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As for salvation being the default, it is not quite that simple. God's revelation is universal, but he did not sit down with us and spell it out. Finally, after setting up a people, the Jews, to cultivate the message and when the rest of the world was ready he came down, took on human nature and spoke to us directly, face to face.

First, if the Muslims are right the rest of us will not be thrown into Hell because we didn't get the message dead on.

Secondly, maybe we do get a chance to reconsider.

I am presently [trying] to try to glean the inner meaning of those teachings on eternal life.

But we are a conglomerate.

If I read a particular passage of scripture (God's revelation) that I am not sure of I seek out an individual who has studied theology be it a priest or biblical scholar.

each generation does not start from scratch, they look to the generation that came before as at the very least a starting point.

> And given the wide diversity of religious beliefs it makes one question the relevance of following church doctrine.

As human beings truth matters. One could argue that as long as a bridge stays up does it really matter if it was built to code or using the accepted materials and specifications. Even you as an engineer might concede that perhaps it doesn't, but you would I am sure point out that proper specs and standards are important and do matter.

In the case of eternal life that kernel is, "live your life doing good to the best of your ability and you will spend eternity with God."

But we are saved within a conglomerate.

Then you have misread the scriptures, thus misinterpreting the message.

> If God's requirements for salvation have been consistent over time there has never been any more or less information available for any individual to understand.

Very true, but as human beings we come to understand over time. While the truth remains the same our understanding evolves.

For example, the teaching that one only gets to the Father through Jesus Christ. So initially, unless you professed belief in Jesus you are not saved. There are sects within Christianity today that teach that. But the question comes up, as it did in my elementary school days, what about the native in Africa who never heard of Jesus? How could God, who is infinitely just and infinitely merciful, condemn a person in their ignorance? The answer is he wouldn't, so the Church said we need to re-examine the text because there has to be a different angle within it.

So, the teaching evolved.

In other words, if one come to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, but reject it for whatever reason: culture, business et al one will have to answer to God for it.

> But the Christian message is very much a personal one - salvation is granted to individuals, not civilisations.

The early Church was communal in every way, If you read Acts all property was held in common. It was only with the Reformation 1,500 years later that the idea of a totally individual concept of salvation came into vogue. Before that time, while individual, it was seen in the context of community. We gather weekly to worship together as a community of believers. In the Catholic sense it is not alright for things to be good between God and me, they must be good between God and us.

Intelligence has nothing to do with it. Did you, as an engineering student, pick up the text book, read it through once and then take the exam? Of course not

Understanding is irrelevant. My mother is 97 years old and has been a faithful Catholic all her life. She has a abiding faith in Jesus Christ, but if you asked her why she believes she would tell you that she just does. She is a fairly intelligent woman, but she has never felt the need to delve into the theology of that faith.

First of all, you continue to speak of rules as if God is sitting with a ledger keeping score. God's commandments are simple. Take the Decalogue for example, I believe you will find that most religions and societies follow the concept of at least the temporal ones. Murder, theft, bearing false witness and stealing another persons spouse are frowned upon in every community that I can think of.

No, the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches have maintained the same beliefs for 2,000 years.

Even as an Atheist you would have to admit that within Christianity the Protestant Reformation went off the rails pretty quickly.

If God came down and made everything plain to everyone on this earth for every generation we would soon toss it aside because it is in our nature to seek out truth.

Then you haven't met any knowledgeable Catholics. What you are describing here is an Evangelical/Pentecostal doctrine except they usually leave out the do good part.

You have come to the wrong conclusion. As an engineer I assume you belong to a professional society of engineers. Your work is individual, but you go to conferences where you are able to network with other engineers and find out the latest advances in the field. You may share something that solves a problem for someone else. You may be a good engineer, but you are a better engineer if you interact with your peers. You stand or fall on your own merits, but the community of engineers is a part of your success. While I have a personal relationship with God my community is a large part of my journey of faith. In any human enterprise if one wishes tot succeed one does not start out in isolation, one would seek out expertise and help along the way.

Not really. Scientific knowledge has been there since God created it ( sorry, couldn't resist), but we had to discover those truths as our knowledge evolved over millennia.

> there is no guarantee that anyone should be able to understand it.

But to the Catholic there is a guarantee.

Remember, salvation is God's free gift to us. We cannot earn it, so it comes down to whether we accepted the gift or not. That is what God is judging.

God's revelation is ongoing from the beginning of time. Our understanding has evolved over millennia.

But I am certain of what is needed for salvation.

> Like the popes who incited the Crusades, or who destroyed synagogues and put the Jews in isolation?

Yes, they answered for that.