Create a New Forum Admin Login Member Login Contribute to Voyager Search VoyForums Help Desk VoyForums Exchange VoyForums Directory/Categories VoyForums Homepage VoyForums News FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

[ Show ]

Support VoyForums

[ Shrink ]

VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, [9] ]

Subject: Re: Paul vs Jesus Author: XOX [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] Date Posted: 16:23:01 05/07/04 Fri In reply to: XOX 's message, "Paul vs Jesus" on 15:16:10 04/21/04 Wed Sharing of interesting information regarding Jesus vs Paul - Introduction ************************************** A problem involved stems from our tendency to evaluate ourselves in terms of absolutes. We see ourselves as either good or evil and therefore deserving either all of heaven or all of hell. We seem to have missed the fact that man was given the capacity to grow in favor with God. Where a person might stand in favor with God could be seen as a scale from 0-10 (10 being ultimate favor with God, and 0, no favor). Today, the very best of individuals in either Christianity or Judaism I would rate at 2. On the other hand, someone like the prophet Daniel I'd rate around 8+, Moses and Elijah 9, and Yeshua 10. But a favor rating of 2 can appear very impressive in a world with a general level that is below 0, especially if 2 is the best the current generation has seen. It is far easier to pat ourselves on the back for what we are not, as opposed to turning around and facing the fact that we are still nothing near what we could and should be. Jewish and Christian doctrine has responded by sedating its followers from the pain of this reality with a concept of the sovereignty of God borrowed from Greek (Hellenistic) philosophy. In short, it suggests that we are who, and what we are because God has for-ordained it to be so. In effect, this puts the blame for our pathetic condition back on God. At the same time this ultra-sovereign picture of God allows man to see himself as the best there is. This always leads to a sense of pride in one's destiny. The next logical step when one sees themselves this way is to adopt an 'it's our way or go to hell' attitude. This bigoted posturing has become particularly repulsive to me. It is rampant... understood, but not always spoken, in most factions of Christianity and some Jewish sects. The self-serving aspects of this fear mongering doctrine should be evident. It is psychological extortion. No one has cornered the market on eternal life. The truth happens to be one of the good news/bad news scenarios. Eternal life in a better place is relatively easy to obtain. It is the Kingdom of God that is much more difficult to enter, and there is a difference! *************************** "This bigoted posturing has become particularly repulsive to me." Me too! [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

Subject Author Date Re: Paul vs Jesus Fung_Chi_Wood 23:04:06 05/08/04 Sat