On 2004-02-24 14:52:00, Anonymous wrote:
"How does God punish? If you believe in God and disobey any or all of the 10 Commandments? No, God does not punish. That's why Jesus died for our sins.
I was raised Catholic. That should say it all, LOL. According to Catholics, sinners go to Hell. And everyone's a sinner. So everyone's going to Hell. What kind of loving, caring, forgiving, benevolent God is gonna let "His" creations go to Hell? Sounds like punishment to me!
Some say we can be saved if we believe in God and repent our sins. What if you're a stubborn Agnostic such as myself who simply cannot believe, or disbelieve for that matter, in something of which there is no proof (God)? And/or what if you don't repent your sins? I curse; I have sex; I have "desecrated the temple" of my body with drugs, alcohol, and tattoos; I don't "honor my father and my mother"; and I don't feel bad about any of these things. According to Catholicism, I'm doomed to Hell. More punishment! Yay!
IMO,
if there is a God, which I will never be convinced of, it didn't send any prophet down any mountain carrying any stone tablets telling people how to live their lives. It also didn't have a son who was put through atrocities on mankind's behalf.
IMO,
if there is a God, it is a silent, sentient force that does not judge, does not reward, does not punish, but simply... just... is.
~ Mindi the Agnostic