E
ellzeena
Guest
No.
I do know someone who strongly believes in reincarnation and He does know God is merciful. In some way this reincarnation idea involves that mercy but, honestly, I don’t want to get into a full blown discussion of this with him because why put myself in front of an oncoming train? Yes, I have met people who think Humans do not deserve mercy. Remember, “there are things in heaven and earth, Horatio…” There are people whose life experiences have led them to conclusions that, although from our viewpoint and that of our faith, are very incorrect (and even sinful),are reactions to those experiences. Re: charity work, it appears the OP is telling everyone not to do charity work since it counts for nothing, according to his faith system (or the faith system he is arguing for or attempting to explain). Personally, I wonder about altruism. It seems to me that almost all charitable works serve those who do them in some way, right? Serving God with an act of charity is requesting (in some way) God’s attention and approbation and it makes the charitable person “feel” good about him/her self.I am not saying “making false statements about large numbers of people is not a mortal sin”, as you state. Perhaps to the OP these are not false statements, perhaps these are his truths. Or perhaps he is playing devil’s advocate (literally). It is a matter of will: is he willingly and knowingly defaming others or is he simply making an argument (no matter how poorly made)? Can either of us judge in this venue? I don’t think so. Not yet. Not unless there are next blatant accusations et al which would make us question his sanity. I don’t see that happening.
“Or do you yourself actually believe it is true that people who believe in reincarnation don’t believe in mercy? That people who believe in eternal damnation are far more merciful (or are the only merciful ones)? That people who believe in eternal damnation are the only ones who do 'charity works”
I’ve just said that I know someone who believes in reincarnation who does believe in mercy and I’m sure there must be others, he can’t be the only one among 6 billion people on earth (and, btw, he’s a Roman Catholic). So I conjecture that there are those who believe in reincarnation who do NOT believe in mercy. When there is a thesis, there is always an antithesis. As for believing in eternal damnation, does that make someone merciful? I think not. I’ve heard some people in my lifetime, people I considered “bad” (outside the will of God, deliberately) say they were going “to hell” with no apparent fear or negative reaction. OK maybe they really didn’t believe in “hell”, but I have heard this on more than a few occasions (one of them being just the other day!) And there are many secular people doing charity work, some of whom don’t even believe in God. e.g., without naming anyone in particular, an extremely rich computer entrepreneur who never speaks about faith or God but who does an enormous amount of charity work. More: a famous celebrity couple who have had children out of wedlock, who are quite wealthy and do enormous amounts of charity work (including going to places we would prefer not to see in order to help people in person). Now, living contrary to the word of God and His commandments by “living in sin” - yet still doing charity work that many/most would prefer not to do - what does God make of that and who are we to make a decision on His behalf?
I say: never throw the first stone. We are in no position to tell anyone to run to confession this very minute and pray a bus doesn’t hit us on the way. That’s my two cents.
