Why would Satan want souls? What use are they to him?

[ronedee]

It's really hard to argue with something as hazy and completely divorced from reality as the logic you're putting forth. If you're just going to believe in some vague "everything will turn out okay because god," then how is anyone supposed to respond to you?

Well.... let me ask you a question: "What happens after death?" You don't know. Only that no one (Jesus excluded) has come back to complain.

But, for the sake of argument.... Many people (not all religious beforehand!) have been clinically dead and had out of the body experiences. Seeing themselves on the operating table, bi-located, etc.

So, even if we agree they didn't actually die.... we can admit: Something unusual happened. Then this would validate the thought: WE DON'T KNOW.

So in light of all this, "hazy" can safely be used in a situation that is actually divorced from reality. Unless of course you have a good explanation of exactly what goes on after the heart stops?

But the new testament was written by the same kind of superstitious people. How do you know anything in the bible reflects reality if you're going to think like this?

For one, Jesus' words are about: love, life and forgiveness. I'm not saying man was upgraded totally in the NT. But the message is a lot different.

Okay, fine, I don't think you've really understood my point, here. You keep making analogies to real world situations with consequences vastly different from the heaven/hell dichotomy, without understanding that such an analogy is faulty by definition. Not thinking about someone is very different from trapping them in some nether-realm.

But, I'm not thinking like men here! I'm trying to think like God (if you will). I don't think that we are subjected to eternal damnation if we don't want it! Of course there are certain criterion for that.... but I don't perceive it out of the realm of anyone... atheist, christian or otherwise!

I truly believe we have a choice. Even after death. This is in the light of God being a loving one, and us also being loving children of His! No matter what we are wearing!

Well, then my question to you would be, why would you believe anything in the bible, if you're willing to disregard the stories in it as lies? Aren't the good parts also written by the same people? It seems to me like you're just cherry picking, taking the parts you like as accurate while dismissing the inconvenient parts as the words of liars, but in the bible you've described the entire thing could be a lie and you'd have no way of knowing. So why believe it?

I guess I would be, as Catholics call it: "a cafeteria christian". But I take EVERYTHING Jesus says seriously! But, I also take the complete message, and weigh it against the times that He lived in. Parables are not always a good message to me. I like direct quotes and plain messages.

That's the problem.

Well for you. But it means much to me. I'm trying to communicate to you and the others more plainly. I'm hoping that we can understand each other more.

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Why are we here?

I am here because my parents had unprotected sex.

Society thinks I am here to serve the rich by working myself to death.

What reason do I personally believe my existence serves? To live my life the way I want without having to worry about theistitards informing me that I must adhere to their way of living.

Ya had me up to the last line! No one is making you adhere to, or force feeding you religion. You are here looking and listening of your own volition.

Its a free country do whatever you want holmes!