Calzaer

My point exactly. What if the Bible was actually written by Satan, and thus only people who didn't fall for it got to go to Heaven?

Or what if god is actually hideously shy (to borrow a concept from another poster on these boards) and gets pissed off at people who worship him when he's gone to such great lengths to conceal his existence? Thus, only atheists get to go to heaven.

In any event, you're completely missing the point of the question. It's what's known as a "hypothetical". You can't answer a hypothetical by saying "It could never happen" unless you just WANT us to laugh at you.

That really pisses me off more than just about any conversational event. Ignoring a hypothetical, that is. OF COURSE it will never happen, since neither sin, heaven, nor Raptures exist! No shit! But if it DID, wouldn't it be funny? I swear, you remind me of my ex-girlfriend.

"If a vampire sneezed, and someone said 'bless you!', would it hurt the vampire?"
"I don't get it. Vampires don't exist, and even if they did, they wouldn't breathe, which means they couldn't sneeze."
"Alright, look. GIVEN: Vampires, vampire sneezes. If someone said 'bless you', would it hurt?"
"But vampires don't exist. I can't accept a given that's not true!"
"Arrrrrg!"

theIPU

So God, in his omnibenevolence couldn't forgive them?

WWSD

No, he requires faith in return for forgiveness. He could never forgive the dirty atheists, but yet, he still loves them, and sends them to hell, where he will still love them, despite burning them for all eternity.

God has infinite compassion and love, and infinite burning capacity as well, but not infinite forgiveness.

Spaz

And blood, lots of blood...

WWSD

Faith in the Blood of Jesus Christ and its super cleansing properties!

We (the non-dirty heaven bound theist types) no longer need to sacrifice animals you know, because god seems to have tired of the pleasing scent of burning flesh and such. That seems to be where the "new" convenant comes in.

Illithid

Here's a thought: according to some figure I've heard cited, the Rapture is only supposed to suck up 144,000 "saints". Now if 144k people just vanished, would we notice? Proportionately, that's about 50 people out of the city of Houston, Texas (pop. 2 million), or about 5 people in the podunk highway intersection I was raised in.

Suppose further that the people taken are those who have followed Jesus's directives to Christians: Give away all you have, forsake your family, etc. Whacko street preachers, bums, and maybe some super-insular home-schoolers or members of some hippie commune or something. Missionaries in Borneo.

Would we really notice? What if it's already happened? Armageddon actually did start at midnight, NY eve, Jan. 1 2000... we just didn't know! Now we're in the Tribulation! Eek.

Shrub-boy, our President... he's the ANTICHRIST! AAaaaahhhh!

Calzaer

If you ever just have the inclination to go around town one saturday night and screw with the church message-sign-things,

is one of my favorites.

Godot

If Magus feels better knowing we'll all be burning in hell for being free thinkers, I'll be sure to bring along the SPF 3 billion. BTW SDA, since it's my turn to drive the bus to hell, what time do you want me to pick you up?

Refused

Calzaer.. 2 in the morning and you're not at Waffle House?

That's where these discussions usually come up from our group.

BTW, hello from Columbia!

- Refused

#include <std.disclaimer>
"I would rather be forgotten, than remembered for giving in"
- Refused

Psycho Economist

Well, I wouldn't be going. Revelation 21 says 144,000 virgin males will be the only ones raptured. A detail lost on a lot of church ladies, judging by their bumper stickers.