Posted by panch from adsl-64-166-22-178.dsl.snfc21.pacbell.net (64.166.22.178) on Friday, December 06, 2002 at 11:08AM :
How could Abgar have converted to Christianity when there was no Christianity in Christ's lifetime? We converted to Judaism, a slight variant, but far closer to Judaism than to anything Assyrian. The central core,the whole Christian enchilada isn't belief in mothers and fathers or respect for gods...all religions had that. The fact the Christianity, like Judaism before it,and Islam later, had the good sense to borrow heavily from us. That should make them grateful to US...not the other way around.
When I ask anyone I can get a hold of what was the central core of Christ's teachings I get "life after death...resurrection through belief in Jesus that you will be resurrected...which you can't be, if you don't believe you will be."
I am understandably confused and unimpressed...so are scads and hoardes of other people. What's the big deal with living forever? Anything "forever" gets boring. In fact...heaven sounds like hell.
Why the shift in focus to another existence altogether...what's wrong with a little joy down here? What kind of a god gives you a mind and body and tells you not to enjoy them, unless he approves? Why give you a Ferrari and tell you to not go over 20 mph? Is god supposed to be cruel and sadistic? Why not just give us all Yugos and let there be peace on earth?
-- panch
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