thank you Katzpur, you have brought up alot of interesting topics
The Greater Game has presented a very fundementalist view of christian beliefs.
I can clearly see how The Greater Game believes that the whole world is going to hell.
That we are all born sinners, that sin in itself is like a disease we are born with, so we are sinners right from birth, and that he is one of the chosen few to go to heaven, since has had the fortune to hear Gods word and recieve salvation.
I myself cant accept that.
How can I enjoy eternal paradise, knowing that billions are sufferning in hell due to no fault of their own, except being born?
and we are not talking about just destroying everyone that wasnt saved, or not ressurecting them into heaven, we are talking about sending them into eternal, never ending suffering.
I dont see how that does not bother you. there are some that most assuredly deserve that punishement, but, there are also so many good people out there today, of many cultures and religions, and throughout history that have lived just and noble lives, and have done no wrongs or harms.
But you say that is no matter, a persons actions in their life can make no account for the fact they were born sinners, that must repent, or perish in hell.
You could almost blame God himself for their sins, is it not He that created this world?
when you say that God does not owe us anything, well i for myself never asked to be born, or born with sin for that matter.
I would hope He would have some responsibility and compassion for his creation. You can say that He has, by giving us his only Son, but, i would dare to say it seems clear that that isnt enough. even missionaries and the efforts of christians to spread the word have not been enough.
The character of God that you potray to me does not seem a loving God, and a God i do not think I could love in return.
To send the majority of his creations into suffering due to faults in his own plan, since there is no way that the word of God, teachings of Jeses, could have reached every single person before their death on this earth.
And there are some who have lived very devout lives in whatever religion, they might have heard the word sometime in their life, but, now they are expected to believe that everything they have been taught and had faith in since birth is wrong, that they have worshipped a false god all their lives, that they must now believe in a new God, the christian God?
for some people they simply cannot accept that, and i do not think they should be punished and sent to eternal suffering for holding to thier faiths and beliefs. it does not seem fair or just to me.
But i will agree that your beliefs about salvation are directly from scriptures in the Bible, so it is hard to not deny them.
I know this is what my mother believes in too.
I really wish that one common belief could be agreed upon in regards to salvation, and what will happen to the worlds population