Before "God"

[Shadow_writer]

I've asked around and I've never really managed to get a straight answer from anyone.
They say that if you don't believe in the one true God then you go to hell right?
But what about those people before God sent Jesus down to save us all.
So what happened to all those people who believed in Zeus, Artemis, Anubis etc?
Did they end up in hell because they knew no better? Or did God just envolve himself so he could fit in whatever the people were most likely going to believe and follow?

[LV426]

There is no god. They died.

Ok I know you were looking for another answer. Basically Christians refuse to acknowledge that other religions existed before Christianity. Essentially though it was Judaism before Christ came along. They follow the tenents of the Old Testament that says that God created everything. When Adam and Eve were created and then later cast off from the Garden of Eden they still retained their belief in God. Here's where it gets shady. Supposedly all human life on earth came from Adam and Eve and so everyone should be aware of God and should have remained Christians or in this case Jews. But we know of at least one break when the Jews decided that Christ was not the son of God and the Christians did and so now we have two religions that believe in the same god but diverge in certain beliefs.

Along with this you also have those other people. The other people I speak of do actually appear as sort of shadow people. They are in the Bible but have no real name and don't come from God. We don't know where exactly they came from although there have been some that said they were rejects of god's creations and some say they were demons and angels on earth that were jealous of Adam and Eve and so seduced the children of god and had children by them. Makes for a fun bedtime story but I don't really believe that. Other times the other people in the Bible are not really explained and the Christians and Jews will just maintain that God created Adam and Eve and we were all born of Adam and Eve and no other religions were to be allowed but the belief in God.

One major flaw in this though is that Judaism and Christianity are fairly young religions and it is documented fact that there were other religions that were in fact monotheistic (one god) and religions that were polytheistic (multi-gods) that came waaaaaay before either of those religions.

If you follow the Judaic and Christian ideology then all of those people who came before God existed (which to them is impossible), they did not go to heaven. The Jews believe they go to Gehinom or Sheol to attain spiritual purity and cleansing of the soul. The Christians just condemn them straight to hell never to get out.

[ThrasherCub]

The Jews believe they go to Gehinom or Sheol to attain spiritual purity and cleansing of the soul. The Christians just condemn them straight to hell never to get out.

Some Christians believe they go to some non-unpleasant section of hell cut off from the rest of it where they just kind of loiter for all eternity.

[UNODRAGONE]

you'll never get a striaght answer to this that makes sense...I have been asking this question for years lol I also ask the question if a child is born in a remote forest, parents die and by some luck that child survives, lives a long life without any human contact and thus has no concept of God and heaven, where does he go? People tell me if you don't believe in God regardless of the situation, you go to hell. Real nice.

[Galliard]

I've also heard about Adam having a first wife called Lillith, and since she didn't want to submit during procreation, God cast her out, (it was a pride issue, I think) and she laid with demons, thus creating the "other" races of humanity. This was learned by word of mouth, though.

[Shadow_writer]

Yeah I doubt that would have happened, well. I've never heard of it. But have you noticed that most of the teachings state the same thing no matter the religion or God?
Just... Some religions are better at keeping to the rules then others.

[E_Asinus]

There is no god! If there was a god then we wouldn’t be in war, there wouldn’t be cancer, there wouldn’t be people living on the streets.

[RQ]

There is no god! If there was a god then we wouldn’t be in war, there wouldn’t be cancer, there wouldn’t be people living on the streets.
Some people think those things exist either A) becuase of the sins or transgressions of humankind, or B) as tests of faith.

[Vendetta]

Some people think those things exist either A) becuase of the sins or transgressions of humankind, or B) as tests of faith.
In short, God is kind of a dick. Also, possibly a Puerto-Rican steambath attendant.

[Sazabi]

There is no god! If there was a god then we wouldn’t be in war, there wouldn’t be cancer, there wouldn’t be people living on the streets.

Hey, maybe you want a pansy-ass Hippy God, but MY God is a vengeful god. Plague, Famine, war, Will and Grace reruns! Tremble and despair.

[Sabor_X]

I myself am a Christian, and I've wondered this same sort of thing. I mean, what about the people who were raised to believe in other Gods, the people who've never even heard of the One God. I think God would understand, you know? I highly doubt they would go to hell just for that.

[Cheater388]

There is no god. They died.

You know what, LV426... I love you because of this!

[MorganaFang]

Existence is proof of something beyond I think but most of the nonsense of religions concepts of god seems more like personifications. Lot of talking for something that is not really saying that. For the most part we are all our own gods, doing things for ourselves, some of us wear the facade of the word or some other diety/prophet, others are blunt.

[Faolan]

There is no god! If there was a god then we wouldn’t be in war, there wouldn’t be cancer, there wouldn’t be people living on the streets.

Let me ask you a question. If God does or doesn't exist wouldn't there still be war, poverty and disease?

What I'm saying is, because of free will we do things to each other or our ourselves that can be rather wrong. God doesn't command us like we are in a SIMs game. We aren't wandering around aimlessly and wasting our time until some little green crystal commands us what to do with our short attention spans.

Yes, it's unfair that some people are either born into poverty. It's unfair that some people are innocent yet caught in the middle of someone else's conflict. It is defiantly horrible when someone or anyone develops cancer or other diseases so decimating. However, thats life. Life isn't fair, we as people become stronger because of our resolution to overcome obstacles. Personally I understand that it is difficult to believe in an all mighty with the world being so unfair. However I feel quite the opposite. I cannot fathom how this beyond intricate world could spontaneously develop intelligent life forms like us for no meaning other then to eventually die off. But I guess we should all live and let live. The best thing we can do is just try your hardest to love everyone and bring something good to the world, even if that is just giving someone in need a hug or kind words of support. This world would be a better place if we all took a little time out of our day to help another person for no reason other than it is right to do so.

Some people think those things exist either A) becuase of the sins or transgressions of humankind, or B) as tests of faith.

Yes, allot of the more religious people to tend to think that as the answer to why the world can be cruel sometimes. But there is more to it then that however I don't think I'm the most scholarly person in this field of questioning. Ask Bookwyrm when you have a chance. He is a good friend of mine and well versed in theology. Especially western faiths. Speaking of which, have you ever read the Book of Job? (pronounced Joub)

Existence is proof of something beyond I think but most of the nonsense of religions concepts of god seems more like personifications. Lot of talking for something that is not really saying that. For the most part we are all our own gods, doing things for ourselves, some of us wear the facade of the word or some other diety/prophet, others are blunt.

That is a very good statement. I believe your on to something about how existence itself is proof. Whether it is an act of a God or something else is the question. Honestly we will never know, but the way I see it I could be wrong about there being a God but I'm happy with believing there is. Does that make me foolish? To some yes, but isn't it equally foolish to say that it is foolish of me to be happy? To each their own I guess. Either way I want to say again, that was an excellent observation.

[RQ]

I've read Job. I don't want to start another religious argument here, but if I had to cite one example within the Old Testament as proof that god portrays himself as spiteful and selfish, it would have to be Job.

Also, no offense to Bookwyrm, but I'll agree with Thomas Jefferson: "A professorship of theology should have no place in our institution."

[Faolan]

I too agree for no need for an arguement here. Besides nice to see someone else who did infact read that book as well.

:)