Which is along the lines of my personal beliefs ... I have a REAL problem with doctrines that have to resort to threats of some fiery hell for non-believers ... I give them the same credibility and respect that I afford the Taliban ... an omnipotent being would NOT need to use fear and intimidation to gain followers
I see all kinds of metaphors and parables in the Bible. Nowhere do I see a commandment to believe that everything is literal.
I wish I had been collecting the various interpretations presented on these threads. Each and every poster who presents an explanation for some passage does so with such complete earnestness -- declaring that failure to believe this particular interpretaion puts your soul in mortal peril -- and each contradicting the interpretation of other posters. Perhaps that's why Jesus only handed out two commandments, both emphasising the word love and neither containing any reference to belief.
Should threats of destruction be the driving force behind saving the souls of men? I don't think so. Force is a very poor motivator for actual change...you are more likely to get temporary external change, and no real internal change, which I imagine God really dislikes. What Christ did himself, and what I think real Christians should emulate, is say that "Yes, punishment awaits the wicked. But you can do something today that will save you from your self-chosen death and annialation. Christ is the payment for what you have done in the past, and you can change your nature from Dark to Light by accepting his gift, and choosing every day to try to do the right things."
It is wrong to say, "Ye are Dammed to Hellfire for failing to Blindly Accept Parable as Fact!" It would be more in God's Kingdom to say, "Humans tend to choose evil things that feel good, but you can be saved through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and remade anew!" If you were outside the Faith, which message do you think would win more souls?
Is this the SAME concept you used raising your children?