Explain to me the math behind redemption

[ronedee]

All well and good, though I'd obviously disagree with your assessment of your faiths impact on your life and those of others on at least one count. Now, just so this is clear.....it's never been my intention to force you to deny some part of your faith...quite the opposite. I've been trying to entice you to affirm your faith - to apply it's principles evenly throughout all of your experience....in short...I've been half hoping that you would advocate for vicarious redemption or atonement here - in this world..as part of our own system of handling the same. After all, it's gods system, and you clearly believe it to be the bees knees...shouldn't we be aspiring to that goal?

If your question is: How sharing in atonement or redemption relates to my faith? I offer all suffering and adversity in my life, and of others (daily) to God. The only things we have to offer Him is our pain, sufferings and failings. Because everything "good" is from Him. That, and prayer is how I stay in constant contact. Once these things are offered to Him.....honestly..... I've NEVER been let down. Never!

An atheist may call it: luck, good fortune, positive re-enforcement, etc. I call it answered prays, and trust in God.

I wish it worked for Lottery numbers!

Somehow I doubt that your prayers are going to have any effect like bumping me up in the line (or any effect, really) - but since I haven't burst into flames and you've presumably been casting a magic spell over me meanwhile...it seems that the sentiment is at least benign - so have at it. Now, if I wake up one morning with a shriveled penis, or my crops rot on the vine.......you're gonna be suspect number one.

LOL! Prayer only works for good! But, I do remember that one time.........

All joking aside....perhaps I can help you to see this last bit in a different light. If I'm not willing to accept this deities offer of protection - from itself- (and this for reasons of ethics, dignity, and justice primarily) why would I be willing to accept any other "good" it might offer me? Am I supposed to be grateful or accepting of the loan that Don Jehovah offers....or happy that he deigns to purchase products from my business rather than the business of another? Or relieved that he chooses not to destroy my business despite turning him down on his offer of protection?

A relationship with God is a personal one. There are religions, and there are men/women of God. No religion will get us to heaven.

God judges a man by his heart. Jesus said, "There are follower's not of this flock.", and "I know my sheep, and they know me." To me that says, the principals and words of Jesus are [as important] as He is!

To say a man is saved, or not is an insult to God. He alone makes that decision based on a man's heart/love.