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=> Eternal Consequences

Eternal Consequences
Posted by The Nineveh Kid (Guest) - Monday, March 1 2004, 20:52:38 (EST)
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Jeff,

Let me see if I can clarify what I am trying to say. If a person believes that there is no Supreme Being, who demands obedience to His Laws, from the creatures he created, then the only boundaries controlling that person's behavior are his personal code of conduct, the law of self-preservation or the fear of an unpleasant consequence. Such a person has no fear of eternal consequences, though he may fear certain temporal consequences. For a believer, the individual will, which tends toward rebellion, is restrained. If, that person is following the Will of his Creator then, and not his own will, then he has surrendered his unrestrained will, and subjected it to the boundaries imposed upon it by his Creator. On the other hand the unbeliever is not restrained by the eternal consequences of his actions. Certainly there are no guarantees that anyone will obey his conscience or that a sudden impulse will not take control of his actions when he is tempted to disobey his Creator. You are correct that I am exercising free-will in choosing to believe just as an unbeliever is exercising free-will not to believe. But when I said that I am not willing to take the plunge and do whatever I please, I simply meant to say that I do not trust an unrestrained will because I see eternal consequences that extend beyond this life into eternity, therefore, my will is no longer my own, but subjected to the will of God as He gives me the light to see His Will. I think the way I said it originally, was confusing. I hope this helps to clarify what I meant.


Dear Nineveh Kid,
Below I have made bold two of your sentences:

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>
>I don't believe in killing or hurting or bombing anyone. I don't agree with those policies. Are we talking about U.S. military policy or are we talking about the Christian Sacrament of Holy Communion? Why one should choose Cannibalism? I don't choose cannibalism because I don't see it as cannibalism, even though I understand what you say when you describe it that way. I can only say that what you see as a purely physical act of consuming flesh and blood, I see as a spiritual action hidden within the substance of the Lord's flesh and blood. Beyond that, if I try to explain it in historically religious terms, you will say I'm indulging in dogma and religious hocus pocus. Besides, from what you have already said you are familiar with the explanations from the Church's perspective, so it would be useless to repeat it. Sin against an infinitely Good Creator is infinite in its malice and, therefore, deserving of infinite punishment. I don't like it, but it makes sense to me. I wish everyone could be saved, but the key to understanding it, FOR ME, is FREE WILL. I just don't see any way around it. Believe me, if I saw a way around it, I would take that path. That seems to me to be the easier path altogether. Why wouldn't I take it? Fear of the consequences of rebelling against God is definitely a factor. The "fear of God is the beginning of Wisdon." Why? Because God is Holy and All Good. Fear can be good. I'm afraid to stand in front of traffic on an Expressway, I'm afraid of jumping off of the Empire State Building, I'm afraid of jumping into shark-infested waters. I'm afraid of robbing a bank. Fear of logical or just consequences protects us from those consequences. I am trying to see the BIG PICTURE, and not simply focus on the unpleasant details. I understand what you are saying, but I DON'T SEE ANYWAY AROUND IT. I'm not willing to take the plunge into the unknown on the easier route that says we are all gods and can do what ever we please, without suffering the consequences. So, maybe that makes me a coward... I don't know.


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So, my commentary is simply a question to you.

Above, you say that they key to understanding is FREE WILL. Then, down below, you say that you aren't willing to take the plunge and "do whatever you please". Isn't this a contradiction in terms?

Isn't doing whatever you please an excercise in free will? And if the key to understanding is free will... then why don't you do whatever you please? You ARE doing whatever you please. It pleases you to be religious. You are exercising free will in making that decision. However, it pleases me to reject organized religion. I am also using my free will.

Do you see what I am saying here? That you might have a slight contradiction in what you have written. Could you please clarify for me what you meant?



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