Quote:
Originally Posted by arloiginla
Lately, the idea that salvation is a gift of God, and that the commandments follow voluntarily rather than as a means of obtaining salvation, has become more prevalent in Christian circles. The Bible supports this doctrine as far as I understand it and it freed me from great amounts of bondage. You have no idea how difficult it is to live life thinking that God hates you and that you have to choke the joy out of life in order to follow a bunch of pre-set rules in order to get to heaven. No wonder no one wants a part of it!
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What you said is just more evidence for the fact that Christianity has been evolving and changing for the past 2000 years and it's interpretation and application changes with every generation and culture. What Christianity is to you then, seems to be what you take for yourself as applicable doctrine and that's no different from all those people who have taken it upon themselves to re-define their faith for themselves over 2000 years...many of them starting new religions themselves.
That's fine and religion is great as a personal thing. What secular or irrreligious people want is the same thing, for religion to be a personal thing, not an organized beast that imposes it's beliefs or practices and judgements upon state and society as a whole, or even on a personal level between people interacting in daily life.
I used to enjoy making fun of mormon beliefs and culture (thanks South Park) but then I met a few and became close friends with some and I've developed an enourmous respect for what they have and what they've built or what holds them together or what brings them happiness. Even if I still believe deep down that everything they believe is totally 100% absurd, it's their way of life and I can't help but respect that and it is the same toward any religion for me, as long as they don't impose their beliefs on others.