Punishment for non believers?

[Quahom1]

Originally Posted by Thomas

Hey Penguin -

Look at it from the Parable of the Prodigal Son -

The son takes his birthright, goes to town, pours the lot down his throat, ends up sleeping in the gutter.

Do we punish alcoholics? No, we say "I'm here, if you need me." But we know that an alcoholic can never recover until he admits he is an alcoholic. Often the alcoholic has to fall as low as he can go, before he faces the truth of his situation.

You can't save an alcoholic. He doesn't need you, he needs booze.

Alcoholics save themselves. Once they start that process, all you can do is do what you always said, "I'm here, if you need me."

That's all Christianity is ...

Thomas

...he doesn't "want you" he wants the booze...

He needs you, whether he knows it or not. Alcoholics don't save themselves...they depend on a "higer power" for that. (step one, and step two, of twelve)...

answer: yes, I've been there.

[Penguin]

Hi,
Thomas and Quahom1 very meaningful posts indeed, I like them alot! Many thanks.

[Dondi]

Originally Posted by China Cat Sunflower

Well, I believe you're referring to Pascal's wager. If God and Jesus don't exist you've lost all that time you wasted believing in something that doesn't exist. You've wasted your mental capacity on blind obedience, and that effects everything in your life. Salvation shouldn't have to be a crapshoot where you have to decide to believe to hedge some eternal bet. If God really wants to mess with us like that he can send me to hell because I'm not going to stick my head in a bucket and just believe.

Chris

Suppose God and Jesus didn't exist. Would you call it a waste of time if one adhered the teachings of Jesus in regard to loving one another? Even if there wasn't a heaven, that's not a bad way to live you life, is it?

[wil]

Originally Posted by Dondi

Suppose God and Jesus didn't exist. Would you call it a waste of time if one adhered the teachings of Jesus in regard to loving one another?

never

Originally Posted by Dondi

Even if there wasn't a heaven, that's not a bad way to live you life, is it?

not at all