The Predicament of Existence

@fmf said
Clearly, psychologically speaking, your religions beliefs are very important to you.

Whose isn't?

@kellyjay said
Whose isn't?

Yes. There are things that are clearly psychologically important to me too ~ that give my life its meaning ~ albeit not religious things. However, in my case, the ideas and beliefs I rely on are not as dark and toxic as yours.

@fmf said
Yes. There are things that are clearly psychologically important to me too ~ that give my life its meaning ~ albeit not religious things. However, in my case, the ideas and beliefs I rely on are not as dark and toxic as yours.

Well, dark and toxic, because I said if there is nothing, there is nothing?

@kellyjay said
Well, dark and toxic, because I said if there is nothing, there is nothing?

Dark and toxic because of the dehumanizing and misanthropic prism through which you see your fellow human beings. Dark and toxic because of that.

@fmf said
Dark and toxic because of the dehumanizing and misanthropic prism through which you see your fellow human beings. Dark and toxic because of that.

What have I ever said that isn't true of people, and if that at the end of all life is nothing, what makes humans any better than cockroaches?

@kellyjay said
What have I ever said that isn't true of people?

You have said that everyone deserves to be tortured in burning flames for eternity.

@kellyjay said
if that at the end of all life is nothing, what makes humans any better than cockroaches?

You keep saying "all life is nothing". Speak for yourself. If your life would be "nothing" without your religious beliefs, then so be it. But this does not mean that the lives of people who don't share your religious beliefs are "nothing". Save this poisonous rhetoric for when you are talking to cockroaches.

@kellyjay said
What makes humans any better than cockroaches?

Music, poetry, fiction, language, travel, philosophy, history, philanthropy, science, religion, growth, learning, spouses, children, families, culture etc.

@fmf said
You have said that everyone deserves to be tortured in burning flames for eternity.

Before a Holy God whom we sin against, holding everyone to account for everything done and said, we sin, and the sentence for that comes from Him. Those things we do define us so that when we lie, we become liars; as we steal, we become thieves; all the things we do and say put us at odds with each other and God.

You have called my beliefs toxic and among other things. Do you think God will not look at those that deny His very existence as toxic and not allow them and all who do and promote evil in His Kingdom? It is a matter of degree with you; some things you accept, some not, no so God, and He is the judge, not you or me.

So you just said that because I believe hell is the wrong answer for the wrong done by man, that wasn't my question. My question was, have I claimed anything about the man that isn't true? Do I make false charges? It is one thing to talk about the penalty for a crime, that is one subject, but have I wrongly painted people as something other than what they are? What they deserve is another question altogether.

@fmf said
Music, poetry, fiction, language, travel, philosophy, history, philanthropy, science, religion, growth, learning, spouses, children, families, culture etc.

… open discussions about life, the universe, and chess …

@fmf said
You keep saying "all life is nothing". Speak for yourself. If your life would be "nothing" without your religious beliefs, then so be it. But this does not mean that the lives of people who don't share your religious beliefs are "nothing". Save this poisonous rhetoric for when you are talking to cockroaches.

God created everything and everyone and gave us all we have, even the very air we breathe. He did that for His reasoning, not mine, not yours, and if someone promotes evil in His kingdom, it will only occur in this life.

In the next one which is eternal, all of those here who do not go to Him owing their sins and asking for grace will be left on their own. They will not stand up and be able to give an account for the evil they did, so they will be rejected from entering the eternal Kingdom of God.

Many people with religious beliefs will be cast into Hell; our beliefs cannot save us; only God can from the wrath currently over us all; in Christ alone, not some belief about Him can be saved. You want to ponder the internal workings of belief when you should be focused on the One who created you.

@fmf said
Dark and toxic because of the dehumanizing and misanthropic prism through which you see your fellow human beings. Dark and toxic because of that.

"dehumanizing and misanthropic."
What have I said that fits into these categories, the punishment for sin has nothing to do with these.

@kellyjay said
"dehumanizing and misanthropic."
What have I said that fits into these categories, the punishment for sin has nothing to do with these.

You asserted that if death is the end, it makes humans no better than cockroaches. Well, that's a case of dehumanization in my book. It's not a narcissostic belief in immortality that makes us different from cockroaches. It doesn't matter how much solace your aspirations for eternal life give you.

@kellyjay said
My question was, have I claimed anything about the man that isn't true? Do I make false charges?

You have claimed that every human being is so evil they deserve to be tortured in burning flames for eternity.

@kellyjay said
If at the end of all life is nothing, what makes humans any better than cockroaches?

I believe that death is the end. And yet I am able to say what makes humans better than cockroaches without any difficulty.

If you were to lose your faith, would you no longer be able to say "what makes humans ... better than cockroaches"?