Is the objective of religion to “achieve eternal salvation”?

[Zzyzx]

Is this the major objective, the only objective, or just one of many objectives (or purposes -- or similar terms) of Christianity?

[katiej49]

Is this the major objective, the only objective, or just one of many objectives (or purposes -- or similar terms) of Christianity?

knowing God includes salvation of course (and of this I am quite glad it also includes RELATIONSHIP....a daily walk with a God who cares for me, gets involved in the affairs of this muddled up old world, He is like a friend....He corrects me....He gives me gifts (nature is one of His incredible gifts!)........So of course salvation is a main issue , knowing Jesus is about living life with Him. blessings

[jjg]

The objective is to love God and your fellow man.

[McCulloch]

knowing God includes salvation of course (and of this I am quite glad it also includes RELATIONSHIP....a daily walk with a God who cares for me, gets involved in the affairs of this muddled up old world, He is like a friend....He corrects me....He gives me gifts (nature is one of His incredible gifts!)........So of course salvation is a main issue , knowing Jesus is about living life with Him. blessings

How do you know? The promise of salvation could be totally imaginary. You will not know until after you die. Your daily walk with a God who cares for you. What does that mean? God does not literally walk beside you. In fact, there is no difference between those who say that they walk with God and those who do not. There is absolutely no evidence that God gets involved in the affairs of this world. He is not like a friend. My friends talk to me. God is more like an imaginary friend. Nature is not from God, nature is just part of the existence we all find ourselves in.

[katiej49]

knowing God includes salvation of course (and of this I am quite glad it also includes RELATIONSHIP....a daily walk with a God who cares for me, gets involved in the affairs of this muddled up old world, He is like a friend....He corrects me....He gives me gifts (nature is one of His incredible gifts!)........So of course salvation is a main issue , knowing Jesus is about living life with Him. blessings

How do you know? The promise of salvation could be totally imaginary. You will not know until after you die. Your daily walk with a God who cares for you. What does that mean? God does not literally walk beside you. In fact, there is no difference between those who say that they walk with God and those who do not. There is absolutely no evidence that God gets involved in the affairs of this world. He is not like a friend. My friends talk to me. God is more like an imaginary friend. Nature is not from God, nature is just part of the existence we all find ourselves in.

or it could be real. God literally walks beside me. I am never alone. His love and guidance are constanly there. He sees every tiny detail of my life. The difference between walking with God or not walking with Him....are peace. I have peace in the midst of storms. not all will believe it. i do.

[WelshBoy]

or it could be real.

But we would need some reason to logically believe it to be real. Otherwise you are believing unfounded stories and make-believe.

God literally walks beside me. I am never alone.

Perhaps you have a special understanding of the word 'literally', but I doubt God literally walks beside you. Can you see him, can you touch him? Can you take a photograph of him?

His love and guidance are constanly there. He sees every tiny detail of my life.

You believe these to be the case, but from my point of view you are mistaken and simply desire these to be true. We have powerful brains capable of imagining all sorts of things without evidence.

The difference between walking with God or not walking with Him....are peace.

So to find one person who has peace but doesn't believe in God would undermine this argument. Take me. I have peace, BECAUSE I don't believe in God. I have no fear that my actions are being judged, I believe I have a self-imposed purpose in life not one I have to keep living up to set by a 'higher being'. I am self-determining. I have peace.

I have peace in the midst of storms.

Storms, oddly, sent by God. The loving hand of God also holds the stick.

It is YOU who gets through those storms alone, with the imaginary help of God, YOU are strong. It is a wonderful thing, devoid of God.

[katiej49]

Perhaps you have a special understanding of the word 'literally', but I doubt God literally walks beside you. Can you see him, can you touch him? Can you take a
photograph of him?

what do you think

His love and guidance are constanly there. He sees every tiny detail of my life.

You believe these to be the case, but from my point of view you are mistaken and simply desire these to be true. We have powerful brains capable of imagining all sorts of things without evidence.

The difference between walking with God or not walking with Him....are peace.

So to find one person who has peace but doesn't believe in God would undermine this argument. Take me. I have peace, BECAUSE I don't believe in God. I have no fear that my actions are being judged, I believe I have a self-imposed purpose in life not one I have to keep living up to set by a 'higher being'. I am self-determining. I have peace.

my actions are not judged, for Jesus took that on Himself on the cross. I dont have to "live up" to anything. My salvation AND my daily life are lived under His grace. You can have a false sense of security, believing yourself to be safe while you are in eternal danger.

I have peace in the midst of storms.

Storms, oddly, sent by God. The loving hand of God also holds the stick.

It is YOU who gets through those storms alone, with the imaginary help of God, YOU are strong. It is a wonderful thing, devoid of God.[/quote]

you cant blame Him for anything if you dont think He is there....

[WelshBoy]

Perhaps you have a special understanding of the word 'literally', but I doubt God literally walks beside you. Can you see him, can you touch him? Can you take a
photograph of him?

what do you think

I think you can't see him, touch him or take a photograph of him. Your claim that he literally walks beside you is therefore currently unfounded.

my actions are not judged, for Jesus took that on Himself on the cross. I dont have to "live up" to anything. My salvation AND my daily life are lived under His grace.

You are now unable to sin?

You can have a false sense of security, believing yourself to be safe while you are in eternal danger.

But without proof of that danger, why would I believe it to be there?

you cant blame Him for anything if you dont think He is there....

I don't. You ought.

[Fisherking]

knowing God includes salvation of course (and of this I am quite glad it also includes RELATIONSHIP....a daily walk with a God who cares for me, gets involved in the affairs of this muddled up old world, He is like a friend....He corrects me....He gives me gifts (nature is one of His incredible gifts!)........So of course salvation is a main issue , knowing Jesus is about living life with Him. blessings

How do you know? The promise of salvation could be totally imaginary.

or totally real

You will not know until after you die. Your daily walk with a God who cares for you. What does that mean? God does not literally walk beside you. In fact, there is no difference between those who say that they walk with God and those who do not.

Yes there is.

There is absolutely no evidence that God gets involved in the affairs of this world.

I could say that there is absolutely no evidence that God does not--we would not know the truth of the matter until all knowledge were discovered. Lack of evidence currently does not mean there isn't any. Some people see God, some do not.

He is not like a friend. My friends talk to me

.
When your friends cease talking to you do they also cease being your friend?

God is more like an imaginary friend. Nature is not from God, nature is just part of the existence we all find ourselves in.

He is real whether we see him or not. Some that do not wish see him now will see him later

[bernee51]

There is absolutely no evidence that God gets involved in the affairs of this world.

I could say that there is absolutely no evidence that God does not--we would not know the truth of the matter until all knowledge were discovered.

A well worn fallacy. Do you have to have 'all knowledge' to know that married bachelors do not exist? Or square circles?

Lack of evidence currently does not mean there isn't any. Some people see God, some do not.

And isn't it interesting that the invisible and non-existent look so similar.

He is real whether we see him or not. Some that do not wish see him now will see him later

He is only real to believers. To non believers he is as real as married bachelors.