Ask a Traditional Catholic

[Randy Carson]

But I already knew that you believed that. I don't particularly care whether you think you'll be judged or I'll be judged. I believe that notion is as ridiculous as Jonah and the whale or Jesus walking on water.  That wasn't the point.

The point was you vehemently denying (and even accusing me of having a dark and twisted mind to suggest) that fear and threats are used in service of the church as part of doctrine.

You denied it, (and thereby discounted many, many personal accounts both historical and contemporary) and then proceeded to employ that tactic in the very same post.

I assume you've read the NT, Steel.

And I assume you're familiar with both the love of God presented therein as well as the warnings about judgment and hell.

Now, in various places (maybe more than one thread...they aren't well-moderated and get WAY off-topic in this forum), I have argued that it is wrong to USE a one-sided or disproportionately skewed view of hell as a weapon with which to beat people (kids especially) into submission.

Some Protestant preachers do this, some parents do this...maybe some nuns did this in Catholic schools. It would be wrong in each and every case.

But it happened and it continues to happen.

However, I'm taking issue with one particular point; namely, your efforts to lead people away from God - whether in person or through this forum. Only you know what the truth is in this regard.

Jesus was pretty lenient about a lot of stuff...forgiving the woman caught in adultery, for example. But he didn't sound too lenient when it came to leading other people away from God.

Am I trying to scare you, Mike? Or am I just telling you like the Bible says it is?

You may have the last word on this topic.

And since the Poe has been banned, why not lock the thread after your final thoughts are posted?