I do enjoy reading your posts, even if I don’t agree. I am a Christian who reads the bible and believes that it is the word of God put on paper by man so that other men could come to know the truths of our existence. I don’t think that fear was a motivating factor in my decision to accept Jesus, as I was not accepting Him to avoid hell. I was accepting Him because of many undeniable events and happenings in my life that all but proved with actual, hard evidence - to me - that He was real. For me it was about learning to be a better man, husband, and father. It was also the realization that we as humans are severely flawed in almost every way, and that those flaws can all be traced back to the “flesh” if you will. Selfish desires, self-centeredness, greed, etc. - all the sins you read of in the bible that man commits to one another every day. I don’t care how good of a person anyone says they are - they all to a man do things every day that are objectionable and wrong. This is how our bodies are wired and how we are tempted by the evilness of our flesh. Yes, it sounds like I am beating the bible, but deep down you know it to be true. The set of morals written in the hearts of every man, woman, and child says it is so - although some of us are so good at self delusion that we have all but convinced ourselves that a bad practice of ours is acceptable (this is how I feel about homosexuality - I love each and every person in this world, and am no better than anyone, but these people have seriously deluded themselves and allowed themselves to be deluded by the media into thinking that this behavior is natural and should be accepted. It is my opinion that this is not so.)

Bottom line, the people I go to church with are not there out of fear, they are there because they know the truth and want to express that to God. We also go to come together and help minister to others who are less fortunate than us. Just last week we hosted over 500 Chinese students in our own homes to show them how loving the world outside China is. We had many accept Christ then and there based upon our example of love and compassion - something they had never seen before even from their parents.

Whatever you think about “religion” is not for me to define, but just know that there are those of us out there who are simply trying to make a positive difference in people’s lives that are completely and totally lost. This world is an evil place, and people are NOT inherently good (did you teach your children to lie or steal?), so we need to overcome that with the power of our God (my opinion, but my truth as well). Many people have given Christianity a bad name and done so much damage to what others perceive us to believe, but if you truly read the bible - and actually understand what is written there - you will find that someone who follows the teachings of Jesus Christ will love everyone unconditionally, and be the first to admit that they are flawed. That’s enough for me, but remember, it’s not about fear, it’s about real hope and the truth.

@Stephen J. Galbincea: Sorry for the late reply. I have been pretty busy around here. Thanks for your patience.

I do enjoy reading your posts, even if I don’t agree.

I just hope this is going to be an inspiring discussion for both sides?

I don’t think that fear was a motivating factor in my decision to accept Jesus, as I was not accepting Him to avoid hell.

Good for you. Although I might challenge you after reading this …

It was also the realization that we as humans are severely flawed in almost every way, and that those flaws can all be traced back to the “flesh” if you will. Selfish desires, self-centeredness, greed, etc. - all the sins you read of in the bible that man commits to one another every day.

So you did fear something - the badness or evil in yourself and others?!

It also is very dogmatic to imply that humans are bad and need a religion / savior to better themselves.

This is how our bodies are wired and how we are tempted by the evilness of our flesh. Yes, it sounds like I am beating the bible, but deep down you know it to be true.

We are wired for procreation. It’s called sexuality and is necessary for the survival of our species (from my non-religious perspective).

And deep down I can “hear” my sperm talking, but it’s not bad or evil in any way, just my basic instincts that all animals have. We can cultivate our desires and grow beyond mere instinct. But instinct itself it not evil.

We also go to come together and help minister to others who are less fortunate than us. Just last week we hosted over 500 Chinese students in our own homes to show them how loving the world outside China is. We had many accept Christ then and there based upon our example of love and compassion - something they had never seen before even from their parents.

I love the first part - and I find the second part odd. Why can’t religious people simply do something good WITHOUT preaching their beliefs and making others join them?

It’s not all aimed at you - but it constantly is rather big paradox. If God really is everywhere - why go to specific place to worship him? If God wants all people to join his religion, why did he send his prophets first only to the Jews and later only to a small town country called Rome? China and India had bigger cities and civilizations. Why leave them out for centuries and condemn billions of people to purgatory forever?

This world is an evil place, and people are NOT inherently good (did you teach your children to lie or steal?), so we need to overcome that with the power of our God (my opinion, but my truth as well).

Once again, I don’t agree with that statement. Man doesn’t need Gods to develop morals. And humanity is not evil by default. Instead we are by default rather altruistic and helpful. The first primitive societies are ALL founded on cooperation and even peaceful trade.

Many people have given Christianity a bad name and done so much damage to what others perceive us to believe, but if you truly read the bible - and actually understand what is written there - you will find that someone who follows the teachings of Jesus Christ will love everyone unconditionally, and be the first to admit that they are flawed. That’s enough for me, but remember, it’s not about fear, it’s about real hope and the truth.

I find it always strange when religious people talk about the “truth”. Religious “truth” is no truth at all, because it’s not provable or explorable. It’s a “truth” once has to believe in - so it’s no “truth” at all. It’s not self evident, it’s mostly mystical and not based on moments / experiments in real life that can be repeated by everyone anytime.

Religion is not “truth”, but mysticism - and mysticism always has it’s unexplained bits and illogical twists. Especially those twists leave space for interpretations and moments of insecurity. And that causes fear and insecurity for the believers.