I've had this exact thought before. The "once saved always saved" crowd are in the exact same boat as atheists. From both perspectives there are no eternal negative consequences. Thus fear of eternal damnation isn't the source of morality for either party.
I was once a Mormon and we would accuse the evangelicals of the same thing that the evangelicals accuse the atheists of. Mormonism has a mixture of grace/works to skirt the Christianity-saved loophole. You'll be saved yes. But depending on how good you are will determine the glory/reward you get in the afterlife. So works still count for something - you still have to "endure to the end." And so even people like Hitler will receive a degree of glory. Mormons however often say that the lower two kingdoms will still feel like a hell because you'll know what you'll be missing out on. But this isn't official doctrine. I think they just say this to make themselves feel better. Anyway.... kind of a tangent... heh.
What I found interesting is that the guy actually seemed to believe that his hypothetical rapist was getting off light.
Sure, he doesn't suffer ETERNAL TORTURE at the hands of the allegedly all loving sky man, but he NO LONGER EXISTS. What he did was SO BAD that NON-EXISTENCE is his punishment.
I am always amazed that Theists really seem to believe that we do not believe in morality or society or rules - as if we become atheists and then decide 'Woo Hoo! I'm gonnna go out and rape and kill because I no longer believe in God!'
This is the type of people we need to help the crowd discern truth from reality. This very same topic bugged me since I was a very young boy, and things like this kept me thinking. My introspecting led me to atheism, but most people do not do this.
I've had this exact thought before. The "once saved always saved" crowd are in the exact same boat as atheists. From both perspectives there are no eternal negative consequences. Thus fear of eternal damnation isn't the source of morality for either party.
ReplyDeleteI was once a Mormon and we would accuse the evangelicals of the same thing that the evangelicals accuse the atheists of. Mormonism has a mixture of grace/works to skirt the Christianity-saved loophole. You'll be saved yes. But depending on how good you are will determine the glory/reward you get in the afterlife. So works still count for something - you still have to "endure to the end." And so even people like Hitler will receive a degree of glory. Mormons however often say that the lower two kingdoms will still feel like a hell because you'll know what you'll be missing out on. But this isn't official doctrine. I think they just say this to make themselves feel better. Anyway.... kind of a tangent... heh.
You could start up a channel on BlogTV or YouTube. I'd subscribe.
ReplyDeleteWhat I found interesting is that the guy actually seemed to believe that his hypothetical rapist was getting off light.
ReplyDeleteSure, he doesn't suffer ETERNAL TORTURE at the hands of the allegedly all loving sky man, but he NO LONGER EXISTS. What he did was SO BAD that NON-EXISTENCE is his punishment.
I am always amazed that Theists really seem to believe that we do not believe in morality or society or rules - as if we become atheists and then decide 'Woo Hoo! I'm gonnna go out and rape and kill because I no longer believe in God!'
Thanks Skept! Once I have a larger base I might have to try that.
ReplyDeleteThis is the type of people we need to help the crowd discern truth from reality. This very same topic bugged me since I was a very young boy, and things like this kept me thinking. My introspecting led me to atheism, but most people do not do this.
ReplyDelete