Suicide?

[jsktrogdor]

Some christian faiths see suicide as a hell-worthy sin. Some minorities of Islam believe that killing yourself in certain ways grants you eternal paradise.

Heres my simple hypothetical question: If someone kills themselves in one religion, with the honest and truthful impression that god would be happy with them (which im sure they usually are considering their commitment level). Would the christian god grant them access to heaven, if in the grand scheme of things it turns out Christians won the whose god really exists lottery?

They literally killed themselves because they were honestly convinced it was what god wanted... thats how devoted to god they were. They martyred themselves like Jesus martyred himself in the name of god... Lets work on the hypothesis here that all religions are basically worshiping the same god they just have their own interpretations of him.

Keep in mind this is just a question to raise an interesting discussion, I just want to see a tame debate.

[Bovril]

You seem not to understand the Christian concept of salvation. You can't force God to let you into heaven by doing well intentioned stuff, misguided or otherwise.

[jsktrogdor]

So even if someone was absolutely convinced that <this> is what god wants and they do this thing, if they get to heaven and it turns out to be to the contrary god rejects them despite their obedience?

(BTW: Are you a christian? If you dont mind my asking.)

[Bovril]

So even if someone was absolutely convinced that <this> is what god wants and they do this thing, if they get to heaven and it turns out to be to the contrary god rejects them despite their obedience?

(BTW: Are you a christian? If you dont mind my asking.)

Obedience is sort of besides the point. Christian theology rejects the idea that people can act in any way that forces an obligation onto God. Reading up on the concept of grace, which is a particularly distinctive and perhaps unique feature of Christian theology may clear this all up for you.

In answer to the second question, sort of.

[jsktrogdor]

Fun fact: There are 6 different types of christian religious grace listed when you search "grace" in wikipedia.

I ask if your a christian because I wonder this: If acting in faith that the way you are living is gods will, means nothing in gods eyes, because like you said its only "well intentioned stuff". Why are so many christians so devoted to dogma that, in your own words, is that only that well intentioned stuff.

A huge percentage of a religious person's life is dedicated to following this "well intentioned stuff". No swearing, no drinking, no smoking, no drugs, no sex before marriage; its all just "well intentioned stuff" isnt it?

[Bovril]

Fun fact: There are 6 different types of christian religious grace listed when you search "grace" in wikipedia.

Differences do not preclude similarities. In fact, differences only make sense in the context of similarities, but that is a separate philosophical issue.

As regards your points about Christian practice, well, you may be right. But I was speaking of theology, not the average Christian's day to day concerns. Calvin who was famed for his hard line description of predestination still incorporates the importance of action into his system, but it is a secondary feature.

Actually, my current sig deals quite nicely with this whole issue.