Religion Questions 51-60

THE QUESTION:
RE60: Why do Mormons believe in a man whose predictions were false, whose book was rewritten and who believed in marrying many women? It seems to me that this is a self-centered religion, in which whatever the current “head of the church” says goes. Anyone can say they’ve been chosen by God and then make others believe in him. There are thousands of Latter Day Saints followers, though, and they’re not all stupid, so there must be some sense to it. Please help.
POSTED JUNE 10, 1998
J. Dowling, Summit, MS

ANSWER 1:
I am a member of the LDS church. I am one of more than 10 million members worldwide not because someone convinced me with rhetoric, but because of the simple act of asking God. I asked God whether it was true, and feel in my heart that it is. I have heard many things against the LDS church; however, if you are patient enough to spend some time with one of the members of the religion and listen with an open mind, I am sure you will at least understand better what it is that we are all about.
POSTED JUNE 27, 1998
L.D.S., NH
To respond
BACK TO TOP

THE QUESTION:
RE59: I’m an atheist and very much in love with a Muslim girl. She doesn’t think we should be together because of our different cultural (she’s from Morocco) and religious backgrounds. Her father does not approve of our relationship. I know there would be difficulties if we were to stay together, but I hope we would succeed. Should I persist, or do people think it wouldn’t work, anyway? Does anyone have experience with this?
POSTED JUNE 8, 1998
Thijs, 19, t.j.vinken@kub.nl, Tilburg, The Netherlands

ANSWER 1:
I believe if you plan to marry and have children, both people should be of the same religious beliefs. This does not mean two people from different religions should not marry. It means that one of you should convert, in my opinion. My understanding of religion is that it is a manifest of how one interacts with life. The problem I see is that you’re both entering into a relationship with radically different values for which there is no compromise. How can you compromise on religious faith?
POSTED JUNE 10, 1998
D. Nichols, 34, agnostic, Seattle, WA

FURTHER NOTICE:
I am Muslim and was brought up with the belief I should marry only a Muslim from my race. After you are brought up like this, you tend to believe it and base your morals on it. Muslims I know who married out of their race tend to have their partner change their religion because they are devoted Muslims; however, because their partners don’t truly believe in that faith, there are many disagreements when they have children or try to impose their beliefs on each other. If you really do love her and she feels the same way, you will find a way to work it out but, must understand that to some people, their faith is very important.
POSTED JUNE 21, 1998
Sarah P., Muslim, Los Angeles, CA

FURTHER NOTICE 2:
I have not had a romantic relationship affected by different belief systems, but I have dealt with the issue in a very close friendship. I was raised Catholic, but have been agnostic with atheist leanings for many years. A couple years ago, one of my friends “got conked on the head by Jesus” as he put it, and it put a real strain on our friendship and altered it forever. We struggled to come to terms with our differing beliefs and our affection for each other and, for the most part, were successful. But I would be lying if I said it didn’t make a difference in our level of intimacy and ability to understand each other.

In your situation, I would hate to discourage two people who love each other from trying to make their relationship work. However, the facts are that this woman has a profoundly different belief system and cultural background from your own, and she has expressed serious doubts about trying to continue a relationship with you, indicating her level of commitment may also be different. Compromise is an important part of any relationship, but there are some compromises that place people so far outside their own value systems that the relationship is unable to continue. I have concern that the latter compromises are the ones you would end up making. My last piece of somewhat contradictory advice: Don’t let others’ opinions influence you too much. You are the only person living your life.
POSTED JUNE 23, 1998
Felicia, 34 <foloughl@n3c.com>, Houston, TX

FURTHER NOTICE 3:
I do not think religious differences mean there are radical differences in values. It seems a given that this couple shares values simply because they are so much in love. The only difference is where they look to for moral guidance, but not necessarily the conclusions they come to from that guidance. Several roads can bring you to the same destination. Thus, it is possible it can work if your girlfriend can see what brings you together and live with her parents’ disapproval – that is, if the two of you together cannot convince them you share more than they realize. Best wishes to you.
POSTED JUNE 24, 1998
Terri P., atheist, Fredericksburg, VA

FURTHER NOTICE 4:
I recently married a Muslim Moroccan woman and converted to Islam. If you are truly an atheist, I would suggest you don’t pursue this relationship. It will cause problems. Trust me. You need to think deeply about your level of committment. You need to think about her relationship to her parents. You need to have open eyes and not be blinded by love. Don’t compromise your integrity.
POSTED JUNE 26, 1998
Brad, 28, white, Honolulu, HI

FURTHER NOTICE 5:
I have friends from Egypt who are Muslim. They are sisters from a very strict, religious family. They have been told that if they marry outside of their religion they will no longer be acknowledged by their family. Their ages are 23 and 27. The 27-yeasr-old is dating a Catholic and the 23-year-old is dating a man who has no religious preference. Their family does not know, so they live with the fear of them finding out, but they still continue to date these men. So, I guess my point is, they choose to live in current times regardless of their family beliefs. They have not left their religion, just their family’s cultural restrictions. Tradition is important, but so is honesty to themselves. They choose not to live their lives based on Egyptian customs, but on American ideals.
POSTED JUNE 26,1998
Sue <107767.46@compuserve.com>, Grosse Ile, MI

FURTHER NOTICE 6:
Common values are important in a marriage, and many atheists are atheists because we reject faith as a good way to know about the world and use reason or scientific methods instead. This is a different way of looking at the world and can affect things like how you want to raise your children, which is a really big issue in marriage unless you plan on not having any. Not that it can’t work, but it’s something to think about. What if she wants the kids indoctrinated, or sent to a house of worship every week? Also, which days throughout the year will you celebrate and how? It is my opinion that the decision of who to marry should be made with your head just as much with your heart. It may be true that you can’t choose whom to fall in love with, but you can choose whomto stay with (and marry).
POSTED SEPT. 5 1998
Lynne, atheist just married to an Agnostic Deist <lynne@darklair.com>, Fairfield, IA

FURTHER NOTICE 7:
Love not only cannot conquer all, it is often an impediment to real compromise over serious difference in values. Another common fallacy is “We can work it out … later.” In their youth, people will often downplay the value of religion in their later lives. Honoring both beliefs usually results in no consistent belief system at all. The result is commitment to neither, since one cannot, for example, be a believer in Christ’s teachings and Judaism simultaneously. The most workable approach is for one to convert to the other’s beliefs so that the entire family worships together.
POSTED OCT. 30, 1998
Lorne W., 50, white male <woody141@hotmail.com>, Los Angeles, CA
To respond
BACK TO TOP

THE QUESTION:
RE58: Why do Christians believe in an afterlife for humans but not for other creatures?
POSTED JUNE 5, 1998
Tony C., 50, Los Angeles, CA

ANSWER 1:
As a 14-year-old Christian, I have always been taught that animals and other creatures do not go to heaven because they do not have souls. If you have no soul, then after the “body” dies there is nothing left to go to heaven. I would like to believe that they do. I know of no reference in the Bible about this subject and would be curious to see if anybody could find some.
POSTED JUNE 17, 1998
Missy G., 14, Augusta, GA

FURTHER NOTICE:
Some Christians do believe other creatures have an afterlife. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is one such Christian religion that teaches that animals and other creatures have an afterlife.
POSTED JUNE 18, 1998
Charlynn, 39 <ecoborn@jps.net>, Middletown, CA

FURTHER NOTICE 2:
Actually, the Bible teaches this: “Man’s fate is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; man has no advantage over the animal … All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.” (Ecclesiastes 3:19-20) Unfortunately, the Bible speaks of only man being brought back to life through a resurrection. This is because only man is created in God’s image (Gen. 1:27,28). Only we have the ability to think, feel and worship. Animals have a certain kind of intelligence, but it is all instinctual – programmed into them by God. They do not have free will.
POSTED NOV. 16, 1998
M.A.M., 25, Atlanta, Ga

FURTHER NOTICE 3:
I have been a Christian the majority of my life, and though the Bible never specifically says animals go to heaven, I have seen it inferred many times by Christian people. I think it is beneficial to remember that God has an immense care for animals as part of His creation – not even a sparrow falls to the ground (dies) without His notice. People have a special place in the heart of God because they have a soul, true. However, I do not think God would be so generous as to provide a paradise for some of His creation and neglect the rest. This is not the God I know. It may be heresy, but I believe some animals do go to heaven, or some equivalent. God created animals with emotion and intellect for a reason, and I do not think He would give them these abilities if He was to doom them to oblivion at the end of their lives. Animals are like angels, in a way. They, like angels, serve God, but are not granted salvation like humankind is. God does not neglect angels, and I doubt He neglects animals, either.
POSTED NOV. 23, 1998
Julie H., Christian (Assemblies of God), MO

FURTHER NOTICE 4:
I am not a Christian or member of any other religion and do not believe in an afterlife. I think the afterlife concept is what a very wise man acknowledged in order to calm the masses of people who at one time or another must recognize their eventual death. Can you imagine what chaos we would have if people knew there was no life after death? A smart move by previous religious leaders.
POSTED JAN. 19, 1999
Sher S., 52,. female, Raleigh, NC
To respond
BACK TO TOP

THE QUESTION:
RE57: Why is it that a devout Jew will not eat cheese on meat?
POSTED JUNE 3, 1998
S. McGowan, 50, sgm6975@gte.net, Riverside, CA

ANSWER 1:
The Pentateuch (or Torah), the first five books of the Old Testament (or, if you prefer, Jewish Scripture), spell out clear guidelines for foods Jews may or may not eat. These guidelines are referred to as “kushrat,” or the kosher laws. There are many restrictions, but among the most important: 1) Jews may not eat pork or any food containing pork byproducts (like lard), 2) Jews may not eat shellfish or any fish that does not have scales, 3) Jews may not consume meat and dairy products at the same meal (and meat-based meals must be prepared in different vessels from dairy-based meals).

You can read through the books of Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy to find the specific passages and verses where these rules are laid out. As to why these foods were singled out: Some say it’s a matter of cleanliness (Jews have always been concerned with hygiene), some say the kosher laws favor the life of nomadic herdsmen (sheep and cows are consistent with the nomadic herdsman’s life, while pigs aren’t). But ultimately, the specific foods are less important than the fact that Jews are asked to live, dress and eat a certain way, partly as a discipline, and partly as a small sign of respect for God. Nothing we do can ever make God better off – all any of us can offer God is small symbolic gestures of our love, deference and respect.
POSTED JUNE 18, 1998
Astorian <astorian@aol.com>, Austin, TX

FURTHER NOTICE:
The laws of Kashrut prohibit the mixing of meat and dairy. This comes from the Biblical injunction not to see the a kid in its mother’s milk.
POSTED JUNE 23, 1998
L. Morrow <companiondogs@geocities.com>, Little Rock, AR

FURTHER NOTICE 2:
As pointed out in another answer, these dietary restrictions are clearly outlined in Leviticus and other Old Testament books. A more interesting question is why Christians, who seem to believe in other aspects of the Old Testament, stopped adhering to the dietary laws. The answer, as I understand it, is that once early Christians had converted all Jews who were interested (not many, actually), they branched out into converting non-Jews. Remember that at the time, Christianity was a new splinter sect of Judaism. The gentiles were much less interested in picking up the mainstream Jewish traditions like Kashrut and circumcision, so to help attract more followers, Christians gradually dropped some of the less appealing (to outsiders) Jewish traditions.
POSTED JUNE 24, 1998
Larry G., ethnic Jew, religious atheist, Larkspur, CA

FURTHER NOTICE 3:
The Bible says “Thou shalt not seethe the calf in its mother’s milk.” Talmudic scholars interpreted this to mean dairy food should not be eaten with meat (even poultry). Orthodox and some Conservative Jews follow these proscriptions. There are very specific rules about the time lags in between eating dairy food and meat as well. They are also not cooked or eaten with the same utensils in observant households. Completely vegetarian foods and fish are called “pareve” and can be eaten with both. Cheese made with animal rennet (which is derived from an animal’s stomach) is considered mixing meat and dairy and is unacceptable to many Orthodox Jews.
POSTED JUNE 26, 1998
John, Jewish background, Chicago, IL

FURTHER NOTICE 4:
To Larry G: I disagree that Christians merely dropped the Jewish dietary laws in order to more easily attract non-Jews. In the New Testament, it is clear that Christ taught his followers that the old Covenant (including circumcision and the dietary laws, among other things) was invalid. Christians do not show their respect for God by adhering to these conventions as Jews do; rather, they show it by accepting Jesus as their savior and loving their neighbor.
POSTED JULY 22, 1998
Gabriel, 23, female, atheist, theology student <gryffyn@astrosun.tn.cornell.edu>, Santa Fe, NM

FURTHER NOTICE 5:
I’m a Reform Jew, but I pretty much follow the meat/cheese separation rule. I’ve found it’s a healthy habit for weight maintenance. Assuming you’re staying away from deep-fried food, the two most fatty things in a meal are always the meat and cheese. If you eat meat and cheese at once, you double your fat intake. I’ve found that by separating meat and cheese, you can still indulge in things like hamburgers and pizza while losing weight. So some meals for me are meat meals, while others are dairy.
POSTED OCT. 28, 1998
M.W., 21, Jewish <ed375@cleveland.freenet.edu>, Cleveland, OH
To respond
BACK TO TOP

THE QUESTION:
RE56: What are some ideas on the locations of “Heaven” and “Hell”? Christ and Mohammed “ascended” to Heaven, but 12 hours later they would have gone in a different direction – so where did they go? Astronomers tell us that with the Hubble telescope, they can see huge suns millions of light-years away. And is Hell inside the earth, as John Wesley (founder of Methodism) believed?
POSTED MAY 26, 1998
Ed H., 56, white male <EdHam0132@aol.com>, Silver Springs, FL

ANSWER 1:
From a Biblical world view, Heaven is a “somewhere” in time and space, possibly beyond time or our concept of time, since God is the creator of time. Heaven is in space, or I should say a space, in that it has a location or a frame of reference for the beings who dwell there. The overwhelming or key part of heaven and hell is that in one place God is there and in the other place He is absent. Heaven is a place to be sure, but more than that it is a deep, continuous relationship or communion with God.
POSTED JUNE 9, 1998
Stu, 42, stu@interactministries.org, Portland, OR

FURTHER NOTICE:
People in other times conceived of heaven as being somewhere “in the sky” and hell being somewhere “under the earth.” When Jesus was asked where the kingdom of heaven is, he replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:20-21). There are many interpretations, but I believe heaven cannot be reduced to a physical location. What is “within us” passes into heaven through dying in this existence. The Bible doesn’t really describe heaven. I think it would be like trying to explain to a blind person what seeing is like. I can wait!
POSTED JUNE 11, 1998
G.P., grp@asu.edu, Phoenix, AZ

FURTHER NOTICE 2:
Scientists have not been able to locate Heaven or Hell, and cannot identify what a “soul” might be. As an atheist, I don’t believe any of these things really exist, but are merely parts of a mythology. I suppose a theologian would say these concepts are the closest our human minds can come to understanding something that is beyond our ability to comprehend.
POSTED JUNE 13, 1998
Carl F., 36, atheist, cfunk@ameritech.net, Kalamazoo, MI

FURTHER NOTICE 3:
I agree that Heaven is in a time and space we cannot comprehend. As for scientists trying to find Heaven and Hell, they never will. Scientists’ purpose is to identify and explain things of the natural. When we start talking about God, we have moved into a new ball field, which is the supernatural. It is the same for Hell – there is no physical location.
POSTED JUNE 26, 1998
Damon, 25, Christian, white male <dgreen01@crosslink.net>, Martinsburg, WV

FURTHER NOTICE 4:
I do not believe in Heaven and Hell. In my opinion and based on my inner truths, there is no Heaven and Hell to go to. When we die, we end life altogether. Heaven and Hell are what we create here on earth during our lifetime. If we live in a positive mode, we will most likely have a good life, which I correlate to Heaven. If we are evil, mean and corrupt, we will live a life of Hell whether we have riches or not. Negativity attracts negativity, whereas positive behavior attracts positive results.
POSTED JAN. 19, 1999
Sher S., female, 52 <sherri.shepherd@reichhold.com>, Raleigh, NC
To respond
BACK TO TOP

THE QUESTION:
RE55: How can the Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacists claim to be anti-Semitic if they worship a Jewish man named Jesus? That seems like a contradiction. Could someone explain how these groups can dislike Jewish people and still claim to be Christians?
POSTED MAY 17, 1998
David O., 31, white, agnostic, Nashville, TN

ANSWER 1:
It will probably take a person of that ilk to answer it. My late grandfather was such a person. We were philosophically miles apart, yet we would both claim we were Christians. I suspect he would have told you Jesus was a revolutionary, rejecting Judaism. He was the original Christian. The Bible doesn’t support that belief at all. Mainstream Christianity has something called “Systematic Theology,” in which all that we know from the Bible is examined carefully, and then a consistent sets of beliefs or canon is drawn up from what we understand. I would like to see how the Ku Klux clan wrestles with the inconsistencies of its theology.
POSTED JUNE 9, 1998
Stu, 42, stu@interactministries.org, Portland , OR

FURTHER NOTICE:
Just because someone claims to be a Christian, it doesn’t mean they fully or accurately understand, follow or even care about the instructions Christ gave. While I consider myself a Christian, I would never align myself with the hatred of such groups as the KKK. Why do they hate the Jews yet profess to follow a Jew? They’re confused by a cultural hatred they don’t even realize they’re enveloped in.
POSTED JUNE 11, 1998
David B., 40, born-again Christian, Riverside, CA

FURTHER NOTICE 2:
To David O. (questioner): As a former white supremacist, I can tell you that the movement does not consider Jesus to be a Jew. KKK members will say there is no scripture that specifically says Jesus was a Jew, but that he was a white man, descended from Isaac and not Esau.
POSTED JUNE 16, 1998
Kerry N. <kerrynoble@aol.com>, Ft Worth, TX
To respond
BACK TO TOP

THE QUESTION:
RE54: When I tell Christians I’m an atheist, they often react as if I’ve revealed a horrible secret. Then it’s common to be treated as if something were wrong with me. Why is this?
POSTED MAY 14, 1998
Britt, 28, Birmingham, AL

ANSWER 1:
I too am an atheist, but responses from others have been a bit more positive. I haven’t acknowledged my beliefs to my family, but have told co-workers and other friends, most of whom are Christians. It seems to depend on if you boast your beliefs or if you simply state what you feel and conduct yourself with respect for others’ beliefs.
POSTED MAY 23, 1998
White male, 25 <jwagen02@sprintspectrum.com>, Des Moines, IA

FURTHER NOTICE:
I wonder if it has to do with the fact you’re in the heart of the Bible Belt. People who tend to be insecure in themselves or what they believe, I think, will often respond in the way some have done to you. As a Christian, I have a few very close friends who are atheists. We will dialogue at length about all the big questions. It doesn’t destroy our friendship, but strengthens it because we are addressing the issues, not the person or personality. I have a lot more respect for atheists, who have examined their beliefs and the consequences of them, than I do for agnostics, who are often just too lazy to wrestle with the issues and draw firm conclusions.
POSTED JUNE 9, 1998
Stu, 42, stu@interactministries.org, Portland, OR

FURTHER NOTICE 2:
For me as a Christian, for someone not to believe in God worries me simply due to the nature of my beliefs. To a Christian, to deny our Creator is to deny the very basis by which we live our lives. We believe salvation and eternal life comes only through believing in Him, and Christians are supposed to try to lead others to Christ. For this reason, it hurts me to hear someone say they are an atheist because they do not know the joy the Lord can bring to their lives, and it also worries me for them to not have eternal life through God’s gift. I do not treat nonbelievers differently because we are to love everyone, and only by living a good Christian life can I be an example to someone, possibly leading them to the Lord down the road.
POSTED JUNE 16, 1998
Ann D, 27, white female, FL

FURTHER NOTICE 3:
I think it has to do with insecurity. I am in a similar situation, but reversed. I am a Christian and many of my friends are not. They tend to regard me strangely and make derogatory comments about Christianity. It’s fear of what is different and unknown. For my friends, I can understand why they dislike Christianity. They had bad experiences with people who claimed to be Christians but who instead of accepting the basic principle of love were pushy and hateful. In your situation, I would assume it is that they don’t understand your belief system and/or have been taught it is harmful. The best you can do is be patient and let them get to know you as a person. Once they are more comfortable with you, you can discuss the differences and hopefully both sides will come to a better understanding of each others’ beliefs.
POSTED JUNE 24, 1998
Laura H., 22, female, Peoria, IL

FURTHER NOTICE 4:
A huge percentage of people in the United States (94 percent) believes in some kind of deity or supernatural force. Most theistic religions, or at least their liberal elements, can “construe” other theistic beliefs as slight distortions or interpretations of their own doctrines, e.g., “That person believes in the same God I do and follows mostly the same commandments, though he has just not seen the full revelation yet.” Liberal Christians, Jews and Muslims can even accept pagans and New Agers: “That person feels the power of God at work but just has a different name for it.” I’ve heard people say this to one another all the time: “Oh, you just have a different name for the same power.” But atheists are unique in denying there is any such power whatsoever, so it’s hard for people to “convert” the atheist’s non-belief into their own, since it is frequently so foreign and opposite. Atheists are saying that (at least on some important matters) all of the religions are entirely wrong and cannot be reconciled with reality through minor theological changes. That’s why atheism is more disliked than minority religions.
POSTED JUNE 26, 1998
Seth S., 18, atheist, raised Jewish <schoen@uclink4.berkeley.edu>, Berkeley, CA

FURTHER NOTICE 5:
I find it hard to understand the atheist point of view. I can’t imagine looking at all the wonders around me and believing it all comes from and returns to nothing. To me, thinking I’m only here because some molecules happened to come together in the right format and that when I’m gone, I just disappear is just plain egotistic and selfish (not to mention a rather hopeless arrangement). As Stu said, though, this can start some very interesting debates that are always educational. I see so many “mini-miracles” that God provides every day in my life. I just can’t believe it’s all coincidence. So, if it were me to whom you revealed your atheist beliefs, I would act astonished, then start asking probing questions to seek better understanding of why you feel that way.
POSTED JUNE 27, 1998
Cindy, 42, divorced white Christian <cabernet@teleport.com>, Hillsboro, OR

FURTHER NOTICE 6:
I have heard Fundamentalist Christians say that anyone who doesn’t believe in God and Jesus is “doing Satan’s work.” It has nothing to do with the Horned God thing, because they treat atheists the same way. Not all Christians, mind you, but the Fundamentalists, do quite commonly tell us we can only be saved from Hell if we accept Jesus as our savior. They are required to do this by their religion and their church, and they want to do it because they actually think they are trying to save us from Hell. The problem is that non-Christians don’t like to be threatened, even if it is with a place that is imaginary. The most tolerant Christians I have met reject the doctrine of Hell. This doctrine turns all non-believers into enemies by definition, and therefore can only serve to divide us. No good comes from it. But there is the dilemma: Does tolerance mean we must tolerate that which seeks to destroy tolerance?
POSTED OCT. 5, 1998
Lynne, atheist <lynne@darklair.com>, Fairfield, IA

FURTHER NOTICE 7:
I am not a Christian, but I do not call myself an atheist, either. I do not belong to any religious group and do this by choice. I do believe in a higher power, if you will, one I call Universal Spirit (others call it God). I believe the Universal Spirit/God is within all of us. And I support freedom of choice for individuals to choose what they wish to believe. If someone chooses to be an atheist for whatever reason, they have that right. This does make that individual good or bad, it is simply a choice they made; likewise, a choice is made if someone chooses to be a Christian or Jew; or a Buddhist or Baha’i. Choices are made. This is one of the great attributes of being human that we have the ability to make choices. Choices add variety and differences that make each of us unique.
POSTED JAN. 19, 1999
Sher S., 52, female <sherri.shepherd@reichhold.com>, Raleigh, NC

FURTHER NOTICE 8:
I am sorry if any person has ever treated you badly because of your religious views.A s a Christian I beleive in being kind to all people regardless of what they do. They are a children of God – that should be enough. Rather than expressing horror at your views, I would express concern. I do not like to think of anyone, especially a friend, living without the positive influence God can have on their life. I believe a Christian should respond to you with great kindness, and use this information to share with you the joy they have found from their relationship with Jesus Christ. As for believing themselves better than you, I believe theese people need to remember that Jesus taught to “consider others better than yourselves,” and had a great regard for those who kept themselves humble in the eye of the Lord. Please do not let the image of the few (and the rude) Christians you have encountered sour you on Christianity. Being a Christian has to do with your relationship to God – not with the fake Christians who riddle his churches. I hope someone with an honest love for God can share with you what they have found. Afterall, everyone needs God, and you have so much more to gain from His love than you ever thought possible.
POSTED JAN. 27, 1999
Debbie L., Christian, female, 34, Chicago, IL
To respond
BACK TO TOP

THE QUESTION:
RE53: Is the “Year of Jubilee” intended just for Israel, or worldwide?
POSTED MAY 14, 1998
Julie J., 39, Ypsilanti, MI

ANSWER 1:
The “Year of Jubilee” refers to the 50th anniversary of the State of Israel. However, “Year of Jubilee” is loaned from the Bible. There, it is referred to as a special year that occurs every 50 years. By that year, all slaves are freed, and all lands go back to their original owners, etc. The Jewish people long ago lost count of the Jubilee. They haven’t ,though, lost count of the “Shmita,” which occurs every seven years, at which time all land-work is forbidden (in Israel only).
POSTED MAY 20, 1998
Efrat N., Jerusalem, Israel

FURTHER NOTICE:
I would have to answer by saying yes and yes. Israel is made up of 12 tribes. The state of Israel is home to the tribe of Judah, only one of the twelve. The rest are worldwide.
POSTED MAY 20, 1998
Michael H., <mlh63@hotmail.com>, Nashville, Tenn.
To respond
BACK TO TOP

THE QUESTION:
RE52: Where did the concept of purgatory come from? Is it discussed in the Bible? What part does it play in a soul’s ultimate destination (heaven vs. hell)?
POSTED MAY 14, 1998
Eckel, 41 <EckelD@compuserve.com>, Detroit, MI

ANSWER 1:
Purgatory is never mentioned in the Bible, and not all Christian churches believe it exists. The Catholic Church does teach, based on inference, that there is a place for dead souls that is neither Heaven nor Hell. Even Catholics who believe in the Purgatory do not claim to know what it is like (in Dante’s Inferno, it is described as similar to Hell, but tempered by the hope of eventual salvation). Why should we believe there is a middle-place for the dead between Heaven and Hell? Well, part of the reason is inference from Jewish tradition. Jews (the spiritual ancestors of Christians) have prayed for the dead for centuries. Why? If the dead are in Hell, it is too late for our prayers to help them, and if they are in Heaven, surely they have no need of prayers. By inference, there must be a third place for the dead – a place where they are neither lost to Hell nor ready for Heaven – a place where our prayers can help them.
POSTED JUNE 4, 1998
Astorian, Astorian@aol.com, Austin, TX

FURTHER NOTICE:
From what I understand, Purgatory is a waiting place that has been adopted by Catholics. I suspect it is adopted from the concept of “Sheol,” which is different from hell, which is Biblical and means only to be “in the ground.” There is really no Biblical substance to the concept of a place where you wait or do time until heaven calls.
POSTED JUNE 9, 1998
Stu, 42, stu@interactministries.org, Portland, OR

FURTHER NOTICE 2:
The idea of purgatory comes from ancient Greek poety, specifically, the epic poems of Homer. In the Iliad and the Odyssey, heroes journey into Purgatory and visit with heroes of the past. Purgatory was the place you went when you died. The Greeks’ concept of heaven or hell could be found in the realms of Mt. Olympus or Hades, where only the gods were allowed. All humans went to the same place. Homer describes Purgatory as a dark, misty, flat, meadowy place where the spirits of the deceased roam around for eternity. Someone already mentioned Dante’s Divine Comedy, which describes the realms of Heaven, Hell and Purgatory much more vivedly. But, the idea is Greek in origin.
POSTED SEPT. 1, 1998
Matt, 20, New York
To respond
BACK TO TOP

THE QUESTION:
RE51: What exactly is Voodoo? What beliefs is it based on? And is it still extensively practiced in the United States?
POSTED MAY 14, 1998
Colette <inkwolf@earthlink.net>, Seymour, WI

ANSWER 1:
Centuries ago, before Europeans began colonizing Africa, most black Africans were pagans and practiced various spirit religions. They worshiped many gods, and believed there were hundreds of spirits, both good and evil, at work in nature and the world. When Europeans began colonizing Africa, they bought or captured many Africans and sold them into slavery in the Americas. When the Africans were brought to the Americas, white slave owners tried to impose Christianity on the slaves. Sometimes these attempts to Christianize African slaves worked, but often, the slaves paid lip-service to Christianity while continuing to hold on to their old spirit religions and practicing their ancient pagan rituals in secret. Sometimes the slaves accepted parts of Christianity while continuing their pagan traditions. Voodoo, most commonly practiced in Haiti, is a strange mixture of the Catholicism that the French tried to impose on their slaves and the ancient African pagan religions. Voodoo worshipers accept Jesus as a god, along with hundreds of other gods and spirits.
POSTED JUNE 4, 1998
Astorian, Astorian@aol.com, Austin, TX

FURTHER NOTICE:
Voodoo originated among African slaves brought to the New World by the Spaniards; it’s a synthesis of their various religious beliefs and the Spaniards’ Catholicism. It’s largely based on the Yoruba religion Santeria. In America, Voodoo/Santeria is most prominent in New Orleans, a large fraction of whose population (10 percent or 20 percent, I vaguely recall from my visit there) follows the religion. For more online information about this fascinating religion, search Yahoo! for “Santeria”. Hope that helps.
POSTED JUNE 15, 1998
Scott M., 27, Los Angeles, CA

FURTHER NOTICE 2:
Voodoo is a combination of African religions and Christianity. It was widely practiced in Haiti and Cuba also, I believe. There is no real strict Voodoo religion per se. Sometimes there were gods or a god, or sometimes they just worshiped the old dead witch doctors.
POSTED JUNE 16, 1998
Chris P., 33, white male, agnostic, Chino Hills, CA