MANY BELIEFS, MANY PATHS TO HEAVEN?December 18, 2008USA Today reports: “Most American religious believers, including most Christians, say eternal life is not exclusively for those who accept Christ as their savior, a new survey finds.Of the 65% of people who held this open view of heaven's gates, 80% named at least one non-Christian group — Jews, Muslims, Hindus, atheists or people with no religion at all — who may also be saved, according to a new survey released today by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.This means 52% of Christians do not agree with the doctrines many religions teach, particularly conservative denominations.Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, calls the findings ‘a theological crisis for American evangelicals. They represent at best a misunderstanding of the Gospel and at worst a repudiation of the Gospel.’This survey on salvation is a follow-up to a highly controversial finding in Pew's Religious Landscape survey, released earlier this year. It detailed the religious demographics, beliefs and behavior of 35,000 U.S. adults surveyed in 2007.Pastors, theologians and Christian commentators complained that the Landscape Survey question on access to eternal life — which 70% said was open to many faiths — was too vague. ‘Did people mean only other religions that are similar to their own, like Baptists grudgingly admitting Lutherans might go to heaven?’ said Pew research fellow Greg Smith.So Pew revisited the topic in a new survey of 2,905 adults, conducted July 31-Aug. 10, with more specific questions. Smith says the new findings reinforce the original finding that ‘Americans really are thinking quite broadly.’Christian believers who named at least one non-Christian faith that could lead to salvation included 34% of white evangelicals, even though evangelical doctrine stresses that salvation is possible only through Jesus.Higher levels of church attendance made some difference, particularly among white evangelical protestants. But an overall majority (54%) of people who identified with a religion and who said they attend church weekly also said many religions can lead to eternal life…”
Many beliefs, many paths to heaven?
- Thread starter Christina
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(Christina;66127)
More proof few listen to Gods Word or they would have these mens ideas and confusionAmos 8:11-12
This is totally sickening to both my heart and my soul. And you are right Christina. Also these verses works well with Amos 8:11-12.Matthew 7:21-23
More proof few listen to Gods Word or they would have these mens ideas and confusionAmos 8:11-12
This is totally sickening to both my heart and my soul. And you are right Christina. Also these verses works well with Amos 8:11-12.Matthew 7:21-23
Curious. Jordan, I doubt this was your intent, but the verses you cite from Matthew actually strike me as supporting the "many paths" interpretation. Not all those who call themselves Christian and take actions in the name of God follow the Lord's will- by that same token, could one who calls themself a Muslim and takes actions in the name of Allah be failing to realize that the one they know in their heart is the God the Christians know?
tomwebster
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This doesn't surprise anyone does it. We were told about this happening in Scripture. 2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away (G646)first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
tim_from_pa
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(Dagda;66131)
Curious. Jordan, I doubt this was your intent, but the verses you cite from Matthew actually strike me as supporting the "many paths" interpretation. Not all those who call themselves Christian and take actions in the name of God follow the Lord's will- by that same token, could one who calls themself a Muslim and takes actions in the name of Allah be failing to realize that the one they know in their heart is the God the Christians know?
Actually, what Jordan quoted in Matthew has everything to do with following the narrow path in Christ. There are people that call him "Lord" and again there's those that have Lords of their own imagination. Jesus is merely saying that these people do not qualify no matter how spiritual they appear by calling him "Lord". The test of a Christian is then who does the will of the Father as Jesus did for both his purpose for coming and as an example.
Curious. Jordan, I doubt this was your intent, but the verses you cite from Matthew actually strike me as supporting the "many paths" interpretation. Not all those who call themselves Christian and take actions in the name of God follow the Lord's will- by that same token, could one who calls themself a Muslim and takes actions in the name of Allah be failing to realize that the one they know in their heart is the God the Christians know?
Actually, what Jordan quoted in Matthew has everything to do with following the narrow path in Christ. There are people that call him "Lord" and again there's those that have Lords of their own imagination. Jesus is merely saying that these people do not qualify no matter how spiritual they appear by calling him "Lord". The test of a Christian is then who does the will of the Father as Jesus did for both his purpose for coming and as an example.
(tim_from_pa;66134)
Actually, what Jordan quoted in Matthew has everything to do with following the narrow path in Christ. There are people that call him "Lord" and again there's those that have Lords of their own imagination. Jesus is merely saying that these people do not qualify no matter how spiritual they appear by calling him "Lord". The test of a Christian is then who does the will of the Father as Jesus did for both his purpose for coming and as an example.
Yes, but my question is whether it's possible that someone could follow this narrow path while not self-identifying as a part of the Christian religious denomination.
Actually, what Jordan quoted in Matthew has everything to do with following the narrow path in Christ. There are people that call him "Lord" and again there's those that have Lords of their own imagination. Jesus is merely saying that these people do not qualify no matter how spiritual they appear by calling him "Lord". The test of a Christian is then who does the will of the Father as Jesus did for both his purpose for coming and as an example.
Yes, but my question is whether it's possible that someone could follow this narrow path while not self-identifying as a part of the Christian religious denomination.
(Dagda;66137)
(tim_from_pa;66134)
Actually, what Jordan quoted in Matthew has everything to do with following the narrow path in Christ. There are people that call him "Lord" and again there's those that have Lords of their own imagination. Jesus is merely saying that these people do not qualify no matter how spiritual they appear by calling him "Lord". The test of a Christian is then who does the will of the Father as Jesus did for both his purpose for coming and as an example.
Yes, but my question is whether it's possible that someone could follow this narrow path while not self-identifying as a part of the Christian religious denomination.I don't care what you call yourself in, to me it's either Christ or Satan. Denominations / Religion are completely void to me. What matter is the Word and it's teaching. That's all.
(tim_from_pa;66134)
Actually, what Jordan quoted in Matthew has everything to do with following the narrow path in Christ. There are people that call him "Lord" and again there's those that have Lords of their own imagination. Jesus is merely saying that these people do not qualify no matter how spiritual they appear by calling him "Lord". The test of a Christian is then who does the will of the Father as Jesus did for both his purpose for coming and as an example.
Yes, but my question is whether it's possible that someone could follow this narrow path while not self-identifying as a part of the Christian religious denomination.I don't care what you call yourself in, to me it's either Christ or Satan. Denominations / Religion are completely void to me. What matter is the Word and it's teaching. That's all.
This just hurts my heart
.. (((Christina and Jordan)))Great scriptures. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (King James Version)3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
.. (((Christina and Jordan)))Great scriptures. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (King James Version)3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.Also some great scripture Lookin4ward
Gods Word is for everyone Dagda however those who follow another book are not studying Gods Word but someone else's Many are called but few are choosen
(Christina;66175)
(Lookin'4wardtoHeaven;66148)
This just hurts my heart.. (((Christina and Jordan)))Great scriptures. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (King James Version)3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Also some great scripture Lookin4ward
Gods Word is for everyone Dagda however those who follow another book are not studying Gods Word but someone else's Many are called but few are choosenDifinately I agree 100%. And those scriptures are also true. Amen x 2
(Lookin'4wardtoHeaven;66148)
This just hurts my heart
.. (((Christina and Jordan)))Great scriptures. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (King James Version)3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.Also some great scripture Lookin4ward
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