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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Atheist Muslim,

Perhaps a metaphor will help you to understand.

Christians view God's love and forgiveness as being like the love of a loving parent.

A parent loves their child unconditionally. They might be disappointed or sad when their child does wrong, but they do not stop loving their child or hoping that their child will turn their life around and choose what is good.

Loving parents love their kids even when they are bad. They stand by them through some awful things. They never give up hope that their child will choose the right path and when a fallen child picks them self up, changes their way and pulls themselves together and makes thing right, a loving parent is there to forgive them and welcome them back.

That is God's love and mercy.

There are countless lessons in the Bible about God welcoming back the prodigal son, or the Shepard going after the lost lambs.

Perfect God does not give up on us in our imperfections. He loves us and wants to welcome us back to H8m, even if we sin. Especially if we sin.  Like a parent loves and never truly gives up on their child, God truly never gives up on us

On a side note, I am Catholic and we believe that there is a place called purgatory, where our souls are purified of our sins in preparation of joining God in heaven.  So I as a sinner will likely have some atonement to do in purgatory before reaching the fullness of Heaven.[/quote]

I get that.

But I can't wrap my head around a God that is just the God of love. If God is the God of *everything* then they are the God of hate, as well as love. Peace, as well as war. The god of Evil, as well as Goodness. The God of suffering, as well as repair. They can't be a comprehensive God and creator of *everything* then.

That isn't so much a belief in Islam (although somewhat), so much as my attitude now. It will never click in my brain, though I understand how your perspective gives comfort to many.[/quote]

You know...I gave you a benefit of doubt. People have very nicely and calmly summarized knowledge of the Bible in two threads for you. You are not reading their posts or caring to understand. You also do not discuss "deficiencies" of other religions (all religions have common themes). This leads me to believe that you intent isn't to understand Christianity, it is to discredit and ridicule Christianity (and Judaism at certain Hebrew Bible/Old Testament topics).[/quote]

I have repeatedly stated that all religions have commonalities. They all have people who will distort tenets for their personal gain. They all claim truth. They all have heavenly incentives (the ones that believe in an afterlife, anyway). They all have a plan that I ultimately cannot believe in.

But I will never understand Christianity - it's not a matter of trying. I will never understand Hinduism - it's not a matter of trying. I will never even understand Islam - it's not a matter of trying (I grew up in it!). Religion does not click for me, period. It doesn't work with my brain. But OP started this thread specifically to ask about Christianity. I'm not OP, I just responded with my perspective. I'd respond similarly if OP asked about any other religion. [/quote]

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