In Christianity, how does someone get into Heaven?

You're entitled to your opinion about that.

Sorry but, I don't see why you feel it's necessary to become confrontational about this. I didn't challenge your ability to ask me questions. I just questioned why you are asking me something you already know the answer to. You asked me if I knew what the bible was, when you already know that I do.

First of all, I'm not particularly interested in "convincing" anyone of anything. Whether you BELIEVE I am an atheist or not is of zero concern to me. My motivation does not rest on other people believing I am what I say. Had you reasoned this out before asking me, you might have figured out that I've considered all of these points of view already. I know that their is context to every passage, and I've spent many hours considering each of the contextual interpretations. It's not that I'm missing your point, it's that you are missing mine! The question being asked relates to a central tenet of Christian doctrine that is disputed INSIDE THE CHURCH, the answer to which is different from one denomination to the other. And they are all using the same source material (the bible) to arrive at different conclusions. If all of these different Christian groups were examining the passages in context, and they were all cohesive to the point where the answer was simple, then this wouldn't be a question in the first place. Obviously, that is NOT the case, and that is the point that I am making. My response was a humorous way of pointing out exactly why the bible is NOT the cohesive, unified document so many Christians claim it to be (despite the evidence to the contrary). That you choose to ignore such inconsistencies (both in the bible and in the various competing Christian theologies) and excuse them away as being the result of interpreting "out of context" isn't me trolling you. It's the same argument that every Christian denomination uses to point out how they are the "true Christians", and how everyone else is wrong!

Secondly, if you are angry or upset with me because I am no longer a Christian, then I'm sorry but I don't know what to tell you. I gave it a chance for over 30 years (plenty enough time to evaluate the validity of a way of life that one should live by), and then I woke up. I've read the bible, I developed strong feelings about it, I used many apologetics to defend it's legitimacy, I tried to spin certain parts of it to make it mean something other than what it does (day-age creationism, nothing against homosexuality, hell not really being hell, etc). I pretended that other parts of it made sense (knowing deep down that it didn't), and I convinced myself that prayer would help me understand it more and more (because I wanted it to be true). Then I realized that I was kidding myself and delusional (just like every other theist). I came to the realization that it's all man-made bullsh*t, entirely unscientific, inconsistent with itself, and most importantly that many of the teachings are wholly immoral under the guise of some perfect diving morality. It is what, it is! And by the way, a well reasoned argument doesn't hinge on tone, nor the credibility of the one making the argument. Logic stands on it's own, and isn't dependent on you believing that I'm authentic. Either way, if you choose to believe that this is not a "genuine" belief of mine now, or that my past interpretation was not genuine then, that's fine. I have nothing to gain by lying to you. But I also have nothing to gain by going out of my way to ensure you believe I'm telling the truth either. I've always liked you as a poster, but I have no need for you to continue to like me. If I'm not willing to invest any time convincing my own mother that I no longer believe in the bible (and I'm not for the record), then I have zero need to convince you. Frankly, it's just not that important to me and it doesn't change anything either way. If you want to have a serious discussion about my beliefs now (or then), then just ask me and I'm always happy to do it. But don't whine about me trolling you simply because you have strong feelings about something that I now disagree with.

Trolling is usually light and humorous, and it's a natural expectation of topics that nobody can agree on (religion, politics, etc). And most people here to it to some extent or another (atheist and theist alike). It isn't a new development! I've always trolled people like Erjen, and Ada, and the people you just mentioned. I never once saw you complaining about that! Now I happen to be trolling (not YOU, but someone else's post that you agree with), and all of a sudden you have a problem with me. I suggest you reconsider your own position and objectivity here. I think you are shocked (and perhaps) upset that I'm not a Christian anymore, and are trying to find a way to cope with that reality because I've never really given a reason for why that is the case (until now). But ultimately, I'm still the same person. I'm still honest, I'm still open minded, I'm still very analytical, I still value logic over emotion, and I'm still overall a good guy!