Soldiers kill. Do those who are religious go to hell? Is it a sin to kill in war, when you must do what you must? What is everyones opinion on this?

There is no such thing as hell. It is a myth created by the priesthood to keep the flock in line.

There is no such thing as sin. In Ultimate Reality, there is no such thing as good and evil--these are but labels we place on things to denote our approval or disapproval.

Verily is it written, what we judge, judges us.

NO!!! no need for explanation its just no!!!

With Christianity, it looks like all you need to do is truly accept Jesus and not "blaspheme the holy spirit" to get into heaven, so I would say no, if they ask for forgiveness. This, and reading old posts in the archive where people state that if it wasn't for belief in God and an afterlife, they'd have killed themselves to get away from the flesh long ago, has led me to the conclusion that the Christian religion, at least, is nothing but a comfort blanket that also allows people to pick and choose the morals to impose on people (great for bigots), but not follow them themselves by saying "I'm human, I'm not perfect".

So no, if they're Christian.

The original Hebrew text actually says "Thou shall not murder", not kill. Killing was an accepted action in biblical times, just look at some of the punishments prescribed in the Pentateuch. It is the killing of an innocent person that the Ten Commandments condemns.

The original Hebrew text actually says "Thou shall not murder", not kill. Killing was an accepted action in biblical times, just look at some of the punishments prescribed in the Pentateuch. It is the killing of an innocent person that the Ten Commandments condemns.

The drafted guy that just wants to go home and grow potatoes isn't innocent right? Hope you get shot in the face

There is no such thing as hell. It is a myth created by the priesthood to keep the flock in line.

There is no such thing as sin. In Ultimate Reality, there is no such thing as good and evil--these are but labels we place on things to denote our approval or disapproval.

Verily is it written, what we judge, judges us.


Arms, this surprises me. You deny sin, Hell (which means you also deny heaven), and yet I recall from a previous thread in this forum where you said you believed in god. Please I would love to hear more of this philosophy of yours.

Verily is it written, what we judge, judges us.

Definitely something to meditate upon.

The drafted guy that just wants to go home and grow potatoes isn't innocent right? Hope you get shot in the face

Shit, I never said I agree with it; I'm just stating what the Bible originally said. Remember that the definition of guilty at that time meant anyone who stood against the Hebrew people and their god. Go read Numbers 31 to see just how much the Old Testament cares for those who fight against Israel.

If they fight and die bravely I would like to think they rest in Valhalla

Take a look at the role religion has played in war through out history and guess.

Most instances of "religious wars" are thinly disguised political disputes. Actual religious conflicts - killing people over a difference in religious belief or practice - occur far less frequently than conflicts of politics between two distinct parties who, incidentally, have conflicting religious roots.

The Renaissance Catholic Church (the reign of the Borgias) and the Irish Troubles of the sixties come to mind as examples of "religious" wars more obviously influenced by social mentalities, economic interests, and political ambition than a difference in spiritual practice.

You got it.

No, tell god you were just following orders, he'll understand....
or just repent on your deathbed...I hear he's pretty forgiving.... this is all assuming he's real....which he isn't.

There is no way that you are the most powerful thing in the world. Accept it and move on. What you are saying is that you are the only person who can have thought, when it's all really collective.

You can't repent for doing bad, what is done is done, you have to completely change to be happy forever.

No, tell god you were just following orders, he'll understand....

The worst things imaginable were done 'following orders'. Signing off the blame doesn't make you any less of a murderer. Tell Hassan's wife that you were following orders when his husband comes home in a box and see if she cares

Most instances of "religious wars" are thinly disguised political disputes. Actual religious conflicts - killing people over a difference in religious belief or practice - occur far less frequently than conflicts of politics between two distinct parties who, incidentally, have conflicting religious roots.


Well not only is that point arguable, even if we take it as true it doesn't even begin to absolve religion from guilt.

Arms, this surprises me. You deny sin, Hell (which means you also deny heaven), and yet I recall from a previous thread in this forum where you said you believed in god. Please I would love to hear more of this philosophy of yours.

You don't need to believe in heaven or hell to believe in God. They are mutually exclusive. The first keepers of the Jewish Temple didn't believe in heaven, hell, or angels.

Well not only is that point arguable, even if we take it as true it doesn't even begin to absolve religion from guilt.

A. The point I made was merely to separate wars committed by religious people from wars inspired by actual religious doctrine.

B. What a particular religion may be guilty of and what its adherents are guilty of are two separate types of crime.