Since you've indicated you are a doubting Thomas when it comes to Christ and the Christian message, could I ask you what is the number one thing that makes you a doubting Thomas?
Emile,
I have not given this question the time its deserves given its importance as well as the effort you give in answering your posts.
Rereading the question, however, I guess I can give the "number 1" issues that tries my Christian faith.
I don't make a habit of quoting the bible, but I think you know the one that says "no one goes to heaven accept through Jesus". I have a hard time with the exclusivity of this statement.
Man is a cultural being. Christ himself came to man as a man, a Jewish carpenter. Religion is most often the most powerful and important part of any culture. If I were born, raised, and died in a small village in Afghanistan, I would most likely be Moslem.
If I were a "good" person I would honor my mother and father and their beliefs. I would raise me children as I was raised, in the faith of my parents. I would also be denying myself and my children eternal life, according the "Christian message", just for not being a Christian and being a "good" Moslem.
I believe that people within all cultures and races AND religions can be good or bad. There are good and bad Jews, good and bad Moslems, and good and bad Christians. I do not believe in Satan or generational conspiracies. People make good and bad decisions but the intent of being good or bad, in my opinion, comes as a selfish or selfless response of free will, based on learned behavior. No guy with a red suit and horns.
Again, exclusivity based on the literal interpretation of the bible, denying entire races and civilizations eternal life, does not fit my picture of an omnipotent God.
Tom |
