sad, Jesus Christ’ death is one event that even most professing-Christians did not fully comprehend. maybe because it got complicated with the trinity doctrine. now, it got all messed up.

just stick to the thing that works for you.

i concede that christians enjoy benefits for being christians, but believing in god is not for me. i tried believing, but it felt like i was kidding myself

i think that’s the difference. i feel like im being really stupid and dumb if i believe in a god. i dont see an impetus to believe - none at all. you on the other hand, probably do it with less effort and is not bothered by the “im kidding” myself syndrome.

thanks.

I respect everything that you wrote here, sometimes I get confused too… but still, I’ll stick with my own beliefs.

kahit ano pa man ‘yan I know that there is someone/ something far beyond us that is not even for the wisest man to comprehend.
- baka isunod mong itanong na pano ko nasabi eh wala ngang nakakaintindi? nde ko din alam, parang love, mahal mo lang.. though xempre nde valid na argumento ‘yan. hehe baka dahil nakalakihan ko lang… nde rin.. haay

*sumasakit ulo ko*

Nice blog. Sya nga pala, thanks for visiting my blog . On the issue of salvation, naku po, napakarami nyan! Roman Catholic believe on two major issue regarding salvation. Dati, they believe that outside the Roman catholic Church there is no salvation ( I don’t know if they still believe it?) also they believe that salvation is not only justified by faith. Most fundamentalist christians believe Saul of Tarsus (AKA Paul) when he preached to the world that just believe and you’ll be saved.

That's the ultimate marketing maneuver. All they had to do was to prove that you owe someone something and because of that undebtedness, you are then obligated to do what that party wants - and should you not meet his will, it is in writing that he will reserve no mercy for you. Excellent. Emotional blackmail to a fault! hehe

But remember that all religion teaches salvation (in different issues) Like the Buddhist and the Hindu for example. Getting away with the wheels of Karma is considered salvation. Most religion know as “People of the Book” (Jews, Christian and Muslims) believe that salvation means not going to eternal damnation. Sa madaling salita, salvation is nothing more but a strategy used by used-car salesmen.

With Buddhism though, there is minimal indebtedness to Siddharta Gautama himself. Buddha just happened to be the first person to attain enlightment and show other people the Eight-Fold Path. In the end, one is not obligated to do good - it is a mere suggestion akin to a friend saying "Hey, this worked for me. Why don't you try it?"

Thank you John, I'll post your site as a link.

But remember that all religion teaches salvation (in different issues) Like the Buddhist and the Hindu for example. Getting away with the wheels of Karma is considered salvation. Most religion know as “People of the Book” (Jews, Christian and Muslims) believe that salvation means not going to eternal damnation. Sa madaling salita, salvation is nothing more but a strategy used by used-car salesmen.

Until next time,
John the Atheist

i’m totally roman catholic, but sometimes i don’t really understand certain beliefs of the christian world…

maybe you should write something about “salvation” para ma-enlighten ako… i have christian friends who tell me na “they want to save me” and i have to be baptised a christian and be a christian because only christians will be saved. and i’m like, “huh? i’m roman catholic, am not i a christian too?” but that’s not the point anyway, i mean so if you’re muslim you won’t be saved na? or ibang God na ba ung magsasave sayo? ugh. i’m so confused.

The concept of christians getting salvation is deeply rooted in the last book of the bible - the Book of Revelations. In the End of Days, before the Tribulation (*shudder*), the heavens will open up and all of a sudden, the "Rapture" will happen - i.e. all the christians will be instantaneously lifted from earth to be with the father. In short the people who will suffer in the end will be the non-believers. How comforting.

In short, it's driven by elitism. For some reason, these christians put a premium on which sect you belong to. Weird, eh? It is confusing, but imho, you'll take a lot more sanity home with you if you totally block out christian fundamentalist teachings.
sure, ill try write something along those lines.

maybe you should write something about “salvation” para ma-enlighten ako… i have christian friends who tell me na “they want to save me” and i have to be baptised a christian and be a christian because only christians will be saved. and i’m like, “huh? i’m roman catholic, am not i a christian too?” but that’s not the point anyway, i mean so if you’re muslim you won’t be saved na? or ibang God na ba ung magsasave sayo? ugh. i’m so confused.

thanks for your nice words. summer brings out the philosopher in me - well, not really. im always thinking about these things, but i rarely write them down. hehe

it’s good that you’ve put your thoughts into words and quite coherently and logically at that. Ah…talk about having the luxury of time to ponder on things that would make an average human being’s brain crack.

keep on writing it down…but watch out, dan brown (or any other author) might “copy” “paste” your opus.

yeah, ive been exposed to calvinism - that’s the whole thing about the ‘elect’, right? i didnt expound my points to that level - the premeditated salvation for a limited number of people — because i didnt want to dwell on the question of numbers.

given all that, im leaning towards dystheism or maltheism if a god truly exists.

Most of what you said agrees with Calvinism. They believe in the “freewill” definition known as Compatibilism.

And all things have past is for His Glory. The clay doesn’t have a “say” on the matter if He’s gonna create vessels of wrath.

here:
Arminianism
http://www.fwponline.cc/arminiandex.html
http://www.eternalsecurity.us
http://www.eternal-debate.org

Calvinism

http://www.monergism.com
http://www.spurgeon.org/mainpage.htm

if youre more interested in RCC theology then search, Augustine, Thomism and Molinism.