I think a big part of the reason this is important to pay attention to, however, is that this highlights the danger of believing that someone's eternal soul is danger of hellfire and how that can lead one to conclude that the ends will always justify the means. I mean, hypothetically, if punching him actually won this kid over to Jesus, could a Christian truly object to this? How would we know he wasn't destined to be a denying, hellbound heathen otherwise? Even if god himself objected to this type of tactic, would it not be okay to go against his will to save a soul? All you'd have to do is pray for forgiveness anyway.
I'm just wondering how you can even draw a line as to appropriate behavior when someone's eternal existence is on the line.
I'm just wondering how you can even draw a line as to appropriate behavior when someone's eternal existence is on the line.
Even if the open windows of science at first make us shiver after the cozy indoor warmth of traditional humanizing myths, in the end the fresh air brings vigor, and the great spaces have a splendor of their own - Bertrand Russell
