Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site allegra.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!alan From: alan@allegra.UUCP (Alan S. Driscoll) Newsgroups: net.religion Subject: Re: Saint DuBois, Sinner Kulawiec Message-ID: <2822@allegra.UUCP> Date: Mon, 1-Oct-84 11:46:42 EDT Article-I.D.: allegra.2822 Posted: Mon Oct 1 11:46:42 1984 Date-Received: Wed, 3-Oct-84 05:56:05 EDT References: <1227@pucc-h>, <1169@hou4b.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill Lines: 31 > How would you feel if you were God, and you call two people to judgement: One > has spent his life making people happier, raising a family and teaching his > children well, going out of his way to help others. The second came in > sniveling with complaints about the way you run things. He has superb > intelligence, and he has had every material need (need, not want) provided out > of the love of others. And all he can do is lambaste you for a couple of the > things you asked him to do. How would you be inclined to treat the second? > I hope God is more merciful than I ... [Mark Terribile] Why attribute such banal, human emotions as spite and anger to God? Aren't these your own shortcomings (i.e., your lack of "Christian compassion and forgiveness") that you're focusing on? If you see God as Universal Parent, then answer this: Would an ideal parent ever punish a child out of anger? Anyway, let's consider a more interesting example. What about Joe Bloe? Joe is a kind, decent, loving person. He cares about people, and he tries to do what's right. However, he isn't religious. (If you're particularly narrow-minded, you can imagine that Joe failed to choose the "right" religion). Now, how would you be inclined to treat Joe? Remember, we know that Joe is sincere in his ethics and his concern for people. After all, he doesn't believe in a judgemental god, so he isn't just trying to save his own eternal butt. -- Alan S. Driscoll AT&T Bell Laboratories