Posted on 05/02/2006 3:49:33 PM PDT by Conservative Coulter Fan
I think this world - with all the pain, misery, war, judgment, hatred, blame, rage, despair, starvation, envy, cruelty etc etc is hell enough.
Yes. Aside from monotheistism, Abrahamic descent and a similar sexual ethos, we are quite different.
I think this world - with all the pain, misery, war, judgment, hatred, blame, rage, despair, starvation, envy, cruelty etc etc is hell enough.
This sweet old world also contains happiness, peace, tolerance, love, responsibility, benevolence, hope, feasting, admiration, kindness, etc., etc., etc.,. That should be Heaven enough for anyone but for those who lack the Grace to see it...
I was referring to the cruelty you ascribe to God - you and the Islamists - the desire for vengence and death and everlasting hell. You seem more similiar in that respect than different to me. You are not as barbaric, I'm sure, as the Islamists - but the error is the same. You believe, don't you, in vengence and killing for God?
That should be Heaven enough for anyone but for those who lack the Grace to see it...
How so, by denying the pain and suffering of billions? I would say that those who find heaven by denying or enjoying the incredible suffering of billions - have not found heaven - they have found sadism.
No. "Vengeance is mine," sayeth the Lord.
How so, by denying the pain and suffering of billions? I would say that those who find heaven by denying or enjoying the incredible suffering of billions - have not found heaven - they have found sadism.
I do not deny pain and suffering. They are part of reality too. Part, not all. We are meant to bear suffering gracefully. Much suffering would disappear if we simply followed the Ten Commandments. If people practiced self-restraint, we wouldn't have to worry about STD's or abortion etc. More suffering has been caused by those who want Heaven on Earth than by those who believe in the God who will Juge All.
I pinged you because I Love Lucy....apologies..
Your list contains things that I think would be universally accepted as desirable states. I find it interesting – that you did not include, judgement, condemnation, punishment etc – those qualities that you assign to your God. It seems to me that you do intrinsically know the difference between what are beautiful states of mind – such as happiness, love, peace and being kind and those that are undesirable – such as hatred, condemnation, punishment wrath etc.
I do not deny pain and suffering. They are part of reality too. Part, not all. We are meant to bear suffering gracefully. Much suffering would disappear if we simply followed the Ten Commandments. If people practiced self-restraint, we wouldn't have to worry about STD's or abortion etc. More suffering has been caused by those who want Heaven on Earth than by those who believe in the God who will Juge All.
I believe in a loving God – not a wrathful, vengeful, eager to punish one. That doesn’t even make sense to me. I have known humans on this earth who were so loving, forgiving and kind and helpful to others that it was/is a joy and an honor to know them. God’s Love is so far beyond what any of us humans can yet imagine or perceive. God loves us, all of us, more than we will ever know….more than we can begin to try to dream of.
I find it sad that so many prefer to believe in a punitive, wrathful God. The Islamists justify their savagery, hate and murder by creating God in their own image. It is their claim that God wants them to kill and to torture because of the sinful ways of the infidels. I see far too much correlation to the Islamists in those Christians who seem to froth at the mouth over the possibility of someone they don’t approve of being punished by their big, bad God. I find that sad and, yes, tragic.
Jesus said, “Love one another as I have loved you”. That is, to me, sacred scripture. Not those who quote the Bible to justify being unloving.
Islamists have a God without mercy, unlike the Christians. Bishop Sheen said years back that the fundamental difference between the Soviet Union and the United States is that the Soviets want the Cross without Christ, while Americans prefer Christ without the Cross. I believe that The God who is love is also Truth and Justice, to divide Him into His parts and just select the parts we like is to re-create Him in our own image. It rather reminds me of P.J. O'Rourke's preface to Parliament of Whores:
"God is a Republican and Santa Claus is a Democrat.
God is an elderly or, at any rate, middle-aged male, a stern fellow, patriarchal rather than paternal and a great believer in rules and regulations. He holds men strictly accountable for their actions. He has little apparent concern for the material well-being of the disadvantaged. He is politically connected, socially powerful and holds the mortgage on literally everything in the world. God is difficult. God is unsentimental. It is very hard to get into God's heavenly country club.
Santa Claus is another matter. He's cute. He's nonthreatening. He's always cheerful. And he loves animals. He may know who's been naughty and who's been nice, but he never does anything about it. He gives everyone everything they want without thought of a quid pro quo. He works hard for charities, and he's famously generous to the poor. Santa Claus is preferable to God in every way but one: There is no such thing as Santa Claus."
Exactly! I have been having this argument for years with my sister. Of course we can not judge who is saved and who isn't, or why people do what they do. But god gave us Eyes and Ears and a Brain in between for a reason. And one of those reasons is to call a spade a spade.
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