‘Eternal suffering’ is nonsensical

Originally posted by @fmf
When I said "What if my giving-to-charity is done in secret?" I was referencing this:

"I would say the Christian giving to charity would be more righteous (in right standing with God) if the amounts and charities were identical. The reason is because God looks on the heart and not the outward appearance or outward act."

You said [i]God looks on the heart ...[text shortened]... t? Meaning the charity is done with the heart and there is no outward appearance or outward act.

For an atheist, you seem to be awfully concerned with what God thinks of you.

FMF: Well, to my way of thinking, your moral framework is not withstanding the scrutiny.

Originally posted by @romans1009
Gee, there’s a shocker.

Ponder this for an explanation of why:

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.“

(1 Corinthians 2:14)

Oh look, you've used a quote from your 'Holy Bible' for some reason or other. Is "1 Corinthians 2:14" a zinger?

Originally posted by @fmf
Are your 'good works' the opposite of righteousness then? Please explain.

Huh?

Is someone else posting for you while you ran to the store to get cigarettes?

How can you ask a question like that after all of the exchanges you’ve had in this thread? It’s like you’re Sisyphus pushing a boulder up a hill, and, just when I think you’re going to make it, it slips out of your hands and you have to start all over again.

Originally posted by @dj2becker
You seem a little slow today. Which part of neither me or an atheist helping our mothers makes us righteous before God don't you get?

You are deflecting. Same little trick again. I am not asking you if the act of helping your mother "makes you righteous", I am asking you about your ideology of "righteousness". I am asking you this: Do you believe there is a supernatural dimension to you helping your mother that sets you apart from a non-Christian helping his or her mother?

Originally posted by @fmf
Oh look, you've used a quote from your 'Holy Bible' for some reason or other. Is "1 Corinthians 2:14" a zinger?

Not a zinger and it’s not my Holy Bible; it’s everyone’s Holy Bible.

I just posted that verse because I thought it was relevant to the discussion.

Originally posted by @romans1009
How can you ask a question like that after all of the exchanges you’ve had in this thread?.

Because you are deliberately obfuscating by inserting the words "makes me righteous" into the answer to the question I am asking you. Those words are not in my question. Here is my question: Are your 'good works' examples of righteousness (as Suzianne your fellow Christian has said), or are they the opposite of righteousness [i.e. akin to filthy rags]? Don't insert the "makes me righteous" into your answer.

Originally posted by @fmf
It sounds like a rather ludicrous manmade notion. It doesn't sound like a 'divinely inspired' concept at all. But if it appeals to you and gives you what you need psychologically as your finite existence looms over you, then good for you.

Well the entire Bible sounds like a rather ludicrous manmade notion to you so no surprise there. Why do you waste so much of your time discussing the Bible if you believe it is all rather a ludicrous manmade notion?

Originally posted by @romans1009
I just posted that verse because I thought it was relevant to the discussion.

Is citing '1 Corinthians 2:14' a debating point?

Originally posted by @fmf
You are deflecting. Same little trick again. I am not asking you if the act of helping your mother "makes you righteous", I am asking you about your ideology of "righteousness". I am asking you this: Do you believe there is a supernatural dimension to you helping your mother that sets you apart from a non-Christian helping his or her mother?

I refer you to my post above where I advised you to ponder upon this: without faith it is impossible to please God. Have you done some pondering?

Originally posted by @dj2becker
Why do you waste so much of your time discussing the Bible if you believe it is all rather a ludicrous manmade notion?

You've asked me this about ten times before. I answered you the first few times and then didn't feel the need to repeat myself after that. And I don't feel the need now either. My previous answer to this question still stands.

Originally posted by @fmf
It sounds like a rather ludicrous manmade notion. It doesn't sound like a 'divinely inspired' concept at all. But if it appeals to you and gives you what you need psychologically as your finite existence looms over you, then good for you.

It’s actually quite the opposite of what you claim.

What seems “man-made” is the idea that salvation is based on good works or that we have to “earn” our way into heaven. Our entire human existence is about working for rewards.

The idea that we can obtain the ultimate reward by not doing any work at all does not seem man-made at all, but it is the gift of a completely holy and loving God.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.“

(Isaiah 55:8-9)

Originally posted by @dj2becker
I refer you to my post above where I advised you to ponder upon this: without faith it is impossible to please God. Have you done some pondering?

You're responding to a question I asked Romans1009.

And you have already recited the sentence "Without faith, it is impossible to please God" to me, and I have already responded to it.

Originally posted by @fmf
Because you are deliberately obfuscating by inserting the words "makes me righteous" into the answer to the question I am asking you. Those words are not in my question. Here is my question: Are your 'good works' examples of righteousness (as Suzianne your fellow Christian has said), or are they the opposite of righteousness [i.e. akin to filthy rags]? Don't insert the "makes me righteous" into your answer.

I answered that already. Are you reading replies to the questions you’re asking, Sisyphus?

Originally posted by @fmf
Is citing '1 Corinthians 2:14' a debating point?

No, I posted it for you to ponder and consider.

Originally posted by @romans1009
It’s actually quite the opposite of what you claim.

What seems “man-made” is the idea that salvation is based on good works or that we have to “earn” our way into heaven. Our entire human existence is about working for rewards.

The idea that we can obtain the ultimate reward by not doing any work at all does not seem man-made at all, but it is the ...[text shortened]... h, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.“

(Isaiah 55:8-9)

You are responding to a post addressed to dj2becker. "The idea that we can obtain the ultimate reward by not doing any work at all does not seem man-made at all, but it is the gift of a completely holy and loving God." Well, if it appeals to your imagination and the part of your individual human spirit that processes such conjecture, then, like I said to dj2becker, all well and good. If it helps you navigate your way through life, then good for you.