I Think So Brain But Do You Realy think The Marshmalow Chicks Can Live In Peace With The Gummy Worms

[badstar]

It really hurts me to think that people feel that they need to feel deep hurt because I've rejected Christianity.

In a way, it's like it hurts me that people can't understand that I've got something that's just as wonderful for me...and I'd like to say that it hurts me that they can't see it like I do and have it for themselves...

...but if I've got something this great, but they've got something else so great that fills the same spot ib their life...then how can it hurt me?

It's like...I've got Hagen-Daazs ice cream, would you like some? Oh, you've got Ben and Jerry's? Cool! Well, uh...here's a picnic table, wanna share?

Comments

Because butting in is my style, and all...

[fervid-dryfire.livejournal.com]

I mean this as civilly as humanly possible: what's "too bad" about not believing in anything? Is there some sort of loss involved?

YES...and it's actually pretty simple.

Here, let's compare; if God/Heaven/Hell/the Devil/etc didn't exist and I'm wrong in believing, and YOU (or anyone else) DON'T believe in those things does it hurt me, a believer, when I die? The answer is no; nothing lost, nothing gained- we both fade to dust none the wiser, case closed.

HOWEVER, if YOU are wrong in being an unbeliever, and there IS God/Heaven/Hell/the Devil/etc out there, does it hurt you, an unbeliever, when you die? The answer is YES; you will be punished as it is written.

...and that IS too bad. As a matter of fact it's "too bad" that ANYONE has to go to Hell, whether they "intended to" or not!


Personally, in the longview I give most everyone the benefit of the doubt because earnest "deathbed repentance" happens- but ultimately, for those who never repent and accept Christ into their lives, "too bad" for them indeed.

[resident-geek.livejournal.com]

Because butting in is my style, and all...

For which I'm earnestly grateful--nothing keeps one honest like real opposition :)

Pascal's wager isn't an unfamiliar argument to me. The problem with it is that it presupposes one particular brand of punishment/salvation. The real root of the matter is, Christianity is but one strain of a long list of metaphysical religions, like Islam, Hinduism, theistic stripes of Buddhism, African bush religions, native American traditions, etc. (And this is not even to speak of the many differing interpretations of Christianity alone.)

Furthermore, each religion has its corpus of sacred texts which "prove" the tenets of the faith, which are all (of course) divinely inspired. So, in what way will I be dealt with as it is written? My insatiable curiosity compels me to ask: how will you test whether one is correct and the other is incorrect? Without the answer to this, the outcome to Pascal's wager becomes irrelevant--the wager itself lacks substance, and it still remains to be seen what exactly is lost.

A second question: why are you invested in the fate of other human beings? Do you feel that saving anyone will get you into Heaven? Do you feel that something is improved by that person's salvation? What, exactly, is improved?

I must admit I'm fascinated by your perspective,

[fervid-dryfire.livejournal.com]

So, in what way will I be dealt with as it is written?

Weeping and gnashing of teeth. There's more but I think you get the picture.


My insatiable curiosity compels me to ask: how will you test whether one is correct and the other is incorrect?

Again, within your "curriculum of proof," I can't test this.


...why are you invested in the fate of other human beings?

Because God instructs us to, in many (and not-uncertain) terms. Man's flawed, selfish nature would compel us NOT to care about the fate of others (non-Christian or otherwise), but He has made it very clear that we must go against this nature and attempt to save others in earnest. So basically, we seem to be so "invested" because it's "not in our earthly nature" to do it.

[resident-geek.livejournal.com]

Weeping and gnashing of teeth. There's more but I think you get the picture.

My apologies; I meant which way (i.e., which of the innumerable metaphysical descriptions). Obviously you hold it to be Christianity. Why?

Because God instructs us to, in many (and not-uncertain) terms.

Where are God's instructions?

[fervid-dryfire.livejournal.com]

Obviously you hold it to be Christianity. Why?

Well gee, when you put it that simply- why not?

Hell is neither a pleasant nor difficult place to imagine. Poetically (and conservatively) speaking, it's an abyss of cold fire that burns black and oily. Surrounded by chaos and calculated suffering; full of endless screams, pain, torment, things we clap our hands to our ears and squeeze our eyes shut to hide from in this world. I wouldn't wish it on anyone myself, but the fact is that without salvation through Christ, people go there all the time for the greatest as well as the least of transgressions here on earth.

Where are God's instructions?

Duh. In the Bible; most fundamentally, the Ten Commandments- but that's just the surface. The rest of the book has plenty more.