# The ONLY way to heaven... **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 8, 2003, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-only-way-to-heaven/186995 "2003-07-08T13:53:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![newcrasher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-only-way-to-heaven/186995/21 "2003-07-08T19:47:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kaycee \* > \*\*Unity believes ALL paths lead to God! > > \*\* Now while I can work with the notion that there are many paths to God, I am apprehensive of the concept that ALL paths lead to God. It seems this would lead to self indulgence and the denial of the existance of good and evil. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-only-way-to-heaven/186995/22 "2003-07-08T19:50:20Z")
True, unless God embodies both. I’m sticking with “many” rather than “all” however. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-only-way-to-heaven/186995/23 "2003-07-08T20:01:17Z")
What if someone is coming from the original St. Petersburg? Then they’d have to come by plane! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2003, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-only-way-to-heaven/186995/24 "2003-07-08T20:35:36Z")
Thanks, Andros. 🙂 Scott, I’m on my way. ---
**Author:** ![newcrasher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-only-way-to-heaven/186995/25 "2003-07-09T01:04:12Z")
Polycarp, Guinistasia and Libertarian all replying to one of my little ol’ posts. I am humbled. Scylla would make it a hat trick. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-only-way-to-heaven/186995/26 "2003-07-09T02:46:10Z")
Unless, of course, Richmond is a myth. The real point is to take interesting roads and enjoy the drive. ---
**Author:** ![king\_of\_spain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7cd45c/32.png) [@king\_of\_spain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/king_of_spain)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-only-way-to-heaven/186995/27 "2003-07-09T03:34:42Z")
> [@](#): > > Someone in Petersburg wants to come to Richmond. I tell them the ONLY way is via I95 north. This is the truth. > > Another person wants to come to Richmond from Virginia Beach. I tell them, in all honesty, that the only way here is via I64 west. I like your analogy a lot, **newcrasher** , but I would point out that if you told someone “No one comes to Richmond but through I95 north,” you’d be lying. That is, a strict literal fundie interpretation of John 14:6’s “no one comes to the Father but through Me” wouldn’t allow your particular interpretation. Which is not to say even a literal reading of the passage would necessarily rule out the notion of non-Christians being saved; as **Poly** points out, the ambiguous part of the sentence is “through Me.” ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-only-way-to-heaven/186995/28 "2003-07-09T03:34:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > **What if someone is coming from the original St. Petersburg? > Then they’d have to come by plane!** Nonsense! Take a ship to Norfolk then 64 to Richmond. Some people are just doomed to never make it to Heaven. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-only-way-to-heaven/186995/29 "2003-07-09T03:54:33Z")
I don’t believe in Richmond. ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-only-way-to-heaven/186995/30 "2003-07-09T17:14:21Z")
I think all people, no matter what religion, or no religion, understand how to reach “heaven”. [http://www.ndeweb.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?tpc=65&post=713#POST713](http://www.ndeweb.com/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?tpc=65&post=713#POST713) The above link shows a basic teaching of many different religions. ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-only-way-to-heaven/186995/31 "2003-07-09T17:20:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SentientMeat \* > \*\*Incidentally, could He instruct me to follow the course that brings me the most inner peace and awesome wonder at the universe, and suggest that I stop believing in Him? \*\* Yes, He could. The important thing is inner peace, love instead of hate. Makes no difference whether you believe in God of not. ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-only-way-to-heaven/186995/32 "2003-07-09T17:43:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by newcrasher \* > \*\*Polycarp, Guinistasia and Libertarian all replying to one of my little ol’ posts. > > I am humbled. > > Scylla would make it a hat trick. \*\* No he wouldn’t. Three is a hat trick, not four. If Scylla were to post here that would make it a… Whatever the word is four four goals in a game. As for the OP… Even if what you say is true, not everybody drives to Richmond. Not everybody follows the road. ---
**Author:** ![newcrasher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-only-way-to-heaven/186995/33 "2003-07-09T18:36:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Scylla \* > \*\*No he wouldn’t. Three is a hat trick, not four. > > If Scylla were to post here that would make it a… > > Whatever the word is four four goals in a game. > As for the OP… > Even if what you say is true, not everybody drives to Richmond. Not everybody follows the road. \*\* True not everyone follows the road, but the result is you would not reach “Heaven”. This assumes one God manifesting himself to different people in different ways. \*\*While a hat trick is 3 goals in hockey, it is 4 long term dopers posting to the same post. I should know, I just made it up. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-only-way-to-heaven/186995/34 "2003-07-09T21:54:04Z")
The only way to Heaven is UP 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-only-way-to-heaven/186995/35 "2003-07-09T22:03:12Z")
What if you’re driving an off-road vehicle? ---
**Author:** ![X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbe5ce/32.png) [@X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X_Slayer_ALE)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-only-way-to-heaven/186995/36 "2003-07-09T22:10:47Z")
Aw cmon guys!! Which is it??! I95 North or I64 West?? At least youre not driving thru Vermont or you’ll get the ol “ya cant get ther from here…” I guess what **newcrasher** is trying to say is follow your own road, you will find God in the end whether or not Richmond really exists or not. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-only-way-to-heaven/186995/37 "2003-07-10T00:05:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by vanilla \* > \*\*The only way to Heaven > is UP > \*\* What if you’re Australian? ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-only-way-to-heaven/186995/38 "2003-07-10T01:29:55Z")
I thought I-95 was the road to hell. Certainly driving it will convince you that you’re either already there, or well on your way. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-only-way-to-heaven/186995/39 "2003-07-10T02:28:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bippy the Beardless \* > \*\*What if you’re Australian? \*\* Take your local normal. Sorry. Stupid math joke. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ccd318/32.png) [@John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Kentzel-Griffin)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2003, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-only-way-to-heaven/186995/40 "2003-07-10T04:25:23Z")
Growing up in Louisiana, we used to say “In order to get to Heaven, you’ll have to change planes in Atlanta.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-only-way-to-heaven/186995.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-only-way-to-heaven/186995.md?page=3)