What if Hell is merely where we are now? What if Earth is hell, and the fire and brimstone? That's what I believe, that we live in hell or a hell like place. I guess it would be sort of similar to what Sodaiho is saying.

Nightshades....was it you who said Robert Morris, signer of the declaration was a Jew? Because I just read this:Morris worshiped in Philadelphia at St Peter's Church on Pine Street and Christ Church on 2nd Street, both of which were run by his brother-in-law, Rev. William White.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Morris_(financier)doesn't sound very Jewish to me. Nor can I find any indication he was. Where are you getting your info?
Faith is not enough, and neither is belief or even acts.it is if you believe scripture is true, which I do. So for you maybe not.
No where in the passage does it read because they knew that the pharisees were called righteous men or even believed in their own righteousnessnot in this particular passage, but another. In Matt 5:20 Christ said this:"For I say to you that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees you shall in no case enter the kingdom of heaven." The Pharisees righteousness was external not internal.
The answer to the question "what must I do to be saved" is love god with all your heart and mind", to do that thing is to leave self behind.absolutely agree with you here.
Buddha was taken up, and returned of his own free will in order to help others acheive the sameand what are you citing for proof of this?
Common sense would tell anyone that to not recognize someone would require a change in looks. And with that subject I will go no further, you wouldn't understand what that concept means, at least not yet.He didn't change in looks. He still had the scars on his hands and feet and side. So how did he change? I mean he did change a bit because his body was now glorified, but he was still recognizable which is scars are proof of that. When we die the bible says we will receive glorified bodies. We will be the same but different. We will exchange our earthly imperfect bodies for perfect glorified ones.
Or between Jesus and Buddha?A ton. The best diff is the fact that Jesus died for us. He went to the cross and gave his life for ours. It was called a propitiation. He was our substitute just like the lambs were the substitute in the Torah. But they were perpetual substitutes. Christ was the end of the sacrifices. There is no more sacrifice to be had for sin. What did Buddah do for you? Did he die for you? Buddah is buried in a tomb, Christ is not. Christ is God. Buddah is not. Just a few differences here to begin with.
Both Jesus and Buddha spoke the same messageNo they did not share the same message. Jesus preached the good news of the gospel. What is the gospel? That he came to die for our sins. Buddah did not preach this. Jesus came to show us that he was the only way. He came and told us that he was God who would die for the world so that whoever believed would be saved. Did Buddah preach this?
Do you recall when the apostles told Jesus that they had chided a man who was not of them for working miracles? And do you recall what Jesus told them?They were working in the name of Jesus. And Jesus said those working for him were not against him. Has nothing to do with Buddah.

What may I ask do you define as "good works?" And why do you feel that they flow from god?In a nutshell, "Good works" or "good deeds" are actions of deepening our love of God for His sake and love our neighbor as oursleves.Believing in God and that Jesus is the Christ is a central element of Catholic faith. However, Christ Himself makes it clear that it is not enough simply to believe that this is the truth. Christ instructed His apostles what it means to say that He was the Christ. He told them that anyone who would come after Him must deny himself, take up his own cross, and follow after the Lord. This gets to the heart of St. James saying faith without works is dead. We can be quick to profess that Jesus is the Christ and we believe in Him, but when it comes to taking up our cross (doing good works) and following Him, there aren't very many people left. Faith isn't about believing in the existence of God or that Jesus is the Christ...for as St.James says, even satan and the demons know GOd exists and that Jesus is God. We must do better than that...way better than that...it wasn't enough that the demons believed to keep them out of Hell.So, we have to act on the belief or faith that we profess to gain eternal salvation.
And why do you feel that they flow from god?Catholic theology holds that only when a person has the supernatural virtue of charity (love of God for His sake) that good works become possible.From belief comes love...love of God with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength and love of neighbor as thyself. St.James tells us that part of acting on our faith in God and love of Christ and following Him is the performance of the works of love...there are 7 corporal works of love...feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, giving drink to the thirsty, harboring the homeless, visiting the sick, visiting the imprisoned, and burying the dead. We should also be willing to take up our own cross and follow Him by actions of spiritual works such as instructing the ignorant, counseling the doubtful, comforting the sorrowful, bearing wrongs patiently, forgiving injuries, and praying for one another and doing penance for the conversion of sinners and the salvation of souls. These things are hard, but in order to take up our cross and follow Him, we must put our faith into practice through good works of love (charity).

What may I ask do you define as "good works?" And why do you feel that they flow from god?

I didn't ask what St. James said, or thought or knew, nor what catholic theology teaches. I asked how YOU KNOW.

No I didn't say that Robert Morris was a jew, I said that Robert Morris and an unnamed jew financed the Continental Congress

Your belief in the scripture is based strictly on your interpretation, or what someone else has interpretted for you, of it. Not on what is actually written.

Buddha was taken up, perhaps not described in those exact words, but the idea is exactly the same. If you really want to know where I cite it from I suggest that you do some reading about the life of the Buddha. It would probably do you good to broaden your mind, not to mention the understanding of other religions.

Jesus once more did not die for you.

Your problem is that you want your religion to be unique and different, and the one and only religion that is the truth

Jesus Christ is not god.

God is the "I AM".

Paul was not Jesus nor was he god. He interprets as he sees fit, and he was a man, no more no less. But I didn't ask how Paul defined good works, I asked how you did.

God decides, he doesn't need you or me or anyone else to decide what those works should be. He uses us just as we use the pen. It is not the pen that does the deciding, it is the writer. Anything that we or Paul, or James, or anyone else decides is a "good work" is their idea, not the idea of god.

We will nver know what god decides until we shut up long enough to listen, and god will speak to us if we do. He speaks to us constantly but we are so busy with our own dialog that we never hear.

No I didn't say that Robert Morris was a jew, I said that Robert Morris and an unnamed jew financed the Continental Congressok, just checking. I found out that Morris was an Epicopalian.
Your belief in the scripture is based strictly on your interpretation, or what someone else has interpretted for you, of it. Not on what is actually written.No not really. I use other scripture to interpret scripture. I also teach the bible and have for years. So what exactly are you referring to specifically?
Buddha was taken up, perhaps not described in those exact words, but the idea is exactly the same. If you really want to know where I cite it from I suggest that you do some reading about the life of the Buddha. It would probably do you good to broaden your mind, not to mention the understanding of other religions.Well I have and if I remember correctly, he lived until about 115 and died and was buried. He was never taken up. So I ask again, where are you getting your info?
Jesus once more did not die for you.well according to the scriptures he did. Are you familiar with John 3:16 or John 1:29?
Your problem is that you want your religion to be unique and different, and the one and only religion that is the truthIt is unique and diff. I don't have to wish it to be. What other great man died on the cross for another? Jesus said himself..."there is no greater love than one willing to give up his life for another."
Jesus Christ is not god.well he said he was. His works and deeds pointed to the fact he was. The OT Prophets spoke of him hundreds of years before proving he was...and his Apostles after his death wrote that he was indeed God in the flesh.
God is the "I AM".You tell me to read about the Buddah (and I have) now I'll tell you to read the seven I AM's of John. Short book, you can read it in a night. Jesus is the I AM of the OT.
Paul was not Jesus nor was he god. He interprets as he sees fit, and he was a man, no more no less. But I didn't ask how Paul defined good works, I asked how you did.No, but he spoke for God. He was inspired as we talked about earlier...remember? God uses man as we use pens? Paul's words in no way contradict any other scripture OT or NT. In fact even Peter put Paul's letters on par with the OT scriptures. I've already defined good works. What don't you understand? Go back and read what I said. Good works always point to Christ. In everything we do, our works should point to God, not ourselves. My definition would be no diff than any other biblical writer.
God decides, he doesn't need you or me or anyone else to decide what those works should be. He uses us just as we use the pen. It is not the pen that does the deciding, it is the writer. Anything that we or Paul, or James, or anyone else decides is a "good work" is their idea, not the idea of god.God decides, yes. You just said he uses us as we use a pen? Well then couldn't he use Paul or James in the same way? In fact since they are writing the words of God doesn't it make sense that God spoke to them to write down these words?
We will nver know what god decides until we shut up long enough to listen, and god will speak to us if we do. He speaks to us constantly but we are so busy with our own dialog that we never hear.and that's why he gave us his word. That is his revelation to us. We are to meditate on it. He's spoken to me so many many times and proven himself to me and it never violates his written word. Some day we will stand before him and we will NOT be able to say, "well I didn't know."

"I use other scripture to interpret scripture." And that makes sense how? If you do not understand the one using another to interpret it is like not understanding either. Each passage has it's own meaning and is not dependant on the other for it.

However you said that God speaks to you. How? And I'm not asking because I doubt your word. I would just like you to tell me how he speaks to you.

"I use other scripture to interpret scripture." And that makes sense how? If you do not understand the one using another to interpret it is like not understanding either. Each passage has it's own meaning and is not dependant on the other for it.There are many rules for interpreting scripture. The reason we have so many denominations out there mainly is because they don't use the "whole" of scripture. I know because I've been involved in many cults that totally ignore anything that would upset their apple cart. Sometimes you may come across a scripture that may seem a bit fuzzy in your understanding until you come across another scripture (like a puzzle piece) that makes the first one much clearer. Scripture is like a puzzle. Sometimes you have to go to diff parts of the bible to find the piece to put it all together.For instance (and there is alot of examples I could show you) we read about Cain killing Abel in Genesis..right? There is some disagreement exactly why Cain killed his brother. Was it because Cain didn't give the "first fruit" of his offering as Abel did? Was it because Abel's offering of animals was more pleasing to God than plants and vegetables that Cain offered? Or was it because Cain didn't offer a blood sacrifice to God as Abel did? Well if you go to 1 John 3:12 written hundreds of years later by John you'd read:"Not as Cain who was of that wicked one, and SLEW his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil and his brother's righteous." If you go to the GK the word "slew" is "sphazo" (sound familiar?) and it means "to cut one's throat." Well if you know and understand about the sacrificial system back then, you'd understand that when one sacrificed an animal they cut it's throat. So after putting this all together, outside of what was written in Genesis by Moses I'd say that Cain, in effect, was saying to God...."you want your sacrifice, here's your sacrifice", as he cut his own brother's throat after going spastic. John provided another puzzle piece. That's an example of scripture interpreting scripture. Peter said this in 2 Peter 1:20:"knowing this first, tht no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation." I take that to mean, that no scripture stands alone and that if you want to interpret scripture you go back to the scriptures not to any outside source to interpret it.

However you said that God speaks to you. How? And I'm not asking because I doubt your word. I would just like you to tell me how he speaks to you.Many ways. Sometimes it's thru other people. I'll be thinking or praying on an issue, and he gives me the answer thru another. Sometimes by an experience as he leads me into a place or situation that just amazes me. Sometimes I don't realize it until I look back at a given situation. Another way of course, is by reading his word. I don't know how many times I've had an issue or problem and then I'll open up the word to find the solution just in daily reading. His word covers all we will ever encounter. I've given examples of this here on JU from time to time. I remember one time I had an issue with my son. I was not very trusting in God at the moment worried about him as a college student. I was very anxious and then one day a woman behind a hotel desk where we were staying (we were visiting his college) spoke some words to me telling me a story (out of the blue) and as I went out the door, all I could hear was..."I'm in control" God was telling me not to fret and worry he had it all under control. He used a complete stranger to do this. The tension and anxiety left me just like that. Another time I head a loud voice in my head for me to give a sweater to someone in my church right after I bought it. I didn't want to. I put it in my closet with the tags on it. A month later I went to wear it and heard the same command "give it to Jonalie." I thought I must be imagining it but I put it back for another time, just in case and the winter went by with my not being able to wear it. It bothered me that much. In August we decided to move to Florida (another God story) and when I started to pack up my clothes I saw that sweater I had forgotten about. It was way too heavy (see God knew) for Florida so I brought it to church to give it to Jonalie afterall and told her the story of the winter before. She cried...and cried...and cried and wanted to hear the story over and over. She told me (she was crying hysterically) she had thought God had abandoned her and went on to tell me what had been going on secretly in her life. She was praying for an answer and was getting nothing.....until now. Why did I wait so long? I was stunned. Here I thought God was just telling me that I wouldn't need this heavy sweater after all. He knew in January that I'd be moving the next November (I didn't know) but then I realized he was speaking to her as well. How awesome! I have a whole list of God speaking to me along the years. It's not unusual and the reason why Christians all over the world know without a doubt that God is with them and cares about them. He has made himself known to me and he's alive.

This the interesting thing about language. "Taken up" means what?

Why may I ask that you take the word of Paul of Tarsus?

He was not one of the apostles and there is no evidence that what he said took place did indeed take place.

While Jesus gave his knowledge to the apostles there is no guarantee of their understanding of it. And obviously they did not understand it fully because they still fled upon his arrest and hid.

This the interesting thing about language. "Taken up" means what?well Nightshades first brought this up saying the Buddha was taken up. From a Christian perspective "taken up" means for the most part to be snatched away or raptured as Elijah and Enoch were. They are examples of the future "rapture" that Christians speak of.
Why may I ask that you take the word of Paul of Tarsus?Because of his changed life for one thing. It was pretty dramatic. I believe he was apprehended by Christ on that road to Damascus. I believe he saw something that radically changed him forever. From then on he did a 180 turn big time.
He was not one of the apostles and there is no evidence that what he said took place did indeed take place.He was an Apostle and had to defend that title but he called himself the lowest of the Apostles. The others acknowledged his Apostleship as well. And historians have already documented the book of Acts quite thoroughly and finding the events and places to be very accurate. Luke had a knack for detail. Much of Paul's three missionary trips are so well documented in this book.
While Jesus gave his knowledge to the apostles there is no guarantee of their understanding of it. And obviously they did not understand it fully because they still fled upon his arrest and hid.exactly. But remember before Jesus ascended the scripture say "he breathed on them" which means he imparted the Holy Spirit to each of them. 10 Days Later we have Pentecost which is when the Holy Spirit came down on all who would believe. He said all things would come to their rememberance. Later John wrote about this. They got it finally after the fact putting it all together. It's no diff today. Before the Holy Spirit I didn't understand either. It didn't make sense exactly. I knew a few basic things but not until God sent his HS into my life did I really, really get it. Talk to any on-fire Christian and they will all tell you the same thing.