[TheSpottedOwl]

Where have you been?

Well I almost turned into an atheist about 10 years ago, because of some family problems. Unfortunately my mother had views about Roman Catholic religion that was right up there with the Taliban. I'm slowly finding my way back, on my own time. This was an added spiritual burden, because I believe God is merciful, not punitive, in general.

I'm not familiar with the "loosing and binding". It does sound like a good idea though :) I have the Douay Rheams(sp)bible, so maybe that's why...

[mdmathis6]

Just concentrate on the part where Christ suffered for our sins, so that men could be brought up to God's level as you find you way back to God. God indeed has no desire to be punitive but to be merciful. Mercy implies that justice and penalty also exist, but that HIS blood was the price of God's justice and the amelioration of our just due penalties for our sins.