How would you know?

[Napoléon]

It means: "You can believe any individual you want. Or you can make up your own mind."

I don't see how this is at all relevant to the topic of the thread. This is a separate thing altogether. I've already said "let's assume christianity to be true" for arguments sake. I'm asking you a question regarding a certain problem I see arising if this were the case, nothing more, nothing less.

I try my best to never tell someone they're wrong unless they make claims about me.

Aside from that being completely stupid. So what.

However, if you wish to play the role of devil's advocate, play the part of a Christian and I'll do my best to give you an example of how to deal with their exclusionary doctrine.

I've asked my questions in the OP, either read it and provide an answer or piss off wasting time.

The truth is, this has been asked in a different form many times over
....
And yet somehow, the stupids are still signing up for membership every day.

Absolutely Cinj, I know this question can actually be asked in many forms, and has been throughout history.

I'm more interested in hearing how a christian (or any theist with similar views) rationalises for this particular scenario though. More really, what they think about it, rather than what their book says. But I'll still accept answers from their little bible if they use that as their rationalisation. We can't all use our own brains I suppose. What was it Catfish said? Something about "believe any individual you want, or make up your own mind". Maybe it was relevant after all.

Option 4: Our lives or rather how we live our lives are a testament to not only who we are as people, but is a direct result of the condition of our hearts. this is what is being judged and subsequently this is what 'decides' where we spend eternity. Or did you think your 'choice' was a consciencous one?

"the condition in our hearts"

Question.

Who made this condition in our hearts?

Answer.

god. (correct me if I'm wrong)

Knowing this, it makes a mockery of free will. If 'what is in our hearts' is being judged, then god has already made his decision before we are even born.

As for choice being 'consciencious'. In the case of the isolated islander, how can he ever know what is truly right from wrong? You're saying 'what is in your heart'? I call bullshit.

For him, he may be brought up by a community of people who like to murder each other for fun, or see it as a game. This is a clear violation of the commandment 'thou shalt not kill'.

But why should he be punished for that if he doesn't know it is wrong.

Don't get your panties all in a bunch just because Christians don't all think alike.

You would of thought that such a divine book with such clear rules and guidelines, such obvious moral viewpoints would have everyone in complete agreement. I mean, god, in all his wisdom would surely decipher a way in which he would be sure this should happen. But wait, it isn't like that is it?

So this just shows god is either:
1. Completely inept at getting his message across
2. A cunt who doesn't give a fuck.

Would you have God prevent people from being born on isolated islands?

I'd have god reveal himself so that we didn't have to play his stupid game of 'believe or not believe'.

The least he could do if he was testing us, would be to let us know with 100% certainty that we are being tested.

Also, he'd create a world where science doesn't contradict his existence every fucking day. He's not really making the game a very fair one.

On a soberer note, let's take a look at a few relevant verses:
....
So there are a couple guesses: (1) that God's grace is self-evident to humankind;

It isn't. It's not even in question. It just isn't. Try again.

(2) that the person on the island goes to hell. After all, they do not deserve heaven, nor do they deserve a 'fair' crack at it. We, the disobedient creation, are at the mercy of God's grace;

So god is an asshole after all. Looks like my prediction in the OP was correct.

(3) the condition of your heart when you stand before the gates--i.e. what you choose then. All will confess, as Isaiah 45:23 says, “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’” Those who confess because they want the reward of eternity in paradise will go to hell (they want heaven without God). Christians will be those who desire to be with Christ, rewards set aside.

So god, as I asserted in the OP, makes a mockery of free will, by revealing himself making his existence at that point completely unquestionable. Asshole.

In answer to what believers did before Christ, see Romans 4:3: “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” This is the same way Christians are saved in the New Testament. Have faith and God will forgive you. Since God transcends time, it doesn’t matter when Jesus made his atoning sacrifice, as long as he did. This ties in with option (1), that people can find God in his creation and subsequently put their trust in him.

This is bullshit of the highest degree. Why do people who supposedly use rational thinking not see this for what it is. Total horse shit.

It DOES matter when jesus did his sacrifice, it's irrelevant whether god transcends time, us humans don't. All those who came before, whether god wants to accept them or not, knew nothing about christianity.

In respect to the isolated islander, you say 'have faith and god will forgive you'. What is the isolated islander supposed to have faith in. What are the people before Jesus supposed to have faith in. What are the people before any religion at all supposed to have faith in. You don't just wish up faith in god, least of all the correct one, you have to be first told that there is a god. If you come up with it of your own accord, then you will certainly not be worshipping the same god of the bible. Contradicting "Have no other gods before me".

To say that people will just 'find god', is bollocks. Will people occasionally come up with irrational beliefs in deities to explain the unknown? Almost certainly, but even if they are correct about a deity existing, how will they ever come up with the correct one. It just doesn't happen. Hence why jesus supposedly had to come along in the first place.