re: How is Christianity different from other religions?

When I asked Jewish friends, it seemed that Heaven and Hell
were not thought of in the same way
as traditional Christian beliefs, but I’m certainly no expert in Jewish theology.

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When I asked Jewish friends, it seemed that Heaven and Hell
were not thought of in the same way
as traditional Christian beliefs, but I’m certainly no expert in Jewish theology.

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From what I've been told, and again I'm no expert like you, its relational. Hell isn't a place of torment (like the modern concepts of Christian Hell), put a missed opportunity to be with God for eternity.

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Read some near death experiences. You will find both heaven and hell described today.

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I especially like the James Woodford experience. That guy is straight up common sense honest and lived a very good life minus the whole God narrative. And then he died, and came back. Fascinating.

This Universe is so BIG and complex, and we are relative shrimp in attempting to comprehending IT/God. Albeit I know what Love is and so does a lot of good people who recognize it as the redeeming and worthy goal of Human existence. It is no accident that the basis of Jesus whole appearance and testimony via the Gospel was centered on Love. Not to mention that the Bible bears witness that "God IS Love".

IMO, the Biblical Gospel narrative does not make either spiritual or logical sense minus the idea of 'reincarnation' (a loaded word with a lot of cultural baggage), which both Judaism and the Eastern Religions acknowledge. And that the early Christian Church did as well, until Justinian and His Wife whacked it in the 4th century AD.

Two things come to mind: first being that predestination by God of people who are born into this current life can only be based on a person's PERSONAL VOLITION, as opposed to any whim of an all-powerful God. This must be true as the never-changing and Just God has promised that we will be relatively rewarded "according to OUR works", and no other criteria. The idea that people who are born into the hard life scenarios that shape their character, belied and action and they get ONE SHOT at eternal heaven or hell is a joke...and the honest folk will reject and never believe it because it is an unjustifiable untruth. And many now believe that the "go in and out and find pasture" narrative is both Just and appealing, as a life moving toward 'heaven' becomes a challenging and fruitful experience not matter where one stands on the path at this point. The Easterns say that "once you are on the path, you are there...".

I don't argue with Biblical literal hard liners who hold to the post-Justinian narrative of 'one and done', rather, I will let the truth that hopefully manifest after not long after our last breath, nail it down. They will be mocked though, as we see on this Forum and Thread.

And re this "Religious Only" Thread...the validity of God Christianity is what we are debating, and as our Nation (Politics) was Founded on Religion (God-given Rights), then this Thread is perfectly in line with the Forum's basic label of Political. The US Congress paid for and printed the first English Bible and deemed it good for educating the citizenry. Too bad the citizenry can't understand and commit to it minus the coming and final lesson which stands between Humanity and the fulfilling of it's essential Purpose. Such being Love at it's finest, amongst Humanity and in union with our Loving Creator.

Get Jesus only if one desires help outside of their own ability, otherwise do like James Woodford, live, die and then get it laid out before you...BOTH SIDES/choices.

Me and the Wife have been watching that pseudo-Amish Guy Titus, on YouTube. He is a good soul, and I hope and pray that he won't be corrupted by the massive attention that will come with his public social media onslaught. For what that is worth.

Lord have mercy on them who love.

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Some use a proxy for God.

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Sure. I was just using the typical definition of "God" in the context of these discussions.

At the ground level, where it matters in interactions with others, "religion" is just a set of beliefs that are important enough to people for them to want to incorporate into their culture at some level. Almost everybody has those.

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It's not that we just haven't figured out how existence was done so we attribute it to a God.

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Correct, it's sort the opposite of "God of the gaps". Typically the more we've learned the fewer questions we had, but in some areas it's quite the opposite, and the more we learn the more likely it is that "it just happened" is not a credible explanation. Abiogenesis and the beginning of the universe are two good examples.

100%. Seemingly, the more we discover, the more laws would have to be violated for abiogenesis and a self-creating universe to exist.

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I do wonder if even a lost soul might still be able to eventually accept God from within hell and return to the fold.

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Yeah, you "wonder" because you know the answer, even though 'Religion' may currently unknowingly or intentionally deny or confuse it.

There is only one final and valid choice that an Soul could make to condemn it to eternal suffering and damnation. And that is per your own statement of "created by the individual". And the only valid choice is an EDUCATED CHOICE, wherein one unmistakably knows the WHOLE TRUTH. Of the which 'Adam and Eve' did not, therein their choice to 'Fall'. Good choice, IMO, but painful.

There is a saying if you truly want to know the real person, give them power such that they can not be influenced by outside forces which might affect their choice. I think that we live in a 'Realm' (Parallel Universe/"many mansions") until we gain enough knowledge and power that we may then make that educated and un-coerced final Choice. God - as "The Word"/Truth - would then acquiesce to the Truth as will we all, and said individuals will reap what they sew. Lucifer took 1/3 of the knowing and powerful Angels with him, and I don't think they will be coming back per your "eventually accept God" point.

The pertinent point in this Realm is to what degree Evil can sway us to act in ways that we would not knowingly choose, IF we had an educated and uncoerced choice. I think we get a 'mulligan' if we so REQUEST from Jesus, as salvation and Mercy to His Flock IS His appointed job. I'm taking Him up on it, and I show at his feet with the 'mercy card' (welfare) in hand. Pride can take a hit for the cause of love.

Interesting Thread. I gotta get behind the bodily plow.

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I was shocked by how much support there is for predestination within the Bible.

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There's support for predestination.

There's support for free will.

I like Spurgeon's take, King James language aside:

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That God predestines, and that man is responsible, are two things that few can see. They are believed to be inconsistent and contradictory; but they are not. It is just the fault of our weak judgment. Two truths cannot be contradictory to each other. If, then, I find taught in one place that everything is fore-ordained, that is true; and if I find in another place that man is responsible for all his actions, that is true; and it is my folly that leads me to imagine that two truths can ever contradict each other. These two truths, I do not believe, can ever be welded into one upon any human anvil, but one they shall be in eternity: they are two lines that are so nearly parallel, that the mind that shall pursue them farthest, will never discover that they converge; but they do converge, and they will meet somewhere in eternity, close to the throne of God, whence all truth doth spring.

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it is a logical and consistent concept but mostly inconsistent with the Bible.

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Jesus chided His Disciples when questioning Him about Elias/John the Baptist, T2. "Let him that can receive this saying receive it". The idea of 'reincarnation' (the Jews called it the 'ressurection' is highly problematic and rife with the potential for abuse. Of course, so is life.

There is a Jewish Rabbi named Manis Friedman I think, who straight up addresses Jewish Belief re 'reincarnation', 'resurrection', and that you might enjoy. I like the Guy though I disagree with some of his fine points (God being "vulnerable" to Love/Creation at the fore). No current 'Worldly' version of Religion is perfect, IMHO, but all carry basic Truths. I think they will all become synthesized into one, which is obviously the ideal scenario, as all are valid in particular ways. Of course, Jesus will be the "chief cornerstone".

God speed.