place. details about Hell in the Bible are not very explicit, but I would rather not find out. people put too much emphasis on Hell on these forums, God is very forgiving, and he will forgive you no matter what you have done if you are willing to do so.

he doesn't kick you out if you weren't in before.  if you've rejected him you're entire life, I don't see why he wouldn't do such a thing.  it may seem cruel, but remember, good works do not earn your way into heaven, faith in God does. 

[QUOTE="Kook18"][QUOTE="jackelhunter"][QUOTE="Kook18"][QUOTE="jackelhunter"]

[QUOTE="Kook18"]no, i don't think god would've given us the choice to shun religion if our purpose in life is to praise him/her/it.jackelhunter

God would rather have us believe in him, than have some superficial belief in him. He gives us a choice.

he doesn't necessarly punish you. think of it this way, if you've done nothing for God and never put your faith in him, why should he let you into his kingdom? so, there would really be nowhere else to go, so there is only one other place. details about Hell in the Bible are not very explicit, but I would rather not find out. people put too much emphasis on Hell on these forums, God is very forgiving, and he will forgive you no matter what you have done if you are willing to do so.

he doesn't kick you out if you weren't in before. if you've rejected him you're entire life, I don't see why he wouldn't do such a thing. it may seem cruel, but remember, good works do not earn your way into heaven, faith in God does.

Picture for clarification:

I think it all depends on how you live and what your soul contains...you could be a murderer and ask for his forgiveness and if you truly mean that you are sorry God and Jesus will forgive. I think God/Jesus can truly see what kind of person you are...see your soul if you will.

What if you are a soldier and truly believe it is wrong to kill another human being...but you go ahead and follow orders and do it anyways. Later you ask for forgiveness, do you think God will forgive you?

[QUOTE="jackelhunter"][QUOTE="Kook18"][QUOTE="jackelhunter"][QUOTE="Kook18"][QUOTE="jackelhunter"]

[QUOTE="Kook18"]no, i don't think god would've given us the choice to shun religion if our purpose in life is to praise him/her/it.Kook18

God would rather have us believe in him, than have some superficial belief in him. He gives us a choice.

he doesn't necessarly punish you. think of it this way, if you've done nothing for God and never put your faith in him, why should he let you into his kingdom? so, there would really be nowhere else to go, so there is only one other place. details about Hell in the Bible are not very explicit, but I would rather not find out. people put too much emphasis on Hell on these forums, God is very forgiving, and he will forgive you no matter what you have done if you are willing to do so.

he doesn't kick you out if you weren't in before. if you've rejected him you're entire life, I don't see why he wouldn't do such a thing. it may seem cruel, but remember, good works do not earn your way into heaven, faith in God does.

I don't know why God put us on Earth either, maybe it was to test our faith.  we may never know.  God wants us to do what we please, but all choices have have consequences, whether good or bad in the end.  I really don't know how hell works and how or if you even get punished at all because the bible doesn't state much about it, but I would really rather not find out.  I'm just tired of all the people that focus on hell.  if you actually read it, it doesn't relly mention hell all that much.  I don't focus on it, my church doesn't, and neither should anyone else.  If you focus on hell, it will only cause doubt, so it turns many people away from God.

I think it all depends on how you live and what your soul contains...you could be a murderer and ask for his forgiveness and if you truly mean that you are sorry God and Jesus will forgive. I think God/Jesus can truly see what kind of person you are...see your soul if you will.

What if you are a soldier and truly believe it is wrong to kill another human being...but you go ahead and follow orders and do it anyways. Later you ask for forgiveness, do you think God will forgive you?

AngelB1ack

yes, God will forgive you for anything if you ask for it.

Absolutely not.

One could argue that to be a Christian, Jew, Muslim, whatever you have to go to a church, synagogue, mosque, whatever regularly. I mean, one of the commandments (for Christians/Jews) is to keep holy the Sabbath, etc.

But you don't need to get into organized religion to be spiritual or believe in God. Look up the word "deist". You'll find that our country was built by several. It's usually people who believe in a god, but recognize as humans that there's no way of understanding it's will.