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To: ArGee
I understand Christianity, and Islam, and Judaism, and Scientology, etc, etc. I just don't believe any of them are TRUE. Simple as that.

The Christians here will claim that I REFUSE to believe for perverse reasons, but this is only to make themselves feel better about their own belief by "explaining away" the skepticism of others. Such arguments (or, more correctly, accusations) will only tend raise more red flags for a principled skeptic. Men of intellectual character are justifiably suspicious of those who make matters of fact (e.g. whether Jesus was God) matters of morality.

47 posted on 01/03/2002 12:17:26 PM PST by Stultis
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To: Stultis
A more correct way to point out how you feel is; that you refuse to follow Christ because you choose not to. That is your free will and God respects that, he will not force you. But if you make this choice, then please accept what Jesus said the consequences would be.
63 posted on 01/03/2002 12:31:45 PM PST by soundsolutions
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To: Stultis
Men of intellectual character are justifiably suspicious of those who make matters of fact (e.g. whether Jesus was God) matters of morality.

What do either you or I care about what other men say about G-d.

The issue is what He says about Himself.

Do you know Him? Are you willing to know Him? He is not far from you. He is standing outside your heart asking to come in.

Open your heart.

Shalom.

83 posted on 01/03/2002 12:41:06 PM PST by ArGee
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To: Stultis
I understand Christianity, and Islam, and Judaism, and Scientology, etc, etc. I just don't believe any of them are TRUE. Simple as that.

The Christians here will claim that I REFUSE to believe for perverse reasons, but this is only to make themselves feel better about their own belief by "explaining away" the skepticism of others. Such arguments (or, more correctly, accusations) will only tend raise more red flags for a principled skeptic. Men of intellectual character are justifiably suspicious of those who make matters of fact (e.g. whether Jesus was God) matters of morality.


This is not a matter of morality (the above Christian parable, that is), simply a matter of realizing that one is estranged from ones Creator, that no means exist of overcoming the estrangement other than the means provided by the Creator on the Creator's terms, and then choosing to either accept that provision (on the Creator's terms), or not.

If it were a matter of morality, none would have any hope, since all (every one of us), fail to adhere totally even to the truncated, self-defined versions of morality that we settle for, no less living up to the standard set by the Creator. That perfect standard we have all failed to meet - - thus the need for divine provision to reverse the consequences of that failure.

Accepting the Creator's provision for ending the estrangement will have important implications over time for one's moral condition, but that's a separate matter, a long term result of the original choice, rather than a cause of it.

Choosing to reject the Creator's provision simply results in your remaining perpetually in the state in which you were born and matured: numbered among the estranged, with all the promised sanctions associated with that condition.

It is true that Christian doctrine asserts that an element of perversity accompanies the refusal to acknowledge the circumstances under which the Creator's offer of provision are being made (Paul refers in Romans 1:18 to those who reject the Creator's provision, and even refuse to acknowledge that they have a Creator to whom they are accountable, as those who "suppress the truth in unrighteousness"), but this is like all of the other self-deceptions we commit against ourselves, in adjusting the scales of our personal worthiness measures to make our deviations from the "most worthy" category seem inconsequential - - - except in this case the consequences of the self-deception are not small, in fact they are vast, even eternal.

Once again, the choice itself is not a matter of morality, it's a matter of accepting one's need for reconciliation with a justifiably furious creator, and either accepting the provision that the Creator has made to meet this need, or not. And the consequences are completely dependent on whether the claims made by or on behalf of this Creator are true. So, if the claims are not true, no sweat. On the other hand, if they are true - - - some sweating over the choice would certainly be in order.
(John 3:17-21 and 35-36).
184 posted on 01/03/2002 1:41:39 PM PST by Blue_Ridge_Mtn_Geek
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