tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20847196.post6191292970013616683..comments2023-10-18T05:22:42.800-07:00Comments on Easy to be Entreated: My Doctrinal Issues With ChristianityHüffenhardthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15721254732982582835noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20847196.post-82578393171569990142007-10-04T20:15:00.000-07:002007-10-04T20:15:00.000-07:00"As to timothy your other commenter I challenge yo..."As to timothy your other commenter I challenge you to find one passage in the Bible that says there is a purgatory."<BR/><BR/>First, I don't know what you are calling purgatory. To Catholics, purgatory is the final purification given to saved souls prior to entrance into heaven. Like the Trinity, purgatory is an implicit doctrine.<BR/><BR/>Second, the most obvious reference is St Paul's description in 1 Cor. 3:10-15. Paul is clearly describing events after death. Where is this place where " he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire"? It's not hell, because no one in hell is saved. Its not heaven, as no one in heaven suffers loss. So what's going on here after death if not purification before entry into heaven?<BR/><BR/>>"Truth is a internal existential thing, and we don't need anyone imposing their doctrine on us."<BR/><BR/>Defend yourself. You made the statement. Now prove it.<BR/><BR/>>"Jesus never said one thing to support a pope,or anything like that."<BR/><BR/>You may unfamiliar with Matthew 16: 17-19 where Christ re-establishes the ancient Davidic office of the Chief Steward found in Isaiah 22:22ff. Christ is giving Peter the keys of office once held by Eliakim.<BR/><BR/>Later in John 21:15-17 we find Jesus telling only Peter to "feed my sheep" three times.<BR/><BR/>So, your statement that "Jesus never said one thing to support a pope,or anything like that." would be false.<BR/><BR/>God bless...Timothyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06992217665437521336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20847196.post-2286232262664950402007-10-02T08:01:00.000-07:002007-10-02T08:01:00.000-07:00Right on !Hell is a fear tactic to make you believ...Right on !<BR/>Hell is a fear tactic to make you believe (fear is the begining of knowledge). How happy could the people who did make it to heaven be,knowing that some of their loved ones were being forever tortured by God? It makes no sense.<BR/>The things God does in the Bible leaves one with two probabilities, either the whole thing is made up, or God is evil(gnosticism).<BR/>As to timothy your other commenter I challenge you to find one passage in the Bible that says there is a purgatory. I suppose I could just believe the Catholic church, but seeing there track record in history I don't think so. By the way the pope isin't any closer to God than me or anyone else. Truth is a internal existential thing, and we don't need anyone imposing their doctrine on us. Jesus never said one thing to support a pope,or anything like that.Students of the Seven Sealshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01495927542755575880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20847196.post-88954676310098355632007-09-28T05:34:00.000-07:002007-09-28T05:34:00.000-07:00Greetings! Saw your post in Google Blogsearch and ...Greetings! Saw your post in Google Blogsearch and came to read.<BR/><BR/>>"1)...a person must accept Christ or they go to hell. It seems very unfair that a god would send the great majority of the humans to hell for not accepting Christ when most have never heard of Christ..."<BR/><BR/>That is the opinion of a small minority of Christians. Catholics, the majority of Christians, do not hold that doctrine. The Catholic Church teaches that the plan of salvation includes non-Christians as well as Christians. Even you are included!<BR/><BR/>http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p123a9p3.htm#839<BR/><BR/>>"2) Catholics (used to?) believe that little children who were not baptized went to purgatory... But, that Catholic idea is horribly unfair."<BR/><BR/>Um, first, I believe you have confused purgatory with the theological construct of limbo. Second, purgatory is anything but unfair. Purgatory is purification in preparation for entering heaven and God's eternal presence. Any soul undergoing purgatory finishes in heaven. How would that be unfair?<BR/><BR/>>"3)...The Christian god is all-powerful, so he did not have to set up that gory experience, but did anyway."<BR/><BR/>Amen, brother. How cool is that? God sent Jesus to die for our sins. We screwed up and He took the rap. He didn't have to, but He did. He really love us. John 3:16<BR/><BR/>>"4)...But, there is no point to making us sufferer after death, the test is over, we failed and we can't retake it. We have no opportunity to grow or demonstrate improved behavior."<BR/><BR/>Yep. you got it. Test over, judgement locked in. One test of unknown duration. Get it right the first and only time. God provides all the tools one needs to pass: parents, churches, priests, scriptures, and time to practice and prepare. Its the ultimate open book test and you can ask for help during the test!<BR/><BR/>>5)... Gandi and Hitler get the exact same afterlife..."<BR/><BR/>Nope. The majority of the world's Chrstians do not hold that belief. The Bible doesn't support it. See Rev 20:11-14.<BR/><BR/>>"6) Why would god choose this little Middle Eastern tribe"<BR/><BR/>He had to pick someone. Also, the geographic locus enabled the most efficient spread of Christianity to both the west and east. Seems God knew the best solution for when and where.<BR/><BR/>>"7) It is god's fault that they were tricked, since he could have prepared them but did not."<BR/><BR/>Nope. Not God's fault. God mentioned quite clearly NOT to eat of the tree. God did prepare them.<BR/><BR/>>"...why can't god be merciful and wipe us out of existence when we die if we were bound for hell?"<BR/><BR/>Avoid a just punishment? Nah, God is extremely fair.<BR/><BR/>http://www.catholicculture.org/library/view.cfm?recnum=190<BR/><BR/>>" our reward is to praise god forever. Doesn't this seem narcissitic to you?"<BR/><BR/>Nope. If God gets me to heaven, I;'ll be eternally grateful.<BR/><BR/>>"9)God is supposed to be all powerful and all loving, yet he lets needless suffering occur"<BR/><BR/>What proof have you that God lets "needless suffering" occur? You might read up on suffering.<BR/><BR/>http://www.utahmission.com/pages/Why_suffering.html<BR/><BR/>>"10) I have a big problem with two of Christ's teachings, which he taught repeatedly: intolerance of unbelievers, and leaving one's unbelieving family."<BR/><BR/>Hmm. The writer of the ultimate open book test tells you how to pass and you have a problem with it? Interesting.<BR/><BR/>>"11) The god of the Old Testament is horrible."<BR/><BR/>Ok, You've convinced me not to switch to Judaism, I'll stick with Christianity which is found in the New Testament.<BR/><BR/>>"cognitive dissonance engaging in mental gymnastics trying to make Christian theology work"<BR/><BR/>I'm Catholic, so you don't have to tell me. Much of what pases for Christianity is so full of heresy. Fortunately, Catholic theology, the original Christian theology works, if you take the time to study it and not buy into all the myths, misconceptions and heresay. Read the catechism, which only the Catholic Church has and can produce, some time:<BR/><BR/>http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/<BR/><BR/>>"...reject concepts like hell. They are making up their own theology..."<BR/><BR/>Yes. Yes, they are. They are their own popes. The individual right to interpret scripture as one likes is one of the most pernacious heresies from the "Reformation", Sola Scriptura and Sola Fide are two others.<BR/><BR/>Thank God the Catholic Church which wrote and assembled the Bible is here to help us interpret the Bible. For 2,000 years the Church has been carefully preserving the Bible and its proper interpretation. Again God provides all the tools and graces to pass the ultimate open book test. How kind and loving of a God is that?Timothyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06992217665437521336noreply@blogger.com