There is only one way into Heaven (from here)

Great Debates
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**Eonwe wrote:

And, I think an important thing to remember here is that we’re talking about (I think) how a Christian perceives other people. A Christian who believes in heaven and that people are either on a path towards it or away from it. The question is that, from a Christian standpoint, can a person believe that there is more than one way to skin the proverbial cat?**

I understand your point. I was only trying to offer a veiwpoint that is outside of Christian philosophy. Just my own way of getting people to think outside the box. :smiley:

Frequently, I’ve seen questions raised on this board that ignores the idea of polytheism or even henotheism. Questions are posed that ignore the idea of any other religion existing. You’re either a Jew, a Christian or an Atheist.

In the OP, newcrasher askes;

The possibility that God has revealed himself to different peoples at different times in different ways is not a new concept, certainly.

Which shows the idea I’m trying to get out. The OP assumes only one god (supposedly the J/C/I god). Why only one god? What aren’t the gods of Hindus or Shinto-ists or Zororastrians or any of the other multitude of religions just as valid?

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Or how about no god? Someone consider that.

Oh, wait, buddhism has, and their religion works! Wow.

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What the hey, I’ll take a stab at this.

I’m sure that somewhere on the Web, someone’s totted up all of Jesus’ “I am” statements in the Gospel of John, from “I am the bread of life” to “before Abraham was, I am.”

If we back up a moment from John 14 to John 10, we find that Jesus says he is both the (good) shepherd, and the door to the sheepfold. If we assume the truth of Christianity, we’re going to have to assume a Christ who plays multiple roles in whatever analogy we draw.

What is heaven, anyway? If we believe in a God whose love brought everything that is into being, then the essential aspect of heaven is surely as full and complete a communion with God as is possible. So of course Jesus would be the Way; he is part and parcel of the Destination. (If you can’t enter into communion with Jesus, how can you become one with the Father?) And, in coming down here and living his life as an example, he’s the road map as well. (And, as the Bread of Life, he’s the sustenance while on the journey. I could keep going, but I’d better call it quits there. :))

What’s not said is how, or where, or when, this communion with Jesus must take place. There’s no “You must accept Jesus before you die, or else you’re going to hell” verse in the Bible.

On the basis of exactly the same amount of evidence about the afterlife as everyone else has (none!), I believe that, after this life, we shall all see Jesus, no longer through a glass darkly, but face to face, heart to heart. And either we will love him and open our hearts to him - regardless of what belief system we may have held on earth - or we won’t. And you’re welcome to take or leave that; it’s a pretty direct steal from C.S. Lewis, if that makes you feel any better about it, but that certainly doesn’t make it the truth. :slight_smile:

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RTFirefly, you’re going to feel soooo silly when you die and Ammat eats your Ib.

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who is Ammat and what is lb?