It really depends on your stance as it relatest to fear. Fear is healthy. Let me give you an example. You don’t drink rat poision because of the consequences. Are you motivated by fear? Yes a healthy fear. I will tell everyone that if you are coming to God only in fear of eternal damnation then somone has not preached the Gospel clearly to you.

As for your comment on scripture The Koran motivates some man to drive planes into buildings it motivates others to serve faithfully in their communities. The same for the bible, in the hands of any zealot the bible can be a tool of great destruction. But here is the challenge again.

Show me in the Gospel how this is so. You have failed to do that. What is it about Jesus’ message that cause man to do the evils you clearly described? Zeal with no real understanding is what it is. As it relates to plagerizing and all I will say that the bible takes faith just like any other set of beliefs. I will not sit here and agree with those who say it doesn’t. Some of the historic events can be easily validated, but things like the flood, Red Sea, Jonah and the Fish, and ultimately the Ressurection takes faith.

I am glad that you have continued to dialouge and let me or Tyris know if you have any additional questions. I will say that without faith the bible is a bunch of allegories and Jesus is just another dude. That faith is a work of God thus we will continue to appeal to Him on your behalf. I would ask that you PLEASE CONTINUE to visit and comment.

I do appreciate your kindness and openeness although I think you dodged the question on what exactly do you believe. God bless and I look forward to more conversations and we have to hook up when I come home. I would love to meet the family over dinner and introduce you to Charity and Caleb.

Your love for me is obvious and I really do appreciate that.

However, your post is somewhat contradicting…Here’s why:

At first you say, “…Christians are also not motivated by fear.”

Then you say, “…Christ is patient but His patience will run short and your life will end and there is one promise in scripture that rings loud and clear “it is appointed once for a man to die and then the judgment”…

Lastly you say, “…Don’t make the mistake others have, there are eternal consequences.”

What is this… is this a warning? What’s the purpose of a warning? Warning statements are a description of a potentially undesireable situation, which if not avoided could result in death or serious injury or as you stated “eternal consequences”. Will you even admit that this is a fear tactic?

As I stated, Let’s take a look at what religion does:

It divides, creates indifferences, introduces prejudice, ignite wars, causes genocide, etc… I can go on and on.

Religion has not one good concrete purpose.

You say, “You are correct about what religion does. We see religion was used to condone slavery, we have the Crusades, we have the 30 years War, we have genocide and we have other such acts.

Okay Lionel… here is my stance… I don’t believe in organized religion. I have stated that religion does more harm than good… You agreed.

The bible, is a man made book of Plagiarized stories that were stolen from the ancient egyptians. This book, whether understood or misunderstand, has brought about pain, suffering and injustice to millions (maybe billions) of innocent people. Supposedly, the bible is the infallible word of God. That means that it is perfect… holy, without error. Well which version? Why has man saw fit to edit the bible (oops, I mean the word of God)? Why does one version have 66 while another version has 72 books?

The evidence is right in front of you.