2007-06-28 12:48:25 · 29 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
lix, if your argument is that it is a consequence as opposed to punishment than God cannot be all powerful.
2007-06-28 12:54:04 · update #1
sorry, that should be *then* not *than*.
2007-06-28 12:54:29 · update #2
The choice is free; the consequences cost.
2007-06-28 12:51:07 · answer #1 · answered by Experto Credo 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If life were full of black and white choices your question would make sense. There are plenty of grey areas where we make choices that some would say are wrong and some would say are right. Maybe we don't even know if we made the right choice. But the whole point is that God gave us intellect so that we could think for ourselves. Those of us who choose to follow God's teachings, choose to do so because of the way it benefits us. We feel happier serving God than when we are not. We feel that our lives are more rewarding because of our relationship with God. We have hope for eternity because of the promises we have made to Him and He was made to us. But it's a choice.
2007-06-28 20:01:49 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Death is the consequence of sin not the punishment for it. Water makes you wet, fire makes you burn, sin separates you from God.
If you are told year in year out, generation in, generation out, do not sin because this is going to be the consequence of it. You would be a pretty arrogant, stupid or stubborn person to ignore it. It doesn't make God less powerful, He's already seen it happen from the beginning. Every action has a reaction and God will not change this one because it has tainted the whole of creation and his judgement will restore the balance He first created.
2007-06-28 19:52:29 · answer #3 · answered by lix 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure we're punished for exercising our free will. I have come to believe in the forces of doing and undoing. A friend of mine talked of this a few times and I have come to agree with her.
Basically, it's like that scientific law: for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. As we push forward in a particular direction there is equal and opposite energy pushing against our forward motion. Similarly, if we back-pedal, an equal and opposite energy starts pushing us forward. This is the push-pull we often feel throughout our lives.
If there was no energy pushing against our forward movement, we would not have to work for anything; and we'd never get to appreciate the benefits of hard work and the satisfaction we feel when we overcome obstacles. Similarly, when we take actions that are holding us back mentally, spiritually, emotionally, financially, etc. an equal and opposite energy starts pushing us forward and challenging us to move through our emotional garbage to a place of growth and healing.
What we feel as punishment is generally when we are being challenged to look at our weaknesses, evaluate them honestly, and work on them.
Mambo Michele
http://www.vodouspirit.com
2007-06-28 20:00:15 · answer #4 · answered by mambomichele 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are not punished for excercising your free will to think. What religion teaches is that one must use their free will to choose. Based on those decisions there is a consequence which will either bless and exault one towards or degrade and remove one from God.
God must enact justice, yet He allows for mercy when we turn to the Saviour.
2007-06-28 19:55:48 · answer #5 · answered by microbioguy 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Religion destroys all hope of free will, unless it is one of these new religions like Satanism or a New age Paganism.
Most religions like Christianity and Islam give you a set of rules and no wiggle room. They clam free will but will make you burn in hell for doing it. Now Catholics have set up a system where they can party all night and then walk in to the confessionals the next morning, say a couple of hail Marys and walk away clean.
Nice.
2007-06-28 20:01:31 · answer #6 · answered by Katariinna L 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
All free will means is that you have a choice. You may not like the choices, or the consequences of them, yet you can still choose which path to take.
HOWEVER ... No one is eternally punished and there is no lake of fire. That is folly.
2007-06-28 19:54:23 · answer #7 · answered by MyPreshus 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You are free to choose your actions, not the consequence or punishment. God is greater than us all.
2007-06-28 19:56:03 · answer #8 · answered by fishcan'tseewater 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, because you have a choice. To say yes or to say no. To believe or to disbelieve. To do what's right or to do what's wrong. To accept your Maker or reject Him. What a person doesn't believe is true on earth doesn't change what God in heaven has said and He will still do what He said He will do.
A person is free to disbelieve God exists all he/she wants, but it doesn't mean God ceases to exist to you, and that you will be excluded from Judgement. Because God is VERY REAL even if you don't believe in Him.
He still loves you anyway.
2007-06-28 20:20:29 · answer #9 · answered by cas1025 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Being enternally punished for excersizing free will is thought only by man. God is pure light, love and perfection. He knows we are imperfect and made us that way. Life is a trial of learning experiences, contrary to what most secular religions believe.
2007-06-28 19:53:21 · answer #10 · answered by Rosebee 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋