Freethought & Rationalism Archive

HelenM · 05-14-2002, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fastfalcon:
 On Left Behind, it is fiction, yes. But is is based totally on the Bible (specifically the verses on Jesus's snatching away and the Revelation from Ch 6 onwards.) and I think the results of the Rapture would be exactly as stated though with different people and different scenarios.

Oh, I didn't see this response yesterday.

I know quite a few people who agree with you.

That's why I mentioned Left Behind. Because many Christians do see it as an accurate portrayal of what the Bible says about future events.

love
Helen

BibleBelted · 05-14-2002, 06:09 AM

Helen,

Do you have any thoughts on this?

Or predictions?

HelenM · 05-14-2002, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BibleBelted:
Helen,

Do you have any thoughts on this?

Or predictions?

LOL

Ok, this is my personal opinion - I already know that I could die suddenly, unexpectedly, unpredictably and soon - of a heart attack, from an accident on the roads perhaps (hopefully not caused by me!) etc etc. I hope that's not just around the corner but really, who knows...

So, given that that is the case, I don't really understand why Christians spend so much time and energy trying to understand what the Bible might be saying about the future. I mean, what does it add to how uncertain my life already is to say "Jesus might come back at any moment!!!" Nothing...it can't be more unpredictable anyway. As if I wasn't already doing my best...

So, I'm more focused on the verses that say things like 'live one day at a time; each day has trouble enough of its own', in trying to do that (but planning, if appropriate

), than trying to understand what Christians have never agreed upon, anyway, after 2,000 or so years...

I hope that answers your question as directly as I ever answer anything...

love
Helen

BibleBelted · 05-14-2002, 06:43 AM

Helen:

Quote:

I hope that answers your question as directly as I ever answer anything

It does.

I wonder myself why it is so important to so many people's faith that they be part of god's final act.

It must be some form of conceit that so many people always feel the universe was created just so they could witness its' destruction.

Bordering on insanity, IMO.

Bree · 05-14-2002, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fastfalcon:

Soon to him may mean thousands of years to us.

Okay - so does this way of thinking apply to the Creation myth as well? The Bible says the Earth was created in six days - if "soon to Him" may mean "thousands of years to us" then the vague term six days may not be "thousands of years to us" right?

Quote:

Just you wait.

Sounds like naa-naa-naaing on the playground to me. Just you wait and what? You can't wait for all of our heathen asses to be crisped in Hell? Tut-tut naughty Christian!

HelenM · 05-14-2002, 06:56 AM

BB

Another concern of mine is that these end-time scenarios have the world getting worse and worse.

I think that's rather fatalistic and might be a disincentive which acts against Christians working as hard as the could to make the world better. I mean, if things are going to go down anyway, because the Bible says so...

I'm not saying this happens consciously but I have to think it could affect people. Just like, salvation by grace supposedly doesn't stop people serving the LORD with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. Supposedly. And yet - if instead of that Christians really believed God would strike them dead at the end of the day for saying something unnecessarily harsh to someone else, say...wouldn't Christians pay more attention to their tone? I think so.

And so, we are all motivated by what we believe, to a very significant extent...for good or evil, for better or worse.

And Christians know that and that's a reason they stress that the second coming of Jesus is 'imminent' or that the Rapture could be at any time. Because they are hoping to make Christians serve God with more diligence and seriousness and urgency.

First they say they are saved by grace and they all get complacent. Then they have to tell them Jesus might return or rapture them at any moment, to get them serious again...and so it goes...

love
Helen

BibleBelted · 05-14-2002, 07:14 AM

Helen posted:

Quote:

First they say they are saved by grace and they all get complacent. Then they have to tell them Jesus might return or rapture them at any moment, to get them serious again...and so it goes...

My view is a bit more cynical than yours. No surprise there, I suppose.

I would say there is just a lot of cash to be sucked out of gullible people if you stroke them and tell them they can play a part in wrapping up god's ultimate act.

Godless Dave · 05-14-2002, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BibleBelted:

I would say there is just a lot of cash to be sucked out of gullible people if you stroke them and tell them they can play a part in wrapping up god's ultimate act.

Right. You won't need your money when Jesus comes again, so you may as well send it to the preacher on TV.

Fastfalcon · 05-14-2002, 08:07 AM

You mean that if you knew I am a Senator, you would be scared? Biblebelted, I am shocked! (NOT!) I do not want any of you to go to hell, (nether does Jesus) so I come here to evangelize. Of course I know that I would be insulted, but years of being insulted and being called gay (I'm not) has conditioned me so that Insults just bounce off.
Did I not say that Jesus talks in parables?! when he said This generation, he meant the generation that saw Israel reborn. Oh Soverign Lord, why do the heathens rage? Why do they blind themselves to the truth that is under their noses?
Logic? Bleh!

Viti · 05-14-2002, 08:34 AM

FastFalcon...if you are over 15 years old then I am afraid you are severely mentally challenged.

[ May 14, 2002: Message edited by: LadyShea ]

05-14-2002, 08:34 AM	#80
Viti Contributor Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Down South Posts: 12,879	FastFalcon...if you are over 15 years old then I am afraid you are severely mentally challenged. [ May 14, 2002: Message edited by: LadyShea ]</p>

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05-14-2002, 06:09 AM	#72
BibleBelted Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Oklahoma, USA Posts: 891	Helen, Do you have any thoughts on this? Or predictions?

05-14-2002, 06:56 AM	#76
HelenM Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Ill Posts: 6,577	BB Another concern of mine is that these end-time scenarios have the world getting worse and worse. I think that's rather fatalistic and might be a disincentive which acts against Christians working as hard as the could to make the world better. I mean, if things are going to go down anyway, because the Bible says so... I'm not saying this happens consciously but I have to think it could affect people. Just like, salvation by grace supposedly doesn't stop people serving the LORD with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. Supposedly. And yet - if instead of that Christians really believed God would strike them dead at the end of the day for saying something unnecessarily harsh to someone else, say...wouldn't Christians pay more attention to their tone? I think so. And so, we are all motivated by what we believe, to a very significant extent...for good or evil, for better or worse. And Christians know that and that's a reason they stress that the second coming of Jesus is 'imminent' or that the Rapture could be at any time. Because they are hoping to make Christians serve God with more diligence and seriousness and urgency. First they say they are saved by grace and they all get complacent. Then they have to tell them Jesus might return or rapture them at any moment, to get them serious again...and so it goes... love Helen

05-14-2002, 08:07 AM	#79
Fastfalcon Regular Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Bermuda Posts: 114	You mean that if you knew I am a Senator, you would be scared? Biblebelted, I am shocked! (NOT!) I do not want any of you to go to hell, (nether does Jesus) so I come here to evangelize. Of course I know that I would be insulted, but years of being insulted and being called gay (I'm not) has conditioned me so that Insults just bounce off. Did I not say that Jesus talks in parables?! when he said This generation, he meant the generation that saw Israel reborn. Oh Soverign Lord, why do the heathens rage? Why do they blind themselves to the truth that is under their noses? Logic? Bleh!

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