Quote from stu:
As the story goes isn't it that God created sin, ensured people would sin, and knowing people must sin , he sends Christ to be killed for the sin God himself caused and created. So then God punishes Christ/himself/people, as atonement for all people, who God caused to be sinful in the first place.
2. If you commit murder here in this life on this earth you will probably be punished here on this earth. The punishment will most likely come from the state, other people or maybe even yourself. The only way God is involved in this is maybe the way he created us or if He influenced our laws, then through that avenue.
That's a big involvement isn't it? But reckless at least, to create mankind as sinful then leave it to them to be sinful!
3. Now if you or anyone else does as you say and is fair and kind etc. then all should go well for them here which is as I see it is fine with God as He set it up that way. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" " Love thy neighbor as thyself". etc.
But God isn't said to have set it up that way. He set it up that all people would be born with sin. It could equally be that God's intention is that you should be sinful. To be fair and kind does not need God. I don't see it as fine with God, when God made things so that mankind had to be sinful. it sounds like it would be more fine with him if people sinned.
4. If you decide not to accept Christ's death for your sins and want to be seperate from God for eternity then that is also your choice. It is totally up to you. There may be consequences for this decision but it is totally up to you to weigh the choices. This is much like the decision to murder. If you don't like the consequences then there are other avenues such as not murdering.
When you say "accept Christ's death for your sins" I take it you mean believing Christ died for (payment of?) peoples' sin. If he did then apparently the debt is somehow paid. so it's ok by God to sin now.
Apart from that, apparently Christ's death didn't work. God killed himself or his son for something he created himself, but then left in tact the very thing Christ is supposed to have died for.
Deciding not to fall for this story is much like the decision to murder. Are you sure about that?? I think such extreme comparison signifies a tendency on your part to over dramatize for the sake of effect. Finding no reason to accept mythical stories, is hardly comparable to finding reason not to murder.
For now you have made the right and noble decision to live here innocently to the best of your ability which is a very good decision. The rest is totally in your hands and is nobodies business except yours. It is kind of like having ones cake and eating it too. It may not be possible to totally reject God and yet share in all the benefits He promises. If you don't want to be near God then He will honor your desire and not force Himself on you. And that seems fair to me.
I suppose a threat of eternal damnation, whether implied or expressed directly as in the Bible, is not actually forcing anyone. However religionists make it their business to use as much linguistic force (myth with murder , non complience with eternal torture) by stating what they know is right. But to choose to be near something or someone which is described as much a homicidal, despotic, tyrannical, megalomaniac, as a loving creator of everything.. is a complete non starter. Surely one would have to be actually forced to accept such unacceptable circumstances, were the myth to turn into reality.
Both of my brother-in-laws plus many other relatives are SDA ordained ministers.