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First, I am reluctant to get too deep into religious discussions. I have my beliefs and if I am wrong, I do not want anybody else to pay the price for listening to me or believing what I say.

That being said, I will just reiterate what I said earlier that Jesus always seemed to be more about love and forgiveness than hard and fast rules and doctrinal affiliations. IMHO, the person who can see into the hearts of men does not need to check out their church membership to know what is inside the person.

Matt 5:17-22 17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

19 Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

21 "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.'

22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. (NIV)

Parsifal, please read the Bible and see what it has to say. Based on everything I've ever read in it and everything that's ever been taught to me about it in a believable way, it is a belief and reliance upon Jesus Christ that saves souls. Muslims constantly and fervently reject Jesus Christ as savior. They hold Mohammed in much higher esteem than Jesus.

Your premise reminds me of something a friend of mine said one time when I was trying to witness to him. He said that he believed Jesus was the son of God, but that he didn't believe there was "one divine ticket" to heaven. I ask you how logical such a position is? God would become man in the form of His son, who would live a sinless life and die a gruesome death nailed on a cross, but that would just be one of many ways into heaven??? I'm sorry, but if there were many ways into heaven, why would God subject Himself/His Son to such?

People tend to want to believe that God is like some good-natured uncle and I think that's wrong. I don't think you can actively, persistently reject His Son, feverishly hate and try to annihilate His chosen people, and presume to buy your way into a heaven full of waiting virgins by way of killing a few thousand people, and still be blessed with God's grace. It just doesn't square with what I believe. It may be convenient to believe that as long as we have "good intentions" everything will be okay, but I don't think it's reality.

" Jesus always seemed to be more about love and forgiveness than hard and fast rules and doctrinal affiliations."

Except for the part about the moneychangers. Oh yeah, and when he called the Pharisees "wicked and adulterous." Come to think of it. Jesus talked a lot about Hell and torment too...

More, in fact, then the rest of the authors of the Bible combined.