Ifyoulikeitsomuchwhydontyougolivethere?

[NotAllThere]

...
As the Christian churches would have us believe that the only route to god/heaven/salvation/paradise (add or delete as appropriate) is via belief in their approach exclusively, what has happened to all of the billions of souls that existed prior to Christ? Are all these people damned for eternity because what the Christians term God couldn't be bothered to send salvation via Jesus for thousands of years. Even the Creationists claim that the Earth was populated for at least 2k years prior to Christ...

Here's a few possible answers:

1. Tough, you should have thought of that before you were born in the wrong time or country.

2. Individuals are judged according to the "light they've received". C.S. Lewis covered this one in "The Last Battle". It's called soteriological inclusivism.

3. Everyone deserves Hell, so if God chooses to save a few, that's his prerogative.

4. There is no hell, there's just anihiliation and oblivion.

Along with the "problem of pain", this is one of the most troubling aspects of Christianity.

[NotAllThere]

only an excellent read for the Biblically and theologically ignorant, and others who will cling onto anything to prop up their denial of God

How annoying. I have to agree with you.

[Spacecadet]

Here's a few possible answers:

2. Individuals are judged according to the "light they've received". C.S. Lewis covered this one in "The Last Battle". It's called soteriological inclusivism.

Thats covered in the Old Testament, something about builders who were only hired after lunch getting the same pay as the builders hired first thing in the morning.
Nothing about IR35 though, I'm sure the builders who only worked the afternoon but got paid for the full day would have a hard time explaining that to Hector, who is after all more powerful than God

[NotAllThere]

If there is no "beyond" then where does an "open" universe open out into?

It doesn't. It's infinite.

[Diver]

Religion = A crutch for the Ignorant, the simple & the Impressionable

[NotAllThere]

Thats covered in the Old Testament, something about builders who were only hired after lunch getting the same pay as the builders hired first thing in the morning.

New Testament. It was one of Jesus' parables.

[Spacecadet]

New Testament. It was one of Jesus' parables.

I'll take your word for it

[TimberWolf]

Thats covered in the Old Testament, something about builders who were only hired after lunch getting the same pay as the builders hired first thing in the morning.
Nothing about IR35 though, I'm sure the builders who only worked the afternoon but got paid for the full day would have a hard time explaining that to Hector, who is after all more powerful than God

Yeah, but what about all the builders that came before them, who looked like apes/gerbils/fish/bacteria. An awful lot of sinners.

[NotAllThere]

Religion = A crutch for the Ignorant, the simple & the Impressionable

What? People like John Houghton, Faraday or James Maxwell? ( Though Houghton is on the IPCC, so you could be right ).

[wobbegong]

Religion = A crutch for the Ignorant, the simple & the Impressionable

Religion; it's all about who's got the best imaginary friend.

And to think, people kill, maim, rape and torture because of it.