Am I going to hell?

[BlossomRevane]

That passage from Leviticus is a straw grabbed at by the group that wants to use it.  It was intended for a specific group of ancient Hebrew's though, and is in the context of neighborly dealings which is important for context. 

Abomination in the meaning of those passages applies to a clergy class of person, the effect today would be if your pastor has on a wool suit and a polyester pulpit gown, he cannot preach his Sunday sermon!  (Great for the congregation since they don't have to pay the dude!)

The abominations related to a death sentence involved clergy folk doing things the other religions' of the times clergy folk did and with the other religion's clergy folk.  Firing the renegade clergy was simpler that way.  Not good for their retirement prospects.

A couple that relate to non clergy people were the result of inaccurate scientific knowledge that has since been cleared up, ----well sorta cleared up unless you are a creation scientist and not all of them.

I don't believe in the divinity of the bible, but it has many historical accuracy's and many more that were penned way later in history through speculation and control. This person has it spot on, if you want the truth of the matter look into what she is saying, its most accurate to what it means. All in all don't fear hell its not what it seems. With the Bible you really have to look in between what you read and study history in that time period. It was devised as a way of keeping those in that region inline but has been carried over to all places of the earth and preached with a distorted meaning. I am in your same shoes and wish for you to find the comfort that you deserve. All it takes is some open eyes =)

[Jaz650]

No being transgender is not a sin. It is just another gift from God. Just try to be the best person you can be.

[Wynternight]

I'm agnostic so I have no real horse in this race but, maybe someone of faith can explain this:

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. (NIV, Matthew 5:17–18)

Did the coming of the Messiah signal the end of the OT and make a new covenant or do the laws of the OT still apply? Or do they apply only to Jews and not Gentiles?

[Jess42]

I'm agnostic so I have no real horse in this race but, maybe someone of faith can explain this:

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. (NIV, Matthew 5:17–18)

Did the coming of the Messiah signal the end of the OT and make a new covenant or do the laws of the OT still apply? Or do they apply only to Jews and not Gentiles?

Wynternight. Take the bible with a grain of salt. 1 it was translated from the original and word could have been ore meanings of those parrables misinterpreted. 2 there could be a whole different meaning to the bible in its original text. remember the Bible Code?

I personally believe that life is hell. Yeah there are good times and you can find happiness but there is so much suffering and losing people we love and so on. But I believe in reincarnation so that is the way I perceive it.

With the Bible it is just a history book of Spiritual evolution and a record of how people's perceptions have changed from a vengeful spiteful God that pits men against one another to a loving God that all we have to do is ask for forgiveness and it's given by a loving God.

try to take the bible literally word for word and it will confuse you so much between Genesis and the Book of Revelation. But look at it like an historical document on how our Perceptions have changed toward a Creator and it seems to make a lot of sense.

[Shantel]

Wynternight. Take the bible with a grain of salt. 1 it was translated from the original and word could have been ore meanings of those parrables misinterpreted. 2 there could be a whole different meaning to the bible in its original text. remember the Bible Code?

I personally believe that life is hell. Yeah there are good times and you can find happiness but there is so much suffering and losing people we love and so on. But I believe in reincarnation so that is the way I perceive it.

With the Bible it is just a history book of Spiritual evolution and a record of how people's perceptions have changed from a vengeful spiteful God that pits men against one another to a loving God that all we have to do is ask for forgiveness and it's given by a loving God.

try to take the bible literally word for word and it will confuse you so much between Genesis and the Book of Revelation. But look at it like an historical document on how our Perceptions have changed toward a Creator and it seems to make a lot of sense.

Not a good answer!
        Christ didn't come to abolish the law but to fulfill it as the answer for mankind's abysmal failure under the law in which the requirement for failure to keep the law perfectly was death. This had been signified under the Judaic Law by the sacrifice of a lamb without blemish. Jesus Christ is God's lamb and He acknowledged that the night of His arrest when He prayed saying that he knew what was going to happen to Him and if He wished to He could call a legion of angels and sidestep the whole ugly process, but He said Father, I know to this I have been called, your will be done! He allowed himself to be brutalized unmercifully, beaten and spat on and then nailed to the cross where he willingly gave up His life as an expiation for the sins of all humankind. This being the case, there are those who refuse to acknowledge Him and His sacrifice being sufficient to cover for their own sins and have decided to go it on their own self righteousness, they have in effect decided to be judged according to the law. Hope this clarifies things.

[Wynternight]

Not a good answer!
        Christ didn't come to abolish the law but to fulfill it as the answer for mankind's abysmal failure under the law in which the requirement for failure to keep the law perfectly was death. This had been signified under the Judaic Law by the sacrifice of a lamb without blemish. Jesus Christ is God's lamb and He acknowledged that the night of His arrest when He prayed saying that he knew what was going to happen to Him and if He wished to He could call a legion of angels and sidestep the whole ugly process, but He said Father, I know to this I have been called, your will be done! He allowed himself to be brutalized unmercifully, beaten and spat on and then nailed to the cross where he willingly gave up His life as an expiation for the sins of all humankind. This being the case, there are those who refuse to acknowledge Him and His sacrifice being sufficient to cover for their own sins and have decided to go it on their own self righteousness, they have in effect decided to be judged according to the law. Hope this clarifies things.

It really doesn't clarify things for me. Is the Old Testament still valid or did Christ invalidate it with the New? Is accepting Christ all you need to do or do you need to follow the OT? Speaking of: Leviticus only applies to the Tribe of Levi, correct? So only Jews of that tribe needs must follow so that means Gentiles do not?

[Shantel]

It really doesn't clarify things for me. Is the Old Testament still valid or did Christ invalidate it with the New? Is accepting Christ all you need to do or do you need to follow the OT? Speaking of: Leviticus only applies to the Tribe of Levi, correct? So only Jews of that tribe needs must follow so that means Gentiles do not?

The old testament is valid for those who prefer to disavow Christ and what He did on the cross as sufficient to cover their screw ups. It's no longer followed by those who have accepted Christ, they are no longer under the law. This is a positional thing between man and God, we are still constrained to follow the laws of the land all of which are modeled after the ten commandments, because we are still living in this world with all it's human imperfections. As far as the spiritual aspect goes, once you accept Christ your future beyond this life is sealed and we make an effort to do right by others with a thankful heart and to honor Christ, not that we are by any means perfect. I am a Christian with a Jewish background and though I don't go to church, I am well read in the scriptures and understand the spirit of it fully.

[King Malachite]

Not a good answer!
        Christ didn't come to abolish the law but to fulfill it as the answer for mankind's abysmal failure under the law in which the requirement for failure to keep the law perfectly was death. This had been signified under the Judaic Law by the sacrifice of a lamb without blemish. Jesus Christ is God's lamb and He acknowledged that the night of His arrest when He prayed saying that he knew what was going to happen to Him and if He wished to He could call a legion of angels and sidestep the whole ugly process, but He said Father, I know to this I have been called, your will be done! He allowed himself to be brutalized unmercifully, beaten and spat on and then nailed to the cross where he willingly gave up His life as an expiation for the sins of all humankind. This being the case, there are those who refuse to acknowledge Him and His sacrifice being sufficient to cover for their own sins and have decided to go it on their own self righteousness, they have in effect decided to be judged according to the law. Hope this clarifies things.

Amen, Shan!  Great answer!

After 5 months, my answer has not changed.  If you believe on Jesus 100 percent to get you to heaven, then you're saved.  If not, you're damned.  It's simple as that.

[luna nyan]

try to take the bible literally word for word and it will confuse you so much between Genesis and the Book of Revelation. But look at it like an historical document on how our Perceptions have changed toward a Creator and it seems to make a lot of sense.

That is the basis for a lot of people's skepticism and disbelief towards the bible.
There are some who take the bible as literal truth, and fail to account for genre in the writing.

It can be argued that the opening of genesis is a theological account of creation, not a literal one.  I won't bog things down here but think on this example:

"My love is like a red red rose"
Does that mean that the person you love is green and had thorns?  Clearly no.

In the same way, genesis can be examined from this viewpoint.  Theologically, I have no issues at all with science, but that's another topic altogether.

The Old Testament can be viewed as an account of how man attempts to be righteous, but fails in doing so.  This then points to Jesus Christ on the cross.

[Illuminess]

That passage from Leviticus is a straw grabbed at by the group that wants to use it.  It was intended for a specific group of ancient Hebrew's though, and is in the context of neighborly dealings which is important for context.

Yes. Thank you. The Old Testament tells stories of early civilisation and the laws men imposed upon them, as well as various parables dealing with the struggle of faith in the face of desolation and despair, and poetic laments and praises. A person of moral standing and good will are going to be most favourable to God, and morality has nothing to do with sexuality or gender. Morality is about doing what is right by your neighbor and not harming or interfering with anyone else's life.

Sure, our bodies have specific designs for specific purposes, and so certain issues can arise when nature is messed with, but the body is also continuously surprising us with anomalies such as the brain developing opposite of the default setting resulting in trans identity, Klinefelter's Syndrome, Autism, and so on. Some people don't even have the cognitive capacity to understand or appreciate spirituality.

So, I'd say you're okay. Hell is the state of existence for those who continuously defy all that is good and right, and it's just as "within" as the Kingdom of Heaven. Remember 1st Corinthians: Love is patient, love is kind; it is not jealous. If God is Love, and is the highest force in your life, then Hell is irrelevant.

[BlonT]

Wonder if i look at all the crap in the world, if this is not hell

[Jo-is-amazing]

Yes you, like the rest of us are going to hell...

but why wouldn't you want to, all the fun people are there and frankly, heaven just sounds dull

[OreSama]

I don't think I could handle hell, I'm no good with heat.  Is there an icy hell for us northerners?  I could dig that.  Can I have reincarnation as an option? 
Alright, now that I've gotten that out of my system... ^^ I personally believe that if God meant for me to be a woman, then he wouldn't have given me a man's brain.  Well, I don't believe in a literal god but I also don't believe that I am supposed to live as a woman.

[Illuminess]

I don't think I could handle hell, I'm no good with heat.  Is there an icy hell for us northerners?

Well, Dante certainly assumed so.

[OreSama]

Well, Dante certainly assumed so.

Phew, I'm good then.

[Illuminess]

Yes you, like the rest of us are going to hell...

but why wouldn't you want to, all the fun people are there and frankly, heaven just sounds dull

Right? In my Christian days I thought a lot about the portrayal of Heaven as some shining magical kingdom with gold and jewels, and was like, "that really doesn't sound very appealing, especially for an eternity." I've even heard theories that the people who you loved in this life who didn't make it would be zapped from your mind while you spend forever in Paradise. That just sounds like some kind of dystopian future society like Brave New World or Logan's Run.

But think about the concept of Hell: it's supposed to be a place of eternal punishment, but punishments are meant to teach you a lesson so that you make a better choice in the future. If you subvert someone to torture indefinitely it no longer serves the purpose of punishment, and the person will not crave the presence of God, but rather have eternal contempt.

We cannot help who we are if it's written in our genes, or is the result of improper development. Why would the great force of Love toss anyone into the Abyss for simply embracing who they are if they've never once harmed another soul or disrespected their own life? It doesn't add up, logically or morally. That's the behaviour of an egotistical, self-centered tyrant; not an omniscient being of love and light.

That's why I cannot subscribe to that belief system. I appreciate the parables and the ethical teachings, but none of them are exclusive to Christianity. Christianity didn't invent morality or decency. It simply became an organised vessel for them which seems to only be evident with certain people while others use it as justification for oppressive behaviour.

All religions have a common message, but it's people who decide what it actually is. No one is good, bad, right or wrong for whatever they believe. It only becomes problematic when those beliefs start to interfere with personal liberty through threats and fear. If one religion has been morphed into a fear-mongering force of hate then I'm not about to give it any more of my time and energy. The threat of Hell should be anyone's first sign to run away as fast as possible.

[Shantel]

I'm always amused by other drivers who pull out into traffic from a side street right in front of an oncoming car whose driver is forced to decelerate or wishbone the other car. They routinely do this without looking both ways and assume that if they don't acknowledge the existence of the other car, that they are faintly suddenly aware of, that it will not be there. This is equally as amusing and as deadly as those who say I don't believe in God, the bible, heaven, hell or eternity. Somehow if you don't believe those things then they don't exist? Forest Gump was right! 

[Illuminess]

I'm always amused by other drivers who pull out into traffic from a side street right in front of an oncoming car whose driver is forced to decelerate or wishbone the other car. They routinely do this without looking both ways and assume that if they don't acknowledge the existence of the other car, that they are faintly suddenly aware of, that it will not be there. This is equally as amusing and as deadly as those who say I don't believe in God, the bible, heaven, hell or eternity. Somehow if you don't believe those things then they don't exist? Forest Gump was right! 

That's actually a really good point. Belief is just what you make of everything to the best of your ability or willingness to understand. I could say Australia doesn't exist because I've never been there, and tell those who say they have been there (or actually live there) that they are insane. That doesn't make Australia any less real.

On the other hand, nobody should be expected to believe in something that doesn't resonate with them. We're all on our own journeys, and truth is self-evident in time. Also, the mind is very easily programmable using the right words (Neural Linguistic Programming), so anyone can be swayed unconsciously that something is real or that they are being told a truth. That's the problem with any religious system whether it's spiritual or political, and politics can get very religious. Someone is always insisting that their understanding of things is the right one, but how we each believe is really nobody's business.

[SkyeBlue]

The Bible is clear "For God so loved the world he sent his only Son so that ALL who believe in him will not perish but have everlasting life."

[Miss_Bungle1991]

Wonder if i look at all the crap in the world, if this is not hell

Some people actually believe that living on Earth is hell and that Heaven does come later based solely on that idea.

I don't think I could handle hell, I'm no good with heat.  Is there an icy hell for us northerners? 

There's a Black Metal song in there somewhere.