# Stupid religious question **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 27, 2015, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-question/710965 "2015-01-27T00:34:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Tread](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Tread](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tread)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-question/710965/21 "2015-01-27T14:57:49Z")
> [@Grotonian](#): > > Christianity but does not recognize, “Justification Through Blasphemy.” > > But Catholicism might. Christianity but does not …But Catholicism might. 😕 So do you think Catholics are not Christians ?? ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-question/710965/22 "2015-01-27T16:24:14Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > That doesn’t mean everyone goes to Heaven. Revelations states quite clearly that those without their names in the Book of Life will not go in. Did I say that? - No - I said that you could infer that the persons works were a demonstration/god used AND because god loved - As for Revelation (no **s** ) - that doesn’t negate what I said - as the act of preaching the gospel may be enough (as you may have had a ;‘mustards seed’ worth of faith, etc) (you could then debate how you should need to do anything if life is a gift and heaven is due to god’s grace, etc). Its all really simple and complicated and,well, up to interpretation and re-interpretation by just about everyone - and usually if you have to do X to get the ‘gift’ - the person that told you that either is selling something or really, really, doesn’t understand what ‘grace’ or ‘gift’ means. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-question/710965/23 "2015-01-27T16:31:53Z")
> [@Cardboard](#): > > Assuming the Christian idea of Heaven is correct… > > Say I mockingly make comments or posts like “the end is nigh!” and “repent, the rapture is near!” or “God is watching!” and somehow I actually do convince millions to repent, even though my words were supposed to be non-serious jokes. > > And then say the rapture or whatever really does happen and everyone goes to Heaven because my words saved them. > > Would I also go to Heaven because I helped save all those people? Or would I go to Hell because I was consistently mocking God? Nothing in Scripture or Christian doctrine covers this- you’ve given us an unanticipated scenario! Congratulations. Since Rome’s theologians probably aren’t going to devote much time to your problem, I’ll just guess that it depends what you’re doing with the rest of your life. When you’re not being a pseudo-Christian wiseacre, are you feeding the hungry and helping those in need? If so, I expect God would give you a pass for your jokes. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-question/710965/24 "2015-01-27T17:29:37Z")
God seems like a girl who cares more about the intent rather than the outcome. If a murderer, while murdering someone, accidentally saves the life of someone about to commit suicide by stealing their gun, he’s still a bastard and will go to hell. But if someone, through genuine sincerity, accidentally causes the burning death of an entire orphanage because he was trying to rewire their electrical system and get rid of all the protruding wires, he’s still a good person at heart. You’d go to hell, you god mocker. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-question/710965/25 "2015-01-27T17:35:20Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > HHRRRMMM? Faith plus works/actions, Miss Nava!! No. CHARITY, not Faith, reflects in actions (and all the good works of the world are worthless if not done out of Love), but salvation is by grace alone. Man cannot save himself. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-question/710965/26 "2015-01-27T17:40:05Z")
> [@simster](#): > > There is a quote from Paul - somewhere in the NT - where he is talking about others preaching the gospel that did not believe it or was using it for thier own gain. > > the gist was that the motivations of the speaker did not matter as long as the gospel was preached. > > You could infer from this that - regardless of your own faith - you were used to spread the word, and since God loved all, you would be sent to heaven. > > now, you can debate if preaching the “end is nigh” or “rapture” is the gospel and/or true message of christianity. [QUOTE=Phillipians 1:15-18] [Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel; 17 the former proclaim Christ out of partisanship, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in that I rejoice](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1&version=RSV). [/QUOTE] Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-question/710965/27 "2015-01-27T18:11:37Z")
Religion!? [God Only Knows…](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqLTe8h0-jo)😉 _Whoosh!__Shhhh…!_😉 ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-question/710965/28 "2015-01-27T19:42:56Z")
> [@Cardboard](#): > > Assuming the Christian idea of Heaven is correct… > > Say I mockingly make comments or posts like “the end is nigh!” and “repent, the rapture is near!” or “God is watching!” and somehow I actually do convince millions to repent, even though my words were supposed to be non-serious jokes. > > And then say the rapture or whatever really does happen and everyone goes to Heaven because my words saved them. > > Would I also go to Heaven because I helped save all those people? Or would I go to Hell because I was consistently mocking God? How to get into heaven: > [@](#): > > [Luke 10:25-37](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2010:25-37&version=NET) > Now an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you understand it?” The expert answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” > > But the expert, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him up, and went off, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, but when he saw the injured man he passed by on the other side. So too a Levite, when he came up to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan who was traveling came to where the injured man was, and when he saw him, he felt compassion for him. He went up to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever else you spend, I will repay you when I come back this way.’ Which of these three do you think became a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” The expert in religious law said, “The one who showed mercy to him.” So Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.” One must have love for God and for others. But: > [@](#): > > [Matthew 7:1-5](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+7%3A1-5&version=NET) > Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For by the standard you judge you will be judged, and the measure you use will be the measure you receive. Why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to see the beam of wood in your own? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye,’ while there is a beam in your own? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. It is not helpful for us to try to determine who are saved or not. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-question/710965/29 "2015-01-27T20:17:34Z")
> [@Cardboard](#): > > … > > Would I also go to Heaven because I helped save all those people? Or would I go to Hell because I was consistently mocking God? Theoretically, you would go to that place atheists will go after this life. There, you’ll sit on a bench and watch movies about getting baptized and listen to long boring lectures on the life you lead and how beneficial forgiveness is. Then you’ll have to make a decision. Do you want to spend eternity on that hard bench watching movies about being baptized and listening to long lectures,or do you want to raise your hand and shout for glee that you’re now a believer and a Christian? If you choose the latter, you’ll board a new 787 Dreamliner and fly in luxury to the afterlife. If you say no, you’ll stand in the back of a rickety old bus on a bumpy road in the heat of summer, next to 2 perspiring wrestlers and a flatulent old lady… for all eternity. _The Gospel According to Morgenstern_, Chapter II, verse XIII. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-question/710965/30 "2015-01-27T20:24:37Z")
> [@Tread](#): > > Christianity but does not …But Catholicism might. 😕 > > So do you think Catholics are not Christians ?? The Catholics do a lot of things that wouldn’t be considered to be under the umbrella of “general Christianity.” Just like all squares are rectangles but not all rectangles are squares. You gotta have 4 equal sides to be a Catholic but you just gotta have 4 right angles to be a Christian. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-question/710965/31 "2015-01-27T20:39:10Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > The Catholics do a lot of things that wouldn’t be considered to be under the umbrella of “general Christianity.” Since Catholics are approximately 50% of people who call themselves Christians, I don’t think your statement holds water. Almost by definition, what Catholics do is under the umbrella of “general Christianity.” ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-question/710965/32 "2015-01-27T21:02:12Z")
All together now! Oh you can’t get to Heaven -----_(Oh you can’t get to Heaven)_ With pious shit -----_(With pious shit)_ 'Cause the great great Lord -----_('Cause the great great Lord)_ Won’t fall for it! -----_(Wont fall for it!)_ Oh you can’t get to Heaven With pious shit 'Cause the great great Lord Won’t fall for it! I ain’t a-gonna grieve My Lord no more! ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-question/710965/33 "2015-01-27T21:14:51Z")
Starting to feel like Dublin in here… ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-question/710965/34 "2015-01-27T21:31:34Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Since Catholics are approximately 50% of people who call themselves Christians, I don’t think your statement holds water. Almost by definition, what Catholics do is under the umbrella of “general Christianity.” The Catholics do all sorts of things that no other sects do. I’ve never prayed to Mary or a Saint in my life, but I’m a Christian. Never said a Rosary, never gone to confession, never whiffed a whiff of incense in my church. I’m still a Christian, and so are Catholics. My point is that just because you say “Chrisitians don’t do X but Catholics might” doesn’t mean you are saying Catholics aren’t Christians. You’re saying Catholics do things different than other Christians. In the name of Christianity. Christians don’t wear headcoverings but Amish women do. Would you say I am suggesting that Amish women aren’t Christians? No, I am saying that in the Christian sect called “Amish” they feel it is Chrisitian-like to wear headcoverings. Why are you trying to pick a fight? ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-question/710965/35 "2015-01-27T21:42:01Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > The Catholics do all sorts of things that no other sects do. I’ve never prayed to Mary or a Saint in my life, but I’m a Christian. Never said a Rosary, never gone to confession, never whiffed a whiff of incense in my church. I’m still a Christian, and so are Catholics. > > My point is that just because you say “Chrisitians don’t do X but Catholics might” doesn’t mean you are saying Catholics aren’t Christians. You’re saying Catholics do things different than other Christians. In the name of Christianity. > > Christians don’t wear headcoverings but Amish women do. Would you say I am suggesting that Amish women aren’t Christians? No, I am saying that in the Christian sect called “Amish” they feel it is Chrisitian-like to wear headcoverings. > > Why are you trying to pick a fight? How about “Non-Catholic Christians don’t, but Catholics might”? ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-question/710965/36 "2015-01-27T21:43:04Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > No. CHARITY, not Faith, reflects in actions (and all the good works of the world are worthless if not done out of Love), but salvation is by grace alone. Man cannot save himself. Thanks, that makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-question/710965/37 "2015-01-27T22:46:06Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > How about “Non-Catholic Christians don’t, but Catholics might”? Gosh, if only there were a word for non-Catholic Christians…the ones that most Americans are, you know, the sects that formed when there were lots of protests against the Church a couple hundred years ago… We could maybe call them Protestings? Protesty People? Golly, there _has_ to be a term that rolls off the tongue better… ---
**Author:** ![Tread](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Tread](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tread)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-question/710965/38 "2015-01-27T22:47:00Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > My point is that just because you say “Chrisitians don’t do X but Catholics might” _ **doesn’t mean you are saying Catholics aren’t Christians** _. You’re saying Catholics do things different than other Christians. In the name of Christianity. > > Christians don’t wear headcoverings but Amish women do. Would you say I am suggesting that Amish women aren’t Christians? No, I am saying that in the Christian sect called “Amish” they feel it is Chrisitian-like to wear headcoverings. > > Why are you trying to pick a fight? Well… yeah it does mean you are saying that. If you say Most Christians, or Protestants don’t do XXX, but Catholics might, then OK But when you Say Christians Don’t do {whatever}, then yes, anyone that does that is excluded from Christianity. And yes many Christians wear headcovers… ---
**Author:** ![Grotonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c2a13f/32.png) [@Grotonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grotonian)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2015, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-question/710965/39 "2015-01-28T00:22:50Z")
> [@Tread](#): > > Christianity but does not …But Catholicism might. 😕 > > So do you think Catholics are not Christians ?? No, Catholics are certainly Christians. People who know the history of Christianity in the US, know that there is a long-standing antagonism between Catholics and Protestants. (Undoubtedly, Protestants were usually the antagonizers–remember what a huge deal it was when JFK became Pres?) I think that antagonism has disappeared and exists now only as friendly love taps. But it’s still fun to give our papist friends a gentle noogie once in a while. That’s all that was. There are real differences; transubstantiation, intercession of saints, authority of the Bishop of Rome, etc. But all Protestants I know find far more to respect about Romanism than we do to criticize. (So yes, I took a swipe at Catholics; but it was a friendly one, in my mind.) ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2015, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-question/710965/40 "2015-01-28T01:10:18Z")
> [@Grotonian](#): > > … > I think that antagonism has disappeared and exists now only as friendly love taps. But it’s still fun to give our papist friends a gentle noogie once in a while. That’s all that was. > …(So yes, I took a swipe at Catholics; but it was a friendly one, in my mind.) I had no idea the antagonism existed anymore as any kind of tap. So, Protestants no longer whisper that Catholics sacrifice babies on the altar these days? That’s nice. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-question/710965.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-question/710965.md?page=3)