What's most interesting is that the percentage is lower (i.e. better) among those who most Christians would consider "cult members" (Mormons and JWs; no offense intended) than among "Evangelical" Christians. 

Two questions: 1) Why is it that those who supposedly have better theology seem to be paying less attention to what Jesus said, and 2) How exactly are we Evangelicals supposed to evangelize if we don't believe Jesus was right? 

For me the difficulty is not in believing what Jesus said, but in trying to convince someone who doesn't.  It usually comes down to pointing out that it is indeed the words of Jesus--it's not my intolerant idea, but the fact that Jesus offers something no other religious system does.

     No, not at all. You are exactly right when you refered to John 14:6. There is only one way. I'm curious though, I would like the opportunity to speak to one of the Christians that say there are "other ways" to salvation. When confronted with that verse, what is their reaction? If they believe in God, and call themselves a Christian, and yet believe that there is more than one way to heaven, how do they react to what the Bible says about such things. It's mind-boggling(yes, I just used the word boggling) to say the least. I don't understand.

Not sure if anyone has mentioned this verse, but I noticed that a lot of people that didn't believe that Jesus is the Only Way were pointing out that maybe not everyone has the chance to hear what we believe. Based on this verse in Romans, I believe God gives everybody an opportunity to hear the Truth.

"Since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.  For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualites--his eternal qualities and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."  Romans 1:19-20

Yes, there are other ways to eternal life without going through Jesus.  Every path goes to eternal life.....it is just whether or not that eternal life is or is not spent in the presence of God.  Jesus is the only way to eternal life with the Father.  Every other path leads to eternal life separated from the Father.

@sky_gel@xanga - w00t.  exactly what I thought as well.

@Get_Real_64@xanga - Every major religion has the claim that if you believe you will gain eternal glory?  If you can quote the claims of most of the major religions of this world that state one will achieve eternal glory, your claim about the claims religions make about the afterlife is correct.  However, all of the major religions differ from each other.  They differ on the reasons why there is "evil" and/or "suffering", they differ on their views on God (gods, or no god), and they also differ on how we are to deal with the issue of living in the world that has suffering/evil in it.  The end goals may perhaps be the same (I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt, but please find these claims), but the method of how you get there is of utmost importance.

@fading_rainbows@xanga - I do not know if I have this correctly, but does it not say somewhere in the bible that if we do not put our faith and trust in Jesus' death and resurrection that we would be judged by the standards that we judged others (or something along the lines of that line of thought)?  If that is the case, while people will meet Jesus at the end, it would not necessarily be the "Welcome home ____" but quite likely "I do not know you."

while i believe in Christ and following him will lead to eternal life, i dont believe that only Christians go to heaven. 

if Christianity were the only path to heaven, then there would be so many kind, good-hearted, pure people who would be going to hell. if you were born into a religion based on morality (as most are) that was not christian, islam, for example, it is unlikely that you would be compelled to convert from something you were born believing. 

Jesus is mercifful, and they're are alot of people belonging to non-Christian religions that are doing a far better job of living as Christ did than Christians.  i believe jews go to heaven, muslims go to heaven, buddhists go to heaven, jains go to heaven, even hindus go to heaven. 
Jesus told us, above all love, and Christians are not the only ones capable of love.

I highly doubt that you follow every one of the Bible's statements.
Most of us would rather not believe that a significant number of our friends, colleagues, family members, etc. are going to hell.
Maybe that's why I'm not Christian.  I guess I'm going to hell. :)

I believe that when we die we're just bodies in the dirt. Nothing else happens after that, in my opinion.

Is there something about Xanga that I don't know about. What is with all the hardcore bible thumping Jesus freaks on this site? Is Xanga owned by a group of evangelicals or something?

I can't count how many people who there whole Xanga profile is a "God this" and "Jesus that," not mention prolife, anti-gay, pro republican, anti democrat, pro death penalty...

I feel like I've been swatted with the bible belt.

Finding God is like climbing a mountain. There are MANY well-worn paths to reach the summit. However, though it may more difficult and perilous, one does not necessarily need to take one of those paths to reach the mountain top.
The belief you claim is the fundamental problem with both Christianity and Islam. They arrogantly proclaim that their way is the only way, and those that do not believe in their way are going to Hell. This has been the cause of every holy war and the reason why today the middle east has still never endured a lasting peace.
And what about the millions or perhaps billions of people who lived and died before Jesus existed or before they had ever heard of his existence? I refuse to believe that any version of what people call "God" would be so cruel as to condemn them to Hell.

@HeartOfPandora@xanga - wow. my sentiments exactly. I don't believe in absolute truth. I believe there can be different truths for every person on this earth, and they can all still be true. Nobody understands what I mean when I say this. When you look at it through the perspective you've offered, I think you can start to understand.

I believe in God, and Jesus. But I can't bring myself to say that my way is the only way. I can't do it. That's my truth, but not THE truth.

Have you (HeartOfPandora OR the person who posted this) ever heard of or read the book "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver? It offers an incredible perspective on this that I think everybody needs to read.

Actually, there's a great deal wrong with the original post and with the comments.

Some religions do adopt the view that you can reach paradise/enlightenment/whatever by other means. Hinduism, I believe, is an example. Buddhism doesn't really claim that there's any particular method to reach enlightenment, and Daoism and Jainism also fail to make the sort of exclusivity claims you're talking about.

Secondly, I can prove that even Christian salvation must be possible without Christ if it is possible with him: the Bible repeatedly (and Christ himself) claims that Moses, Abraham, and Elijah made it to heaven. None had Christ, and all sinned. But, more to the point, if it's possible for them to make it into heaven without Christ it's possible for anyone. There were just human beings, albeit (in the Judeo-Christian claims) humans touched by God. Samson supposedly received the blessing of God even after he'd let Delilah cut his hair, so one could easily claim that he'd make it into heaven. David is supposed to have made it as well, right? The claim of Christ being the only way is ludicrous, and the Jews were by and large smart enough to realize that it contradicted the tradition it was built on. To be more precise, if the Christian tradition is correct, the Jewish tradition must be correct. If that's the case, then the Christian tradition is not completely correct, because the claim of exclusivity contradicts beliefs that even Jesus supported. You could argue that if Christ is one with the original God-figure, then the earlier salvations were at least indirectly through Christ. However, this creates all sorts of thorns in that one could simply go back to being Jewish and Christians would have to consider that a form of Christianity, or else deny the ascension of the earlier prophets and leaders.

There is no reason to be upset with someone over what they believe.

I do not believe in eternal life at all, through Jesus included.

why worry about eternal life when you're living now? Is there even a real afterlife? it seems that many christians use the avoidance of hell to justify their choice to live as a christian. (shouldn't you choose to be christian regardless of the fact that you MIGHT escape a flaming afterlife?) Be a good person; live morally and ethically. Be the best person you can be regardless of your religion. I think that's the way to eternal happiness in this life and presumably your "afterlife".