Is God a vengeful God? If I don't believe, am I condemned to 'burn'?

It sure seems that way. Thats assumming there is a god as we precieve him in the first place and that's not likely. Humanity has been living in a religious cacoon since day one. I just wrote a book on the subject and if I'm wrong, and all the scriptures are right, then God has to be a merciless SOB as pointed out in Doo's Forum at my "fool around" site dooahhh1.com. Think of the 220,000 dead people from the Indian Ocean tsunami a few years ago. Is that mercy? Is that what you would do to your kids or even let happen? I don't think so....

Question everything and only believe in what you can prove. There arent any religions in the entire world that can prove one damn thing about what they believe and if your really interested, read my book "Up One Level". You'll see the damage to humanity being done by organized religions since day one and if we don't bring an end to this insanity soon, humanity is doomed to destroy itself with it's very one and out of control weapons of mass destruction. No big deal up until 30 years or so ago, now it's a whole new ballgame. If we allow the religious hate to continue, you might as well sell your assets and enjoy yourself because none of us will be around much longer...

Dooahhh....

My God is a loving God who would not burn sinners for eternity in hell. Hell has long been used to keep both worshippers and the masses towing the "company line".

Hell does not exist. The Bible is full of allegories, metaphors, parables and other illustrative narratives designed to tell the story of Christ to the peoples of the times. It is human nature to better understand when a story is interwoven into the reality being taught.

As humans, we all tend to exaggerate. Take the expression, "I'll give you the moon and the stars!" Obviously, this is an impossibility; but, is instead a way of stating your overwhelming love for this person.

This is the case in the bible. When judgement comes, people will either remain in the presence of God or they won't.

No one will burn eternally; but, there will be people who are removed from the presence of God. This is the hell the bible talks about.

When the heart, (the seat of the eternal spirit) is fully open, the grace or vibration of pure love (not romantic love) pervades throughout the body. We all have a wish to get loved, but very few can emit pure love, and many could not feel such a vibration and recognise it for what it is, (well, perhaps fleetingly, to guide us) because many are numb and need awakening.

It takes work and religions have had no idea of how to accomplish such a thing.This is why we are in a bind, but are changing towards a better understanding, because only now is the time right in the scheem of evolution of the soul. To answer the question "God" teaches when we are ready, never punishes. Punishing is a human failing. Compassion, the companion of devine love is begining to move through all beings. Belief in an idea of "God" isn't needed. Opening yourself to the vibration is.

Its all your choice take a route

De:30:19: I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

M't:6:33: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

M't:5:20: For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

The 2 commandments are: love God and love your neighbor. The whole act of creation was about love. We fall short of it many times.

You fulfill the second prescription of love when as you write, "[what if] I lead a life where I am selfless, constantly help people, give away my money and live in a 'Christian' way...", however you miss the source from which love eminates which makes the second commandment possible. Why be good to your neighbor? Why? So you can get something in return? That is not "self-less" which you prescribe in your condition. That is a "self-ish" act which eminates from an earthly, evolutionary survival instinct. The hypothetical you present is somewhat strained. Only when you can give love completely to God, will love of neighbor come freely, with no strings.

Nonetheless, the parable of the prodigal son has the lessons for both those that fall into your second condition ("if I simply don't believe in God?") as well as the faithful believers. The "good" brother in the parable was irritated when his father welcomed his son that had gone astray with a feast. The "good" son explained to his father it was he that kept his father's demands and yet no party, not even recognition was ever given him. Thus, on one hand, an infintiely loving God will welcome you if you wish to believe even if it is at the moment of revelation. In the end you will need to decide if you want to be with God in true love. If you "will" not to love, then you have the choice not to be in his presence, no strings. And for the faithful: true love is not a demand, a burden.

My Dear Sweet Friends,

Of course not. That is the silliest thing, a creator who express hatred for the creature created. In addition, we art all in control of own individual self unto the extent that any belief is a personal belief whereas what is believed affectest one's own life, and not that of others. If you believe that there is no God, then there isn't. If you believe in a punishing God, then thou hadst better be obedient unto that God.