On Psalm 109 and Faith

[Ghoulish Delight]

Your interpretation of true Christianity. But when heaven is the reward, and forgiveness is the only qualification for the reward, it's not hard to see where that leads. Sure, the workers may stop grumbling for the day since they were given what they were promised. But if that same vineyard comes by the next day, what motivation do they have to work with him again if they can instead just work the short evening shift and get the same pay?

Suicide was a regular occurrence for Christian sects. It took until the 6th century to realize that there was a nasty loophole in the whole "heaven is the ultimate reward" thing, that too many people were taking the shortcut and Christians were killing themselves out of existence. Thus suicide was declared to be a sin punishable by hell.

In modern times you have to look no further than the success of the 700 Club to see that the view of the afterlife as the only real goal is alive and well. They're friends of Israel not out of a great love of Jews, but because they want the temple reestablished to bring the end times. They have millions of followers, all doing whatever they can to bring trigger the destruction of earth as we know it.

I should recant a bit and include pretty much all religion in this. Judaism is not exempt from elevating the reward of afterlife over this life. The difference being that the price of entry according to Judaism is directly related to your actions in this life, no shortcuts allowed.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Considering that I'm pretty well convinced that this is all I get, it bums me out that there are such a large number of people treating this place like an airport boarding terminal rather than focusing on improving this life for themselves and others.

Originally Posted by scaeagles

I don't really understand why you think that way.

True Christianity is all about helping others. If you refer to my earlier posting which I referenced the book of Acts, the focus goes onto those who don't consider service and meeting real needs as below them.

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Your interpretation of true Christianity. But when heaven is the reward, and forgiveness is the only qualification for the reward, it's not hard to see where that leads

...

In modern times you have to look no further than the success of the 700 Club to see that the view of the afterlife as the only real goal is alive and well. They're friends of Israel not out of a great love of Jews, but because they want the temple reestablished to bring the end times. They have millions of followers, all doing whatever they can to bring trigger the destruction of earth as we know it.

Sorry to interrupt this current line of conversation (thoroughly engaging as it is) by returning to some earlier posts, but I just saw something that I find pretty relevant.

Sarah Palin has let slip a clue that she is among the nuts working to bring end times.

link

In response to a question about Jewish settlements on Palestinian land, Palin told Walters, "I believe that the Jewish settlements should be allowed to be expanded upon, because that population of Israel is, is going to grow. More and more Jewish people will be flocking to Israel in the days and weeks and months ahead."

Seeing as there is nothing happening in the world right now that would make that statement make any sense, the only possible conclusion is that she's referring to end-times prophecy about Jews returning to Israel, rebuilding the temple, and triggering rapture.

Now, I don't for a second worry that the end times will get here. What I do worry about is the considerable number of people who seem to be perfectly happy to vote someone into high office who is willing to make policy decision based on magical prophecies. That I find intolerable.

This is the problem. Yes, the later books of the bible are chock full of excellent examples of how to be good people. However as long as people are convinced that the entire thing is the word of a magical being, the rest of it will be relevant to those people, and the rest of it includes very specific predictions about what is going to happen to the world and how we should all prepare for it. And that is guiding how people are making decisions about world politics, decisions about when to go to war and start killing people. Utterly unacceptable in my opinion.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

What I do worry about is the considerable number of people who seem to be perfectly happy to vote someone into high office who is willing to make policy decision based on magical prophecies. That I find intolerable.

This is the problem. Yes, the later books of the bible are chock full of excellent examples of how to be good people. However as long as people are convinced that the entire thing is the word of a magical being, the rest of it will be relevant to those people, and the rest of it includes very specific predictions about what is going to happen to the world and how we should all prepare for it. And that is guiding how people are making decisions about world politics, decisions about when to go to war and start killing people. Utterly unacceptable in my opinion.

Worth repeating. Hear hear!