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FreeManWalking -- I've always wondered if people truly believe that
The part about accepting Jesus on their death bed and going to heaven for doing so. I cannot think of a more poisonous message to proliferate than being able to get off of the hook for all of life's transgressions by a simple act of contrition, or acceptance before one dies. It renders all good acts as meaningless, it renders any concern about perpetrating crimes as moot.
posted by
gomedome
on August 19, 2006 at 9:39 AM
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To add to what Strat said, what really gets me is when people say
"hell will be full of good people." This implies that heaven will be full of bad people who accepted Jesus on their deathbed. Thats not a very happy thought. Give me my Creator to talk to and let my soul be free to wander this beautiful Earth He gave us and I'll be content for eternity.
posted by
FreeManWalking
on August 19, 2006 at 7:27 AM
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christian witnessing
is like rain. You can only combat it with an umbrella.
posted by
calmcantey75
on August 18, 2006 at 4:17 PM
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strat - that's all we can do
Live our lives as best as we can, doing what we think is right, while demonstrating honor and integrity.
posted by
gomedome
on August 18, 2006 at 1:44 PM
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TVBlogger - I still get it as well
Not so much these days as in past years but some family members, especially the in laws, can still be insufferable pinheads. With many things involving religion and faith, there is a big disconnect in logic here. I was born with an analytical type of brain. Things must add up, make sense and jive, or I cannot buy into it.
posted by
gomedome
on August 18, 2006 at 1:41 PM
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I think I told an evangelistic uncle
that I have developed into a militant agnostic. That is to say, "I don't know, and you don't either!"
I think the other part of it is that I don't really have time or inclination to ponder such things. Either I try to live a good and honorable life and die and go someplace nice, or I try to live a good and honorable life and die and don't go someplace nice. Either way, what we do with here and now is far more important and productive than preparation for an unknoweable future that for many, is only slightly more sincere than hedging a bet.
posted by
strat
on August 18, 2006 at 12:54 PM
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Gome
Yes, I understand this post. My mother wants me so badly to have her beliefs and doesn't understand why I just don't follow along quietly. I don't know how to make her understand that I can't deny what I believe anymore than she can deny what she believes. Yes, I could pretend or I could be forced to observe, but compelled faith is not faith, but tyranny. I can't unlearn what I've learned. I would have to have a completely different set of experiences than I've had, before I would change my mind. All the yacking in the world, all the quoting of the Bible won't change what I've experienced and believe.
posted by
TVBlogger
on August 18, 2006 at 12:24 PM
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