Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!iuvax!purdue!gatech!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!geneva.rutgers.edu!christian From: smith_w@apollo.com (Walter Smith) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Ramblings of a Fallen Fundie Message-ID: Date: 31 Jul 89 02:12:42 GMT Sender: hedrick@geneva.rutgers.edu Organization: Apollo Computer, Chelmsford, MA Lines: 53 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu [In article kilroy@mimsy.UUCP (Darren F. Provine) described his experience in doubting the existence of a literal Hell, in his Southern Baptist church. --clh] > one of the things I have liked about the Baptist >church is that there aren't any creeds -- for the most part, you can >read the Bible and understand it the way the HS speaks to you through >it. I like this in part because, while what you believe may vary a bit, >the lessons Jesus & Paul teach about what you should *do* are pretty clear. I've been attending a southern baptist church as well, although not on a regular basis (or as an 'official' member), and I liked it for the same reason as Darren. >What I would like to know is if anybody can enlighten me as to why >they think they are qualified to judge another man's servant. > >What do you gain by telling me that unless I agree with you exactly, >I'm not a Christian? > >And even if I'm wrong, what does it matter? After you've convinced >me of the truth, what am I supposed to do with it? I live my life >the way Jesus tells me to (with the occasional screwup), and I will >do so regardless of whether there's a Hell -- or, for that matter, >a Heaven. I do believe there is a hell, although I see no reason for others to have to agree. ANYONE who says to me, 'you must...' is suspect. If you know right from wrong, and choose right without being intimidated into it by the fear of hell, who is anyone to force it down your throat? I asked basically the same question on t.r.m....could anyone show me why I must believe all their groups doctrines to be saved...so far, no takers on it... This person, does he also say you must believe in the trinity, or any other particular doctrines? Walter [The nearest the Southern Baptists have to an authoritative confession (unless the recent attempt to purge "liberals" from the seminaries has caused things to change) is a document from 1925. The preface to the document makes it very clear that you don't have to believe everything in it in order to be saved. "They are not intended to add anything to the simple conditions of salvation revealed in the NT, viz., repentance towards God and faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord." Let us be generous, and suppose that that person who said you had to believe in Hell in order to be a Christian was simply expressing surprise, "Gee, I don't see how any Christian could believe this", not seriously attempting to judge Darren as being damned. --clh]