Originally posted by @sonshipMy position is that we don't know. That you fill this gap with superstition and folklore that appeals to your imagination is a personal matter for you and creates no knowledge for me other than the knowledge I have about your beliefs.
Okay. You wish not to take a position.
This created life without being in living union with God, does not fully manifest the purpose for which it was created.
We ceritanly acknowledge man's created life as something of a gift. But it was created to be a vessel to contain the uncreated DIvine Person to fully fulfill the meaning of its creation.
Man apart from God may be good in many regards. But man not united with God, indwelt by God, in union with God and mingled with God does not manifest the full purpose for which natural life was given to man.
Man completely united with God as one is expressed in history on this earth in the Person of Jesus Christ. Mere man not united with God is not altogether bad but not as glorious as man united with God.
So the real gift is for the created natural life to be united with the uncreated and eternal Person.
Much worse than good man yet not united is a fallen man infested with God's enemy Satan.
IN order of inferiority to superiority then:
1.) Man illegally joined with Satan - the lowest level ending in death, and under the wrath of God.
2.) Man not united with Satan but natural - better, and even possibly everlasting. Better but not yet the TOP blessing.
3.) Man mingled and united with God, organically one and blended with the uncreated Divine Person - the TOP blessing, best of all.
Originally posted by @soothfastThat is the ugly version of Christianity promoted by the lovers of hellfire and god’s “Perfect justice” of torturing people for eternity.
Besides that, the Christian version of eternal life perplexes me utterly. The "saved" will find that many of their loved ones didn't make the cut and are burning in a lake of fire. How can one enjoy eternity in those conditions? And what of those who remarried after their first spouse died? Is bigamy allowed in heaven?
I'll just say that if, under ...[text shortened]... pen wight wrought by the hammer of your god as a condition for passing through the Pearly Gates.
It’s repellant isn’t it.
Originally posted by @sonship
My bolding on YOUR OP.
[b] Lifeis an almost incomprehensibly wonderful thing. If it is, indeed, a gift from a creator, why is it not enough of a gift for some people? Why the leap to 'we MUST surely be able to exist for all eternity'?
Would you now like to rephrase this ?[/b]Are you pretending to be dense?
Originally posted by @divegeesterYou're late. We've straightened out any misunderstanding about that OP.
Are you pretending to be dense?
Now while you are boasting of your high level of intelligence in all things remind yourself that we must humble ourselves like little children for His kingdom.
" And said, Truly I say to you, Unless you turn and become like little children you shall by no means enter into the kingdom of the heavens.
He therefore who will humble himself like this little child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of the heavens,
And whoever receives one such little child because of My name, receives Me .." (Matt. 18:3-5)
While you criticize me I enjoy a peace with God's will and you seem tortured with agitation which rob you of much peace in heart. Because you cannot receive as a humble child some of the things in Christ's teaching.
You boast in your assumed sophistication.
I'll boast in the simplicity of faith and peace at God's will.
Never did such superior reading comprehension education cause such unrest and restlessness in heart at the oracles of God.
Originally posted by @sonshipYes I saw that you had “straightened out” things. However I decided to comment becuase I thought you were being deliberately obtuse. And you were.
You're late. We've straightened out any misunderstanding about that OP.
Now while you are boasting of your high level of intelligence in all things remind yourself that we must humble ourselves like little children for His kingdom.
[quote] [b] " And said, Truly I say to you, Unless you turn and become like little children you shall by no means enter ...[text shortened]... ading comprehension education cause such unrest and restlessness in heart at the oracles of God.
Originally posted by @divegeesterNo I was not. And actually there is no mistake because at face value it appears that he is conceding that life is a gift from a creator.
Yes I saw that you had “straightened out” things. However I decided to comment becuase I thought you were being deliberately obtuse. And you were.
You like to always say things are being done deliberately.
I read quickly and responded rather hastily.
You like to nit pick on minor things, hoping to score on minor things to distract from your inability to refute major things.