by Hal Eaton » Sun Aug 06, 2006 3:43 pm
Okay, William, let me be repetitious, but point-blank, for you f------------t folk:
Do you believe that your (and MY) loving God created all those billions of "other" folks in our world into regions where they have never heard of Jesus, and condemns them to your Hell? Does that also apply to younger folks in our regions who have not yet attained a level of knowledge or commitment that guarantees them our salvation, so they too suffer the tortures of eternal hell? If I am a nay-sayer to this particular doctrine of God, am I to be condemned for my "unbelief?" Please don't say, "You don't believe the Bible."
Further, do you accept the ascension of Jesus to heaven, and in whatever form he was in at the time, physical, spiritual, whatever? Since he ascended, is heaven really "up"? Please don't say, "You don't believe the Bible."
These are among the questions I have asked WITHOUT any form of notable response, from those who decry my questions, and therefore my "unbelief."
Do you'uns all believe in the resurrection of those saints at resurrection time? Do you further believe that on some future day our graves will be opened and we will arise to new life? Please don't say, "You don't believe the Bible."
The Punkin Valley preachers (and some here) piously proclaim beliefs in the secure knowledge that, the more incredible their claims, the more wondrous is their faith. Many continue to worship at the feet of the adherents of extreme fundamentalism--and endeavor to share it with all others who can be converted to Bibliolatry.
I have listed some of my personal problems with NT narratives. I haven't gotten to the OT yet.
Inerrancy lives, but it doesn't thrive. Please don't say . . .
T. D. Webb challenges me for not having provided my own exegesis of the questionable passages. Not being an inerrantist, I don't have to! I can simply dismiss them. If that stance requires you-all to condemn my thoughts and conclusions, so be it. You appear to be much more vulnerable, and therefore defensive to yourselves and offensive toward me, when other ideas are presented.
As with others, T. D. argues about my words, but ignores the rather simple principles which underlie my presentations. He "believes . . ." as the foundation for his theology. (Don't we all?) Contrary to evaluations of Oldad on this forum, I retain my integrity even as I pick and choose what I believe. (Don't we all?)
This morning my pastor bravely quoted Tony Campolo's famous line from a sermon to Southern Seminary students: "30,432 (?) children died of starvation in our world last night. You-all don't give a s--t."