tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055129112728408987.comments2023-05-28T00:49:59.156-07:00Songs of a Semi-Free ManSongs of a Semi-Free Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05666794329484768175noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055129112728408987.post-4092377619886554942013-08-13T12:20:48.419-07:002013-08-13T12:20:48.419-07:00Grundy,I don't think there are good people in ...Grundy,I don't think there are good people in hell, or in heaven for that matter- just sinners saved by grace (a free gift for those who choose to accept it). <br /><br />But that's not to say that I don't feel terrible that people could spend an eternity away from God. In fact, the motivation for this blog is to help prevent people from suffering this terrible but avoidable fate.Songs of a Semi-Free Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05666794329484768175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055129112728408987.post-77876510368063319702013-08-12T18:53:19.166-07:002013-08-12T18:53:19.166-07:00Let's say you're right and go to heaven. Y...Let's say you're right and go to heaven. You won't feel bad about the millions of mostly good people in hell?Grundyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07339125862340793733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055129112728408987.post-68746617567087455482013-08-12T18:44:54.682-07:002013-08-12T18:44:54.682-07:00Why would God an all-loving, all-powerful God go t...Why would God an all-loving, all-powerful God go through the terrible pain and anguish of the death of Jesus in our place if it was not necessary to save us? If Jesus suffered and died in such a brutal way how is He not merciful or loving?<br /><br />Also, we when we believe and follow Jesus we actually get what we don't deserve - heaven. <br /><br />Remember the two criminals crucified with Jesus. One admitted that he'd lived a terrible life and deserved his punishment, and Jesus responded that he would be in paradise. The other criminal chose to curse God instead. We have the free will to reject God's offer of salvation but we can't claim that the all-powerful creator of the universe who paid such a price that we would not have to suffer eternal punishment is being unfair.Songs of a Semi-Free Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05666794329484768175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055129112728408987.post-44876981982255663022013-08-11T07:38:14.754-07:002013-08-11T07:38:14.754-07:00Let's say we are bad to some degree, are any o...Let's say we are bad to some degree, are any of us bad enough in our relatively short time on earth to deserve the worst punishment available for the longest duration? I don't understand how anyone can believe this and at the same time consider God merciful or loving.Grundyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07339125862340793733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055129112728408987.post-27606591659415447362013-08-10T18:49:43.570-07:002013-08-10T18:49:43.570-07:00Grundy, I think that we all, myself included, have...Grundy, I think that we all, myself included, have done wrong and deserve punishment. I also think that it is difficult for us to see ourselves as bad people, but I think that we all are. I put some of my thoughts on why I think this is so in an earlier blog post - Good. Here's the link - http://songsofasemifreeman.blogspot.com/2011/03/good.htmlSongs of a Semi-Free Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05666794329484768175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055129112728408987.post-57261526341092054062013-08-09T07:22:05.311-07:002013-08-09T07:22:05.311-07:00You said "I don’t think that we are punished ...You said "I don’t think that we are punished for “abstaining from worship or not acknowledging a creator”" then said "So we are bound to hell as the consequences of our actions but God in His mercy will pardon us if we believe and follow Jesus." So it is about worshiping/following and acknowledging/believing in Jesus. That's my point. The most immoral actions in my past are white lies, a couple cases of school-time plagiarism and consensual sex outside of marriage, for that I am sentenced to hell? Do you really consider that just punishment?Grundyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07339125862340793733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055129112728408987.post-65251210837120541442013-08-08T18:35:02.093-07:002013-08-08T18:35:02.093-07:00Grundy thanks for reading my blog and taking the t...Grundy thanks for reading my blog and taking the time to make a thoughtful comment. <br /><br />I don’t think that we are punished for “abstaining from worship or not acknowledging a creator”, rather our flawed nature means that each of us has committed moral wrongs, so that we each deserve punishment. Further, you are not the only one who sees punishment in hell as a tragedy. God went to unimaginable lengths to give us a way out of that fate. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus we have a way to avoid our deserved fate. So we are bound to hell as the consequences of our actions but God in His mercy will pardon us if we believe and follow Jesus.<br /><br />I also think that if we only had earthly justice, where some people “get away with it”, there would not really be any justice. Therefore, I think that God judging the world so that no one ultimately “gets away with it” guarantees that there is true justice.<br /><br />Regarding your point about the length of punishment, I’m not sure that we can know what eternal effects our actions have.<br /><br />Songs of a Semi-Free Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05666794329484768175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055129112728408987.post-506407763779270762013-08-06T18:13:03.790-07:002013-08-06T18:13:03.790-07:00Many forms of Christianity imply the punishment is...Many forms of Christianity imply the punishment is an infinite stay in hell for a finite crime, even if the central crime is abstaining from worship or not acknowledging a creator. You reference a "just punishment." I'm curious what you think that would be and where it is scripturally evident?Grundyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07339125862340793733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055129112728408987.post-64455505399392670402013-03-05T18:56:00.922-08:002013-03-05T18:56:00.922-08:00I think that the good historical evidence for the ...I think that the good historical evidence for the resurrection of Jesus assures me that we are not dealing with a fairy tale. I also find the scientific evidence of a fine-tuned universe convincing that there is a purpose to life.Songs of a Semi-Free Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05666794329484768175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055129112728408987.post-33509155845304110182013-03-05T15:42:57.066-08:002013-03-05T15:42:57.066-08:00Do you ever think, what if the atheists are right...Do you ever think, what if the atheists are right? what if our faith is just a fairy tale, I find that thought very disturbing and depressing, am I just a fool for still believing?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055129112728408987.post-78321429421248802902012-08-27T18:09:09.697-07:002012-08-27T18:09:09.697-07:00B. Pecker, thanks for your interest in my blog. L...B. Pecker, thanks for your interest in my blog. Let me know if there is anything specific you'd like to discuss.Songs of a Semi-Free Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05666794329484768175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055129112728408987.post-31409270877710009512012-08-27T01:00:49.512-07:002012-08-27T01:00:49.512-07:00And then Jesus came upon his disciples and said, &...And then Jesus came upon his disciples and said, "Brethren, love me, admire me, adore me. But please, for the love of Baal, stop with the dying for sins bullshit. It's fucking outrageous and makes us all look like a bunch of goddamn Cro-Magnon lunatics!!"--Jesus Christ, the Lost GospelB. Peckernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055129112728408987.post-74067504930270969232012-08-11T07:09:39.119-07:002012-08-11T07:09:39.119-07:00I don't think that unfairness or suffering are...I don't think that unfairness or suffering are necessarily obstacles in the way of someone's path to heaven. While the unfairness and suffering experienced in this life are not caused by God, He can still use them for good. Many find God in suffering and unfairness. If we lived without suffering or pain in this world, we would see no need for God. C.S. Lewis, the Christian writer wrote "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world."Songs of a Semi-Free Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05666794329484768175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055129112728408987.post-89259063145761898832012-08-10T15:03:23.708-07:002012-08-10T15:03:23.708-07:00So...why not start on common ground? Why place hug...So...why not start on common ground? Why place huge obstacles in the way of someone's path to heaven while making it easy for someone else. If this short, unfair life has consequences that go on forever, it is even worse, don't you think?Grundyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07339125862340793733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055129112728408987.post-19717726330844153702012-08-09T18:04:19.450-07:002012-08-09T18:04:19.450-07:00Grundy, I agree that if this physical world is all...Grundy, I agree that if this physical world is all there is, life is unfair and random. However, as I pointed out in the post above, if the God portrayed in the Bible does exist, this world is but a fleeting shadow and God will usher in a world of fairness and peace.Songs of a Semi-Free Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05666794329484768175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055129112728408987.post-39757372280731038062012-08-09T03:41:42.602-07:002012-08-09T03:41:42.602-07:00What about the problem of fairness? If life and re...What about the problem of fairness? If life and reality is guided by God, why are some born into horrible circumstances while others are born into luruxy? Why do some win the lottery while others children are killed by disease or natural disasters?Grundyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07339125862340793733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055129112728408987.post-89595133145913337262012-02-23T10:32:02.661-08:002012-02-23T10:32:02.661-08:00I think it is important for atheists and other sec...I think it is important for atheists and other secularists to have this rally and really come out if you will as an acceptable group in this country. Yes, it is true that atheism is just the denial of a super-being, in fact there really should be a world like "atheist" at all. However hard it is, I think secularists should unite together to combat this growing religiosity in the public square and to tell others that it is ok to be an atheist.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055129112728408987.post-19194078681433475822012-02-13T17:51:16.927-08:002012-02-13T17:51:16.927-08:00I love Wilde, but I disagree with the general prem...I love Wilde, but I disagree with the general premise. Can you look into your child's eyes, hold your wife or be in the company of family and think there must be more? To me nothing could be more greedy.mattymohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11989534726556207972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055129112728408987.post-84624145555599674042011-12-12T18:35:23.471-08:002011-12-12T18:35:23.471-08:00Great point. I agree without trust we can't m...Great point. I agree without trust we can't move forward.Songs of a Semi-Free Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05666794329484768175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055129112728408987.post-87549801745919764222011-12-12T07:41:44.968-08:002011-12-12T07:41:44.968-08:00Trust is important; without it, we cannot allow ou...Trust is important; without it, we cannot allow ourselves to be vulnerable. We trust that someone will not act in such a way as to hurt us. Without trust, there is no appropriate (healthy) vulnerability. Without such vulnerability, there is no risk taking. Without such risk taking, there is no progress.cybele727https://www.blogger.com/profile/16336273913991459858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055129112728408987.post-19594945878103535552011-12-05T06:41:23.161-08:002011-12-05T06:41:23.161-08:00TruthOverFaith, thank for your interest in my blog...TruthOverFaith, thank for your interest in my blog. Your username implies that you seek truth, as I do, so if you have any specific questions you would like to discuss please let me know. <br /><br />We must all be open to reviewing our underlying assumptions to ensure they are reasonable.Songs of a Semi-Free Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05666794329484768175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055129112728408987.post-48622974365460246652011-12-04T02:03:55.757-08:002011-12-04T02:03:55.757-08:00And then Jesus came upon his disciples and said, &...And then Jesus came upon his disciples and said, "What's this shit I've been hearing about a human sacrifice for sins!!!? What kind of Neanderthal bullshit is that!!!!? And who do you think I am, some kind of Cro Magnon lunatic!!!? Blood sacrifice!!!!!? Are you all insane!!!!? Have you lost your goddamned minds!!!!!? Listen, you can take that "dying for sins" bullshit and shove it straight up your Stone Age asses!!!"-Jesus H. ChristTruthOverfaithnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055129112728408987.post-2750742714283783182011-11-14T09:48:41.805-08:002011-11-14T09:48:41.805-08:00Sean, a good father is priceless. It's interes...Sean, a good father is priceless. It's interesting how shaving reminds you of your father as well. Thanks for commenting.Songs of a Semi-Free Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05666794329484768175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055129112728408987.post-60716704288368333642011-11-14T08:09:03.230-08:002011-11-14T08:09:03.230-08:00Steve, it will be 7 years this coming Feb. for the...Steve, it will be 7 years this coming Feb. for the passing of my father. It is funny the things we remember but I still look back fondly on his shaving kit. One of the many ways he showed me how to be a man, a husband and a father.<br /><br />SeanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4055129112728408987.post-32911546721729934492011-11-08T08:53:08.131-08:002011-11-08T08:53:08.131-08:00Thanks RachelThanks RachelSongs of a Semi-Free Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05666794329484768175noreply@blogger.com