Why would God hide and punish us if we find the wrong version of Him?

[D_Martin]

Please know this is NOT a troll post, it is a very fundamental question which I have no answer for.

I understand that men have interpreted God’s word through the millenia, so it’s not He who is confusing the question, but why would there be punishments, (or if not punishments, at least a lesser “oneness” with him) if you happened to be born in a Muslim country, for example, than a Christian or Catholic environment? Every religion thinks it has the “Truth” and that all others are either completely wrong or have lesser versions of the truth.

It is a dangerous trick or riddle that each person has to figure out. Seems to me that this feeds the idea of relativism, that perhaps God is the only truth and how we interpret Him and believe in him is less important than how act. There are other truths that seem to transcend this, like treating our fellow man in a certain way. But whether we think cows are sacred or (forgive me for this!) whether we think Jesus is alive in the Eucharist is harder to discern. Also, the fact that there is a lesser oneness depending on what religion you believe is not necessarily “Truth.” Or, maybe it is. That is my question.

For us who believe in Jesus Christ the Son of God its:

Mt:7:1: Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2: For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

And then there is.

Rv:20:12: And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13: And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

And according to Jesus: Lk:10:20: Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Apostle Paul mentions somewhere addressing the subject of those who may never hear of Jesus, but I just don’t remember enough of the text to find it.

But the bottom line is who is prevented from finding or seeking the Truth of the Living God? And would the Living God hind the Truth from that person?

 

[Offdoodykcrn]

I tend to think reality will reveal itself to be infinitely more simple than people expect. Imagine dying to be like arriving at a restaurant that has two choices in seating: loving or hateful. On the ‘loving’ side you might be seated near people who have different backgrounds, all manner of upbringing, and who knows what they were attracted to (but that no longer matters because sex is a thing that requires a physical body - and nobody at this restaurant has one of those any more).

I imagine there might be a lot of people awfully ticked off to discover all the time and energy they spent in search of righteousness would have been better spent helping others that needed it. Can you picture the maitre d’ explaining why a transvestite that donated time to a soup kitchen gets better seating than a missionary who handed out more bibles than sandwiches to ‘the godless heathens’ in 3rd world countries?

Some might be upset at just the notion of such a scene. Good. Now - which shall it be? Loving, or hateful?

 

[Charlemagne_II]

I think if Jesus offers himself to us personally, we get to understand who he is, and then we deny him, we are doomed. However, there are many souls who never get to know the Jesus of the gospels, This would include the Hindus and the Muslims. They are so wrapped up in congenital denial and/or ignorance of Jesus that it is hard to believe Jesus would punish them IF they have otherwise lived according to their conscience. I would not say the same for many atheists who have known Jesus and then denied him. To know him is to love him. If you know him and turn to despise him and what he preached, that is willful self destruction. On my deathbed I would not be in the atheist mode, and I doubt that many atheists remain there either when the last hour comes.

 

[Love4All]

Whereas Christianity is a salvation theology, Judaism is focused on the here and now.

The Name, “Immanuel” means, “God with us.” Jesus abides with us. We do not have to wait until the next life to know Him, to love Him, to spend time with Him. He is present in every one of our Tabernacles and Monstrances, and on our Altars. He is the Holy One of Israel, and He promised to remain with us always, even to the end of the world. So Catholicism is very much focused on the here and now, our present relationship to the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. We have God dwelling in our midst! How then can we close our eyes to Today?

 

[Love4All]

Jews are not trinitarian but unitarian in their understanding of G-d.

What is the Word, when the prophets write, “The Word of God came to me?”

What is the Holy Spirit?

. . . the concept of the Messiah. . . a redeemer in the sense of one who brings peace among the nations of the world and faith in G-d.

So if Jesus does that in the near future, you will accept Him as Messiah?