I have two questions at the moment. Feel free to answer either or add some of your own similar contradictions. These aren't necessarily my opinion, but something to create thought.

1. How can someone believe that you can burn in hell, but not believe in resurection? Just exactly what would be burning?
2. One of the commandments are "thou shalt not make unto thee any graven images" but people continue to wear crucifixes and such. Isn't that like wearing a symbol of a gun or knife around your neck after one had been used to kill someone you care about.
3. How can anyone believe in predestination?

juliana--

Answers
1-I havent ever heard such a thing. Of course, everyone has beliefs that are true for him or her. But I think resurrection will be present and people will have their skins as they have in the world, if they burn.
2-I havent heard also this but that is very interesting for their believers
3-At last, I came to point to say something.Because at least I know
"predestination" a little There has been many contradictions about
"predestination". It is the point where many people lost their belief. It is very tragic.Because of that, there is statement, "If you want to prevent your belief, dont deal with predestination very much". I will explain My belief, maybe ıt can be informative for you: In my belief, Allah knows everything that the words in your heart, the emotions to someone, or the time of earthquake.Conseption of Predestination starts here.For example; in our age age, scientists are able to say absolute time of solar eclipse.Does their knowing this absolute time prevent the event of solar eclipse? This is the approach of modern religiousmen of Muslims; Allah knows everything with his endless knowladge, so, there is predestination, but that doesnt mean people havent got volition...

You have got really beautiful questions...Have a nice day!!!

aqua@home

I see what you are saying about the predestination point of things. I guess I wasn't real clear on what my definition of predestination is. I agree with what you are saying but my meaning was different.

My cousin belongs to a church where they believe in predestination. Meaning: Adam and Eve had two sons, Cain and Abel. They believe that if you are from Cain's seed then you get a one way ticket to hell. If you are of Abel's seed, you get a free ride to heaven.

I have many problems with this idea. First if this is true, what was the purpose of the flood? I am under the impression it was to cleanse the earth of all bad. Therefore after the flood, which was obviously after Adam and Eve, all the bad would have been gone, so nothing would be left from Cain. (After I said this to her, her husband has cut off our communication.) Second this takes away all free will and any point to it. Again, my cousin explains this by saying that it is a bad spirit that entered her dad's body to make him cheat and drink, etc. Therefore he is not responsible for this. Ridiculous!

I hope that is a little more clear.

Thank you for the compliment juliana.

juliana--

I see now, aqua.I understood predestination as in dictionary meaning.
I have also heard such a thing that you mention. But I didnt know there is
a belief like that in christianity.I dont know how the Bible mentions about the flood but my knowledge,from the Qouran, 'the flood was not on all over the world.Nouh was sent to aregion(some believes a place in middle asia).As you know, peoples in this region didnt believe to Nouh and his tellings approximately during 1000 years.(May be duration is diifferent from your knowledge).After that, th flood event was happened as a punishment. So the flood was a punishment to people who are in this region, not to people who are in the continent of America, for examaple.If the flood was on all over the world, İt would be injustice to other people, Because there werent communication tools like we have in our day.
And another point, I know Adam's children, as Kabil and Habil, The bad and The good. I dont have absolute knowledge about this issue. But It is interesting, according to your writing.If one from the seed of cain, marries with one the seed of Abel (Possible) Their children can be good and can be bad. I dont believe people are good or bad since their born. Of course, all people have some good and bad tempers from their creation, in their nature. In fact, the thing that carry to heaven, cope with our bad in our inside. Noone is angel, all people have fault.
The better awards will be given the person who managed the bad tempers, althoughhe has more bad tempers than other...
Thanks for you talked about this subject

aqua@home

You are welcome juliana. Thank you for your input.

31pumpkin

I looked @ this post a couple of times & scratched my head. I think I understand what you are asking now in your 1st question.

When one dies in Christ, that person is judged immediately @ The Judgment Seat of Christ.
There is Hell for the condemned but I don't think those in Heaven get to gaze upon it, at least not for too long. In this hell the soul would not burn up (it would be unquenchable) just as the fire did not consume the burning bush. This Hell represents torment of some kind. At the resurrection, the souls will again be judged. They will see that there was space for their name in the Book of Life but their name isn't in it. They will see what could have been(torment again) Then they will be thrown into the Lake of Fire(the 2nd death) eternally, with Satan & his angels, whatever they look like.

As far as wearing crosses & having mother Mary statues & such: A person is praying to the person the statue represents, & not worshiping the statue.
Crosses are a representation of the Faith. I have a fancy reversible onyx/turquoise/silver necklace, but I don't like too much of that b/c I'm always reminded that Christ is not on the cross, by my aunt!

I never really heard of predestination. I'm sure there are a couple of passages in the Bible that just describe the literal meaning of the plans God had for Creation. That the outcomes are inevitable. It must be a word that theologians might use.

Also, the Cain or Abel seed is void, moot, zero if you are a Christian. Jesus is the only Jew we inherited the promise from. We were grafted in like branches in the inheritance.

earthpages

1. I believe hell is the absence of God. It's not a burning nor even a place but a state of being. Not a good one!

2. I don't think so because Jesus won a victory over evil by being obedient to God's will, even unto death. It's a sign of victory and hope, not of defeat or desolation. Granted, I think it should be treated respectfully.

3. There are some passages in the Bible that some have used to support this view, especially some Protestants.

Sorry if I'm repeating things others might have said. I don't have time to read all the threads...