Posted on 04/25/2014 6:35:42 PM PDT by Belteshazzar
I n a recent column, I explored some obstacles to the embrace of religious faith among young people today, paying special attention to the gulf between the often simplistic way that traditional churches talk about God and the pluralistic complexity of modern life.
Here's another obstacle: The overly literalistic character of so much of American piety.
My favorite example is the way that many American Christians think and talk about hell.
Jumping off from a handful of Gospel passages in which Jesus Christ speaks about "eternal punishment" for sinners in the afterlife, these believers conjure visions of a cosmic torture chamber in which those who reject God or commit grave sins without repentance are subjected to endless torment as punishment for their transgressions. It is a ghastly analogue to equally crude and comical visions of heaven as a place where the righteous are rewarded with angels' wings and an eternity of harp lessons.
This is very bad theology — because it takes off from a deeply confused, though very commonly held, view of punishment.
(Excerpt) Read more at theweek.com ...
“...Luckily, there’s no evidence for hell...”
Which fits nicely into the whole “religion” thing, in that there is no metaphysical evidence at all. But then again, there is no evidence that life exists on other than planet Earth. Or even that there are any lifeforms on Earth that have not been discovered.
Right, there's not. However I know of no biologist or cosmologist that asks people to base their lives and determine the eternal fate of their immortal souls based on theoretical aliens or undiscovered plants and animals.
That is solely because they haven’t been around as long as has religion. There are already plenty UFO cults around, some quite large, and their “afterlife” notions can be just as wacky, from the point of view of no evidence.
SETI worshippers are like the Unitarians of cosmology. It has a religious tinge to it that makes it more a religion than science.
Your anguish comes through loud and clear and I wish so much that I could help, having gone through similar myself. Praying for you my brother.
One thing I did think, is that perhaps you have come to the end of what mind can do. A teacher of mine once cautioned against pondering too deeply great truths. The mind can only go so far, it doesn’t understand the spiritual at all, and so cannot be of much use in answering your question. It fears most of all it’s own lack, and so it creates the torment when you ask of it that which it cannot answer.
Spiritual questions must be contemplated by the heart. Jesus is there, waiting for you. He grieves over your torment and longs to reassure you.
Just sit quietly, close your eyes and put your attention on your heart, where He lives. When thoughts come up, do not engage with them, but simply return your attention to the heart. Let your mind rest. And may the peace of God which passes all understanding fill your mind and heart in Christ Jesus. With most sincere wishes. Rb
Cleveland.
She was something else, wasn’t she?
LOL good one.
He speaks of G-d in the subjunctive mood.
shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach
Do you find it interesting that satan was already in the garden in which God placed man?
Maybe. What is your point?
No point. I just think it’s interesting how God gave us dominion over satan from the very beginning.
Yea, that’s one of the ideas put forth to explain the angelic rebellion - jealousy of us.
Yes, well, that is a problem, going be sense alone.
On the other if it truly was in the subjunctive it would have been phrased: “... if God WERE truly good.”
I actually do think you need help. Any impartial observer is likely to come to the conclusion that religion is close to driving you mad. In Israel they call this Jerusalem Syndrome, and it’s a verified, well-studied phenomenon. I truly hope you can recover your sanity and recover, so that you can focus on what a great life we can all have.
Did God really say? ... The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die!"
Silly idea.
What on earth made you respond to me in this way? Perhaps you were responding to someone else, or else please elucidate, because I’m not getting it.
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