Christian theological question.

[Yenke-Bin]

Does God elect certain people to go to heaven/hell?

A yes/no answer will suffice, with appropriate scriptural backing.

If you say yes, what, then, are the criteria for God's choice?

If no, does this mean he doesn't have absolute sovereignty over what happens?

[New Kereptica]

No, because he most probably is nonexistent.

[Inchland]

Depends on what kind of good/bad shit you do in your life

[New Limacon]

Are you talking about predestination, or just whether God in the end decides who gets to go where?

[Yenke-Bin]

I'm sorry. I meant this for the Christians on the forum. People that can actually give an answer outside of "lol god doesn't exist noob"

[Ashmoria]

Does God elect certain people to go to heaven/hell?

A yes/no answer will suffice, with appropriate scriptural backing.

If you say yes, what, then, are the criteria for God's choice?

If no, does this mean he doesn't have absolute sovereignty over what happens?

elect? what does elect mean?

but i suppose that god is indeed the one who makes the decision. you cannot compel god to let you in.

[UnhealthyTruthseeker]

elect? what does elect mean?

but i suppose that god is indeed the one who makes the decision. you cannot compel god to let you in.

He's talking about the idea that god chose who was going to heaven and hell before any of us were born.

[Yenke-Bin]

Are you talking about predestination, or just whether God in the end decides who gets to go where?

I believe they would likely go hand in hand, right? God predestines a certain amount of people to become the elect, and the rest go to hell, right?

[The Beautiful Darkness]

I choose the spam fam option. I was going to give a considered reply too, but I see you only want a response from Christians, so whatever.

[Ashmoria]

Are you talking about predestination, or just whether God in the end decides who gets to go where?

I believe they would likely go hand in hand, right? God predestines a certain amount of people to become the elect, and the rest go to hell, right?

no

god decides based on your life choices. its not a matter of letting "unworthy" people in while letting the blameless go to hell because the quota is already filled.

[Takaram]

Well, I must say that if God does exist, and does choose certain people to go to hell before they are even born, I think humanity would do well to rid itself of such a beast.

[Fassitude]

Does God elect certain people to go to heaven/hell?

Did Audumla (the cow created from the melting of the same piece of Niflheim ice that the giant Ymir, whose body the world was later created of, was born from) and her licking of the salt of the Niflheim ice give rise to Buri? Then how did he give rise to Bor, when there were no women for him to impregnate? And where did Bor's wife, Ymir's daughter, Besla come from, if Ymir's sweat only gave birth to the three gods Odin, Ville and Ve and no giant females? Perplexing.

[Alexlantis]

The good people go to Heaven right off the bat, the downright evil people end up in Hell, the people inbetween are chucked in Purgatory for a few thousand years, then go to Heaven.

EDIT: So, no.

[New Limacon]

Are you talking about predestination, or just whether God in the end decides who gets to go where?

I believe they would likely go hand in hand, right? God predestines a certain amount of people to become the elect, and the rest go to hell, right?

Not necessarily. I was asking whether the question is about God deciding who will go where before they even exist (predestination), or if it's asking "Does God have a system by which he decides who goes where" (as opposed to letting everyone into heaven, or sending everyone to hell).
It seems like the first one is what is being asked.

[Yenke-Bin]

Well, I must say that if God does exist, and does choose certain people to go to hell before they are even born, I think humanity would do well to rid itself of such a beast.

Well, that is what I though too. But some of my uber calvinistic friends seem to believe they are specially chosen to go to heaven no matter what they do. SO i brought this question to NSG, because there seems to be a higher number of Christians here these days, than in the past.

[Fassitude]

no
god decides based on your life choices.

Which this omniscient deity is already to know before you existed to make them.

[Trancelium]

While I cannot speak with personal experience, I am agnostic, I do know several Christians who have explained it too me thusly:
God is not an entity inside of time. The end and the beginning of our lives don't mean the same thing to him as they do to us. We have free will to chose to follow his dictates or not too. However for him the end has already happened. Kind of like the movie is already made, and God is watching it. When it was being made the actor could do whatever they wanted, not the choice is already made. That does not negate the actors free will when the movie was being shot.

Sorry if that was had to read, I have trouble with the concept myself. About scripture, there is apparently strong evidence for both sides.

[UnhealthyTruthseeker]

Which this omniscient deity is already to know before you existed to make them.

Yes, Heisenberg be damned.

[Otaku Stratus]

It seriously saddens me how many people answer with "depends if you've been good" like God is some kinda Santa Claus. Have you ever READ your bible? Nobody has ever "been good" .. ever. POSSIBLY two people have.. ever.. they went straight to heaven without dying.

everyone goes to hell by default. that's why we have Jesus.

What determines your salvation or lack thereof is your belief in the sacrifice (and significance thereof) or lack thereof. Thereof.


Where of? There, of.

[Ashmoria]

no
god decides based on your life choices.

Which this omniscient deity is already to know before you existed to make them.

yes
but you still made them.

[UnhealthyTruthseeker]

yes
but you still made them.

True metaphysical free will + total determinism = contradiction.

[Ashmoria]

yes
but you still made them.

True metaphysical free will + total determinism = contradiction.

yeah *shrug* god isnt stymied by paradox.

[Fassitude]

yes
but you still made them.

So what's the point of the deity having you exist to make decisions it already has decided that you will make and be punished for? Oh, right. Sheer stupidity of religion.

[Takaram]

Well, I must say that if God does exist, and does choose certain people to go to hell before they are even born, I think humanity would do well to rid itself of such a beast.

Well, that is what I though too. But some of my uber calvinistic friends seem to believe they are specially chosen to go to heaven no matter what they do. SO i brought this question to NSG, because there seems to be a higher number of Christians here these days, than in the past.

Well than, your uber Calvinistic friends worship a being that I would describe as a sub-human monster, not the popular omni-benevolent entity who watches over us like a strict father. Hardly something I would rule worthy of my worship.

It seriously saddens me how many people answer with "depends if you've been good" like God is some kinda Santa Claus. Have you ever READ your bible? Nobody has ever "been good" .. ever. POSSIBLY two people have.. ever.. they went straight to heaven without dying.

everyone goes to hell by default. that's why we have Jesus.

What determines your salvation or lack thereof is your belief in the sacrifice (and significance thereof) or lack thereof. Thereof.


Where of? There, of.

So a murderer turned Christian is going to heaven and a good atheist who works at the soup kitchen is hell-bound? Good to know.

[H N Fiddlebottoms VIII]

Does God elect certain people to go to heaven/hell?

Did Audumla (the cow created from the melting of the same piece of Niflheim ice that the giant Ymir, whose body the world was later created of, was born from) and her licking of the salt of the Niflheim ice give rise to Buri? Then how did he give rise to Bor, when there were no women for him to impregnate? And where did Bor's wife, Ymir's daughter, Besla come from, if Ymir's sweat only gave birth to the three gods Odin, Ville and Ve and no giant females? Perplexing.

Gay sex. Lots of gay sex.
Apparently giants just work that way, it is truly baffling.

Anyway, God wanted me to tell you all that he has ordained those who will be saved and those who will be cast into the fire. You guys, you're all going to Hell. I'm the only one going to Heaven, because I'm just that awesome.