Posted by Michael83 on September 28, 2006, at 0:40:35 [reposted on September 29, 2006, at 23:03:45 | original URL]
In reply to Re: I feel better now... Michael83, posted by Declan on September 27, 2006, at 14:40:25
I'm not completely sure I understand what you're saying Declan.
>>>>but believed inconsistantly that those who hadn't had the opportunity to hear the Word were OK, and even those who were in the wrong (everyone but us) were OK too, as long as they were good (or something).
I onced believed that too, but I realized I want to believe in a certain religion the way is was originally supposed to be believed in, or not believe in it at all. I'm not going to "prop up" and modernize a religion. If a religion is correct, it should withstand time and social change.
Not everyone believes what I stated, thankfully.
Those who believe in the more "open minded" Christianity in my opinion use religion responsibly.
While those who teach the "fire and brimstone" version are teaching a very irresponsible version. Deep down, I think those people are just as scared as I am (and others are just insecure or arrogant), but they cannot conjure up the courage to believe in a more reasonable version of Christianity.
All the nicest and intelligent people I've known who were Christian believed in the responsible version, while the least intelligent, most bigoted, and arrogant believed in the irresponsible version. I think if there is a god, he created us to react in certain ways to the philosophical tenets that are best. Meaning, if you insert a good philosophy, you will get a person who is universally admired, if you insert a bad one, you will get an opposite result (the arrogant, bigoted types often seen).
I just can't get myself to believe the "fire and brimstone" version isn't true, although I've logically defeated it in my mind a million times.
>>>>>When I was growing up we were culturally secure/arrogant enough to believe that we were much more enlightened.
As long as the "fire and brimstone" version exists in this society, we're no better than them.
poster:Michael83
thread:687540
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20060922/msgs/690412.html