The Pen and The Wind: Some Genuine Questions About Christianity
For those of you who don’t know me, I’m very respectful about religious beliefs. I think you’re free to believe whatever you like, just as long as it doesn’t infringe upon the rights of others. I’m well versed on the philosophy of a number of religions, and consider myself learned in the matter.
Great questions dude, I’m not a Bible scholar either, but I enjoy reading about other religions and cultures. Maybe my opinion can help you find the answers that you’re looking for.
Isn’t sex only for procreation? Sex is not only for pro-creation, but allows for the ultimate expression of love to happen between two married people. It’s in place so that we can bring happiness and pleasure to our husband/wife. Sex also facilitates closeness and creates an intimate connection that is unrivaled. It’s a gift. I assume this kind of ties into why masturbation is frowned upon in the Christian community. Honestly, there’s nothing explicit about masturbation in the Bible, but Jesus does say that thinking about a woman lustfully is the same as committing adultery. Unless you are thinking about your wife, then it’s generally considered a sinful activity.
It’s misunderstood that Satan runs hell. Hell was created for Satan and his fallen angels during The Fall. God didn’t give Satan an equal and opposite kingdom, he created a jail for everyone who is separated from God, including Satan. The details given to us about hell are mostly poetic, and mean to communicate “you don’t want to go there.” Francis Chan’s “Erasing Hell” has more info about hell than you’d EVER want to know, and he answers a lot of questions about the subject. I highly recommend it.
Let me know if that helps, and hit me up with any followup questions. Or, click on the chat button on my blog, and I’ll be able to respond IN REAL TIME!!!!
peace dude -Mercy
Thanks for clearing some of that up, but I have to ask, if Hell is a prison for Lucifer and the fallen angels, then why is it that he can escape and do as he pleases? (Not trying to be a smartass, just want to get a full grasp on the situation)
(I’m not a Bible scholar but here is what I know.)
Lucifer has yet to be sent to Hell. After the big battle that’s mentioned in Revelation, Lucifer, false prophet, and his demons will be cast into Hell (described as a lake of fire and brimstone- Rev 19: 17-21). So in essence, as the old Sunday school lesson goes, earth is Lucifer’s (and his demons’) current residence and will be until the infamous “end”. The whole chapter of Revelation goes into a lot of detail but to sum it up in simple terms that Hell is currently filled with “Unsaved souls” and after the “end” then Lucifer and his followers are locked in there.
Also to comment on earlier questions- A lot of things were added during the Dark Ages by the church, which only worsened until the Refformation (which was when more than one form of the Christian faith started due to the unveiling of the Roman church’s greed and misuse of the religion for personal gain). Because of the “Laws” that were written during that time, many things are out of context. As for sex, look up the monk that wrote on the “Seven Deadly sins” (again, the document was written during a moment when the church was badly misled and corrupt). During the time when Christians ruled the population majority there was no such thing as “Common sense/free will” whatever the priest spoke or the pope declared was law, if you didn’t agree to it 100% then a witch trial would start (which in either ruling ended with death). To call the mid century Christians plagued with Stockhome seems cruel, but in a way that is the easiest way to put it because the only option, other than obey, was death. Kings didn’t rule the land and written word back then, priests with unquenchable greed did- kings and knights were mere puppets.
Oh I know about the political aspects about it, and how a lot of Christian doctrine was either faked, fabricated, or omitted as a means for control. I’m just trying to get a grasp on the modern reasoning on all of this. It’s a curiosity thing, I like studying religions, I enjoy learning about them.
Boom! WhitexBlackRose said it much better than I could have. According to Christianity, Satan is not free to do as he pleases, and he only operates under the allowance of God. This is for a lot of reasons, but I’ll point to a cliche: If God is on our side, we need not fear the devil. I think the reason God let’s satan run around is to facilitate free will. CS Lewis said it best:
“God created things which had free will. That means creatures which can go either wrong or right. Some people think they can imagine a creature which was free but had no possibility of going wrong; I cannot. If a thing is free to be good it is also free to be bad. And free will is what has made evil possible. Why, then, did God give them free will? Because free will, though it makes evil possible, is also the only thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having” (C.S. Lewis).
Hope that helps!
