hvp,
I will not deny that believing in God and all of His plans for us requires faith. That said, my first experience with believing there must, must, must be an afterlife was watching someone at the moment of death. He wasn't a loved one of mine, but a patient I worked with and got along with pretty well, so I cared in a way slightly more than in the clinical sense, but by no means super personal. Anyway, one moment he was there, and the next he was gone. At that time it just seemed impossible to me that the essence/spirit/soul of this person was just...gone. It became clear that the body is, indeed, no more than a shell that is a vessel for that which really gives us life. C.S. Lewis said something along the lines of, "You don't have a soul, you have a body. You are a soul." This patient had to be somewhere. Now granted, I was already a believer, so perhaps I am colored by that, but it's a thought for you to consider.
I also ask you to consider the God of Christianity from your experience as a parent (assuming you are one). Out of love you and your husband/wife create this new life. You teach him/her as he grows. What do you want most when he grows up? (IMO) That he believes the things that you taught him were important, that he keeps in contact with you (let's say, once a week?
) and that he lives up to the full potential that you know he has.
There are some of your teachings that he will reject, willfully or not, and some of those will be small matters, so no biggie. But what if your child became a drug dealer, or a prostitute, for instance? Would you still love them? Of course, but would you let them into your home with that...baggage? I know I would hesitate to let a drug dealing person into my home, as much as I might want to see my kid.
If your kid never lifts a finger to call you, ever! Then one day, after 20 years, calls for money. In the interest of justice, do you just hand it over, or do you think some sort of reconciliation would have to come first?
I could go on, but you get the point. It's not a matter of loving us, but a matter of us showing that we love Him.
For all of the bad things in this world that atheists (and I know you're not claiming to be one), and those angry at God say He is responsible for, does no one stop to think of the beauty He has given us? IMO, it far outweighs the tough stuff. Most importantly, the love of other people, whether they are our children, our friends, or just the kindness of strangers. Small things like the wonderful food that we enjoy, the recreation His creation offers...just...everything. I know I'm getting long-winded, but...
Lastly, if you have children, must they be disciplined/punished for transgressions? How many things, when they are very young, do they not understand are a big deal? They have no idea why they mustn't run into the street; they just have to take your word for it and obey. Later, they become wise enough to understand.
Is it right to let criminals in society go unpunished? Small crimes receive lesser punishments, etc.
What if your young child breaks (willingly or by accident) the proverbial "neighbor's window". Let's pretend it's a big picture window. Can he do some work for you or the neighbor to teach him a lesson? Yup. But, can he really "pay for" the window? No way. So a loving parent will pay the price of the window in full, while allowing the child to offer what he can.
Jesus is God Incarnate. The Father became a man to pay the price that we could not pay for all of the sins that man has committed. We are allowed to participate in the "payback" insofar as we able ( a point of theological difference between SM, IS and the Catholics here), but just like the window example, it cannot be done at all without God made man.
Anyway, dh is home, and my turn to go on a run.
Happy, Holy Sunday.
More people could get to heaven if they chose a belief system randomly from a list rather than following their hearts.
Everyone, really?
"
