I seldom ever touch this type of topic and youll probably never see me touch it again ,however, i had a brief discussion earlier today with a friend of mine who has been trying to convert me for years, i would like to offer up this query to all you guys, the same as i asked him, just to get your opinions or feedback...Would you really follow the rules of christianity if the threat of damnation wasnt hanging over your head?

i don't follow them now, i don't see the point here......

nor do i, i guess im asking those that do ive always been curious about that

must be the wrong time of day to be asking such things

If you're only doing something in order to avoid a perceived punishment down the road, then your heart's not in it anyway. You're not doing it because you want to, or because you think it's right, but only because you're afraid of the consequences that will catch up with you later.

I don't believe any of it; I have yet to see a single shred of evidence for any of it. Maybe there are people who are afraid to cross a bridge because they believe trolls will pop out and eat them. Same thing in the end.

Religion is just superstition with better funding.

Well I guess that depends on what you mean by following the rules of christianity? You mean like the 10 commandments? Like thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not covet they neighbors wife, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt honor thy father and mother. That kind of stuff? Because that all seems like common sense that a decent human being would follow anyway regardless of what religion they are or lack of religion.

For example. I am not a Christian, I am even in fact wavering in all my religious beliefs as of late as I try to make sense of it all but just because I am not christian doesn't mean I am running around town murdering people and sleeping with other peoples wives. So would I be in turn following the rules of the religion? I think you need to be a little more specific in what rules you are talking about.

I see your point. It's a tough argument. A lot people do find a sort of peacefulness in religion that doesn't necessarily make them believe because of fear of damnation. A lot of people also gravitate towards it for the good, kind and healthy life that they get from it. I disagree with that.
This is something I've had trouble with as well.

specifically he's talking about sodomy i believe......

according to the bible a sinner is a sinner, rather you kill someone or are just a drunk, your still damned, so exactly what kind of specifics do you need, its pretty simple

I work a spiritual program, not religious one. Don't believe in hell I believe in a loving God who would not punish me. So Damnation isn't hanging over my head.

thank you azrae

Who's your god?

It's not simply as black and white as you are putting it. Everybody sins, Even the most religious church goers sin. Priests and deacons sin, Hell even the pope will slip up once in awhile. If it was as simple as If you sin you will go to hell and be damned for all eternity then there would be no need for heaven at all. Everyone would be saunaing in hell.

Besides according to the bible Jesus turned water to wine, I am thinking they don't rank drinking on their list of unforgiveable sins

Yes, I would, because time and time again He has been there for me and loves me unconditionally. Apart from Him I can do nothing!

and if you don't believe in sins?

let me rephrase this for you, would you follow the straight and narrow if the end result at your death was the same as everyone, sinner or not

If you don't like the word sin you can refer to them as something else I guess, Wrongful deeds, Acts of Maliciousness, or someone just being a jerk. Sins are not only associated with religious law, they also apply to morality and common sense. Sinning is just the word associated with doing something morally wrong. How can you not believe that people do horrible things just for the sake of doing horrible things?

I would do what I always do, I would do what I think is right, Regardless of whatever consequences await me or what other people might think of me. So I guess the simple answer to your question would be no.

I don't follow other people because of what they might think of me. I do what I feel to be the right thing to do.

ok then.....

according to the bible it's a sin to drink.....

and have sex with another man....

and build a mass wealth....

the bible lists a lot of sins that no i don't see as being wrong in anyway whatsoever.

of course there are theones that are wrong by moral values and society standards but thats a different story.....

I agree fully with this. There is a ton of things listed as sins that I don't agree with, although there are also a lot of things listed as sins that I do agree with, Murder, theft, rape, child abuse, etc. you know. The big moral ones.

I just have an issue with the way the question was phrased because the way he is saying it says that if you do the slightest thing wrong through the course of your life you are destined to an eternity of damnation. Although the bible also talks about the forgiveness of sins and if you are a good person and you know you are a good person. Even if you slip up and drink, or make smart buisness decisions and become rich, or you are gay. Those sins (If one chooses to view them as sins which we established you and I don't) will be forgiven upon death.

I have a lot of problems with christinatity but I will say that they are a big pusher on the idea of forgiveness, hence the confessions and absolving of sins.