Here's an example: according to the particular denomination of Christianity I grew up in, eating meat on Friday is a mortal sin. Missing Sunday mass, without good reason, is a mortal sin. Participating in the sacrifice of the mass, and regularly going to confession, is a huge part of that denomination. There are a number of other sins that if I commit, and die without having confessed them, I'm eternally damned.

I reject all of those views. If I'm brainwashed, how is that even possible?

This post was edited by IceMage on May 28 2015 07:32am

you would probably have accepted those view if you didn't commit those "mortal sins". You found an interpretation of the bible that suit the way you live, you actually brainwashed yourself.

Bobbing and weaving.

What a load of hogwash. No one needs to "find a different version of the bible" if they wish to deviate from their denomination's teachings they just do it. The idea that the only reason people act certain ways is because a book brainwashed them is offensive. People make choices to adhere or deviate from religious teachings for a menagerie of reasons, and not all of those reasons are because the person committed the sin as you also suggest.

I am 100% anti the christian stance on homosexuality and gay marriage, is that because i committed the sin of homosexual acts? No. I simply made the choice without any bible backing me.

This post was edited by thesnipa on May 28 2015 08:15am

If I wasn't concerned with the truth, and just the feel good aspect of religion, I'd be a universalist.

Subconscious will find a way to help you survive, if you don't accept that you are just a part of a eco system and you want to eat meat each friday then your brain will find a way that is acceptable for you to be happy making you think that you are a special immortal creature that can rape, kill and eat whatever you want as long as you accept that the Christ dies for you before you die yourself.

TIL if you dont eat meat on fridays your body warps your brain until you do... Weak troll attempt brotha.

Double weak on the rape/kill/eat with impunity bit.

You can spin psychological arguments each way. I can say that you want to live your life however you want with no consequences, with nothing compelling you to act morally, and thus you reject the idea of a Christian God. Your subconscious is deeply afraid of the idea that the creator of the universe will judge you when you die.

Again, if I wasn't concerned with the truth, psychologically it'd be easier to be a liberal universalist. Or I could just be a cafeteria Christian, taking the comfort of eternal life, but rejecting the idea that God has outlined what a moral life looks like. Or, I could be a Buddhist. They are very comfortable with dying.

This post was edited by IceMage on May 28 2015 08:46am

What is Universalism? The idea that the Universe and God are one?

Of course God and the Universe are unified. I have no problem believing I am a part of the universe, and by extension I should believe I am a part of God.

People go where they want when they die. An atheist might go nowhere, while a religious person might want to speak to the icon of their faith. Life can be as flat or buoyant as we like, why should death be an exception?

I'm speaking of Christian Universalism.