Subject:
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Re: Will Libertopia cause the needy to get less?
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.off-topic.debate
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Date:
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Fri, 1 Dec 2000 15:53:35 GMT
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Reply-To:
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johnneal@uswest+ihatespam+.net
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Viewed:
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2922 times
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"Tom Stangl, VFAQman" wrote:
> John Neal wrote:
>
> > Eric McCarthy wrote:
> >
> > > John Neal wrote:
> > > >
> > > > A Christian does good in response to God's love. God loved us first and our
> > > > response is to reflect that love as best we can to others in our daily lives.
> > > > That is why Christians do good. Why an atheist does is beyond me, but if anyone
> > > > knows, please do tell.
> > >
> > > An atheist believes there is no God. An atheist may have other beliefs,
> > > such as "people are intrinsically good" or "I am intrinsically good."
> > >
> > > Also, doing good as an atheist could be more self-rewarding than doing
> > > good as a Christian.
> >
> > Self-rewarding good-doing isn't by definition altruistic.
>
> Earning brownie points to get into heaven is self-rewarding, so I guess you are saying
> Christians are NEVER altruistic?
Tom, you are not *listening*-- one more time, because it is the crux of the Gospel (Good
News)
*There is NOTHING you can do to EARN God's love. God loves us all THE SAME, whether we
go around murdering children or serve him as Pope. God *already* loves us; what is there
to earn? Whether you want to be with God (heaven) or not (hell), that is up to *you*.
You choose the path, not God. God loves you enough to respect your decision as a
free-thinking autonomous person (whom God created, BTW).
The path that leads to God (the course of your life) will provide authentic and
meaningful existence; those who don't follow that path are doomed to live their lives in
ignorance and meaninglessness.
> > > An atheist might think: "Look at me.. I'm doing
> > > good because I'm intrinsically good, whereas you're only doing good
> > > because of the fear of hell."
> >
> > Christians certainly don't do good for fear of hell. Christianity 101: Saved by
> > Grace. Nothing anyone can do can curry God's love-- it is unconditionally given.
> > Christians do good with joy in *response* to God's love.
>
> Yet your god sends people to Hell.
I think it is our choice, not God's. God loves us enough to respect that.
-John
> "I love you, but go suffer for an eternity". No
> thanks.
>
> --
> Tom Stangl
> ***http://www.vfaq.com/
> ***DSM Visual FAQ home
> ***http://ba.dsm.org/
> ***SF Bay Area DSMs
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: Will Libertopia cause the needy to get less?
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| (...) I got the impression that the faith concept is a rather different in Christianity. I mean, as I know of from the Islam, faith means god knows everything, including our future, so he already knows how I will act in future cases. The same Islam (...) (26 years ago, 1-Dec-00, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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