Salvation.

In fact Jesus is the savior of the world.

If people practised what Jesus taught the world would be saved.

But they don't.

Even his own Churches teach something different.

So look to the teachings of Jesus and put them into practice.

Then you will be saved!


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Business as Usual.

In the past the Church taught that Jesus was a human blood sacrifice to atone for the sins of the world.

We were all saved through the blood of Christ.

So why did we have to earn our salvation through good works?

We're already saved, right.

Umm.....

We are all born absolutely in sin.

But Jesus has paid the price.

So we are no longer born in sin.

Make sense?

In the past this kind of questioning was answered with a belting or torture (the official equivalent) so people shut up.

And the world went on as it was.


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No Fear.

You have nothing to fear from God.

God does not punish us.
God punishes no one.

God loves us.

We are His children.

Even children who have gone bad are still His children.

You can make a mistake and be forgiven.

You might even learn something.

In fact it is inevitable that we will make mistakes.

So do not be afraid.

God knows us.

His mercy and forgiveness are forever.


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No Hell.

Could it be that there is no hell?

Hell has always been out of character for a loving God.

Hell comes from dualistic thinking.

God is good and if we are good we go to heaven.
But if there is a heaven for good people there must be a hell for bad people.

This is simple dualistic thinking.

It also contains a temptation.
The temptation to threaten people with hell in order to get them to do what you want.

The old Machiavellian carrot and stick.

But God does not punish us.
God punishes no one.

So there can be no hell.


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Fear of Hell.

Fear of hell (which is fear of God) may be the driving force behind radicalization.

When we introduce liberalization and freedom there is often a backlash.

This backlash is motivated by fear of hell.

Usually more conservative religious people are terrified that we will all go to hell.

So they use violence and hatred to force us to return to moral purity.

But this violence and hatred betrays its origins in fear.

God does not use violence or hatred.

God loves us.

And "perfect love casts out fear"  1 John 4:18a (NRSV)


[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

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Priests and Ministers.

When I say that those who have sold their souls to the devil will be exonerated because they were told by their priests and ministers that God was a sex-phobic moral dictator, you may ask then what becomes of those priests and ministers?

Although the ultimate responsibility for these things lies with priests and ministers it is not really their fault either.

They have an understandable belief in natural justice which they project onto God.  They also have a belief in tradition and these things have been handed down from generation to generation from ancient times.

But these things do not correspond to the reality.

God does not punish us.
He does not punish sinners and He does not punish priests and ministers - even if they are corrupt and selfish.

He gives everyone another chance.

And this includes the Pharisees and Sadducees.


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A Voice in the Wilderness.

"'Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.'"  Luke 3:11b (NRSV)

John the Baptist recommended honesty in dealing with money (Luke 3:12-14) and communism in dealing with possessions.

This was practised by Jesus' disciples (Acts 2:44,45 & 4:32)

But you don't hear this preached in church very often.

It is indeed "'The voice of one crying out in the wilderness.'"  Luke 3:4b (NRSV)


[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

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