slg@ukma.UUCP (Sean Gilley) (10/20/85)
Ya know, as it turns out, for lots of reasons, I'd like
to believe in the Christian God. Or any God. It makes
things a lot easier. You have this promise of a better life
after death, and that's nothing to sneer at. I mean, even
in it's best, when I'm enjoying life as much as I can,
things could be better. And the Christian God says they
will. But first I've got to believe.
And what hurts, is that it doesn't matter what kind of
person I am. I'm one of these ultra-liberal fools who think
that mankind should be able to live in peace. I don't
believe in killing anyone or anything, I would not serve as
a soldier in war. I believe in helping others whenever pos-
sible... in short all these things that Christ asks us to
do. But I'm going to Hell. At least thats what all my good
Christian friends tell me. Or what about another friend I
have. She lives a life that is similar, perhaps better than
mine, perhaps not. Why should she be relegated to Hell upon
her death? I don't think it's fair.
I know, God never promised to be fair.
But lets leave the two of us out of it. How about all
these people in other nations, that have been brought up in
a different religion... A friend of mine says that every
person will have at least one chance to become Christian,
because they will hear the Word of God at least once in
their life. But let's be reasonable. If you had been
brought up your entire life as Hindu or Moslem, and then
heard a Christian preacher once, would you convert? I
wouldn't. It took me a long time to even consider the
eastern religions as something other than laughable. Is
that fair? I mean, how can you condemn millions of people
for being born in the wrong country? I feel like that is
essentially what it is.
If God is a loving God, how can he do this? I know, I
know, free will. And though that may be the correct answer,
it doesn't make it right. I just don't understand.
I was a Christian once. Until five years ago. Six
years ago, after having been a Christian all my life, I
became much more devout than I had been. I was baptised,
went to church at least three times a week; the whole bit.
The next year was hell. I've been told it was the devil
trying to get to me. Well if that was it, it worked. I
became suicidal. I came very close to killing myself then
and there. With the help of a very good friend, (who was
not a christian), I survived. After the initial night, I
went to the youth leader of the church I was going to. He
said it was fine that I was going to a counselor at school,
but that he thought I should go to a christian counselor.
Fine. As it was very late, he said he'd call the following
day. (Remember, I was telling this person I was ready to
kill myself.) I haven't heard from him yet. Ok, people
aren't perfect, but when someone says they want to die, and
they have come to you for help, you don't forget!
Why would God allow me to become so disallusioned with
life that I would want to kill myself?
Following that year, I went through a short period of
atheism, and then just began questioning. Which is where I
am now. Questioning. My questions may have changed, cer-
tainly they've become more to the point. And the ones
represented in this article are just a few of many, but they
are important.
This is not meant to be a flame, it is meant to ask
questions that maybe I'll get an answer to. I don't expect
to be convinced, but I'm more than willing to listen, and
respond.
Sean.
--
Sean L. Gilley Phone: (606) 272-9620 or (606) 257-4613
{ihnp4,decvax,ucbvax}!cbosgd!ukma!ukgs!slg, slg@UKMA.BITNET
Watches are a conspiracy by Swiss confidence men.cjh@petsd.UUCP (Chris Henrich) (10/30/85)
[] In article <2309@ukma.UUCP> slg@ukma.UUCP (Sean Gilley) writes: >... But I'm going to Hell. At least thats what all my good >Christian friends tell me. ... Within the Christian religion (or religions) there is room for wide differences of belief even among those who are entirely orthodox. The question "Who goes to Hell?" seems to have the widest range of answers. I half believe that the answers say more about those who give them, than about what the odds are on a comfortable after-life. Here are some opinions, from a Catholic viewpoint. (That qualification narrows the possibilities somewhat, but not much.) First, I think it is wicked to say of anyone, that he is certain to go to Hell or that he certainly did go to Hell. This presumes to make a judgement that is not ours to make, and disparages God's mercy. Second, I do not think that unbelief, or the failure to profess a certain creed, is sufficient to send a person to Hell. Faith, Hope, and Love may be hidden by superficial circumstances - or expressed in deeds rather than words. To "go to Hell" takes a kind of commitment: a fundamental choice to be unloving and selfish. Someone once said, "I believe that Hell is a place of eternal torment - eternally uninhabited." Mybe someone on the net can identify the source. Regards, Chris -- Full-Name: Christopher J. Henrich UUCP: ..!(cornell | ariel | ukc | houxz)!vax135!petsd!cjh US Mail: MS 313; Perkin-Elmer; 106 Apple St; Tinton Falls, NJ 07724 Phone: (201) 758-7288