ZC,
First off I am not quarreling with you? nor am I trying to convert you or judge you, just trying to understand one person’s faith to another, so please don’ read into things that are not there or that you imagine.
And you are correct, there are many versions of the Christian Faith..But Jesus the Christ had one message that he is the Lamb of GOD who takes away the Sins of the World and through his atoning blood sacrafice we could all (Jew and Gentile) could be reconciled to a Holy Just GOD.
I realize many have changed, tweeked, doctrine to satisfy there own religious dogma.
Judaism in itself is a religion based on Torah not perfection as we know the Jewish People have been punished numerous times in the Bible due to there dis-obedience. However GOD chose the Jews to give them his inspired word, the Holy Bible, the Law, Jesus Christ ands the Gospels ALL based, planted and rooted in *Judaism*
You are interested in the Legalism of GOD I believe, and I am concerned with the Love of GOD. Liberal? ME hardly...However I speak to many young atheists who not only reject GOD but HATE GOD with a ungodly passion because of the Old Testament, and when I speak to them about the Love of GOD, the love and sacrafice of Jesus Christ the hope in him that is where I see a *SOFTENING* of there heart.
My parents wanted me to obey them but first they wanted me to love them, and that love was prompted me to want to obey them..Does GOD want anything less from his children?
People change because of LOVE not because of LAW..The LAW just forces people to do what is right when they don’t want to....
I don’t need any religion to find the beauty, the love the Peace in GOD, I find it in my heart and how I respond to the world and other’s.
That is how I think Heaven is, and where I hope to go when I leave this world....
People change because of LOVE not because of LAW
"And thou shalt love the L-rd they G-d with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy might."
Let us conclude our conversation at this point of agreement.
Be well.