then why would he punish me for using it, by not believing in him, thus not allowing me into heaven?
2007-04-16 04:36:55 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
way of the cross - i don't believe in him or heaven, but i have been known to be wrong once or twice
2007-04-16 04:47:40 · update #1
dewcoons - almost a great analogy. the only flaw is that the police officers weren't the ones who gave me the free will which they are punishing me for.
2007-04-17 01:04:27 · update #2
luv - see above.
2007-04-17 01:05:43 · update #3
Actually, hon, as a Catholic, I believe in Purgatory. Only the vile and evil go to hell, only the pure and good go to heaven. Everyone else (myself included) go to Purgatory where we pray off our sins and reach heaven. So, even you would have a chance of heaven.
2007-04-16 04:45:23 · answer #1 · answered by sister steph 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If a parent gave his son or daughter a new car on becoming 20 years of age -- let's make it a nice sporty BMW. The parent had observed until then that the 'child' had obtained a proper licence and had since 16 operated other vehicles safely. So it was a kind choice - a loving gift from a loving parent!
Is the parent to blame for the 'child' driving drunk or speeding and as a result perhaps kill himself?
Some gifts entail responsibility that adults are expected to have.
God gave us the gift of free will and the commandments to go with it so that we could avoid hurting ourselves! He doesn't expect people created in his image to not act correctly!
This is why those that act disobediently are not human in his eyes, but animals! Thus they shall die as animals die -- forever.
2007-04-16 11:57:16 · answer #2 · answered by Fuzzy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let's put it this way - you have the "free will" not to change the oil in your car. The consequence of that choice will be that your engine will burn up.
You have the "free will" to choose not to get on a lifeboat on a sinking ship. The consequence will be that you will drown.
You have the "free will" to sleep with hundreds of people in your lifetime. The consequence will be that you will either get an STD or you will be saddled with dozens of child support payments.
You have the "free will" to choose to reject God's free gift of salvation. The consequence will be that you will be lost along with the rest of the world who thought the same way. You see, this Earth is the Titanic, and it's going down. Christ has the only lifeboat. There are others that have lifeboats, but they have holes in them and you will drown if you choose theirs. Christ is desperately asking you to get into his lifeboat, because He loves you and wants to save you. Trust Him.
2007-04-16 11:55:32 · answer #3 · answered by FUNdie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Christian doctrine of "free will" is explains as "the ability to make your own moral choices, and then to face the consequences (good or bad) of that decision".
It is no different then you have the ability to drive your car 120 mph down the expressway drunk. But if caught, you pay the consequences for that action. You have the ablility to reject God, but you face the consequences of that decision.
2007-04-16 11:48:07 · answer #4 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because god is a totalitarian dictator of a god.... he gives you the illusion of free will, but you must use that free will to do what he wants you to do otherwise you suffer the consequences.
That doesn't sound like an all-loving god to me, that sounds like a megalomaniacal tyrant to me.
Scott B: Believing is not a choice. As an Atheist i cannot choose to believe in something that does not make sense to me. You as a christian have deluded yourself to believe what you believe & you obviously cannot choose to believe something else. You're stuck on your beliefs because they make sense to you.
2007-04-16 11:45:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
He wouldn't. That's where the theory doesn't make sense. It can't be a choice if there is a punishment to follow. If there's free will then there wouldn't be punishment.
2007-04-16 11:43:30 · answer #6 · answered by Justsyd 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
There are 2 paths to follow and you can use your free will to choose a path. I personally choose the path of God and am anxiously awaiting my trip to heaven to sing with the angels. Thank goodness he is a forgiving God because we all sin.
2007-04-16 11:46:03 · answer #7 · answered by DOT 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
the choices before you are:
1. Life
2. Death
If you choose death, then how is HE punishing you. You just did it to yourself.
2007-04-16 11:53:47 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are always consequences to your choices. God spells them out for you. You are punishing yourself by choosing not to believe, you can't say you haven't been warned.
2007-04-16 11:42:47 · answer #9 · answered by Scott B 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I think its kinda weird too, but I'm too young 2 get wrapped up in all of this!
2007-04-16 15:51:23 · answer #10 · answered by Javgirl 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋