Religion

unblock

(52,113 posts)

4. i can answer this one, having asked it myself.

Wed Dec 6, 2017, 03:25 PM

Dec 2017

i've actually heard plenty of christians make your argument. indeed, some have joked they plan to live a life of sin, then accept jesus on their deathbeds.

from some people who take their christian beliefs more seriously, i'm told that while what you say is true, it is vastly more difficult than you portray to actually take jesus into your heart and genuinely repent. you have to really believe it and really mean it.

it's not just a declaration of "oh i believe in jesus" like you're reading a script. you have to genuinely believe in all he stands for. and if you genuinely believe in all that, then you'll find you can't live a life of sin, you'll be compelled to live a better life.

and god knows who's sincere and who's faking.

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I have been criticized for calling Christianity a shortcut religion. [View all] MineralMan Dec 2017 OP

Their biggest schism came over this issue. trotsky Dec 2017 #1

Yes, so it did. Good old constipated Martin Luther. MineralMan Dec 2017 #2

I think a lot of you MineralMan, but when it comes to my belief I think the phrase is TexasProgresive Dec 2017 #3

Umm... trotsky Dec 2017 #10

I don't think that was the intent, really. MineralMan Dec 2017 #16

Well sometimes the hard sell is convincing them they are awful and in need of saving. trotsky Dec 2017 #20

It's pretty easy, really. We're all liable to do selfish things that harm others. MineralMan Dec 2017 #21

It's a deep hole saidsimplesimon Dec 2017 #51

i can answer this one, having asked it myself. unblock Dec 2017 #4

Well, if that's the case, there sure are a lot of people who MineralMan Dec 2017 #5

sorry i was sloppy to say "if you believe you can't live a life of sin" unblock Dec 2017 #6

I don't think there's any scriptural support MineralMan Dec 2017 #7

not clear on your point. unblock Dec 2017 #12

Yes, you are expected to, but if you fail, you're still covered, MineralMan Dec 2017 #22

So deathbed confessions don't work? Lordquinton Dec 2017 #8

They even have a Sacrament for it Cartoonist Dec 2017 #9

You're dieing anyways Lordquinton Dec 2017 #40

genuine, sincere deathbed confessions work unblock Dec 2017 #13

I've been told that everyone confesses on their deathbed Lordquinton Dec 2017 #39

yeah, and atheists are magnetically repelled from foxholes. unblock Dec 2017 #41

Simple truths of the universe Lordquinton Dec 2017 #42

some christian religions require good works Angry Dragon Dec 2017 #11

Some do. MineralMan Dec 2017 #14

Faith, Repentance, and Action Peaceful Protester Dec 2017 #15

If that's the case, there are far fewer actual Christians than people who believe MineralMan Dec 2017 #17

It's been claimed that much of current Xianity is Igel Dec 2017 #29

The concept of divine forgiveness is fucked up, when you really think about it. Act_of_Reparation Dec 2017 #18

Yup. Acts of contrition should be made to the person you harmed, MineralMan Dec 2017 #19

MineralMan Peaceful Protester Dec 2017 #25

Character Is Forged on the Anvil of Adversity Peaceful Protester Dec 2017 #24

Forgiveness isn't the issue. Act_of_Reparation Dec 2017 #28

Can you explain? Peaceful Protester Dec 2017 #30

Is it right for the perpetrator to be receiving forgiveness Mariana Dec 2017 #31

Love and Forgiveness Are Gifts You Pay Forward Peaceful Protester Dec 2017 #33

Profound. Act_of_Reparation Dec 2017 #35

Your original comment appears to merely be a statement about divine forgiveness Peaceful Protester Dec 2017 #48

The golden rule is irrelevant. Act_of_Reparation Dec 2017 #54

Simple Peaceful Protester Dec 2017 #59

Again, that is not what I'm talking about. Act_of_Reparation Dec 2017 #60

This is an interesting question. Peaceful Protester Dec 2017 #62

That is the problem when one insists on a very simplistic framing of a faith. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #23

Atheism is not a belief. MineralMan Dec 2017 #26

Of course you believe it to be so. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #27

A simplistic framing Cartoonist Dec 2017 #50

Why do you think a belief without evidence marylandblue Dec 2017 #32

Good question. trotsky Dec 2017 #34

What is the evidence for atheism? guillaumeb Dec 2017 #36

We've looked for God for tbousands of years abd have not found him marylandblue Dec 2017 #37

Have you literally looked? I mean really looked? guillaumeb Dec 2017 #38

I can tell you what would convince just about every atheist Mariana Dec 2017 #43

So you need physical proof. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #44

I'm just like the people Jesus walked among 2000 years ago. Mariana Dec 2017 #45

True, and some still disputed His claims. eom guillaumeb Dec 2017 #46

But many believed who wouldn't have otherwise. Mariana Dec 2017 #47

True. We are in agreement on this point. eom guillaumeb Dec 2017 #49

Everybody has a bar of proof marylandblue Dec 2017 #56

Some need physical proof. guillaumeb Dec 2017 #57

Proof, physical or not, is something objective marylandblue Dec 2017 #58

I usually post to political threads Peaceful Protester Dec 2017 #52

Religion inspires so many people's behavior, for good or for bad. Mariana Dec 2017 #53

True Peaceful Protester Dec 2017 #55

I'll tell you how you ended up here True Dough Dec 2017 #61