Re: Boy Scouts Banned By Alabama Pastor Greg Walker[W:220]
Why would I want to condemn people to hell?
No one is asking you to.
Why would I want to believe that the vast majority of humanity (as "unbelievers") is going to spend eternity in endless torture?
You are questioning Christian doctrine and the issue, the OP, is not about you.
Why would I use 'faith' to claim that I am more moral than everyone else?
The correct attitude of a Christian should be "Chief of Sinners though I be Christ is all and all in me." What do you use to claim moral superiority over evryone else?
I obviously have no more morality ("family values") or moral authority than anyone else on the Earth, except it seems, if I were a religious Christian.
Other religions also have such people in them too, need I point out the many of the Islamists base their actions on a moral point of view? The same is with Hndu and their cast system with untouchables. The same with some of the secular humanistst who think they are more moral because they do not follow a religion and use reason which may involve faulty premises. Are you sure you are not using the grounds of moral superiority in this.
Why would I publicly condemn and judge those who I believe to be 'morally unfit' like gays, sex workers, women who get abortions or even harmless idiots like those who cuss and swear?
The issue is and is the issue of the OP, that the Church has a right and a duty not to allow other orginizations that are counter to their message to use their facilities.
Why would I demand to say "Merry Christmas", pray in public or erect crosses and the 10 Commandments; just so Muslims, Buddhists, Sikhs and atheists can feel uncomfortable and excluded in their home countries?
Why do you demand for religious people to be quiet about their religous belief? What do you want Christians to say "Happy Solistice" or some other weak greeting? What do you care if someone prays in public? Just leave them alone. And as long as the crosses or the 10 Comandments are erected on private property what do you care? Also this issue is about what happens in the USA not other countries so that is a non-issue.
Why would I want to complain that I am being persecuted for actively practicing my Christian religion in the public square and in government, whilst showing minority faiths absolute disrespect?
How is public demonstration of faith disrespectful to minority faiths? And just because one is in government doesn't mean you give up the faith one cannot use the power of their position in government to impose it.
Why would I want to believe that praying, church attendance, tithing, God's Grace or repentance have any substantial benefit in this world; when that time spent in church could be spent actually helping needy people?
In Christiananity, Christians are not for this world but for the next and Christians DO donate both money and time to help needy people. That is called fruits of the faith.
Or all that money given to churches and pastors/preachers living comfortable, posh lives in first-world countries could instead be given to the poor and the unfortunate?
So they should not pray in public and should not have a building to pray in either. No doubt you would complain if they had too many at any one house in a prayer meetiing also. Also while I can consider pators having comfortable lives they do not live posh ones. I do not consider Carnival Preachers to be true to the faith so they do not count.
Why would I ever want to believe that humans have 'original sin'?
It is basic Christian doctraine you can chosee not to belive it. Also BTW Toist also an analogous concept that is smilar to original sin in its religious beliefs.
Why I would I want to have no hope in humanity, or the goodness and kindness of people?
No one is asking you to have no hope but the basic nature of humans is very bad or evil. Who is more likely to do evil the one who reconizes tendencis to do evil and conters the activly or the one who believs themselfs to be good and moral and fails to reconize such tendencies?
Why would I want to believe that all the suffering, misery and hopelessness in the world is required by an (1) an uncaring deity or (2) a merciless entity out to test his creations by causing them pain; instead of believing that there is NO God, and that on account of this, there is actual hope for humanity to better itself and ease it's suffering?
I wonder sometimes ...
If you want to lessen the suffering of mankind first you must reconise that you are capable in acting and supporting great evil. Second, you must question your motivations whether or not there is any evil intent. Third, you must understand the outcomes of any action that you do or any that you support. Fourth you must understand what can be changed in this world and how readily. Finaly you must accept that you could be wrong in some of your ideas. If you are able to do these you are ready to begin to couter the worlds suffering try not to make things worse by doing so.
