As expected this thread is bringing out the inner racism in some people.

As though its not possible for rioting to indicate a fundamental problem with the city itself. Standing back marveling at the spectacle without asking why its happening in the first place, instead letting preconceptions and stereotypes work instead of rationality. Pathetic. Then again, what is there to expect on a forum for tracking video game sales. Rarely are sound opinions going to be found on topics such as these.

My professor mentioned that it was interesting when people talked about riots and violence people automatically assumed it would be black people instead of the police, who initiated violence through shooting the guy. I found it an interesting observation regardless what I may think.

What is the point of asking me that? Are you that disturbed by my beliefs that you try to insult me? And even if it does disturb you that much, what benefit is it for you to try to insult me?

Agreed. Challenge ideas, don't bash people. Keep it civil, everyone.

So his belief that only those who accept Jesus Christ, will be saved, ergo, everyone else burns in hell for eternity is civil?  Gotcha.  He didn't just refer to himself there, he referred to everyone...so yeah, I don't honestly consider that civil.

That is the ignorance that, sadly, plagues the worldly perspective about Christianity. Let me clarify; It isn't that if you don't accept Jesus then you find yourself in hell. It is that God offered (and continues to offer) HIS love to you, freely, and if you CHOOSE to reject that love (by rejecting Christ), then you CHOOSE to go to hell. You, and me, and everyone else are responsible enough to decide whether or not we want to accept God's love, or if we'd rather choose to exist without HIM. If you choose to exist without HIM, and go to hell because of that, it is not God's fault as HE offered a way out of it for you. It's totally up to us humans as to what we do. And you may counter by suggesting that the fact that going to hell is the consequence for not loving God suggests HE is evil (as so many do), but if you believe in the God of the Bible (but just have a problem with HIS salvation methods) then that means you believe what happened in Genesis actually happened, which means that you (if you believe the book of Genesis as I do) believe that God intended for man to be with him. All throughout history God has provided ways for man to atone for mankind's sins. HE finally provided us with a way to ultimately remove ourselves from sins and the consequences of sins (through Jesus Christ's life, death, and rising from the dead) and yet the devil has convinced so many around the world to actually view that in a negative way.

The bottom line belief of Christianity is that we are all worthy of hell (me included), yet God gave us a way out. If you don't want to take it, that's your choice and you have to exist with that choice. I'd prefer everyone to exerience the liberating salvation that I have in Christ Jesus, but I can't (and wouldn't want to try to) force anyone to make that choice.

can we not turn this into a god debate? we should be debating if people have the right to burn down neighborhoods and terrorize the public if they disagree with legal procedings.

or if purposely pissing off other people not involved in something will help garner their support for you

That's not the debate. Rioting is never "right", at least in the moral context of which it is against, and only justified if it actually accomplishes something. Not to mention equating rioting with terrorism is disingenous. Yes some people are taking advantage of the sitaution, but how did the situation arise in the first place? These are the questions people should be asking or debating.

*yawn* Only a belief, unproven etc....  

Well if that was the case then you would be able to get married and cheat on your wife, steal, commit crimes and do other unholy things without judgement as long as you just believe and accept that chriat is your savior.

You can't say that you dont believe in an intellectual ascension because that's exactly what going to "heaven" would be. One similar thing that is said when leaving the body and bwing fully in your aoul form is that you immediately hqve a better understanding of things(aka and intellectual ascension)

I personally dont like the thought of just waiting for somebody to come save us like were some helpless beings incapable of anything. Like we were just put here to be helpless until somebody came back to save us. We have all this intelligence for nothing? Pretty much a worthless existance when that is not the case.

Either way, I hope things work out for you regardless of what you believe