Have faith, be good on earth, and you should have nothing to fear. Just have faith in something beyond what is here on earth. Each religion teaches a different afterlife, but if you believe in something, whatever it is, you have nothing to fear. I follow my Catholic beliefs, but you can follow whatever your beliefs are. It's when you have no faith and don't have a higher power in your life that you begin to fear things you don't understand.

 

An interesting aside: One of the monarch's titles is Fidei Defensor, usually translated Defender of the Faith.

The Prince of Wales has suggested that the title should be translated "Defender of Faith" (leaving out the). It seems to be an attractive notion to many people.

 

Including other Christian faiths?

Sometimes people who have been raised in a fundamentalist or particularly unusually strict religion find solace in one of the looser, less dogmatic faiths.

In Orthodoxy, for example, there isn't much proselytizing, and the Orthodox liturgy is viewed as its primary mission to give the participant/watcher a brief look at the Other Place.

 

Yes I studied several christian varieties as well as catholicism, Judaism, Hinduism and some others looking into them fairly thoroughly but I chose to go my own way and much like EriksShadow I don't really consider myself solely Wiccan but a conglomeration of many different philosphies wrapped into one.

Christian and Catholic line of thinking are the furthest from my mind and honestly do not appeal to me in any way although I do have the utmost respect for other peoples religion of choice.

 

I personally am an Independant Christian Baptist, I believe exactly what the bible says. I dont think there are any hidden "codes" to the bible, God said what he said, and thats what he had the different writers write. I have a few verses here you all ought to read, I am not forcing my beliefs on any of you. Just giving you something to think about. I dont believe there is any other way to heaven aside from believing in Jesus Christ(Thats a truth the bible clearly teaches).

Mark 16
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
(Note: Baptism doesnt save you, you must believe in Jesus Christ, baptism is merely a public admission of your salvation)

Romans 5
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.

Romans 3
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

WHY THE WORLD VIEWS GOD/GODS AS THEY DO TODAY.
(God knew what was going to happen before it happened, and wrote it out for us)
Romans 1:19-32
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.


It is no coincidence the world have become as it is, sin has been in this world from the fall of man...And it will only get worse and worse...many religions have been created to please MAN. But there is only one true God.

There is a way to get to HEAVEN!

Romans 5
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 6
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 10
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

John 3
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
1 Timothy 1
15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Proof of no other way to heaven but by Christ:
John 14
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
(not buddah, not muhammed...Only Christ can intercede for man..and get you into heaven.)

According to the bible(which I heavily believe) The ONLY way to heaven is by confessing you are a sinner, and deserve hell(which we do, what have any of us done to deserve heaven? We have all sinned, done wrong...told lies). And asking Christ to come into our hearts and save us. There is nothing physically we can or have to do. It is merely accepting a gift from God. Christ died to save the world. And all you have to do is to ask him to save you....Its that simple....

I have no fear of death, for I know that when I die, I will stand before the creator, who made all things. This world is full of problems, and someday it will be no more, someday those who are saved will go to heaven, and be eternally happy, as we spend it with God.

If anyone has any serious questions about what I have posted, or wants help with anything, email me at wessyk87@hotmail.com

 

/\ The exact reason I do not think highly of organized religion as a whole.

 

God WILL forgive anything, however the Blasphemy being talked about is the one unforgivable sin...And that would be not accepting Jesus Christ, and asking for forgiveness.

Christ promised to forgive all sin, and he died on the Cross for that purpose. However he cannot forgive that which you do not want to be forgiven of. The only unforgivable sin is the blasphemy of rejecting the holy spirit.(Rejecting the holy spirit is the sin)

Christianity has been perverted by men wanting to gain some extra $$ with their television programs, it really is sad. But rest assured, they'll get their payment in eternity for all the souls they led away from the truth.

 

However, I think having a personal relationship with God is just as important, if not more, than being able to quote from the bible and go to church. When you are going through a tough time and your spouse, parrents, or children are not enough, talking to God on your own in private can really lift the load off your shoulders. That's the faith I'm talking about...... that you have a relationship with your higher power that is beyond the bible or your pastor.

 

It's true you must have a relationship with God. But the only way to do that is to accept Jesus Christ as your savior...going to church doesnt save you...talking to a pastor doesnt save you. The only thing that saves you is the acceptance of Jesus Christ and confession of your sin. Go back and read the verses again, Christ said "No one comes to the father but by me"(You cant talk to God if you arent saved, God cannot talk to sinners, Christ is our intercessor, basically relaying our thoughts and prayers to God). Anyway how can you know of God if you dont read his word? He gave it to us for a reason, to learn of him.

 

I know that what you've said is what Western Christians really believe, but I don't understand the Biblical foundation, nor do I see its place in Holy Tradition.

It doesn't make any sense to me that Christ would destroy Hell just to allow mankind to create it again, nor does it make sense that there would be a limit on the love that such a God would feel for us.

It seems to me from the creation itself, and from the sacrifices made so far, that a reasonable person would have some cause to believe the love is virtually unconditional, although I am acutely aware that it's not the typical view of organised Christianity.