age 15 — “the main point of life is to have the best existence possible”

[Multicolored Lemur]

A person needs to see how lost they really are before they seek salvation.

This is maybe the branch point at which we disagree.

For example, look at anger management. I want people to start learning skills and getting better. I don’t want them to hit “rock bottom” or something similar.

Instead of super trying, I want trying in a diagonal direction. Like it’s good to do in math class if a person starts to get frustrated.

Think more baseball, and less football.

 

[Scooter]

The problem with mankind is we cannot get good enough to earn our way into Heaven. As long as a drowning man thinks he can make it to shore he refuses the life ring. It’s only when he understands he can’t make it he reaches for the lifeline. Jesus is our lifeline. As long as you see yourself good enough, you refuse to lay hold of Jesus. Until it’s too late. This ain’t math class.

 

[AgnosticBoy]

In the evangelical church of my youth, if you say a prayer to accept Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you are saved.

I hope this is not exactly what your church taught because this isn’t the truth. Just saying a prayer is not enough to save someone. There has to be personal conviction that a person is a sinner and cannot reach God on their own. A person needs to see how lost they really are before they seek salvation. This is what drives a person to Jesus to ask forgiveness for their sins. This is known as repentance. Repentance is turning from sin and at the same time turning to God. When we realize how much Christ suffered for us, just because He loves us, it makes it easy to run to Him and seek forgiveness. When we commit our lives to Jesus Christ, in full assurance, then He saves us and we are given a new life in Him. That’s when you know you have been born again. So you see it is much more than just saying a prayer.

The problem with mankind is we cannot get good enough to earn our way into Heaven. As long as a drowning man thinks he can make it to shore he refuses the life ring. It’s only when he understands he can’t make it he reaches for the lifeline. Jesus is our lifeline. As long as you see yourself good enough, you refuse to lay hold of Jesus. Until it’s too late. This ain’t math class.

I definitely agree with the your last 2 posts because they are a display of good Christian theology. I can't tell you how many times I've read differing viewpoints on salvation just to find that many views leave out information here and there. At least, your view accounts for all of the relevant information on the issue.

 

[Scooter]

I definitely agree with the your last 2 posts because they are a display of good Christian theology. I can't tell you how many times I've read differing viewpoints on salvation just to find that many views leave out information here and there. At least, your view accounts for all of the relevant information on the issue.

Thank you sir. I take my faith very seriously. I also want to be able to explain it in a very simple way so that people understand.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

Utilitarianism - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

“ . . . considers either the interests of all humanity and/or all sentient beings equally. . . ”

—————————

And this would be the remedy.

 

[Scooter]

Utilitarianism - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

“ . . . considers either the interests of all humanity and/or all sentient beings equally. . . ”

—————————

And this would be the remedy.

Here’s the problem with utilitarianism…by whose standard would it be applied? What faction gets to determine the boundaries? Even within the article you referenced, there are disagreements: Proponents of utilitarianism have disagreed on a number of issues, such as whether actions should be chosen based on their likely results (act utilitarianism), or whether agents should conform to rules that maximize utility (rule utilitarianism)

In my belief system, God has determined what is right and what is wrong. God has declared how a person is to live and how to have eternal life. Perhaps I missed it but I didn’t see any mention of utilitarianism making a way for a person to have eternal life after physical death. Paul said it best: If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

. It’s only when he understands he can’t make it he reaches for the lifeline. Jesus is our lifeline.

a display of good Christian theology

Of course, we all three realize that we’re taking religion far more seriously than most people do, right? I hope so.

For most people, religion helps to make you a better person. And gives you some assurance that when you try to take the high road, at least some people will give you credit for trying. And not view you as a complete loon!

* I’m impressed by the social fact of how early people decide they might as well cheat because “everyone” cheats.

And the whole social component of church.

Christmas & Easter,

more often if you like the minister’s sermon, if you have a friend in choir, etc.

 

[Scooter]

Of course, we all three realize that we’re taking religion far more seriously than most people do, right?

Unfortunately, you are correct.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

God has declared how a person is to live and how to have eternal life.

Okay, I’m just going to say it. There’s a lot of preaching, and I’m going to respond—

What about Mark 4: 12, in which Jesus says he speaks in parables because “ . . otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!” (NIV)

It’s devastating.

It means the Gospel of Mark is a compilation drawing from a number of sources, some of them inaccurate.

In addition,

grief hallucinations are

a recognized phenomenon.

For example, I read one study which estimated that at least 30 % of senior citizens who have lost a spouse will feel the person’s presence or hear their voice or perhaps even see them.

So, one third. So, about 3 out of the 12 disciples.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

the problem with utilitarianism…by whose standard

You just wing. Like these two books —

Both of these will give advice of “best bet.” With studies. For example, there will be tricky types of pneumonia. You do your best drawing on all your information and experience.

None of it is certain.

But neither is it “just opinion.” I’m not saying you’re saying this. But this is the kind of thing someone would say who just wants to impatiently dismiss a field they’re not familiar with.