This month's National Geographic poses a question I have often asked myself: how many humans have lived at some time or another on the planet Earth?
The answer, it turns out, going back to the dawn of human history, is somewhere in the vicinity of 108 billion. Of those 108 billion, something like 6 or 7 percent are living today. That means that billions of people are part of past generations, and those past generations go way back--centuries and millennia before Jesus Christ, including Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Alexander the Great, etc. etc. So the question becomes, if the acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Savior is an indispensable pre-condition for the afterlife, whatever became of the ancients, who, quite bluntly, didn't know Jesus from a hole in the wall?
This may seem like an obvious question, but in my view, a rather important one. All of those billions of people who lived "Before the Common Era" were real human beings with thoughts and feelings and relationships and behaviors--but because they lived before the arrival of Jesus, what was their fate? Were they destined to go to hell? Given special dispensation and a free pass to heaven? Or did they simply "die" with nothing to show for it?
It seems to me that this question poses some very sticky problems for those who see God as infinitely wise and just--especially for those (possibly) poor souls who passed on just a day or two or a year or two before our Lord and Savior made his arrival. It is yet another reason why I struggle to make sense out of Christian dogma. There simply has to be a better way to explain and understand all this than to trot out the Bible and claim that it has all the answers. It flat-out just doesn't.
8 comments:
Since the beginning of human evolution on Earth, 108 billion people have lived here as of 2011. By 11,011, what will the stats be? And will humans survive the coming Global Warming Disaster days?
VISION:
http://pcillu101.blogspot.com/
This month's National Geographic magazine poses a powerful question ......how many humans have lived at some time or another on the planet Earth?
The answer, it turns out, going back to the dawn of human history, is somewhere in the vicinity of 108 billion. !!!!!
Of those 108 billion, something like 6 percent are living today. Around 7 billion today.That means that billions of people are part of past generations, and those past generations go way back -- centuries and millennia and already 101 billion humans have lived and died. And we are next!
So......Since the beginning of human evolution on Earth, 108 billion people have lived here as of 2011.
By year 11,011, the Common Era, what will the stats be? And will humans survive the coming Global Warming Disaster days?
[hat tip to David Lapakko for this]
http://plogspot101.blogspot.com/2011/05/since-beginning-of-human-evolution-on.html
you pose a good question...as a non-Christian, I am Jewish, I also wonder about this. Of course, i believe all good people go to heaven, and only bad people go to hell, and of course not just Christians go to heaven. This is where Christianity errs in a big big and ugly way. Jesus came to save Christians only and i am glad you have Jesus in your life. But he did not come to save non-Christians, we all have our own wonderful and joyous paths to God and grace and redemption and heaven. Agree or disagree, sir? I hope you agree. Otherwise you are a racist and a triumphalistic prig who gives Jesus a bad name. SMILE. We are all GOD's children. You must understand this, sir. Otherwise, you are part of a very sick religion. Progressive CHristians accept this. Do you? I hope so. Otherwise, YOu will go to Hell. really. the Hell of prejudiced brainwashed people. sigh
danny
Tufts 1971
old man like you
Since the beginning of human evolution on Earth, 108 billion people have lived here as of 2011. By 11,011, what will the stats be? And will humans survive the coming Global Warming Disaster days?
VISION:
http://pcillu101.blogspot.com/
This month's National Geographic magazine poses a powerful question ......how many humans have lived at some time or another on the planet Earth?
The answer, it turns out, going back to the dawn of human history, is somewhere in the vicinity of 108 billion. !!!!!
Of those 108 billion, something like 6 percent are living today. Around 7 billion today.That means that billions of people are part of past generations, and those past generations go way back -- centuries and millennia and already 101 billion humans have lived and died. And we are next!
So......Since the beginning of human evolution on Earth, 108 billion people have lived here as of 2011.
By year 11,011, the Common Era, what will the stats be? And will humans survive the coming Global Warming Disaster days?
[hat tip to David Lapakko for this]
http://plogspot101.blogspot.com/2011/05/since-beginning-of-human-evolution-on.html
chat with me sure at danbloom AT gmail - anytime...am in Taiwan
What Are the Untruths in Your Religion? Part 1
by MILO thornberry
http://milosjanusoutlook.blogspot.com/2011/04/what-are-untruths-in-your-religion-part.html
You might not think the timing of this question is good. Even though Muslims have no major holy days until August, persons of Jewish faith will begin Passover observance at sundown on Monday, April 18, and many Christians will observe their highest holy day on April 24. Maybe we should wait for “a more convenient season” to ask such hard questions. Or maybe, when the devout are focused on their rich traditions, when the less devout who don’t attend services any other time swell the congregations in this season, and when even the secular press seems to give a pass to religious traditions, just maybe it is the right time to ask some hard questions about religious faiths.
Interfaith dialogue wasn’t convenient after 9/11 but some thought it essential. In Seattle, a Jewish rabbi reached out to a Sufi Muslim, and together they reached out to a Christian minister. After the November 5, 2009 mass shooting at Fort Hood, Laurie Goodstein told the story of “Three Clergymen, Three Faiths, One Friendship.”
They call themselves the “interfaith amigos.” And while they do sometimes seem more like a stand-up comedy team than a trio of clergymen, they know they have a serious burden in making a case for interfaith understanding in a country reeling after a Muslim Army officer at Fort Hood, Tex., was charged with opening fire on his fellow soldiers, killing 13.
“It arouses once again fear, distrust and doubt,” Sheik Rahman said, “and I know that when that happens, even the best of people cannot think clearly.”
They say they became close by honestly facing their conflicts, not by avoiding them.
David to connect with Milo in BEnd Oregon try
milot AT bendcable.com
good man, wise Christian, open-minded and i think you will enjouy his thinking as it seems you ane he are on the same page...GOOD
Dan--
Thanks for the comments. And just so you know, I would claim no formal religious affiliation. But I am definitely opposed to literal, evangelical, often right-wing interpretations of the Bible.
Hi David, thanks for note and good to know we are on the same page, i could tell from your blog post, you were a man of openminded widsom, so good on ya mate, as they say in Australia!
As for Camping and doomsday prophets, ouch. But you know, so far, David, your blog and my blog are the only blogs to be discussing this 108 billion figure thing...it really ios an amazing stat to come up with and it DOES make one think.....for me, with my interest in Climate change and POLAR CITIES, see http://pcill101. blogspot.com, i worry that overpopulation will spell doom for us if we are not careful. Not now, but 500 years from now. there is still time to change our ways...but how? so the 108 billion figure jumped out at me. OUCH! since i do not believe in any god or gods, or heaven or hell, just do good deeds here and now, i am not worried about how many in hell but it is cute question. haha...i am Jewish dreamer, married to science, but i have a spiritual side too. just undefinded and not named...i just love life...ur students there are LUCKY to have you as their professor! GO GO GO
Nice to know that SOMEONE reads something I've posted! Thanks so much. And I have glanced at your blog and will take a closer look when I have the time. You have your concerns; they aren't that different from mine, although I've been a little obsessed with the craziness surrounding organized religion. In religious discourse, it seems that you can think or say just about anything and people will let it slide because it's such a "personal" topic. But a lot of these dogmatic beliefs affect the rest of us, in more ways than I can mention here. Anyway, keep enjoying life! It's the only thing that we have for sure.
re:
Nice to know that SOMEONE reads something I've posted! LONG LIVE THE INTERNET.
Thanks so much. THANK *YOU!
I've been a little obsessed with the craziness surrounding organized religion. In religious discourse, it seems that you can think or say just about anything and people will let it slide because it's CONSIDERED such a "personal" topic. TRUE
But a lot of these dogmatic beliefs affect the rest of us, in more ways than I can mention here. YES YES. I HATE WHAT RELIGION HAS DONE TO OUR WORLD. SOme good, most of it bad. SIGH.
What gets me, living in asia for 20 years now, is how Jesus=-centric the USA is, when someone wins an Oscar they thanks GOD, when a kid wins American idol show HE THANKS GOD.......what dummies. AS IF God is choosing them to win? Gimme a break! Here in asia, stars never say THANK YOU BUDDHA FOR LEETING ME WIn....they just thank teachers and family......
America is a sick country regarding religion.....and i say this as a lapsed Jewish dreamer who was brainwashed as a kid but snuck out when i was 13, although I remain deeply Jewish in my cultural roots. But no god is needed.
SIGh
o america.
smile
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