<p>Precisely my point. What you are describing is a fear-based reality. God is to be feared, not loved. Become a Christian not out of love, but because you are afraid of going to 'hell.' </p>
<p>If that is true, then God is NOT just, but arbitrarily plays favorites. God is bigoted and elititist. For no reason at all, will grant some people intelligence and life circumstances in which choosing the 'right' religion comes naturally, and others he gives drug-addicted, violent parents and it is much more difficult to 'choose' correctly. And then the 'lucky' ones are so smug that they are 'saved.'</p>
<p>That's the old testament 'god.'</p>
<p>Whereas, Jesus preached LOVE and COMPASSION and FORGIVENESS. He even forgave those who killed him, even though they had not repented. He told parables about God always willing and ready to accept us back into his loving arms.</p>
<p>Can't have it both ways. Either God is loving or God is to be feared.</p>
<p>No way can someone be healed in a single lifetime. Sometimes it takes eons. If we live for eternity, then why would God impose a short lifespan that will decide our fate forEVER? Sounds more like a lottery.</p>
<p>If God is so unfair, then why in the world would we WANT to spend all of eternity with him?</p>
<p>Life is all about choices. God gives people the ability to choose what they see is right. I f they choose something that goes against religion, they're punished. If they choose the opposite, they're rewarderd.</p>
<p>I am questioning the very nature of God. Why do you think God likes to punish people? Why do you think God is so unfair?</p>
<p>Do you really think it is fair for a person born into an affluent family, with loving, Christian parents, to spend all of eternity in bliss, while another person, born into poverty with abusive parents, must burn in hell forever? If that wealthy person had been born into different circumstances, would s/he still have been a Christian?</p>
<p>Maybe. Maybe not. Granted, some people born into abusive circumstances turn out wonderful people, while others who are privileged end up despicable.</p>
<p>But, statistically, it is more likely that people born into poverty and abuse will end up repeating the cycle, and those who are privileged are a little less likely to end up as violent criminals.</p>
<p>So, why was the system designed that way? Why do those abused people have to pay for all eternity, when the odds were against them from the beginning?</p>
<p>I think it is flippant to just say 'well that is their choice.' I am questioning the very premise itself.</p>
<p>No one said that God likes to punish people or that he's unfair.
People are given choices in their lives. Religion tells you the right choice and says: We've told you the right thing to do. You can choose whether or not to do it. But keep in mind that doing the opposite has concequences.
People who have faith in God and believe that He knows best will do as He says. Those who don't will disobey.
Of course, a person's cirumstances may be an important factor in all this. The key word here is faith! If a person belives in what his/her religion dictates, then they will not question it. They'll accept the fact that what they do in life will have concequences and will thus not go against their religin's teachings.
Those who do not have/have very little faith in their religion and it's teachings would question it's credibility and morals and would most probably go against it. A person's circumstances and surroundings are only a catalyst or a driving force that pushes people to do or not do what their religion tells them to do.</p>
<p>Are you saying that one should not question? On a college forum, you are saying that questioning is wrong? That we should just blindly follow, just do what we're told? </p>
<p>Doesn't that go against the very principle of higher learning?</p>
<p>Case in point:</p>
<p>I was brought up Catholic, and was told that only Catholics go to heaven. Not Baptists, not Protestants, and forget about the poor Hindus and Buddhists. I wasn't even allowed to step foot in a Baptist church for a wedding.</p>
<p>When I was 19, I became a born-again Christian. At first, it seemed liberating, as it freed me from that Catholic dogma. But, after awhile, I realized that they were saying the same thing: only born-again Christians go to heaven. (again, Hindus and Buddhists had no chance, and even the Catholics were called 'idol worshipers' and therefore not really 'christian.')</p>
<p>So, how do I know who is right?</p>
<p>You say do not question your religion. Well, does that apply to Buddhists? What about the Buddhist who is a kind and loving person, but is perfectly content with his Buddhist religion. Someone tells him about Christianity, and he politely refuses. Does he burn in hell because he thought he was doing the right thing by seeking God thru Buddhism?</p>
<p>It never ceases to amaze me--the cruel, vengeful, petty, downright scary God that so many people have chosen to put their faith in. I personally prefer a more tolerant, forgiving entity.</p>
<p>I believe religion is just a crutch for mankind anyway. And if a god indeed exists, I'm sure he'll have more sympathy for those like me than people who are constantly implying a majority of the human race to be unfit for salvation because they dont read the right book.</p>
<p>lealdragon
I didn't say that you should blindly agree to whatever a religion teaches.
I meant that there are some basic things in every religion that people don't really debate.
Look, every person thinks that his religion is the best one for them. If a person was unsatisfied or unconvinced about certian things in their religion, then they should just look for a faith that they think truely identifies with their beliefs.</p>
<p>"...People have to WANT to "heal" themselves. You can't just figure out a way to do, or think that you've figured out a way, it and shove it down their throats. If a person doesn't want to be "healed" then you can't help them..."</p>
<p>I agree with this. But, sometimes people are ready to receive some love and compassion. I would rather offer it and let the person decide for him/herself if s/he wants the help or not. If not, I move on. I definitely agree with you that we should never force anything (whether it's our assistance or our religious views) on anyone else.</p>
<p>"...If people don't have anything to be afraid of, then they SHOULD be violent and should do whatever they want and people can't try to "heal" them because they don't think that there is anything to heal becasue there will be no concequences..."</p>
<p>I am hoping that you didn't actually mean to imply that people should be violent.</p>
<p>What about the motivation of happiness? Don't you think people might choose healing/happiness because it is more pleasant than pain? Why must healing occur only as a result of fear of punishment?</p>
<p>"...I meant that there are some basic things in every religion that people don't really debate.
Look, every person thinks that his religion is the best one for them. If a person was unsatisfied or unconvinced about certian things in their religion, then they should just look for a faith that they think truely identifies with their beliefs...."</p>
<p>Thanks for the clarification. I guess that's why I have chosen to have spiritual faith but not religion. I do not like being told what I must believe. I don't think any religion has ALL the truth.</p>
<p>I wasn't saying that people should be violent. I was emphasizing a point..that people who didn't fear punishment wouldn't be afraid to act violent knowing that there will be no concequences for their actions.</p>
<p>Every person has his/her own motivation to heal emotional pain. If fearing God would be the motivation for a person to overcome past abuse, then why stand in his/her way?
some people want to heal past wounds becasue they want to be happy and some do it out of fear/obedience/fulfillmet of their religion. Each person has a different way of dealing with it.</p>
<p>What...since when did gas prices come down? Right after Bush took office, my mom filled up our Toyota Camry for $30 at like $1.99 per gallon of PREMIUM, FULL SERVICE. (she thought the car was going to not work well if we used regular). I just filled up the same Toyota Camry yesterday; I spent $39.03 for $2.55 per gallon of PLUS, SELF SERVICE. And driving up to any old gas station is out of question now...I have to search online for the cheapest gas in my area. Look at these numbers and tell me gas prices are down:</p>
<p>PER GALLON price of gas in the 6 years that I remember
2000: FULL SERVICE PREMIUM, Scarsdale, NY: $1.79-$1.99 (over $2 at the ABSOLUTE HIGHEST)-we drove up to any random gas station including ExxonMobil
2003: FULL SERVICE REGULAR, Scarsdale, NY: $1.99-$2.19
2003 (a month later): SELF-SERVICE REGULAR, Monterey, CA: $2.25-$2.49
2005: SELF-SERVICE REGULAR, Monterey, CA: $3.13-$3.39
2006: SELF-SERVICE REGULAR, Monterey, CA: $2.45-$3.00-I drive 1.5 miles to find the cheapest gas possible, and it's unbranded</p>
<p>Sure it's down from a year ago, but we didn't switch presidents a year ago. We switched presidents 6 years ago. Yeah, 6 years ago, my parents made half of what they make now, and we were able to afford full service premium. Now, full service is out of the question period, let alone full service premium. </p>
<p>Conclusion: ANYONE who DARES tell me that gas prices are down with a straight face is a despicable liar. Don't you DARE tell me that gas prices are down because if you do I'll slap you in the face and tell you to jump off a bridge because you're a moron. I don't remember the last time we filled up for less than $35 since Bush took office. Yet right before he took office, we filled up for $30 on full service premium.</p>
<p>I got this from another discussion but I think it's relevant here:</p>
<hr>
<p><quote></quote></p>
<p>I think the problem is when people try to put truth, and God, in a box. It
is like the 4 blind men who encountered the elephant, the elephant<br>
representing God. </p>
<p>The 1st blind man touches the elephant's leg and says 'An elephant is like
a tree'. </p>
<p>The 2nd blind man touches the elephant's tail and says 'No, you are wrong;
an elephant is clearly like a rope'. </p>
<p>The 3rd blind man touches the elephant's side and says 'You are both<br>
wrong! An elephant is quite clearly like a wall!' </p>
<p>and the 4th blind man touches the elephant's trunk and says 'You are ALL<br>
wrong! I alone am right; an elephant is definitely like a snake'. </p>
<p>I see religions like the 4 blind men, quarreling about who is 'right' in<br>
their perception of God when in fact each of them has a PIECE OF THE TRUTH
and no one has ALL THE TRUTH. </p>
<p>God, and truth, is like a multi-faceted diamond - there are many sides,<br>
many angles, and when held to the light erupts into prisms of magnificent<br>
colorful rainbows. </p>
<p>It is sitting on 1 side of this beautiful diamond and claiming to know all
there is to know, that keeps one from experiencing the beauty of the<br>
rainbows that come from that diamond. </p>
<p>Gas prices aren't necessarily Bush's fault. You realize that there are a lot of factors that go into them, right? Besides, relative to 2000 dollars, gas prices in some places haven't increased that much.</p>
<p>Well, I'm not really looking for answers. I do have my own personal faith. I just think respectful discussion is a good thing, because it can help foster understanding which is integral to any hope of peaceful coexistance on this planet.</p>