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Originally Posted by The Cloud  I'm starting with the last point first, because it seems to me to be the most important one. I am acting under the assumption that God is perfect, and that sin is imperfection. Now, I don't know what Bible you subscribe to, but in the Bible that I grew up with sin was a pretty big theme. With regards to sin, I was taught that the only man to be wholly without sin was Jesus Christ. So everybody sins, but as long as we seek forgiveness for those sins from God it will be granted.
Now, the way I figure it, sin and perfection cannot co-exist. |
Why?
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Originally Posted by The Cloud Yet God created man, a creature that is not only capable of sin [imperfection] but is incapable of not sinning. A perfect being created imperfection. There are only two possible resolutions to this quandary; either man is perfect, or God is imperfect. Either scenario is at odds with the Biblical portrayal of man and God. |
Or God gave man free will, which includes the ability to sin.
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Originally Posted by The Cloud I don't dismiss all of the Bible. I merely recognize that it is just a book like any other, with no divine qualities, to be interpreted and learned from as I see fit. |
IMO, it can either be rejected in its entirety or accepted in its entirety. You can't pick and choose what seems right.
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Originally Posted by The Cloud I don't believe that you're wrong or that you're conspiring to trick me. In fact, I'm fairly certain that you and I have similar beliefs. The difference is the labels that are being put to those beliefs. Where you say God, I might say universe. You say you are Christian; I refuse to put a label on what I believe.
The fact that we seem to disagree so much only further indicates to me that we believe the same things. I can tolerate different beliefs, as long as they don't harm me. What I find myself arguing against the most strongly is usually people saying the same things that I believe, but using words that I don't agree with to say it. Whether or not you and I agree, the word Christian gets my hackles up and puts me on the defensive, which in turn gets your hackles up just the same. |
Why does it put you on the defensive? We're all only expressing our beliefs.
I don't think your beliefs are really that similar to Christianity. You might believe in treating others as you would want to be treated, or loving your neighbor, but you know what the central focus of Christianity is, and if you agreed with it, well, you'd be Christian. That's what makes Christians, Christians.
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Originally Posted by The Cloud The thing that bothers me most is when self-proclaimed Christians say that the bible must be interpreted, which I have no disagreement with, but then turn around and say that I'm going to go to Hell if I don't label my interpretations as Christian. As if somehow their interpretation of the Bible is special because they stamp the word Christian on it. I have no anger or resentment against God or Jesus. I'm not trying to be rebellious against a cruel, unjust Creator. I simply don't believe that there is a singular separate entity called God that created the universe, or that Jesus was divinely conceived. I don't doubt that you've felt His love and spirit come into you. I seek the same thing, except that I won't call it God when I find it. |
Then your interpretations aren't coming from the Bible. I'm really not sure what you mean here, because the overall theme of the Bible is pretty clear, whether you agree with it or not. There might be variations in how the minor details can be interpreted, but no one disputes the main premise.