I wasn’t asking that time. I was telling you, you were wrong.
Also I think you agreed all Christians cherry pick, kind of implying you were above all that. So I asked you what you are, but you seem to have ignored that, and only that, inquiry. So what are you again?
I am a simple Christian … love your brother as you love yourself … if that is wrong for you, then so be it. I can only judge the matter for myself. I agreed that mostly all Christians cherry pick, try not to make that mistake again.
Do you know what excommunication is? That’s hardly cherry-picking. Um, yeah, you know perfectly well how many churches would welcome me in [scratches head] not sure why they’d want me except for the guilt money I would pay.
You changed my words so you could disagree with them. It’s bad form and maybe you should be more careful about that.
I believe one must make the free will choice to step into the fire. Otherwise I guess you’re worm food, not sure I’ll meet any better fate. Frankly I’d rather be eaten by a coyote, but we have fairly draconian laws here about dead bodies.
Divorce
Starts with your post #182, “pretty much all Christians”. I think it’s unfair to say Catholics cherry pick … they’re told what to believe and then believe it. Whatever else might be said of such a practice, I really don’t think it’s cherry picking.
Aye … you are a restless soul … always seeking. Someday you’ll find something that will bring your heart peace, perhaps then you’ll understand resting from one’s labors.
Coyotes are fun. I guess I’d prefer them to worms or buzzards. I never much liked buzzards. Must come from having read “The Red Pony” in school.
I’ve heard it said in some Christian interpretations that the damned soul “steps voluntarily” into hell. I wonder about that, though: if there isn’t some form of compulsion or trickery, who would do such a stupid thing? [Eddie Murphy voice] “Whoa! That’s fire and brimstone! I ain’t steppin’ into no fire and brimstone!”
C.S. Lewis tried to approach this idea in “The Great Divorce,” but, in my opinion, he failed miserably. The story didn’t seem to convey the point he wanted it to. The characters in the story were trying to reach heaven, but couldn’t. There were obstacles. The way wasn’t clear. They got lost. That isn’t the same as “Voluntarily not going.” That’s being blocked from going.
(I have a very, very low opinion of C.S. Lewis’ formal theology. His Narnia books are much better. I’ve never read the Space Trilogy.)
I just want back in at a higher level on the food chain … kinda weird, but there you have it.
I think of it’s more mundane understanding … if you make a mistake, just fess up to it, “Stand in God’s judgement” as it were. Sure you’ll get yelled at for 5 minutes, but if you don;t fess up … well … judgement last longer if you take my meaning. All I know for sure is no mortal has returned with any tales of the afterlife … makes it hard to say what is and what is not.
Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan … a bit of a chore to read, but rewarding in it’s understanding of the human condition.