Yes, it is a depressing scenario, that millions of people will undergo such suffering. The only “christians” who are eager to see anyone suffer are either christian in name only, or just don’t understand how G-d wants us to treat each other.
I’m pretty sure most of us understand that blowing up an abortion clinic or beating up a homosexual does not illustrate “love thy neighbor”. Rather, it illustrates an attitude of “You will do as I say or suffer the consequences”. A lot of the bad stuff attributable to christianity happens when people decide G-d isn’t doing his job well enough, and just needs a little “help”.
[/hijack]
I don’t see why anyone would want to believe anything so self-centered. If you’re “saved” God will somehow see that, and leave others to fry? I don’t know…it just seems they’re implying a small percent of the populatoin is going to be saved. And these “saved” people predetermined, or do they have to do good works in order to get saved?
Actually, the Protestant-types who buy this stuff are quite adamant than works don’t matter, and in fact it is one of the things that some of them will use to show how wrong in their eyes the evil Catholic church is.
Nope. Works don’t matter. All that matters is that you believe…
*TIME ELAPSED SINCE I QUIT SMOKING:
Six months, two weeks, 23 hours, 7 minutes and 18 seconds.
7918 cigarettes not smoked, saving $989.82.
Extra time with Drain Bead: 3 weeks, 6 days, 11 hours, 50 minutes.
To continue the hijack, however, works (good deeds, a loving and respectful attitude to others, etc.) don’t buy you into heaven. However, being “saved” doesn’t give you a get-out-of-hell-free card either. It’s not like I can get saved, then go rob a bank and, zammo:[ul]"It’s okay, because like, I’m saved. So put down those handcuffs, praisetheLordamenbrother![/ul]Unfortunately, a lot of people, either knowingly or (foolishly) unwittingly hijack the authority of G-d to advance their own agenda. I have at least some respect for those who know they’re pulling a scam, because they’re smart enough to know they’re selling a sack-o-shit and calling it bag of gold. Others, however, have sold themselves on “I’m only doing as G-d commands” so well that they can somehow justify doing all sorts of evil deeds, confident that they are actually doing good. In my opinion, doing harm to another and trying to convince them (and yourself) it was really a good thing is pretty damn evil.
Good works won’t get you into heaven. They still need to be done, and the fact that you are doing them (whether or not you’re “saved”) is to your credit. If you learn what is right and then do it, it could be that G-d is working in you for good even though you disbelieve in Jesus and think all (insert least favorite religion here) are a bunch of nutcases.
[/hijack continuation]
~~Baloo
P.S.: Moderator(s), it might be a good idea to move this thread to Great Debates, since this seems to be turning ito a (mighty civil, thus far – Thanks, Satan and others!) religious debate.
