Questions from an Ex-Catholic

[Cat_Herder]

1. How can religion in general be a valid concept when everyone claims their religion is “the truth”? Isn’t religion also just a manmade concept that people tailor their own beliefs and interpretations around?

No, Christianity is empirically provable and all forms of Christianity other than Catholicism and Orthodoxy posit a great apostasy that disproves the religion and are therefore not logically tenable.

The Basics

Prove to me that God exists
  Long Version
  Short Version

Prove to me that Jesus Christ is the Messiah of the Bible

Prove to me that the Catholic Church is the Church that Jesus founded

Prove relics, shrines, saints and the Rosary are not pagan

Prove to me that God is good if He allows people to sin

 

[Cat_Herder]

1. One of the biggest problems I have with Catholicism (as well as other Christian religions) is the concept of Hell. I think a lot of Christians under-estimate the power and wonder of a God who IS unconditional love and I firmly believe that God IS nothing but pure, unconditional love. I feel the church, however, paints quite a different picture. I feel like the church imposes too many human qualities to God, when God is definitely anything but human.

God died. That’s a quality intrinsic to mortals only. Thus God is both God and HUMAN. He died precisely because His love is unconditional but He doesn’t force anyone to accept it. Therein lies the rub–we can choose to reject His love and go our own way. If God was to revoke our free will and force us into Heaven then His love would not be unconditional, see?

I believe within this pure and endless source of unconditional love that is God that no one can and ever will be completely separate from him, nor will he judge anyone. Saying you will go to Hell because you don’t follow him or the church or Jesus or any of other myriad of sins someone could possibly commit doesn’t add up in my book. A truly unconditional God loves you no matter what, even if you don’t ask for forgiveness, don’t believe, or outright reject him.

God doesn’t put anyone in hell. Hell is the consequence of human selfishness: absolute loneliness. A person in hell is so selfish that they don’t care about anyone or anything else and THAT is why they go to hell; God is simply giving them what they want.

1. Why do Catholics/Christians believe that the Bible is free of error and flaw when human beings have written it? It’s also a book that has been translated from ancient languages in a way different time and place than we are in now. Do you ever feel that some parts of it were lost in translation, or even edited or downright tailored to those who had a hidden agenda in the past? I mean, I think it takes a lot more faith in our fellow man to trust everything the Bible says than faith in God.

The Word of God is composed of the Bible as well as Sacred Tradition and the Magisterium (teaching authority) of the Catholic Church. They act as checks and balances on one another. In order to be a non-Catholic Christian you have to turn off the system of checks and balances, which induces errors (i.e. the great apostasy claimed by non-Catholics). But if you leave them on then you don’t have to worry about interpretation errors. So, would Jesus turn them off? Of course not.

 

[Portofino]

This is why I can rationally understand hell exists. As you pointed out there are people out there that don’t ask for forgiveness don’t believe or outright reject God.

Free will is not quite absolute, there. They may disbelieve or outright reject God, but not want to accept the consequences of their actions. If their free will were absolute, then they could choose to be free from the consequences of their action.

So the free will argument seems to say, “you are free to do as you choose, but you are not free to escape from the consequences of your actions.”

And who determines what the consequences of your actions are? Not you, but the nature of reality (again, the dream of any wrongdoer is wrongdoing without consequences, which isn’t going to fly). But who defines the nature of reality? Not you, but God.

If God is truly omnipotent, then we are back with the dilemma of whether it would have been more merciful to have created less severe consequences for rejecting him.

In our penal system, for example, we’ve abolished cruel and unusual punishment and, in some cases, the death penalty. We’ve alleviated the consequences for those who have chosen criminal behavior. Some are even jealous of the amenities of our prisons

It still remains a paradox, then, why an omnipotent God could not have made the consequences of rejecting Him less severe and less permanent.

Forcing someone to be in the presence of one who they despise for eternity seems a rather cruel action to take. So an ever merciful and loving God allows those that wish it to chose to be separated from him for eternity.

Another limitation of freedom is that there is no free will in hell. Change, growth, and repentance are no longer possible. One cannot pray for those in hell – they are beyond the reach of prayers. If God respected the freedom of all of his creatures – out of love – then there would always be (it seems) the freedom to repent and to turn back towards him. If one wanted – i.e., freely chose to ask – for help in doing that (e.g., “I find it difficult to love God, but I would like help in doing so”), then it would seem that help would always be available. After all, eternity is an awfully long time

Someone like Hitler spent 50-something years on earth, and at least 30 of them propagating acts of great cruelty. Thirty long years, before his death, of rejecting the nature of God.

How long would it take to repent, or to learn from such grievous transgressions? The equivalent of one-hundred years, perhaps? One-thousand? One million? Ten million? One billion? Eternity, within the context of 30 or so years of temporality, creates the paradox of why change is never possible.

As one person I know put it, “it is itself a paradox that temporal decisions have eternal consequences.” Again, we make the decisions – but it is God that has decided that the consequences, are the consequences.

If we let our criminals on earth sentence themselves…well Just so, some absolutely brazen individual would tell God, “I want all of the pleasures of heaven, without loving you.” And an omnipotent God would say, “sorry – not possible.”

 

[Robertanthony]

Free will is not quite absolute, there. They may disbelieve or outright reject God, but not want to accept the consequences of their actions. If their free will were absolute, then they could choose to be free from the consequences of their action.

So the free will argument seems to say, “you are free to do as you choose, but you are not free to escape from the consequences of your actions.”

And who determines what the consequences of your actions are? Not you, but the nature of reality (again, the dream of any wrongdoer is wrongdoing without consequences, which isn’t going to fly). But who defines the nature of reality? Not you, but God.

If God is truly omnipotent, then we are back with the dilemma of whether it would have been more merciful to have created less severe consequences for rejecting him.

In our penal system, for example, we’ve abolished cruel and unusual punishment and, in some cases, the death penalty. We’ve alleviated the consequences for those who have chosen criminal behavior. Some are even jealous of the amenities of our prisons

It still remains a paradox, then, why an omnipotent God could not have made the consequences of rejecting Him less severe and less permanent.

Another limitation of freedom is that there is no free will in hell. Change, growth, and repentance are no longer possible. One cannot pray for those in hell – they are beyond the reach of prayers. If God respected the freedom of all of his creatures – out of love – then there would always be (it seems) the freedom to repent and to turn back towards him. If one wanted – i.e., freely chose to ask – for help in doing that (e.g., “I find it difficult to love God, but I would like help in doing so”), then it would seem that help would always be available. After all, eternity is an awfully long time

Someone like Hitler spent 50-something years on earth, and at least 30 of them propagating acts of great cruelty. Thirty long years, before his death, of rejecting the nature of God.

How long would it take to repent, or to learn from such grievious transgressions? The equivalent of one-hundred years, perhaps? One-thousand? One million? Ten million? One billion? Eternity, within the context of 30 or so years of temporality, creates the paradox of why change is never possible.

As one person I know but it, “it is itself a paradox that temporal decisions have eternal consequences.” Again, we make the decisions – but it is God that has decided that the consequences are the consequences.

I’ve thought about these things, one of those times was when I watched a documentary about the Columbine shooters. My heart still aches for one of them who appeared to be someone who wanted nothing more than to fit in and be accepted, and who made the tragic decision that we know. An eternity of torment and pain is an overwhelming thought for a 17 year-old boy. But the fact remains, for reasons I don’t quite understand, once you’re dead your eternal destiny is sealed.

 

[Pilosopo]

1. One of the biggest problems I have with Catholicism (as well as other Christian religions) is the concept of Hell. I think a lot of Christians under-estimate the power and wonder of a God who IS unconditional love and I firmly believe that God IS nothing but pure, unconditional love. I feel the church, however, paints quite a different picture. I feel like the church imposes too many human qualities to God, when God is definitely anything but human. I believe within this pure and endless source of unconditional love that is God that no one can and ever will be completely separate from him, nor will he judge anyone. Saying you will go to Hell because you don’t follow him or the church or Jesus or any of other myriad of sins someone could possibly commit doesn’t add up in my book. A truly unconditional God loves you no matter what, even if you don’t ask for forgiveness, don’t believe, or outright reject him.

Thanks for these very soul search questions.
And I answer them, thinking out loud…
Hell.There’s clear biblical reference to it. It’s been taught repeatedly, handed down through the years. There is a certain logic about rewarding the good and punishing evil. It appears consistent to the notion of justice. Does evil exist? Perhaps that’s the subtext, and the concept of hell arises from that. I’ll take a more experiential approach: imagine someone who experiences terrible evil. A person invades a home… wreaks havoc… steals, rapes, murders… How do you expect the victim-survivor to make sense of it?

1. Why do Catholics/Christians believe that the Bible is free of error and flaw when human beings have written it? It’s also a book that has been translated from ancient languages in a way different time and place than we are in now. Do you ever feel that some parts of it were lost in translation, or even edited or downright tailored to those who had a hidden agenda in the past? I mean, I think it takes a lot more faith in our fellow man to trust everything the Bible says than faith in God.

I think the “trick” is, who authors the correct, holy, authoritative interpretation? We have biblical scholars, many priests are trained to be such, ultimately you have the Magisterium… and if need be, on questions of morals (should the issue amount to a question of morality) … a Papal injunction ex cathedra, Interpreting and understanding the Bible is an ongoing task. For example, Old Testament accounts of God sanctioning war and massacre. How exactly are we to interpret that? I, for one, would in fact consider the historical cultural setting of the author and how tribal warfare was commonplace. But what really is the message we are to take away?

1. How can religion in general be a valid concept when everyone claims their religion is “the truth”? Isn’t religion also just a manmade concept that people tailor their own beliefs and interpretations around? In the end, aren’t all religions basically acknowledging a higher power? Who is right and who is wrong? Is there even such a thing as right or wrong?

I must admit that I am a creature of my culture. I grew up Catholic, Catholic is home to me. I’ve studied it, prayed in it, lived and breathed in it. God continues to speak to me in it. While right and wrong is important, perhaps consider just living life? Finding contentment and peace? Finding the will of God? The will of God… while personal, I share with a community that counsels me, helps me, encourages me.

Thanks for your thought provoking questions. Hope you find what you are looking for.

 

[Julia_Mae]

1. One of the biggest problems I have with Catholicism (as well as other Christian religions) is the concept of Hell. I think a lot of Christians under-estimate the power and wonder of a God who IS unconditional love and I firmly believe that God IS nothing but pure, unconditional love. I feel the church, however, paints quite a different picture. I feel like the church imposes too many human qualities to God, when God is definitely anything but human. I believe within this pure and endless source of unconditional love that is God that no one can and ever will be completely separate from him, nor will he judge anyone. Saying you will go to Hell because you don’t follow him or the church or Jesus or any of other myriad of sins someone could possibly commit doesn’t add up in my book. A truly unconditional God loves you no matter what, even if you don’t ask for forgiveness, don’t believe, or outright reject him.

The Church doesn’t teach some anthropomorphic judgmental old guy in the sky. People go to hell because they choose to, they want to, and God always leaves our free will intact.

1. Why do Catholics/Christians believe that the Bible is free of error and flaw when human beings have written it?

Well, we don’t believe that. The Church picked the writings included in the Canon for very specific reasons. We aren’t literalists. Listen, I have no idea where you got your ideas of what the Church teaches, but maybe you should read the Catechism of the Catholic Church (which is online) and at least disagree with something the Church actually says.

Do you ever feel that some parts of it were lost in translation, or even edited or downright tailored to those who had a hidden agenda in the past?

No, because I bothered to educate myself about the history of the book, of how it was transmitted, and because I don’t read the ignorant tripe sold on skeptic websites.

1. How can religion in general be a valid concept when everyone claims their religion is “the truth”?

What makes you think all religions don’t have Truth? I dunno, maybe Satanism doesn’t. Also, has it occurred to you how much this stuff has been bandied about and how many 16 year olds in Denny’s holding coffee court in a back booth are regaling their peers with this same stuff from the same sources? Seriously, this is what you are concerned with?

Life is eternal. What we do here matters in terms of what happens to us. You claim you’ve gotten so spiritual, yet, nothing but your first one even touches on spirituality. Surely you are deeper than “The Bible isn’t factual!” “Those monks copied it wrong!”

You seem smart, you write well, go read some grown up stuff about the ancient faith and the constant and living relationship between the Church Triumphant (those who have passed) and we here struggling through life. You want “spirituality?” Is there someone more spiritual than Saint Francis, unless it’s Jesus? Have you tried reading *The Cloud of Unknowing? * What could possibly be more spiritual than the daily meeting of Time and Eternity on the altar of every Catholic Church in the world as the Eucharist emerges?

I have many many more questions but I think those are enough for now. I have become so far removed from the church that I wouldn’t even know how to answer those from a Catholic standpoint anymore.

Doesn’t sound to me like you ever knew any of the answers and is probably why you have gotten so far away. So, go read the Catechism, then you’ll know what the Church teaches and you can like it or not or accept or reject. You might try reading the Gospels while you are at it, kind of get the whole reason for the existence of the Church, you know?

 

[free_thinker]

Wow, I definitely wasn’t expecting such a tremendous response! I honestly do not know how to answer because there are so many replies and so many things to touch on.

I guess one of the reasons I don’t believe in Hell is that I feel like we can never truly be separate from God. I believe we all have our individuality but are all part of something bigger and greater and in turn we are all part of God and God is part of us. I liken us to something like water… we are all individual droplets of water but we also flow into each other to encompass an entire ocean. The church teaches us that God’s presence is everywhere. Wouldn’t that also mean that God is also present in Hell? If there was such a place, and if we were truly cut off from God, that would mean that a part of God is destroyed as well. And we all know God can’t be destroyed.

All that being said, I don’t think that there are no consequences to our actions. I believe in karma more than I believe in sin. It just makes more sense to me. Whatever we put out in the universe we get back. I don’t really think there is such a thing as right or wrong, there is only balance. So if we do something hateful toward someone, then someone else will do something hateful toward us. I don’t necessarily think it is meant to punish us, but to help us learn. I also don’t think this is the only life we live. I think we live many lives in order to help us grow and gain more experience. I

 

[susanprieve]

Wow, I definitely wasn’t expecting such a tremendous response! I honestly do not know how to answer because there are so many replies and so many things to touch on.

I guess one of the reasons I don’t believe in Hell is that I feel like we can never truly be separate from God. I believe we all have our individuality but are all part of something bigger and greater and in turn we are all part of God and God is part of us. I liken us to something like water… we are all individual droplets of water but we also flow into each other to encompass an entire ocean. The church teaches us that God’s presence is everywhere. Wouldn’t that also mean that God is also present in Hell? If there was such a place, and if we were truly cut off from God, that would mean that a part of God is destroyed as well. And we all know God can’t be destroyed.

All that being said, I don’t think that there are no consequences to our actions. I believe in karma more than I believe in sin. It just makes more sense to me. Whatever we put out in the universe we get back. I don’t really think there is such a thing as right or wrong, there is only balance. So if we do something hateful toward someone, then someone else will do something hateful toward us. I don’t necessarily think it is meant to punish us, but to help us learn. I also don’t think this is the only life we live. I think we live many lives in order to help us grow and gain more experience. I

I think it is encouraging that you are searching. But, karma? And God being in Hell? (Sigh) There is just too much here to even begin to comment on. I thought you said in your original post that you were raised a devout Catholic?

However, there is a very good book that might point you in the right direction. How To Listen When God Is Speaking by Fr. Pacwa. I’m not plugging the book; it is just that sometimes more of an expert on the subject may be a more effective way to the Truth. Best wishes in your search.

 

[Gorgias]

The church teaches us that God’s presence is everywhere. Wouldn’t that also mean that God is also present in Hell? If there was such a place, and if we were truly cut off from God, that would mean that a part of God is destroyed as well. And we all know God can’t be destroyed.

The difference is that we rely on God for our existence, but God doesn’t rely on us for God’s existence. Therefore, we can be separated from God without any consequence to God.

I don’t really think there is such a thing as right or wrong, there is only balance.

Karma doesn’t make any sense without the notion of intrinsic ‘goodness’ or ‘badness’ of actions. Even the notion of ‘balance’ requires some standard by which to decide how to categorize things.

So if we do something hateful toward someone, then someone else will do something hateful toward us.

Why? What is the necessary connection by which this action/reaction loop occurs? (In a certain sense, this sort of analysis is exactly what Catholics mean when they talk about God and heaven/hell/judgment: our actions have consequences; by choosing ‘not God’, we set in motion the circumstances by which our action’s consequences return to us. However, this isn’t some impersonal process of a system; rather, it’s an interpersonal dynamic between God and each of us (as individuals).)

I also don’t think this is the only life we live. I think we live many lives in order to help us grow and gain more experience. I

How would you justify this? Other than saying, “it just seems right”, is there anything out there that would lead to such a construction?

 

[YoungIreland]

I am not interested in debate but I would recommend three things. Read the New Testament at least. Also, read the Catechism of the Catholic Church, that will answer all your questions, but not necessarily in the way you wish. Finally, read the Sinner’s Guide by Venerable Louis of Granada. I will say that your case is not unusual.

I would also recommend the Sinner’s Guide for somebody lax in their faith, however I think one should avoid it if one is scrupulous or easily discouraged. If you are neither you will get a lot out of it.

 

[manualman]

…1. One of the biggest problems I have with Catholicism (as well as other Christian religions) is the concept of Hell. I think a lot of Christians under-estimate the power and wonder of a God who IS unconditional love and I firmly believe that God IS nothing but pure, unconditional love. I feel the church, however, paints quite a different picture. I feel like the church imposes too many human qualities to God, when God is definitely anything but human. I believe within this pure and endless source of unconditional love that is God that no one can and ever will be completely separate from him, nor will he judge anyone. Saying you will go to Hell because you don’t follow him or the church or Jesus or any of other myriad of sins someone could possibly commit doesn’t add up in my book. A truly unconditional God loves you no matter what, even if you don’t ask for forgiveness, don’t believe, or outright reject him.

1. Why do Catholics/Christians believe that the Bible is free of error and flaw when human beings have written it? It’s also a book that has been translated from ancient languages in a way different time and place than we are in now. Do you ever feel that some parts of it were lost in translation, or even edited or downright tailored to those who had a hidden agenda in the past? I mean, I think it takes a lot more faith in our fellow man to trust everything the Bible says than faith in God.
2. How can religion in general be a valid concept when everyone claims their religion is “the truth”? Isn’t religion also just a manmade concept that people tailor their own beliefs and interpretations around? In the end, aren’t all religions basically acknowledging a higher power? Who is right and who is wrong? Is there even such a thing as right or wrong?

1. I’m guessing you haven’t tried to continue your education in catholicism beyond what you got in junior high school, no? Is it really any wonder that your teenage level understanding of theology is inadequate for an adult world? Have you considered the possibility that you’ve rejected a caricature of christianity instead of the real thing?
   Do you really think God will unconditionally welcome all people into heaven as-is? Surely you’ve seen enough of the world to recognize that there is REAL evil out there. Hell isn’t a place God sends people in a fit of anger. Hell is where people are headed by themselves if they don’t accept the Grace of God that allows us to rise above our human failings. It’s rare that people disbelieve in the existence of evil. Most just prefer to think that our particular brand of wrongdoing “isn’t really so bad.” But it’s enough. Our own appetites and desires are enough to ruin heaven if we’re allowed in as-is. Each of us needs to be transformed and God loves us too much to do it by force. We have to CHOOSE to receive the gift of salvation and admit that we are unable to achieve it on our own power. Refusing is simply choosing hell instead of heaven. Those in hell chose it themselves. God gives us millions of opportunities to be saved.
2. Like you said, God infinitely loves us. Do YOU really think He just left us here to figure this messy life out without any real assistance? Is that how YOU lovingly parent children? No. (Assuming you ARE a parent) You likely go to enormous lengths to teach your children how to grow up happy, healthy and virtuous. God is the same. Revelation is how He does that. The bible is only a part of that revelation. The biggest part was Jesus himself. Jesus clearly revered the Scriptures (Old Testament) and he appointed apostles to teach with authority and guide the church through the centuries (know know, the guys who wrote the New Testament). He then backed that outrageous claim up by submitting to execution and rising from the dead! Pretty good trick if he was just another shuckster.
3. Good point. My rule of thumb is this: don’t trust any inventor of a new religion unless the founder is executed for it and rises from the dead to prove his credentials.

 

[banjo]

Wow, I definitely wasn’t expecting such a tremendous response! I honestly do not know how to answer because there are so many replies and so many things to touch on.

I guess one of the reasons I don’t believe in Hell is that I feel like we can never truly be separate from God. I believe we all have our individuality but are all part of something bigger and greater and in turn we are all part of God and God is part of us. I liken us to something like water… we are all individual droplets of water but we also flow into each other to encompass an entire ocean. The church teaches us that God’s presence is everywhere. Wouldn’t that also mean that God is also present in Hell? If there was such a place, and if we were truly cut off from God, that would mean that a part of God is destroyed as well. And we all know God can’t be destroyed. I

Mt 25:41 “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” This is from the Last Judgment part of this chapter when the Son of Man comes in glory. I once heard hell described as the absence of God. The King, Jesus, is saying depart from me. How can one be in God’s presence who has been commanded to depart from Him? I highly recommend to you an excellent catechism: The Catholic Catechism written by Fr. John A. Hardon. I believe it will go a long way in answering your questions.

 

[LilyM]

For someone who doesn’t identify with a particular religion, your decision to describe yourself as an ex-Catholic means you still very much identify with your former faith - albeit the relationship is one of rebellion rather than acceptance.

And there is nothing original in your rebellion - your objections are trite and stale, and people of faith have been answering them in satisfying ways for generations now. So much for being a free-thinker, you are nothing more than a common-or-garden variety standard-issue Catholic rebel. Nothing particularly freeing or thoughtful about it.

 

[empther]

The OP’s three questions are just the same old lame excuses we hear from all people who don’t want to believe.

They have been discussed to death. ***The OP knows the answers. ***

 

[alongexpected]

1. God is Love that is why He lets people choose to accept him or reject him.
2. The Bible is the most historically correct book known, The word of God never contradicts itself, it is about Love, Joy, Wisdom and everything relevant to the needs of every human person, etc…, etc…
3. …

• scripturecatholic.com/the_church.html
• catholicbasictraining.com/apologetics/coursetexts/1l.htm

hope this helps
Shalom
God Bless

The word of god never contradicts itself? What about all that OT hogwash about god murdering Israelites for peeking into the Ark or massacring entire towns?

 

[alongexpected]

The OP’s three questions are just the same old lame excuses we hear from all people who don’t want to believe.

They have been discussed to death. ***The OP knows the answers. ***

This is standard, biased and arrogant thinking that is endemic to all religions. How you think “the truth” is just so clear and obvious and objective and and you’re a fool for not agreeing with you.

 

[ExCatholicGuy]

For someone who doesn’t identify with a particular religion, your decision to describe yourself as an ex-Catholic means you still very much identify with your former faith - albeit the relationship is one of rebellion rather than acceptance.

And there is nothing original in your rebellion - your objections are trite and stale, and people of faith have been answering them in satisfying ways for generations now. So much for being a free-thinker, you are nothing more than a common-or-garden variety standard-issue Catholic rebel. Nothing particularly freeing or thoughtful about it.

Before this thread gets closed (and it will; the interesting ones always do, though I’m appealing proactively to the moderator to let the discussion continue or move it to another forum) I’ll point out playing word games like substituting “rebellion” for what appears to be “loss of faith” or “questioning” by the OP does nothing to address the issues at hand.

As for me, I became an ex-Catholic when I realized there was no credible evidence that the ritual incantations of a man could turn a piece of bread into the Son of God.

 

[Gorgias]

As for me, I became an ex-Catholic when I realized there was no credible evidence that the ritual incantations of a man could turn a piece of bread into the Son of God.

Setting aside the tone of your statement for the moment, let me ask you: what kind of evidence could you possibly be looking for? What evidence would you consider sufficient?

 

[ExCatholicGuy]

Setting aside the tone of your statement for the moment, let me ask you: what kind of evidence could you possibly be looking for? What evidence would you consider sufficient?

Absent any observable physical proof, which I realize isn’t part of the Real Presence dogma, the only thing that would convince me would be hearing it directly from God or some other supernatural source. And I don’t mean that facetiously - for a claim so extraordinary and so far outside our experience and comprehension, I can honestly say that no lesser standard of evidence would be credible to me.

 

[Eric_Hyom]

Some rambling thoughts on hell and forgiveness.

When Jesus spent his time on Earth, he would have lived by the greatest commandments, this would have been the greatest way he could respond to each and every situation in his life. But how did Jesus love all his neighbours as he loved himself, the ones who condemned him to death, the soldiers who crowned him with thorns and nailed him to the cross? Jesus was an innocent man, with the power and authority to ask God to punish these people.

But it seems that nothing, and no one should stand in the way of Jesus living by the greatest commandments, and we know that he prayed on the cross, ‘ forgive them Father’
It seems that every time Jesus suffered injustice here on Earth, he forgave, in order that he should continue to love the sinners as he loved himself. If Jesus can forgive the people who had him killed, then it should give us hope that we can be forgiven also. What kind of a burden do we place on Jesus with our sins?

After his resurrection does the divine nature of Jesus, follow his human nature? When Jesus ascended into heaven, does Jesus still forgive us, in order that he should continue to love each and every one of us as he loves himself?

We shall be judged by the way we judge other people.

Blessings

Eric