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.
If there was no Jesus and there is no heaven or no hell, no consequences whatsoever, why do you not buy a gun and take whatever you need and desire from someone who has what you want? Why not have sex with whoever you want through rape? Rob a bank and not worry about money, kill someone for his Air Jordan tennis shoes, kill a unwanted baby through abortion, steal money posing yourself as a financial advisor, take somebodies flat screen TV, kill a wife or girlfriend that has cheated on you or has become a thorn in your side, beat her if she is disrespectful to you, sit on your butt and collect from the government while everyone else pays taxes for you to do so, kill thousands of people by driving an airplane thru their buildings in the name of Allah, behead people who do not think like you. oh yea, this is exactly what a life and society without Jesus does do. I choose Jesus, His teachings, His actions, not religion,Christ followers are not religeous and hey do not follow man-made useless religion. Religion kills and distorts and judges, Christ followers feed the poor and the widows and the fatherless, look around, it is not the agnostics and atheists bringing fresh water and food and medical supplies into the likes of Haiti for instance, it is the Christians. Jesus loved but did the support the actions and beliefs of the most religeous people in the history of the world, the Pharisees. First do your homework and before speaking out, quit listening to your mind for answers or the words of anyone, Jesus said you will know by their fruit. Without hearing or listening to a word, it is the Christ follower that is feeding the poor, trying to save the unwanted baby from abortion, supporting the death penalty for those who kill others, loving, and respecting and honoring their spouses and children. loving their neighbor, praying for their loved ones and their country. Trying to make a positive influence in their communities. Get a clue.
ReplyDeleteAnon - If you'd spent even one minute searching for other blogs I've written about morality, you'd have discovered that I've answered all of your questions. You're spouting one of the most thoroughly discredited philosophical arguments in the history of religion.
ReplyDelete