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Only an incredibly minuscule 0.38% of North Koreans are Christian. That is most certainly not a flourishing population.

Keith[/quote]
is that what Google says? maybe 0.38% of north koreans in america are christian. not sure how they would do a poll of how many Christian's are around in a country where they would kill you for proclaiming so....also I just used North Korea as a more recent example, but throughout history it's always been the same, the gospel would not have been spread if the church wasnt dispersed through, I'm not here to fill my ego, it's an honest discussion, just by looking at the facts I have to disagree with your opinion that it's designed by elites to control the masses, that dosnt make sense as all powerful corrupt governments hate christianity. many of the powers ban it. although I'm sure there are times when it has been used to seperate little old ladies pennies to line the pockets of the corrupt. but that is true of anything and is clearly not the point of jesus's teachings.. also if you believe internet polls and percentages of things I got a great truck I could sell you, low miles, no rust ,shes a beaut lol (all in good fun)

Personaly I don't believe so.

Eternal damnation came about during the time of Christ. Augustine may have expounded on it is all. See Matt: 25: 41- 46. "Then He will also say to those on His left, Depart from me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.
Verse 46: "And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life". There are other scriptures that allude to the same.

LSD does not seem real common anymore. When it was an “acid trip” was often described as spiritual or religious. Psilocybin auyahuaska (sp) mescaline are often based on religion. I suspect hallucinogens are the beginning of all major religions.

I agree T7,
The Question is, is what the eternal punishment is.
I think to even a person of faith they may have a heard time exepting the idea of eternal torture by fire being in the character of a loving God. Personally my belief is based on promises of and eternity of pease and rest.
The idea of being seperated from that or of an eternity of nothingness is not a light punishment.

Some of them probably will be, but I don’t think they are yet. If I recall correctly the lake of fire isn’t opened yet. So until then they are just currently in hades being tormented. But probably not all of them

This sounds alot like purgatory.

If we haven’t had the final judgement yet then the lake of fire isn’t open, right? It would just be hades at this point as it was in the parable of the rich man who saw Lazarus in Abraham’s bosom? That’s my interpretation, but I’m not locked in to it. Just trying to give Savell some hope that his ancestors are still in the waiting room for the smoking section

Everybody in Purgatory is saved; they are going through purification before they can enter the Kingdom of Heaven. But they are assured a seat at the table.

Serious question. If your certain paradise awaits your death, why are folks not anxious to go? Why rejoice when someone survives a a calamity?

Yeah!

You think they’d be celebrating it. Like those folks over in the sandbox that randomly explode.

I would say because the pleasures of this life are good too and we generally have expectations for what people should do with their lives. The things we enjoy within the context of Christian living (the areas where we are doing it well which can be different for different people) are meant to be enjoyed and are enjoyable. Basically, if you are walking with Christ, you have entered into the kingdom of God here on this fallen earth. He is inviting us to restore and renew the fallen world within which we live and enjoy it to the fullest while we are here.

The same question can be asked about other belief systems too. Why do atheists mourn loved ones if nothing exists past this and life is meaningless? The importance of life is minuscule so there’s no point in mourning

Good question,
If the parents of your grand children parished today. How would that effect those in there lives?

Personaly I believe we have a purpose calectivly. I don't understand God's ways. But when bad things happen good people are the ones who rise up and take the reigns so to speak. Roman's 8:28 and we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to his purpose.
Hears another verse that seems to contradict the first. Roman's 3:10 as it is written, there is none righteous no not one.
This verse is speaking of all peaple saying there is none righteous. So how can I say only good peaple step up when bad things happen. Peaple weather thy believe or not doesn't mean thy can't do good or understand good or
Evil. As a believer I look forward to a better future. But I also understand that I hope for the same for my loved ones and for all peaple. Believe me when I say I have a hard time with wickedness. So I turn this over to God.
Thy will be done. As much as I hope for eternal rest. I Charish the life family and blessings God has given in creation. God will call me home in God's time.

Have grandkids I would like to teach to trap, hunt, fish, and such. Can't really do that from Paradise. However, if the Good Lord calls me home I'm not going to complain about it.

can you cite any verses in The Bible that references such a place/process?

serious question. I've never found it there.

I cant.

I don't subscribe to the idea of sola scriptura, so I'm not particularly bothered by it. I was clarifying a point of fact about Catholic dogma, which you are free to accept or reject. But consider 1 Corinthians 3:11-15.

I read those passages...doesn't relate to the question posed.

there's a lot of Catholic doctrine that seems to have "evolved" from outside of the Scriptures.

In my opinion it does. How is one saved through fire? Not in the devil's domain, and not in heaven.

I've considered these pasages. But the same Paul wrote in 2 corinthians 5:1-8 that to be absent from the body is to be present with the lord. Paul is speaking to believers, so doesn't it seem that the believers wouldn't be in the presence of the lord and in purgatory or the same time.