What if it was all true?

[dbohm]

What if orthodox Christianity was true?

How would you feel?

So here is the hypothetical to the non-Christian.

Let's say it became clear to you without a shadow of a doubt that Christian teachings were true - there is a God, Jesus was his Son and rose again, that there are consequences to our actions in this life and after we die, and the only way to be sure of our salvation was through Jesus Christ.

Question:

How would you feel about this?
Would it make you angry? Would you be happy? Would you believe everything is so unfair? etc.

[McCulloch]

What if orthodox Christianity was true? How would you feel?

Dazed and confused.

Would you believe everything is so unfair? etc.

Christianity is unfair. Yet it tries to cling to the concept that their God is fair. That is one of the internal inconsistencies that drove me away.

[The Me's]

Christianity is unfair. Yet it tries to cling to the concept that their God is fair. That is one of the internal inconsistencies that drove me away.

Christian doctrine dictates that God offers blanket forgiveness and immortality for all mankind without restriction.

I don't see how this can be "unfair" by any stretch.

[1213]

If Christianity were true it would be the absolute saddest thing I can imagine.

Ok, what would you think if truth and true love wins at the end, and those who hate truth and love lose and are destroyed?

In the Gospel of John we see the following:

John.3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

So according to John if you merely don't believe that Jesus was the only begotten son of God you will be condemned.

The meaning of John 3:18 is this:
Person who is guilty is judged because of the crime, unless his crime is forgiven and guilty accepts that forgiveness and doesnt commit crime anymore. By believing Jesus, person can receive the forgiveness and also power to not commit crime again. The reason for judgment is the crime, not that the person doesnt accept the forgiveness. Judgment that comes because of the crime stays if person doesnt accept the forgiveness. That is why it is said that person is judged if he doesn't believe.

But then we see in Luke the following:

Luke.23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

This is Jesus hanging on the cross at his crucifixion asking God to forgive people for they know not what they do.

So according to Jesus, you can spit in his face, beat on him, mock him, and nail him to a pole and he'll still forgive you.

This is in direct violation and contradiction with John's proclamation that to merely not believe in Jesus is grounds for condemnation.

I dont think so. Luke.23:34 is about forgiving the crucifixion, not about condemning someone to second death.

And ironically if we go back to John we also see the following:

John.5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

Jesus also says:

He who rejects me, and doesn't receive my sayings, has one who judges him. The word that I spoke, the same will judge him in the last day.
John 12:48

And I think you dont even want to understand what that all means.

However I want to say also:

This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn't come to the light, lest his works would be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God."
John 3:19-21

[Strider324]

Christianity is unfair. Yet it tries to cling to the concept that their God is fair. That is one of the internal inconsistencies that drove me away.

Christian doctrine dictates that God offers blanket forgiveness and immortality for all mankind without restriction.

I don't see how this can be "unfair" by any stretch.

These great bribes are only offered on the condition that you kiss this vain, narcissistic, self-proclaimed gods hairy butt and abandon your spouse and children if they do not believe as you do. How bout I offer you $100 million and a date with Kate Upton, and all you have to do is sacrifice your children to me? You in?
I mean, that's fair right?

[Strider324]

quote="The Me's"]

Christianity is unfair. Yet it tries to cling to the concept that their God is fair. That is one of the internal inconsistencies that drove me away.

Christian doctrine dictates that God offers blanket forgiveness and immortality for all mankind without restriction.

I don't see how this can be "unfair" by any stretch.

These great bribes are only offered on the condition that you kiss this vain, narcissistic, self-proclaimed gods hairy butt and abandon your spouse and children if they do not believe as you do. How bout I offer you $100 million and a date with Kate Upton, and all you have to do is sacrifice your children to me? You in?
I mean, that's fair right?

[NoisForm]

Let's say it became clear to you without a shadow of a doubt that Christian teachings were true...How would you feel about this?

I don't imagine many will answer in this fashion (they haven't thus far), but if I'm being entirely honest...I haven't the slightest idea.

OK, that's not quite right. I've a strong suspicion that I would go quite mad (no, really). You see, this would mean that absolutely everything that I have learned, experienced and thought I understood about 'Reality' was completely wrong. Conversely, everything that seemed unreasonable, incomprehensible, illogical, fantastical and utterly incoherent actually represented reality quite well. If that isn't a recipe for madness, I don't know what is. So yeah, I would predict a complete break with reality.

[The Me's]

These great bribes are only offered on the condition that you kiss this vain, narcissistic, self-proclaimed gods hairy butt and abandon your spouse and children if they do not believe as you do. How bout I offer you $100 million and a date with Kate Upton, and all you have to do is sacrifice your children to me? You in?
I mean, that's fair right?

This level of open bigotry against Christians is becoming more accepted, especially among liberals.

It's a great learning experience. I suppose all genocides in history began with this kind of expression of hatred, and it's not hard to identify it for what it is.

Imagine: God offers the kind of generosity and compassion I described, and the only logical response you can offer is this demonic venom, as if the gift of immortality is somehow a bad thing (much less the utterly blind acceptance of all human beings with complete disregard for race, age, education, gender, etc.)

[connermt]

[Replying to post 14 by Strider324]

These great bribes are only offered on the condition that you kiss this vain, narcissistic, self-proclaimed gods hairy butt and abandon your spouse and children if they do not believe as you do.

Absolutely correct. A loving deity wouldn't be as demanding for such silly things.
But this kind of "god" attracts this kind of people. Garbage in garbage out, as the saying goes.

[connermt]

[Replying to post 16 by The Me's]

This level of open bigotry against Christians is becoming more accepted, especially among liberals.

So many times, ones 'bigotry' is another's truth and common sense, independent of political agenda.
It's all in what one wants to believe I suppose. Those that are needy and weak tend to be attracted to power and leaders, while others tend to shun such things.
Imagine: A deity that allows one to love who/what they want with no need to punish eternally for not kissing its bum. Hard for some to imagine I know. But hey, anything's possible, right?

[The Me's]

[Replying to post 16 by The Me's]

This level of open bigotry against Christians is becoming more accepted, especially among liberals.

So many times, ones 'bigotry' is another's truth and common sense, independent of political agenda.
It's all in what one wants to believe I suppose. Those that are needy and weak tend to be attracted to power and leaders, while others tend to shun such things.
Imagine: A deity that allows one to love who/what they want with no need to punish eternally for not kissing its bum. Hard for some to imagine I know. But hey, anything's possible, right?

Fabricating reasons to hate God requires no more than 10 functioning brain cells.

I think you need a hobby.