I find, when I'm thinking this way, that it helps to remember a certain line fron a movie:
"I do not ask if you believe what man says about God. I ask if you believe God exists."
And another from a very well respected preacher:
"When someone says they don't believe in 'my god' I'll ask them who they think my god is. Often I'll find that I don't believe in that god either!"
As for heaven and hell, there a a thousand different viewpoints on this. I personally believe that God accepts all who follow his teachings - notice the basics of so many religions are the same - and who acknowledge Him. But not everyone follows the same thought. Why do you think there are so many denominations of Christianity? The focus of Christianity is that Jesus died for our sins. We can all get into heaven - we only have to accept Jesus' gift.
Now, some people believe its more like "earning" your way in - almost like someone is keeping score. Others believe that accepting Jesus and making an effort to live by His teachings is enough. Or that you HAVE to follow the Bible to the letter. Or that the Bible is a guideline, full of parables and lessons, but requiring adaptation to the modern day (in regards to particulars, not the overall concepts.)
As for aliens and angels, that is not a central "Christian" belief, but the idea of some people.
Overall, I think there are 2 points which all Christians would agree with:
- Everyone has the opportunity to be saved. Children, or mentally handicapped people who cannot acknowledge an understanding of salvation, are already saved.
- Consciously rejecting God is a sin. (Personally I don't distinguish between "God" and "Allah" and "Jehovah" so accepting Allah is not rejecting God, but views differ on that.)
Is it normal that I find it ridiculous?
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I find, when I'm thinking this way, that it helps to remember a certain line fron a movie:
"I do not ask if you believe what man says about God. I ask if you believe God exists."
And another from a very well respected preacher:
"When someone says they don't believe in 'my god' I'll ask them who they think my god is. Often I'll find that I don't believe in that god either!"
As for heaven and hell, there a a thousand different viewpoints on this. I personally believe that God accepts all who follow his teachings - notice the basics of so many religions are the same - and who acknowledge Him. But not everyone follows the same thought. Why do you think there are so many denominations of Christianity? The focus of Christianity is that Jesus died for our sins. We can all get into heaven - we only have to accept Jesus' gift.
Now, some people believe its more like "earning" your way in - almost like someone is keeping score. Others believe that accepting Jesus and making an effort to live by His teachings is enough. Or that you HAVE to follow the Bible to the letter. Or that the Bible is a guideline, full of parables and lessons, but requiring adaptation to the modern day (in regards to particulars, not the overall concepts.)
As for aliens and angels, that is not a central "Christian" belief, but the idea of some people.
Overall, I think there are 2 points which all Christians would agree with:
- Everyone has the opportunity to be saved. Children, or mentally handicapped people who cannot acknowledge an understanding of salvation, are already saved.
- Consciously rejecting God is a sin. (Personally I don't distinguish between "God" and "Allah" and "Jehovah" so accepting Allah is not rejecting God, but views differ on that.)