Muslims say you Christians are going to hell. How do you Christians feel about that?

[jimbo]

Hello,

Do you think that maybe the Muslims are deluded? Do you think they are stupid? Do you think they are brainwashed? How do you explain the fact that they believe in something so utterly ridiculous, and believe it with exactly the same passion that you believe that they are going to hell?

Do you think that if you were born in a Muslim country, raised in a Muslim family, went to a Muslim school, and spent your living living amongst Muslims, you would also be a Muslim?

Do you ever wonder why your god seems to favor people born in certain geographical locations over others?

By the way, here is vaguely-related, interesting article:

Just some food for thought.

Your friend,

Jimbo

[Jude3b]

Satan invented Religion and Islamic Extremists surely proove how horrible a Religious leader satan is. Muslims are the number one most needful mission field for Christians and I'll bet it stays that way until the 2nd coming of Christ. Christians need to make every effort to reach out and love Muslim people and share Jesus and the truth with them. We need to pray for laborers to work among those trapped in that dreadful religion. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen

[DivineOb]

Penetrate the minds of those misfortuned at birth.
Murder is etched in the deepest chasms of the soul.
Salvation stripped from the origin of existence.
Obstinacy abandons, as you yield your world to me.
Decree of my darkest dreams.
Memories of my future.
Welcome to my church.

[ephphatha]

Jimbo,

The fact that Muslims think we Christians are going to hell doesn't really make me feel anything.

Do you think that maybe the Muslims are deluded?

If by deluded you mean simply believing things that are not true, then yes. We're all deluded about something or other.

Do you think they are stupid?

Muslims are like everybody else. There's some smart ones, and there's some stupid ones.

Do you think they are brainwashed?

Some of them probably are. I don't think all of them are.

How do you explain the fact that they believe in something so utterly ridiculous, and believe it with exactly the same passion that you believe that they are going to hell?

I don't think their beliefs are utterly ridiculous. I just think they're wrong.

Do you think that if you were born in a Muslim country, raised in a Muslim family, went to a Muslim school, and spent your living living amongst Muslims, you would also be a Muslim?

I think there's a high degree of probability that I would be, but there is no certainty considering the fact that there are Muslims who have grown up in just such an environment who later rejected Islam. The mistake is in thinking that if a person's belief is the product of their environment, then the belief is therefore not rational. But by that reasoning, none of any of our beliefs are rational since all of our beliefs are shaped by our environment. If I had been born at another time in another place, I might have believed the earth was flat, but the fact that my belief in the roundness of the earth is shaped by my environment doesn't mean my belief in the roundness of the earth is not justified.

Do you ever wonder why your god seems to favor people born in certain geographical locations over others?

Yes, but I don't believe it is because they live where they do that God favors them. Rather, I think it's because God favours them that they live where they do.

Your ole buddy,
Sam

[jason]

Do you think that maybe the Muslims are deluded? Do you think they are stupid? Do you think they are brainwashed? How do you explain the fact that they believe in something so utterly ridiculous, and believe it with exactly the same passion that you believe that they are going to hell?

They are mistaken just as you are.

Do you think that if you were born in a Muslim country, raised in a Muslim family, went to a Muslim school, and spent your living living amongst Muslims, you would also be a Muslim?

No.

Do you ever wonder why your god seems to favor people born in certain geographical locations over others?

Only the ignorant would say that. Plenty of muslims come to Christ, even in muslim countries even under extreme persecution.

Enough so that the mullah's in Africa are whining about losing so many converts to Christianity every year. Muslims might breed the fastest but they loose adult believers in droves.

Jason

[EvoUK]

Enough so that the mullah's in Africa are whining about losing so many converts to Christianity every year. Muslims might breed the fastest but they loose adult believers in droves.

I for one would love to see stats to show this...

Actually, you can back up the rest of your post while you're at it...

[AtheistArchon]

No.

-

Only the ignorant would say that.

- Arg!! The IRONY!!

- Hey Jason, what's the most popular religion in Iraq? Afghanistan? Pakistan?

[Xavier]

Hello,

Greetings, and Happy Birthday Jimbo...

Do you think that maybe the Muslims are deluded?

Deluded is such a strong word... Incorrect would be more like it.

Do you think they are stupid?

No more so than anyone else.

Do you think they are brainwashed?

Like you think Christians are brainwashed...

Answer is no.

How do you explain the fact that they believe in something so utterly ridiculous, and believe it with exactly the same passion that you believe that they are going to hell?

Who said "utterly ridiculous"? Anyone can believe anything with passon. You believe in the non-existance of something with passion. How's THAT for irony?

Do you think that if you were born in a Muslim country, raised in a Muslim family, went to a Muslim school, and spent your living living amongst Muslims, you would also be a Muslim?

Who knows? I wasn't... I was raised in the US of A under a Christian roof. Based on my own study, I summize that I would have figured it out, but who's ever sure about hypotheticals anyway.

Do you ever wonder why your god seems to favor people born in certain geographical locations over others?

Favor??? China seems like it would be an interesting place to be a Christian.

Just some food for thought.

Thanks, but not really that yummy.

Yours,
Xavier

[jimbo]

ephphatha,

The fact that Muslims think we Christians are going to hell doesn't really make me feel anything.

No? It makes me sad for these people who believe something so horrible.

JIMBO: Do you think that maybe the Muslims are deluded?

EPHPHATHA: If by deluded you mean simply believing things that are not true, then yes. We're all deluded about something or other.

Why do you think that hundreds of millions of people believe in the falsehood that the everyone who does not share their religious beliefs are going to hell? What can explain such a widespread delusion?

JIMBO: Do you think they are stupid?

EPHPHATHA: Muslims are like everybody else. There's some smart ones, and there's some stupid ones.

Okay. So how can hundreds of millions of people believe in this falsehood, do you think?

JIMBO: Do you think they are brainwashed?

EPHPHATHA: Some of them probably are. I don't think all of them are.

Okay. So why do you think hundreds of millions of Muslims think that everyone else on the planet deserves to be and will be tortured in hell for not accepting their religion?

JIMBO: How do you explain the fact that they believe in something so utterly ridiculous, and believe it with exactly the same passion that you believe that [/i]they are going to hell?

EPHPHATHA: I don't think their beliefs are utterly ridiculous. I just think they're wrong.

Okay. I DO think that the Muslim belief that atheists and Christians are going to hell is utterly ridiculous.

JIMBO: Do you think that if you were born in a Muslim country, raised in a Muslim family, went to a Muslim school, and spent your living living amongst Muslims, you would also be a Muslim?[/i]

EPHPHATHA: I think there's a high degree of probability that I would be, but there is no certainty considering the fact that there are Muslims who have grown up in just such an environment who later rejected Islam. The mistake is in thinking that if a person's belief is the product of their environment, then the belief is therefore not rational. But by that reasoning, none of any of our beliefs are rational since all of our beliefs are shaped by our environment. If I had been born at another time in another place, I might have believed the earth was flat, but the fact that my belief in the roundness of the earth is shaped by my environment doesn't mean my belief in the roundness of the earth is not justified.

So why would God send people to hell for not believing in him if, as you seem to agree, beliefs are shaped by environment, time and circumstance? Should someone be condemned to hell for eternity because he/she happened to be born in a certain time or geographical location?

JIMBO: Do you ever wonder why your god seems to favor people born in certain geographical locations over others?[/i]

EPHPHATHA:Yes, but I don't believe it is because they live where they do that God favors them. Rather, I think it's because God favours them that they live where they do.

Huh. Well, people cannot really choose where they are born.

Anyway, thanks for your answers, Sam.

Jimbo

[ephphatha]

Jimbo,

No? It makes me sad for these people who believe something so horrible.

I don't know why it doesn't bother me. To be honest with you, the fact that people think Conversations With God by Neale Donald Walsch contains a lot of wisdom bothers me a lot more, and the fact that people reject reason and the laws of logic also bothers me. It bothers me that a few Muslims would like to speed me on my way to hell by blowing themselves up around me, but it doesn't bother me merely that they think I'm going to hell when I die.

Why do you think that hundreds of millions of people believe in the falsehood that the everyone who does not share their religious beliefs are going to hell? What can explain such a widespread delusion?

I'm not sure how Muhammad originally came to his beliefs or how he convinced his first followers, but once he did, he spread his religion by the sword. After that, it was basically just a matter of the tradition being handed down from generation to generation.

Okay. So how can hundreds of millions of people believe in this falsehood, do you think?

They grew up being told it was true, and most of them have never had any reason to think it's not true. I'm convinced that people are capable of believing just about anything under the right circumstances.

Okay. So why do you think hundreds of millions of Muslims think that everyone else on the planet deserves to be and will be tortured in hell for not accepting their religion?

It's probably in the Qu'ran, although I haven't read it.

So why would God send people to hell for not believing in him if, as you seem to agree, beliefs are shaped by environment, time and circumstance?

I don't believe God sends people to hell for not believing in him. I think God sends people to hell for their sins.

Should someone be condemned to hell for eternity because he/she happened to be born in a certain time or geographical location?

No, and I don't think anybody is condemned just because of where they live.

Huh. Well, people cannot really choose where they are born.

That's true, but I think God chooses where they are born.

Anyway, thanks for your answers, Sam.

You're welcome.

Sambo

[irushdo]

Do you think Muslims are stupid?
This is somewhat of an interesting question. First of all lets make sure we note the difference between stupid and uneducated. Stupid would refer to the absence or lack of knowledge, or at the very least less knowlegde then say the average person. Uneducated reffers to the absence of training or application of knowledge. It is widely recognized that Mahammed was not an educated person. He could neither read nor write. Jesus however we are told spent his entire life studying and learning. One of the things that perhaps makes Islam so attractive to an uneducated people is its simplicity. The Muslim countries are never at the top of the list when it comes to ecomomics which is a direct reflection of the indviduals application of his knowledge, his education. Some countries such as Turkey and Muslims in the U.S. have become more educated but I think this is a direct reflection of the infestation of humanistic secluraism. Christine Shuremaker( probably butchered her name sorry) is a Christian expert on Islam. She talks alot about how up until around 1854 Islam was much more like Christianity than it is today. In 1854 a book was published by an Islamic "expert" who was involved in a very high profile debate in northern India. I am sorry I forget his name. This man had studied extensively in Europe and brought with him many European Enlightenment ideas influenced by Greek humanism. One idea said that Jesus probably never was crucifed and if he was he surrvived. This book in 1854 has had a profound impact on modern Islam. God tells us that education is so important and we are to be warned when education does not come from Gods word. Many Muslim adults become converted to Christianity because they learn about it. This is why ministering is so important. It teaches us how to live our lives why we believe what we do and what God expects of us. Education is essential and I encourage everyone that if you do not know what the quoran says learn. It will stregthen your view of the Scriptures.

[SlipSlidin'Away]

I don't believe God sends people to hell for not believing in him. I think God sends people to hell for their sins.

Scripture, please. Thanks.


Slipster

[ephphatha]

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

So, you see, sin is what causes us to go to hell. Believing Jesus is what prevents us from going to hell.

Greg Koukl of Stand to Reason make an analogy to explain this point of view. Let's say a person gets a terminal disease for which there is a cure. If the person never gets the cure, they will eventually die. But is failure to get the cure actually what causes them to die? No, it's the disease that causes them to die. Well sin is the disease that leads to eternal death--hell. Jesus is the cure that saves us from hell so that we can have eternal life. Failure to believe in Jesus isn't what causes us to go to hell. It's our sin that causes us to go to hell. Jesus saves (cures) those who believe in him.

According to Romans 1-2, everybody knows right from wrong, whether they've heard of Jesus or not. Consequently, even those who never had the opportunity to hear about Jesus are still responsible for their sins. Without Jesus, they will go to hell, because "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23), and "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23).

ephphatha

[jason]

I for one would love to see stats to show this...

Actually, you can back up the rest of your post while you're at it...

Islam in Fast Demise and the original arabic of the interview on al Jezeera .

Jason

[The Laughing Man]

Muslims say you Christians are going to hell.

You know for a fact that all Muslims believe this? Astounding!

How do you Christians feel about that?

I feel that you are over-generalizing and presenting ridiculously assumptive questions in a poorly executed attempt to "turn the tables" on Christians.

Hello,

Do you think that maybe the Muslims are deluded?

If you mean "deceived," then yes. Many people are or have been deceived.

Do you think they are stupid?

Of course not.

Do you think they are brainwashed?

Nope.

How do you explain the fact that they believe in something so utterly ridiculous, and believe it with exactly the same passion that you believe that they are going to hell?

Not in any way you would try (and fail) to explain it.

Do you think that if you were born in a Muslim country, raised in a Muslim family, went to a Muslim school, and spent your living living amongst Muslims, you would also be a Muslim?

In this day and age, who knows?

Let me ask you this, Jimbo: do you think that if you were born in a Christian country, raised in a Christian family, went to a Christian school and spent your life living amongst Christians, you would also be a Christian? If so, then please explain why so many professing atheists have a background exactly like that.

Do you ever wonder why your god seems to favor people born in certain geographical locations over others?

No, because He doesn't.

By the way, here is vaguely-related, interesting article:

"Vaguely-related" is right! I fail to see any relevence regarding the issue you brought up.