Hi Bob,
Bob, I hesitate to get in this discussion without a few words before hand. I odnt mind sharing my thoughts, but want you to realize that I am not Christian and therefore dont agree with all things christian.
MY disagreements are not comments meant to denigrate or berate your religion of personal philosophies. They are just statements as to my own beliefs.
<< Christianity says there is no way sinful people can justify themselves before God. The implication of self-justification is that God is indebt to us to give us salvation. This never made sense to me, how can God be indebt to me??? This always seemed quite arrogant to me to believe that. Jesus told us that we are justified by our faith in Him, not by our actions.>>
I dont' necessarily agree with this. I dont believe in original sin, and dont think that implies that God is indebted to us. I think God is the epitome of unconditional love. I think he loves us all in spite our faults, sins, religions, countires of origin, sexual preference, or political party.
I dont believe in Hell, and dont think that god ever chooses a punitive path. It doesnt make sense to me. God can achieve anything he desires, in any fashion he desires. Do we agree on that? If so, why would he ever choose to take a punitive course of action when he can chooos a rehabilitative one? Remember, the outcome if he so desires, is the same. Take any person, no matter how reprehensible, it doesnt matter who. That person has lived their life, and now stands before God. Does God choose to punish that soul and perpetuate its evil/misery/ whatever for all of eternity? Or does God choose to rehabilitate that soul, turning it into a vessel of love? Which suits God purpose more? Which would you expect from god?
Now take the other end of the spectrum. Take some truly great and accomplished people. Lets say Ghandi, Mother Thearesa, Martin Luther King, and Albert Scweitzer. All three of these people accomplished wonderful things in their life through the practice of non-violence, compassion, and forgiveness. Their greatness was derived from their ability to have compassion for others and insome cases to preach forgiveness and non violence to horrible people who were trying to do great harm to them. Can you expect god to act in a fashion that is any less moral and rightous than what these people have done? Can you expect God to be less compassionate? Less forgiving? Less peaceful and understanding? I dont expect that. I expect God to be more loving and more perfect. More understanding and more peaceful than what any human has displayed, no matter how accomplished they are.
Mark |
