One of my favorite topics is the idea that Jesus can forgive your sins. Even when I was a little kid, I couldn't figure this out ... if I hit you on the nose, some other guy can forgive me and make it OK? It just seems wrong. No, it's more than wrong, it's immoral. So why does Christianity have this at its core?
I've written about this before, but today I want to bring you a four-minute video by Christopher Hitchens, who explains this incredibly well. Click the "READ ON" link to see the video...
Christians will argue with you (as they have me) that Hitchens is wrong, and explain that asking Jesus for forgiveness only works if you're really sorry. It's not enough, they say, to simply ask for forgiveness if in your heart you're not really sorry. And being truly sorry implies that you'll try to make amends for your bad behavior, help your victim, and so forth.
That's bull. The truth is that according to Christian theology, if I repent on my death bed, if I'm truly sorry, and ask Jesus for forgiveness, He will grant it. Never mind that I might have been a rapist or murderer, and that I left a trail of tragedy behind me. Never mind that, no matter how sorry I am, it makes not one whit of difference to those I hurt. I'm dead, but forgiven.
Monday, April 12, 2010
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I don't think this is what is meant by Jesus forgiving you for your sins. Yes yes you are quite right, but that's just smoke and mirrors. No Christian thinks of it that way. Christianity offers salvation from ones own remorse. The belief is what saves you from your guilt and worries of the world. No matter how logically correct we are as atheist and rationalist. We do not offer salvation from guilt. And that's why Christianity will not be eradicated by pure logic.
ReplyDeleteNice try Christian (May 18, 2010 poster)
ReplyDeleteChristianity doesn't offer salvation from anything. Anyone that believes in the crazy crap in the bible or the ever changing beliefs about god is deluded or a loony.