[deannadurbin]

You miss the point by going to tangents. Of COURSE God still loves us though we are sinners, that was the whole point of the cross. He sacrificed for us and became a propitiation for our sins.

Jesus told Nicodemus, “Ye must be born again.” So if you are denigrating born again believers YOU are the one denigrating Jesus Christ, not me.

[ARepublicanForAllReasons]

Whom am I denigrating? And I never accused you of denigrating Jesus. I have a different interpretation of Scripture than you, one which you obviously are not prepared to entertain intellectually.

Am I supposed to feel sorry for you because you have to endure criticism of your religious beliefs? Religious thought is a very big world, even when confined to different sects of Christianity. All belief systems have to take constructive criticism in stride wherever free speech is allowed.

Christ is not Jesus' last name. It's a title bestowed upon one whose will is in complete accord with God's. Jesus is not the only Christ to have appeared on this planet. He is just the only one you know about. If you consider that denigrating, you are believing more in your doctrine than in Christ. God loves all peoples and has appeared in many forms for the salvation of humankind.

Here is an interesting link. I cannot say I agree with everything it says, but it will give you some perspective. http://reluctant-messenger.com/origen1.html

Also, read Teddy by J.D. Salinger.