The problem is, in order for the Rapture to come about, a certain number of people have to suffer. Since, in all the versions of Rapture theology I’ve come across, the only ones taken directly into heaven are Christians, a great many people have to suffer. You, yourself, vanilla, have objected strongly to the notion that everyone gets into heaven, and that’s only within the past month. Is heaven so diminished if people you don’t approve of get in?
I’m a science fiction fan, for crying out loud! I dream of spaceships and interstellar travel, and watching the sunrise from an alien planet! I’d love a chance to look at the moon rising over the earth from a space station, and I still doggedly persist in hoping that there’s a chance I might actually get to do that!
Rapture theology, to me, is all about death, destruction, and the end of hope. What good is my salvation, dubious proposition that that is, if it only comes at the cost of the suffering of others? Christ suffered terrible agonies and died for me. Should I ask others to suffer as well? Should I rejoice that I get into heaven while a good man and better friend is left behind to suffer unspeakable torments? God! It’s bad enough he’s suffering through this election and a divorce in one month! (That’s not taking the Lord’s name in vain, by the way; it’s me genuinely, prayerfully reminding God that, in my opinion, he’s suffered enough.)
I cannot embrace a theology which guarantees me eternal bliss while others suffer unspeakable torments. It’s too high a price for my salvation, and besides, wasn’t the price Christ paid enough?
CJ
By the way, Friar Ted, thanks for the correction. Shows me what I get for attemping nationalistic pride this close to Election day!
Well that is all fine and dandy, Except I asked you what **you ** felt about that scenario. Do you really think that fulfilling an illusion if he is first rejected is just or fair?
I can understand the idea of a God standing back from one who has rejected the message and perhaps hoping one day they will learn the error of their ways.
But to actively support the illusion the person just so they never know they have erred and then punish them afterwards seems, cruel if not a little nuts.
If someone you know thinks that the CIA is trying to read his thoughts do you try and get them help and cure them or feed into their paranoia and support their beliefs?
And I think that the idea that the German’s and Russian’s got the dictatorships because they “rejected” the previous governments is a gross simplification of some extremely complex times. This they got what they deserve mentality is pious nonsense.
Siege, some people are going to be in Hell whether the rapture happens or not.
Nothing you or I cna do about it.
And that would ruin Heaven for you?
Well, God is just; people will be in Hell.
Take it up with God if you object.
FriarTed, that’s not quite how it happened in either case. But you just keep on believing what you want.
vanilla, I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone change her beliefs as much as you do. One week you’re accusing us of “watering down” the Bible, the next you’re our best friend. Kindly do me a favor-don’t try and be buddy buddy with me on your next flip-flop. Because I’m tired of you using us as backup when your “true” Christian friends dump you.
I was wondering if anyone would bring that up and I thank you.
Now I can again explain that I was faking it because I was desperate enough to want to marry someone, anyone, which will not e discussed here.
Going through the motions only.
I had to repent about that.
Never believed it for a minute. Would you?
Oh, as if that makes it okay! So you were willing to fake a conversion to marry someone? You REALLY think that’s something a good Christian should do?
Jesus Christ, you’re a piece of work, vanilla. Between your constant political flip-flopping (Nader-Dean-BADNARIK?), and either condemning us all as sinners, or playing nice and telling us that you still think we’re your friend, quite frankly, you’re a fucking flake and a moron.
gee, thanks, youre so nice.
But I like you anyway.
So you are saying once I voted once for Nader, I must always do so and not see the error of that way?
And Howard Dean is amazingly different from Nader?
Youre not making sense.
To your other query; No, it was wrong for me as a Christian to do; it was denying God to pretend to join a cult.
Like I did say, I repented and thanks to God, I didn’t make that mistake.
I never said you did in this thread. I’m talking about your little rant earlier this year about how sick you are of trying to play nice, and how you can’t show your true religious views, and how shitty you were to Siege, then a few weeks later, you were all nicey-nicey again.
Guin, yeah, soon as I posted that I realized the Kerensky/Bolshevik & Weimar/Nazi examples were really off base, tho I don’t think either the Bolsheviks or the Nazis could have become so entrenched without a significant base of popular surrender if not support.
Vanilla, I didn’t know about the Mormon phase. And yeah, a lot of smart people believe the LDS teachings, as unsound as I believe them to be. Heck, vanilla- except for the lizard part, you’ve promoted David Icke’s conspiracy theories here S
