Comments on: Divine injustice http://bridgingschisms.org/2008/07/divine-injustice/ investigating other people's beliefs Wed, 11 Apr 2012 19:04:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Eshu http://bridgingschisms.org/2008/07/divine-injustice/comment-page-1/#comment-73 Eshu Sat, 26 Jul 2008 13:59:32 +0000 http://bridgingschisms.org/?p=15#comment-73 Thanks Obi - I've re-read what The Ridger wrote and I follow the argument. Yes, it does go against what has been said in the Bible. although I thought the "No other gods but me" thing was odd as it implicitly acknowledges the <i>existence</i> of other gods. Why else would it be a problem? Thanks Obi – I’ve re-read what The Ridger wrote and I follow the argument. Yes, it does go against what has been said in the Bible. although I thought the “No other gods but me” thing was odd as it implicitly acknowledges the existence of other gods. Why else would it be a problem?

]]> By: Obi http://bridgingschisms.org/2008/07/divine-injustice/comment-page-1/#comment-72 Obi Sat, 26 Jul 2008 13:00:43 +0000 http://bridgingschisms.org/?p=15#comment-72 Well, since Aslan is basically Jesus, it seems that he's saying that no matter what other gods you pray to, since they don't exist, Jesus was the one hearing your earnest prayers the whole time. However, that seems to go against the "Thou shalt have no other gods but me" commandment as well as the "No man cometh unto the father but by me" statement. Not only that, but where does that leave atheists? I find these answers quite lacking, which is one of the reasons I left Christianity and all possible other religion behind. Well, since Aslan is basically Jesus, it seems that he’s saying that no matter what other gods you pray to, since they don’t exist, Jesus was the one hearing your earnest prayers the whole time. However, that seems to go against the “Thou shalt have no other gods but me” commandment as well as the “No man cometh unto the father but by me” statement. Not only that, but where does that leave atheists? I find these answers quite lacking, which is one of the reasons I left Christianity and all possible other religion behind.

]]> By: Eshu http://bridgingschisms.org/2008/07/divine-injustice/comment-page-1/#comment-59 Eshu Mon, 21 Jul 2008 06:41:03 +0000 http://bridgingschisms.org/?p=15#comment-59 Thanks Ridger, although I have to admit I don't really follow what Aslan is saying there. I'd read the book, but I'm a bit old for Narnia and I never really liked them as a kid. Thanks Ridger, although I have to admit I don’t really follow what Aslan is saying there. I’d read the book, but I’m a bit old for Narnia and I never really liked them as a kid.

]]> By: The Ridger http://bridgingschisms.org/2008/07/divine-injustice/comment-page-1/#comment-58 The Ridger Sun, 20 Jul 2008 06:47:27 +0000 http://bridgingschisms.org/?p=15#comment-58 Lewis tried to deal with this problem in the last Narnia book. The Calormene prince who has spent his life worshiping Tash actually goes to Heaven because Aslan says, essentially, "Nothing good can be done for Tash, even if you say his name, but only for me; and nothing evil can be done for me, even if you say my name, but only for Tash. Therefore, though you have prayed to Tash, it is I who have heard your prayers." It's an answer, anyway, though I don't think many Christians use it. Lewis tried to deal with this problem in the last Narnia book. The Calormene prince who has spent his life worshiping Tash actually goes to Heaven because Aslan says, essentially, “Nothing good can be done for Tash, even if you say his name, but only for me; and nothing evil can be done for me, even if you say my name, but only for Tash. Therefore, though you have prayed to Tash, it is I who have heard your prayers.”

It’s an answer, anyway, though I don’t think many Christians use it.

]]> By: Yoo http://bridgingschisms.org/2008/07/divine-injustice/comment-page-1/#comment-54 Yoo Wed, 09 Jul 2008 15:18:50 +0000 http://bridgingschisms.org/?p=15#comment-54 Joe's analogy using Hawaiian tickets is somewhat lacking. An analogy with an email offering millions of dollars in Nigeria as long as you handle "small" expenses or offer all of your financial information seems to be closer. Joe’s analogy using Hawaiian tickets is somewhat lacking. An analogy with an email offering millions of dollars in Nigeria as long as you handle “small” expenses or offer all of your financial information seems to be closer.

]]> By: Eshu http://bridgingschisms.org/2008/07/divine-injustice/comment-page-1/#comment-53 Eshu Wed, 09 Jul 2008 06:47:41 +0000 http://bridgingschisms.org/?p=15#comment-53 John Morales, <blockquote>More charitably, he might be saying it’s unreasonable not to save ourselves just because others can’t save themselves. </blockquote> Yes, I guess that's a fair way of putting it. I think the issue really is that he's missing the point of the argument: <i>They’re not just saying it’s unfair, they’re saying it’s unfair and yet it claims to be fair.</i> And yes self-preservation is probably a better way to describe it, perhaps I was unfair on Lewis. If you want to read the whole of Mere Christianity you can follow the link to Philosophy for Life. Ebonmuse also did <a href="http://www.ebonmusings.org/atheism/books/merechristianity.html" rel="nofollow">a review</a> of it. the chaplain: I think many liberal Christians think like that. If <a href="http://www.ebonmusings.org/atheism/godislove.html" rel="nofollow">God is love</a> then he wouldn't let anyone die or go to hell just for an honest mistake. John Morales,

More charitably, he might be saying it’s unreasonable not to save ourselves just because others can’t save themselves.

Yes, I guess that’s a fair way of putting it. I think the issue really is that he’s missing the point of the argument:
They’re not just saying it’s unfair, they’re saying it’s unfair and yet it claims to be fair.

And yes self-preservation is probably a better way to describe it, perhaps I was unfair on Lewis. If you want to read the whole of Mere Christianity you can follow the link to Philosophy for Life. Ebonmuse also did a review of it.

the chaplain:
I think many liberal Christians think like that. If God is love then he wouldn’t let anyone die or go to hell just for an honest mistake.

]]> By: the chaplain http://bridgingschisms.org/2008/07/divine-injustice/comment-page-1/#comment-52 the chaplain Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:39:31 +0000 http://bridgingschisms.org/?p=15#comment-52 <i>God has not told us what His arrangements about the other people are. We do know that no man can be saved except through Christ.</i> In my liberal Christian days, I figured that Jesus would be gracious enough to intercede on behalf of those who had lived good lives according to some religious faith. I figured that was one of the ineffable ways God could effect salvation beyond the seemingly narrow Christian parameters. I just happened to be among those fortunate enough to know the truth. Yeah - pretty lame. I gave it up. God has not told us what His arrangements about the other people are. We do know that no man can be saved except through Christ.

In my liberal Christian days, I figured that Jesus would be gracious enough to intercede on behalf of those who had lived good lives according to some religious faith. I figured that was one of the ineffable ways God could effect salvation beyond the seemingly narrow Christian parameters. I just happened to be among those fortunate enough to know the truth.

Yeah – pretty lame. I gave it up.

]]> By: John Morales http://bridgingschisms.org/2008/07/divine-injustice/comment-page-1/#comment-51 John Morales Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:25:43 +0000 http://bridgingschisms.org/?p=15#comment-51 Possibly. More charitably, he might be saying it's unreasonable not to save ourselves just because others can't save <i>themselves</i>. Of course, I don't know, not having read the book. And sure, it's appealing to self-preservation, if that's what you mean by our selfish side. Possibly.

More charitably, he might be saying it’s unreasonable not to save ourselves just because others can’t save themselves.

Of course, I don’t know, not having read the book.
And sure, it’s appealing to self-preservation, if that’s what you mean by our selfish side.

]]> By: Eshu http://bridgingschisms.org/2008/07/divine-injustice/comment-page-1/#comment-50 Eshu Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:04:28 +0000 http://bridgingschisms.org/?p=15#comment-50 Oh yes, you're right! Sorry, I should have re-read that more carefully. He's only saying it's unreasonable <i>for us to stay outside</i>, which I still think is trying to appeal to our selfish sides. Oh yes, you’re right! Sorry, I should have re-read that more carefully.

He’s only saying it’s unreasonable for us to stay outside, which I still think is trying to appeal to our selfish sides.

]]> By: John Morales http://bridgingschisms.org/2008/07/divine-injustice/comment-page-1/#comment-49 John Morales Tue, 08 Jul 2008 22:36:56 +0000 http://bridgingschisms.org/?p=15#comment-49 <i>By saying it is unreasonable for us to worry about the people outside, Lewis seems to be trying to appeal to our selfish side.</i> Um, is that what's said? The quote provided was: <i>But in the meantime, if you are worried about the people outside, the most unreasonable thing you can do is to remain outside yourself.</i> By saying it is unreasonable for us to worry about the people outside, Lewis seems to be trying to appeal to our selfish side.

Um, is that what’s said? The quote provided was:
But in the meantime, if you are worried about the people outside, the most unreasonable thing you can do is to remain outside yourself.

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