Harumi

Well, it is true in a way I suppose.

I've always believed that true justice isn't following just the letter of the law, but the spirit of it as well.

And that is exactly what liberal Christians are trying to do.

njhartsh

Well, the true "spirit" of the document is very much at issue, right? Ronin pretty clearly believes that the "spirit" of the Bible is pretty disgusting.

Which is why I think question being discussed in this thread (and the "cherry-picking" one too) is so fascinating. We're taking as given, for the moment, the following premises:

(1) The Bible is a mostly horrible book in which the alleged heroes, such as Yahweh, tend to be "complete and utter murdering loon[s]."
(2) My neighbor, Libby C., purports to be a Bible-believing Christian, but she utterly lacks the beliefs that are at the heart of the book--e.g., "turn or burn" doctrine regarding nonbelievers, abuse of the wall of separation between church and state, gay love as sin by definition, creationism, etc. In fact, Libby and I agree on several things that I think are important.

Now, given those two postulates, should I feel positively or negatively about Libby?

On this thread I've seen some persuasive points both for and against Libby. Keep it up!

- Nathan

Calzaer

So the Badfish Christian denomination is going to heaven, while the HelenM Christian denomination and the Aime denomination are going to hell.. according to Badfish Christian doctrine.





Pascal's Wager is a lie! Even if I *do* convert to Christianity, I run just as much of a risk of going to hell as I run right now! AND I have to follow all sorts of loopy rules!

BioBeing

But surely the fundies think that they are following the spirit as well? They would probably say that, by following more of the letters, they are BETTER able to follow the spirit (and the Holy Spirit too ).

njhartsh

This just occurred to you?!?

- Nathan, who recommends this page

HelenM

I think the doctrine of the church I'm in is essentially the same as the doctrine in Badfish's church.

Helen

Harumi

Which is why it is impossible to convince anyone to give up their beliefs. They both think they're right. Thus, both Liberals and Fundies both earn (on different degrees) me this:

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

Calzaer

Helen: It can't be! Badfish says you're lukewarm and will be spit out! So even if I converted to your brand of Christianity, I'd still go to hell! I'm not safe anywhere! God is going to send me to hell no matter WHO I follow, because he's out to get me! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

Godless Dave

The Bible is so ambiguous about certain things (just like any other collection of myths) that it's easy to disagree on its spirit. I don't think it has one coherent message.

Badfish

I didn't say Helen was Lukewarm, only God knows who is Lukewarm, according to their hearts.