[Cerek the Barbaric]

Originally posted by The Hunter of Jahanna: Cerek I wasnt attacking christianity. If you read the post I think you are refering to I also mentiond Jewish and Muslim leaders. It is not the threat of the chrisitan hell I was refering to either. It was the narrowmindedness that is prevalent in ALL religons I was refering to. Simply put almost every religeon says if you dont follow our god and think like us , ie; anti abortion and homosexuality, then you will suffer eternal torment in the afterlife. And before you tell me not your god , read the bible , YES your god says it also.

I'm well aware of what my God says in the Bible. While the homosexual lifestyle is dealt with extensively, there is no specific chapter or verse that addresses the issue of abortion per se. That falls under the 6th Commandment (Thou shalt not kill).

These acts are sins. So, does that mean that gays or those who have abortions are condemend to Hell? A lot of Christians would say YES, but I say NO, at least not automatically.

God hates sin...but HE LOVES THE SINNER!!! We are ALL sinners and we ALL fall short of code of conduct He would like us to follow. That includes everybody from the front-row Bible thumper to a killer on Death Row. Some sins are considered more heinous by society, but not by God. In His eyes, no sin is greater or lesser than another.

So if I, as a sinner, can receive free pardon of my sins through God's Holy Grace, there is NO reason that ANYBODY else cannot receive the same pardon.

For your broader question, I realize you were addressing ALL religions as a whole, but I don't know enough about the Muslim or Jewish faith to comment on them.

You are correct that almost every religion - Christianity included - believes they have "the right answer" and that others are wrong. I agree with that - up to a certain point.

That's no different than scientist who have opposing hypothesis regarding the same data. When trying to explain something, different scientists will naturally approach the situation from different perspectives, and will give more weight to different types of data. Does this mean that both are being narrow-minded because they believe their theory is right and the other is wrong? Sometimes yes, but not necessarily.

In the end, they will say "OK, PROVE to me that you are right and I am wrong." The same principle CAN be applied to religion.

God has PROVEN His existence to me on more than one occasion. He has answered prayers in little ways and in grand ways. He has given me comfort when I was emotionally depressed, and He has spared my life when doctors said I wouldn't survive past the next 72 hours.

God has proven His existence to me beyond a shadow of a doubt. So I know that - for me - Christianity is the right religion. However, I don't expect that to be valid proof to anybody else. Each of us must decide for ourselves if we will seek Him or not, and what will prove his existence to us if we do.