[quote]Jewbacca wrote:
[quote]on edge wrote:
Christians are moral because they are afraid of going to hell.
[/quote]
Not exactly a Christian theologian here, but that is false.
Christians, correct me if I am wrong, but I understand Christians to think they are all going to Heaven if they accept the teachings, divinity, death/resurrection of the Nazarine, and agree to follow him, regardless of the merits of their actions on Earth.
The act moral (or are supposed to) out of gratitude and as a statement of their faith.
Me, as a Jewish guy, act moral because it’s the right thing to do and keeps my soul at peace with G-d.
Sure (in both religions as I understand it) there are Earthly rewards and punishments for good behavior and misbehavior, but such is not the point and of little eternal significance for the person involved.
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That’s the gist of it. I’m an atheist who was raised Roman Catholic. The deal in that sect is that the sacrament of Confession cleans your slate, assuming you are current on all of the other sacraments as well.
Murdered a homeless person last week? Just confess and you’re in.
Molested your neighbor’s kids? Just confess and you’re in.
Cheated millions of people out of their retirement savings? Yep, same deal. Confess and you’re in.
Now you may spend some time in purgatory, but you’ll get to heaven sooner or later as long as you say the magic words, eat the magic cracker and drink the magic wine.
That’s how I remember it, at least. I’m not exactly current on the dogma and it is possible I missed a thing or two.
Similar principles with fewer rituals apply to Protestant sects, I believe. You can still do awful, awful things and get to Heaven.