Are you as forgiving as God is?

[Timmy]

Originally Posted by bbyrd009

Um, I wouldn't presuppose an answer for you here, so much as suggest that no answer becomes personally unsatisfactory, and a common method of illumination in one direction is pursuing its opposite.

While, yes, I do agree with your post, I believe one can find God absent any preconceptions, and don't mean to say that you "don't really believe what you say you believe," rather that what you believe is often the stance of someone who, quite fairly, has simply not discovered enough "evidence" to decide, and that this ultimately becomes unsatisfying; which seems counter-intuitive, actually--you would think a lack of certainty here would feel normal, hmm...

Thanks, I think I understand your views better, now.

You mention lack of certainty, and that is, in fact, one of my most important criticisms of some Christians: their apparent lack of uncertainty! Not all. Some. They have a certainty of some of their beliefs that defies explanation -- unless you accept that they think they must have certainty, or they may be punished severely. It's their view of what faith is, and combine that with the scripture saying it's impossible to please God without faith, and displeasing God has terrible consequences, well, you get the idea.