winstonjen

But if they were shown heaven after they died, and it really is as wonderful as you say, who wouldn't freely choose to go there? And isn't that what you and your god value MORE than saving everyone - free will? Well?

Edit: Who DOESN'T believe in heaven to avoid punishment? Eternal hellfire is a pretty big motivator.

And if you really wanted to save more people, take a look at this article

paul30

To understand Christianity, you have to know not its content but the history of institutions.

For all institutions, after a certain point, the most important thing becomes not their "mission" but institutional self-preservation.

This is true of schools, charities, governments, armed forces, and many other things; and it is most certainly true of Christianity.

It exists not so much to save or help people (assuming it can) but to keep itself going.

Very often institutions even become so self-regarding that they completely lose sight of their original intent, and start doing things directly contrary to their supposed purpose. This is clear in Christianity: witness the Crusades, Inquisition, slaughter of Native Americans, alliance with the feudal rulers in Latin America, and so on.

I am sure that for some Christianity does do the things claimed for it.

But the point of Christianity is to keep Christianity going, not to help its followers.

The same can be said for the US military.

Both are equally benign.

emotional

Congratulations, Magus, you've just described what your sick religion is all about.

God wants everyone to go to heaven. And He admits to heaven anyone who truly repents of his sins. He does not, however, admit to heaven straight away the one who has sinned all his life and accepted Jesus on his deathbed. One's faith counts for nothing; only one's actions have worth in God's eyes. By works, not by faith, so that no-one may be lazy. Salvation by faith is a doctrine fashioned by lazy people, for lazy people. And if the Bible says otherwise, then the Bible lies.