Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: djdaneh@pacbell.com (Dan'l DanehyOakes) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Could Jesus have sinned? Message-ID: Date: 12 Jun 91 02:46:23 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Pacific * Bell, San Ramon, CA Lines: 48 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article lindborg@cs.washington.edu (Jeff Lindborg) writes: >so instead of not giving us a choice to love him, he gives us the >ever-popular "love me or else" concept. Oh so much better to be >sure. Is love derived of fear of punishment any better than love >that is forced? >You are still left with a petty, spiteful, God who seems more bent >on revenge and hatred than anything else... You know, I heard that argument from my eight-year-old daughter (though without the pejorative terminology) last week. It springs from an extreme misconception about "Heaven" and "Hell." Given: that God is the source of all goodness (a Christian given): Then "Heaven" == the state of being with or becoming arbitrarily close to God (having as much of good as it is possible for that creature to have); and "Hell" == the state of being utterly without or becoming arbitrarily far from God (having as little of good as it is possible for that creature to have). God, then, out of love for Their creatures, allows them to decide whether to approach Them or turn away from Them. God *will* *not* force Themself (yes, yes, I realize what an awkward construction that is) upon an unwilling creature. God makes every effort to woo, cajole, even sometimes bribe creatures to turn towards Them (which, at least in some interpretations, does not automatically equate to "worship" or "become a Christian"); but if utterly rejected, then They will allow the creature to go their own way. That is Hell; and the worst thing about it is that they think it is the best thing available to them. Forget all the nonsense about brimstone and fires-that-burn-forever-but-don't-consume-or-shed-light. Look into C.S. Lewis's THE GREAT DIVORCE; its first chapter or so is the best (allegorical) description of what Hell is really about ever written. In my opinion, of course. He asks "How does it feel to be such a freak?" And he laughs as he hands you a bone, Yes, something is happening here And you don't know what it is Do you, Mr. Jones? -- Bob Dylan The Roach