Very well researched and I agree for some pleasures.
What really intriqued me at first about Christianity was its absolute discipline in all areas of life, including even thought! That we could be judged on thoughts intimated that this religion had to have objective backing or else NO ONE would choose it.
Another thing about Christianity is the prohibition on enjoying one of our most basic drives: sex. It is so easy to achieve, so pleasurable (in theory for me), and so easy to rationalize away with today's culture. Yet we are still to keep it highly restricted under Christ. That, I think would be a deal breaker if there ever was one.
If you believe the consciousness lives beyond death, then hell would be separation from the Creator who created the universe and consciousness. Though I agree that many people who experienced a hell on earth, sadly, are now separated from God for eternity. To me eternal isolation in the "outer darkness" as Jesus puts it seems intolerable for only a short time, much less an eternity. That, at first, was a primary motivation to accelerate Christianizing my life.
Sorry if that ran on a bit! I do enjoy talking with you.
What really intriqued me at first about Christianity was its absolute discipline in all areas of life, including even thought!
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Yes, the Buddhist faith has even more emphasis on this area. Controlling one's thoughts is key to controlling one's actions, so it does make a bit of sense. For example, it's like the liberals throwing money at a problem instead of getting to the root of the problem. :)
I don't believe Christianity is overly restrictive of sexual pleasure? or? I think all relgions recognize the vice of Lust is a terrible vice. It might be true that some expand on this farther what was meant to be. Although the old testemate has a lot of emphasis on 'purity', 'virginity' etc...
"That, I think would be a deal breaker if there ever was one. "
lol! too true...