Hi Robert,
Here is what I meant by personal acknowledgment from humanity.
The assumption that good works are not what lends value to a man's life through god's eyes, that only acknowledgment of Christ as saviour
is what takes away the burden of original sin.
That is saying that God wants you to acknowledge him more than he wants you to live a good life, do good works, or love your neighbor.
that means that a man such as Ghandi(or any other person who hs lead such a life)must burn eternally because he did not give the proper acknowledgement to God. NO matter that he belieed in God and lived his life in the manner that he believed to best represent that love of God. He must burn eternally, because he called God by the wrong name.
In my mind(and I m not trying to say that yo must feel this way also)
that represents an insecurity and selfishness that may be prevalent within humans, but surely not a deity.
I can not imagine a God who in effect says the following. "In spite of the fact that you have lived an exemplary life. a life full of love. An unselfish life dedicated to helping others before yourself,a life of loving god, a life of great accomplishments(even more amazing if you believe in the fallen nature of man) You must be be tortured for eternity by burning in brimstone and hellfire, tormented by demons, because you did not call me by the proper name, you did not recognize me as I truly am".
It is my opinion(again I emphasize my opinion, I am not trying to change yours) that is the mindset of a small and capricious man, not that of a loving and fair divinity.
Mark |
