+245 Live a good life. If there are Gods and they are just, then they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are Gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no Gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones. amirite?

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Very, very well-spoken.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I don't understand how anyone can say "No way" to this post.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

oh shuddup

by Anonymous 13 years ago

This is one way to look at it, but it's untrue. You forgot a major factor: sin. Op, are you perfect?

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I cant speak for the OP, but I don't think he meant perfection in any way for this post...

by Anonymous 13 years ago

No no, I'm just explaining why he's wrong. He probably isn't perfect, you agree? Maybe he's lied once, or stole something from a sibling. Well that puts OP in hell for all eternity. That's unfortunate.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

"If there are Gods and they are just, then they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by." Virtues you've lived by =\= perfection. He's saying that if the gods are just, they will take the ideals you've lived by and judge you on that, not on how much sin you've committed. They take the sum total of your life.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Yes, I know OP's argument. And I told him it was fundamentally flawed. Because there is a God, and, because of His perfection, he cannot look unto your imperfection and let you into His kingdom.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I think that's why Christians have a Savior... That works for every other religion though. And even if the argument is flawed you can't deny there is truth in this.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

It doesn't work for Judaism, or Islam. Or Mormon.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

How does it not work for Juaism or Islam? I was agreeing with you, I thought that if they do not believe in a Savior then what you said is correct, that if there is imperfection the person can not enter into God's kingdom. And LDS people (Mormons) are Christians so I included them with that group.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Well, Judaism and Islam both require that you acknowledge their God. So the only way to get into heaven is by worship. Which the OP said doesn't matter.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

This is true, I guess I just made my comment mostly biased by my own beliefs. But I think someone doing something good is a form of worship, unless a god requires that you do not do good things.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

No, but my God requires, at the very least, acknowledgement of the sacrifice of His Son, His Creation, and His Word. Good works alone won't get you into heaven.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

According to my beliefs it's more than acknowledgement to get you to where you want to be but unless you do good works you're being a hypocrite. And those that do good works but that don't know of Christ are still rewarded.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Not anyone in America. Maybe those who have never heard of God, and don't have a bible in their religion, but not Americans. Every American has plenty of chances to see the truth, and if they spurn it it's their fault.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Ya basically every American has heard of God/Jesus but if they spurn an incorrect Christianity it's not the same as turning from truth. I doubt every American is exposed to every kind of Christianity, giving them the proper chance to find truth.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

No, but what really what matters is that they hear the truth. That God is Almighty, Jesus died for our sins, and the only way to heaven is through Him.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

So do you believe that's all you need to get to heaven, to hear that and agree?

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Well it's a bit more complex, but yeah, that's the gist. And you can't say that you believe it. You actually have to believe it.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Right now I'm just asking this out of curiosity. More complex as in how? I think that if you "believe" you'd truly act upon it, acts of charity. Jesus talked about doing, a true believer who wants to be like Him would go out and help people.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Yes, but doing good works without believing will not secure you a seat in heaven. Which is my entire point.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

What I'm saying is that God will place you higher if you do good things, especially if you don't know about the Gospel. And it's not enough to say you believe, because if you truly believe you will act

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Ah, but everyone who has read this post has heard of the gospel. And anyone who hears about this will ask about God.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

I'm talking about worldwide. And even if people have heard of Jesus Christ, is simply hearing the name and the fact that He died for us enough to convert? I think not. Anyone who converts simply off that is pretty foolish actually.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

If you're going to use a quote, put quotes around it and tell people who said it. This is a quote of Marcus Aurelius; not an original thought of the OP.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

Oh that makes sense with the plural gods, and how awesome he is.

by Anonymous 13 years ago

This is not a quote of Marcus Aurelius. There are no printed sources for this quote prior to 2010, so it was more than likely misattributed to him.

by Anonymous 12 years ago

clap clap clap clap.

by Anonymous 12 years ago