| insomniac17 said:
1.) If someone finds faith in another religion, but knows about Christianity and refused it, I would assume that they would not be saved. The reason for this would be the second commandment, "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me." The God of Judaism is the same God as in Christianity (Jesus was a Jew), but they have refused Jesus' sacrifice. The God of Islam is not the God of Christianity, because they do not believe in the Trinity. They have also refused Jesus' sacrifice and relegated him to a prophet, rather than the son of God. 2.) The factor that should encourage someone to choose one religion over another is whether or not logic points you there. I believe that only one religion can be logically consistent, as to have multiple religions being logically correct is a contradiction. That's not to say that there must be a logically correct religion, though... and obviously many people don't come to their faith this way. However, in Christianity God is the truth and so if your logic is sound, it will lead you to him. 3.) Lastly, why doesn't God prove himself? First, Luke 4:12. Jesus answered, "It is said: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" So to ask God to prove himself is against the word of God. That's obviously only going to matter to someone who takes the Bible seriously. The answer you're looking for is again probably one you won't like. If God came down to Earth and started to show off his powers so that no one had any doubt, of course people would believe him. Perhaps some would rebel, but most would likely bow down in fear, or forced love. God wants us to choose to love him, not be forced into it. |
1.) I was moreso interested in your opinion of the matter. I already have a pretty decent understanding on why Islams are punished by the Christian's God.
2.) If logic is the factor that determines someone beliefs, then that still wouldn't be fair to the person. If a person has weak reasoning skills, then they are liable to place faith in the correct religion. Without an objective way to determine which religion is logically consistent, then people have to rely on their own subjective forms of logic. So, if a person bases their beliefs on what seems logically sound to them and they end up choosing Islam over Christianity, then why should they punished?
3.) If God's existence is proven to a person, that person would not necessarily be forced to love him. Example: Satan
In any case though, you've agreed that there is no proof that Christianity is the true religion. According to Christianity, people pretty much have to guess between Christianity, Islam and every other religion. Do you think it's fair that people are punished for making incorrect guesses, as a result of no proof? What makes a person who guesses incorrectly any more worthy than someone who guesses correctly? It seems like a purely arbitrary and flat out unfair way to judge someone's eternal life.
