sojourner
Annoyingly Progressive Since 2006
Jesus disn't ask us to believe in a system of theology. Jesus asked us to live our lives in love. If you do that, then you're following Jesus' command.lovedmb said:I understand what you are saying, but then what is the point of worrying about it on earth? If we will be presented with knowledge then you no longer need faith.
I agree that many (IMO *all*) Christians communities use coersion. I also agree that it is crappy, which is why I'm not one.
How can you not believe in consequences? I'm afraid I don't follow. Unless you are specifically speaking in a negative connotations. But consequences themselves are not inherently "bad" or "good". Heaven would be a consequense of doing whatever it is that God wants you to do to get there. Hell is a consequense of getting it wrong. So you don't believe anyone will be in hell? How do you come to that conclusion? There is a "right" and "wrong" choice. You believe in Jesus or you are wrong. I can't understand how you see this differently while believing in the Bible.
Then I'm not sure what purpose faith serves. Why bother? I have very happy, full life without Christianity. If I'm supposed to believe in God, but don't, and then he presents himself to me, and I am overwhelmed with "truth", then what difference does it make if I go to church on Sunday?
I have always thought the point of faith was to "prove" to God that you could "pass the test" to get back to heaven. I have heard all the "good news", and frankly I don't buy it. I don't perceive the Christian God to be loving, or even very kind, and dare I say intelligent. It seems to me if he were any of the above, that he would have thought up a better system to bring his children home to him. The one he has now is rather shoddy.
No. I don't believe in hell. I believe everybody is brought into union with God, in the end. heaven is not a consequence of our actions. heaven is the result of God's love for us.
Faith isn't a proof of worthiness. That goes against the grain of the gospel message. You don't perceive the Christian God to be loving, or kind, or intelligent, because you've been acquainted with too many Christians who don't live out of love, or kindness, or intelligence.
The purpose faith serves is to help us accept God's love, and to learn to live out that love in the world and in our own lives.