<p>God is a walrus with a top hat.</p>
<p>It does say somewhere in the Bible that if you're not immersed you won't go to the kingdom of God....</p>
<p>Wait...let me explain...there are 3 places in heaven - New Jerusalem, New Heaven, and New Earth.</p>
<p>In the Bible, the kingdom of God is often referred to New Jerusalem. So while being baptised as a child by being sprinkled may not get you into New Jerusalem (according to the Bible)...you can still get into to New Earth or New Heaven...which is still a nice place.</p>
<p>Robert, what type of Christian are you?</p>
<p>The guy on the cross went to heaven.</p>
<p>This Christianity stuff can get quite complicated b/c you can interpret the Bible numerous ways.</p>
<p>Here's how I go by:
1. your conscience will bother you if you're doing something wrong
2. if you have any questions...just pray to God...that should clear up everything.</p>
<p>Scareya, I am Methodist.</p>
<p>When John the Baptist baptized Jesus, the Bible never really specified how the sacrament was to be done. As I said, the water is more symbolic while the message of baptism takes precedence.</p>
<p>Scareya, when you mentioned the quote about the baptism and the kingdom of heaven, could you perhaps give me the verse reference? I have never heard such a thing before.</p>
<p>Scareya how is it fair that someone who wasn't baptised at birth but devotes the rest of their life to the church cannot go to the "most desirable" of the heavens? Why would God want less for those who didn't have a ritual performed on them?</p>
<p>Your conscience, Scareya, is the holy spirit. I believe that the holy spirit, or your conscience, will eventually lead you to the acceptance of God.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Scareya how is it fair that someone who wasn't baptised at birth but devotes the rest of their life to the church cannot go to the "most desirable" of the heavens? Why would God want less for those who didn't have a ritual performed on them?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I see what you're saying...and it all makes sense. However, if they devote their time, etc. to God - I'm sure God will speak to them somehow. He's not evil or anything. Just remember, on the day of judgement - he'll see what you've done vs what you could've done eg: what opportunities you've had...and whether you've taken them or not.</p>
<p>I hope I make sense.</p>
<p>Baptism is simply a way of showing the world that you've devoted your life to Christ. Infant baptism has never made sense to me; it was never done that way or advocated in the Bible. Also, the Bible never says you won't go to heaven if you're not baptized. Being "born again" has to do with becoming a Christian; as I said, baptism is a public declaration of that.</p>
<p>Infant baptism doesn't make sense...I agree. Baptism is supposed to be a choice you make. You can choose it or not. The choice is yours and should only be yours and you shouldn't be forced into it or anything.</p>
<p>lavender cloud...what type of christian are you?</p>
<p>I ask everyone what their denomination is b/c it tells you what he/she believes (in case you're wondering)</p>
<p>Actually, I believe that one should be baptized immediately after being "born again"</p>
<p>I concur, infant baptism is ambiguous according to Scripture.</p>
<p>Isn't being "born again" being baptised?</p>
<p>Anyway...I'm going to have to leave this convo....I mean I'd love to stay, but finals just won't let me.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Isn't being "born again" being baptised?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>no, that's billy graham-speak for being saved.</p>
<p>A Pile of Idiots lays here!!!!!!!!!!!</p>
<p>This conversation is disturbing on so many levels.</p>
<p>Agreed. </p>
<p>Please dont start this God thing again...I really dont feel like arguing again but if this continues, i may have to knock some common sense into people.</p>
<p>I mean if you dont belive in god or somthing of that nature, then what do you belive in. Do you honestly belive that we are what we are today throgh the process of evoution.</p>
<p>What we need to relize is that there is no such thing as proven fact. we know absolutly nothing for sure and if you think sothing is proven, then how can you prove that what was proven was indeed fact. You cant, what scientists say they have proven, is so called proven by them, but how can we be sure that such things are actually fact. In mathematics how can yopu actually say that 1+1=2 and it always will and that finite, just becasue somebody has said this and we belive it to be true, does not make it correct. Truth is what each of us belives, there is no fact of anything. I could say 3+3=2, and you could not call me wront because the actual value of 3 and the actual value of 2 is not know by you,thogh it could be known by me.</p>
<p>There is not a standard of what is fact and what is true which in terms some would consider fact. The true is what you or I beleve and thats it. The same reason very good debaters are good at what they do. A good debater could make you truly in fact belive that a Horse was a Sheep and you would belive it. This is just an exagerated example. But in your eyes that Horse actually is a Cow. You would not think it would still be a horse because you know belive that its a cow. You may have firstly thoght it was a horse, just because this is what you were told or what you learned and then you belived this to be fact.</p>
<p>God is dead.</p>
<p>What's so distrubing...</p>
<p>It's all a personal chocie in the end. It doesn't matter to me whether someone chooses to believe in God or not. I would never force my views on other people or think any less of them if their beliefs are different from my own.</p>
<p>Pro-choice or gay marriage is giving people the right to choose for themselves. Nobody would be forcing people who aren't gay to marry someone who is. Nor would anyone force someone to have an abortion if they didn't want. At least the choice is there for people to make on their own. It's a personal choice just as ones religion is a personal choice.</p>