Re: Stuck between a rock and a hard place

Gordon Hudson wrote:

"Andrew McMullon" <andrew@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
Now I sell, if that's the right word, my faith on the basis that it's
the right thing to do and far more fulfilling than merely living for
self. I guess that's partly its own reward irrespective of what may
happen in an afterlife.

Yes, thats the traditional liberal church approach: "be nice to other people, it make life better for everyone!"
Evangelicals use a version of this that goes like this: "look how good my life is, you can have a life like mine too!"
Surely the fact that you find it fulfilling is also selfish by your own definition?


Every day I have an equally available choice to eat health-producing food or junk food. If I eat the healthy food, am I by any definition being selfish, since there's a byproduct - or a purpose - of making me healthier?

Note that if I am healthy, I am not adding to the demands on the tax-paid health-repair system. A healthy person can do more for, and demand less from, society. *My* pursuing health by my own lifestyle choices adds to the general good. (So long as I don't use destructive methods of pursuing my health.)

Some of us think a "diet" of God-aware activities makes us healthier personalities now, and that's good for the individual, plus society gains from having people with fewer neuroses.

Churches can help us pursue the health NOW that comes from God-awareness NOW, even if they preach a universally accessible heaven.

A bigger problem is that I'm not convinced most of my Christian friends really ARE nicer to others, or living "good" lives, than my non-Christian friends. In which case, if your characterization of the messages is correct, both sides appear to be failing, at least as to the small collection of Christians/non-Christians I know, all of whom share a common secular culture.
.

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