But not necessarily brilliance. Dedication and smarts don't always go hand-in-hand.

that's what I'm saying. The last thing I want is an overacheiver doctor.

If I could just find a doctor who could help me with my boogie fever I think I'd be saved.

Being a good preacher takes a deep understanding of literature and psychology as well as strong communications skills, like being a professor.

My sister-in-law's cousin is a pastor who provided guidance, comfort and wisdom to the community until recently, when he was hospitalized for cancer. Now his son has mostly taken over for him. When I went to a service there, after not going to church for years, I was impressed by how well the young man took a story with which I was vaguely familiar -- the Prodigal Son -- and interpreted it to explain the story's relevance to contemporary life and from there, go into the Bible's perspective on family, love and loyalty. He incorporated movement and speaking techniques to create a strong stage presence and hold attention, just like good lecturers do. It was clearly a skilled performance.

I went to college because I am able to think on my own, but need to be exposed to new ideas and perspectives in order to grow intellectually. I imagine that going to church with a good pastor/priest offers similar benefits.

You asked...
Romans 10:9 If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Saved does not equal go to heaven, however.

what about those poor poor folks that have never heard of jesu or yaweh? damned for eternity?

Its just that I have heard other quotes saying that it will be hard to get into the kingdom of heaven.

No contradictions though...

try this: http://www.new-life.net/faq211.htm
answer #4 should probably be #1

i admit that i am not actually interested in unreached peoples. that does not change the fact that they exist. nor does it change the implication. and if it is the fault of the believer's that have 'failed' to bring god's message to them......should those unreached people suffer for it? this 'reason' is just spin. obfuscation.

that whole ultimatum thing xtians bow before is flawed. if you truly and elementally believe that jesus is god and that he died for your sins and that you will go to heaven if you confess your sins with your lips.......

bullllll shiiiiiit.

if you do fucked up stuff to other people.....and confess it....you still fucking did it. you are still gonna pay. maybe in this life, maybe in the next. maybe you'll suffer at the hands of others. maybe you'll torture yourself.

Now we know where it is written...how do we know it is *true*? I mean, I've got a book about a guy who was raised on Mars that says a lot of interesting stuff about religion, but I'm pretty sure I'm not going to go out and conquer a bunch of backwards nations to bring people around to the book's way of thinking.

I grok.

This is a perfect example of taking a preposterous position based on cherry picking a couple verses out of context. This man does a great disservice to mankind and God.

Heh, the whole idea is preposterous.