Why?

[rinnie]

By repenting to myself. That should be enough for God and people who are Godly.

I am not either dishonest or confused. Forgiveness should be easy for God and those people with clean heart. There is something wrong with your heart if you cannot forgive easy.

what good does repenting to yourself do?

 

[friardchips]

Hi STT. Just to remind you that you still haven’t answered my questions to post #30?!

Thanks.

 

[STT]

RM How do you plan on paying back the damage done by all of your sins?
STT God can simply forgive.
RM You’re saying that God is going to forgive your sins?
STT Forgiveness should be easy for God
RM I’m tempted to call you simply dishonest, or at least willfully-confused since, you have stated frequently that you do not believe God exists.
STT So what?

That is not the correct conversation. This is the right one.

RM How do you plan on paying back the damage done by all of your sins?
STT God can simply forgive.
RM You’re saying that God is going to forgive your sins?
STT Forgiveness should be easy for God
RM You have stated frequently that you do not believe God exists.
STT So what?

By the way, you could be an unbeliever and forgive people very easy. Is there anything wrong with that?

 

[Gorgias]

By repenting to myself. That should be enough for God and people who are Godly.

Hmmm… repenting of your sins to yourself?

As in, “gee, Me, I’m really sorry I messed up. I hope I can forgive myself, since I’m remorseful”?

Or, do you really mean “repenting to God by simply thinking to myself, ‘God, I’m really sorry I sinned against you’”?

The latter comes close; the former does nothing.

The question then becomes, “what process did God set up for the forgiveness of sins? was it a simple ‘gee, God, I’m sorry’, or is there something else involved?”

That answer is simple – we find it in the Bible: Jesus told the apostles that whose sins they forgive, He forgives. The ‘process’ that the Church instituted, to follow Jesus’ will, is the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Therefore, a Catholic is forgiven of his sins through the absolution found in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

 

[STT]

I disagree. As a rule most people who have a hard time forgiving another is usually hurt very bad by that person.

Well, forgiving is the only solution. I agree that sometimes is hard but I think it is a matter of practice.

As far as forgiveness it is actually promised to us by God, all we have to do is truly be sorry and repent and he will forgive us. Where did you ever get the notion God is unforgiving??

I didn’t say that God is unforgiving.

God tells us we have to forgive, but sometimes its harder then others.

That I agree.

 

[STT]

what good does repenting to yourself do?

You simply honor yourself by repenting.

 

[STT]

In other words, everything contains meaning, right? There is a meaning for everything?

Correct.

The only relationship between meaning and freedom is that freedom is limited by meaning, or even void of meaning?

Correct.

 

[STT]

Hmmm… repenting of your sins to yourself?

As in, “gee, Me, I’m really sorry I messed up. I hope I can forgive myself, since I’m remorseful”?

Or, do you really mean “repenting to God by simply thinking to myself, ‘God, I’m really sorry I sinned against you’”?

You sin to yourself not God. You do bad to yourself. So you should repent to yourself.

The latter comes close; the former does nothing.

The question then becomes, “what process did God set up for the forgiveness of sins? was it a simple ‘gee, God, I’m sorry’, or is there something else involved?”

That answer is simple – we find it in the Bible: Jesus told the apostles that whose sins they forgive, He forgives. The ‘process’ that the Church instituted, to follow Jesus’ will, is the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Therefore, a Catholic is forgiven of his sins through the absolution found in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

I am familiar with your belief but I think the right way is another way.

 

[Gorgias]

You sin to yourself not God. You do bad to yourself. So you should repent to yourself.

No. According to Catholic theology, all sin is an offense against God. (It may also harm others, and it certainly harms the sinner himself, but the primary offense is against God, our creator.)

(Your notion also seems to be unable to stand up to logical scrutiny. Here’s a counter-example: let’s suppose that I wind up and punch you in the face. Against whom have I sinned? Myself? Of course not. Now, don’t get me wrong: I might very well experience negative consequences, personally, due to my action – but “consequences” and “sin” are distinct notions. They are related; but they’re distinct.)

I am familiar with your belief but I think the right way is another way.

You’re entitled to your opinion. If you’re going to assert that it’s correct over against Catholic teaching, however, you’ll find that the doctrines of the Catholic Church are in conflict with your personal opinion.

 

[STT]

No. According to Catholic theology, all sin is an offense against God. (It may also harm others, and it certainly harms the sinner himself, but the primary offense is against God, our creator.)

(Your notion also seems to be unable to stand up to logical scrutiny. Here’s a counter-example: let’s suppose that I wind up and punch you in the face. Against whom have I sinned? Myself? Of course not. Now, don’t get me wrong: I might very well experience negative consequences, personally, due to my action – but “consequences” and “sin” are distinct notions. They are related; but they’re distinct.)

You sin to yourself if you are supposed to become Godly. The person you punch is safe in this regards (he becomes Godlier by forgiving you). God is God no harm to Him.

You’re entitled to your opinion. If you’re going to assert that it’s correct over against Catholic teaching, however, you’ll find that the doctrines of the Catholic Church are in conflict with your personal opinion.

It is the first time that we agree on something.

 

[Vonsalza]

We are talking about an omniscient being who is infinite playing a simple game to convince finite beings like us. Do you really believe on that?

No, but you apparently do as I’m questioning it.

 

[ANV]

Why would God wants us to love him? better for him to do a better job and go on fixing the evil things that he created, that would be quite better than demanding lesser beings to love him and have faith in him.

 

[friardchips]

Correct.

Correct.

Thanks for continuing to answer my questions.

What you have essentially shared in response to my questions, is that you believe freedom exists without meaning, and that this is the only relationship between meaning and freedom. So, meaning governs/guides/enforces/embraces our actions, while freedom comes with turning away from such motivations and inspirations.

You believe, then, that meaning i.e:- reason, deprives us of freedom; with that in mind, do you believe that humankind needs to counter and be opposed to reason, to act unreasonably - without meaning - in order to be free?

 

[Aloysium]

Why would God wants us to love him? better for him to do a better job and go on fixing the evil things that he created, that would be quite better than demanding lesser beings to love him and have faith in him.

God wants us to love Him because He is Love itself and in Him we find our ultimate fulfillment. You can believe whatever you want. Certain beliefs prevent you from taking the first step on the journey to eternal life and happiness. There is nothing that prevents you right here and now, from making a commitment to get to know Him. It is your choice.

Everything illusory and transient, everything that is not love will pass back into the nothingness from which it springs. Within eternity, it is all good. Creation, each and every one of us, all space and time and the myriad of things and events it contains reveals His glory. This is pretty AWESOME!!

Maybe, hopefully, perhaps when you are older, when you get closer to the end, you will realize what an amazing trip your life has been. If you try to do the right thing, apologize and try to make up for the wrong you’ve done, there will be no regrets or resentments; you will not want to change a thing because it’s gone into making you the person you are.

Saw a movie about Louis Zamperini the other night. Very inspiring. We’re not all blessed with such grace, but his life is a testimony to the possibly of maintaining our connection to what is beautiful, good and true in the face of great evil.

 

[rinnie]

You simply honor yourself by repenting.

I don’t understand this, could you explain.

we are taught when we sin we must confess or sins to a Priest. Then by the power of the Holy Spirit we are either forgiven or our sins are held bound.

What I do not understand is how repenting to yourself is honoring oneself. Maybe you can explain that. I do not believe you nor I hold the power to forgive sin. By that I mean absolution for that sin. Where did your teaching come from that you honor yourself by repenting?

 

[rinnie]

Why would God wants us to love him? better for him to do a better job and go on fixing the evil things that he created, that would be quite better than demanding lesser beings to love him and have faith in him.

Because he is our creator. How could God do a Better job when he is perfect?

God gave us free will t do good or evil. How can he fix evil on those who want to do and be evil and still give us free will?

God does not demand our Love. He allows us to choose to follow him and choose to love him. If what you were saying were true, there would be no evil and everyone would love him. God does not work the way you accuse him. Where do you get these misconceptions of God?

 

[rinnie]

You sin to yourself not God. You do bad to yourself. So you should repent to yourself.

I am familiar with your belief but I think the right way is another way.

This is simply untrue. When you sin you offend God. And when you sin there are times you also not only hurt God you hurt others.

Where do you claim this power comes from that you have to forgive sin? No one has that power but God. While I can forgive you for hurting me, I do not have the power to forgive your sin.

Many people sin and hurt others and do not care. People who steal cheat and lie, couldcare less about others, and are quite happy with themselves.

It is a grace from God that you choose not to do those things, not a grace from oneself.

 

[rinnie]

Why would God wants us to love him? better for him to do a better job and go on fixing the evil things that he created, that would be quite better than demanding lesser beings to love him and have faith in him.

Why does a Mother and Father want the love or a child? and vice-versa

 

[reggieM]

Why would God wants us to love him? better for him to do a better job and go on fixing the evil things that he created, that would be quite better than demanding lesser beings to love him and have faith in him.

God is the highest of goodness in Himself.
If you love something else, more than God, then you are directing yourself to something of lower value, and therefore damaging yourself.
If you can’t appreciate the greatest good, then you can’t appreciate anything else.

 

[STT]

Thanks for continuing to answer my questions.

What you have essentially shared in response to my questions, is that you believe freedom exists without meaning, and that this is the only relationship between meaning and freedom. So, meaning governs/guides/enforces/embraces our actions, while freedom comes with turning away from such motivations and inspirations.

Yes.

You believe, then, that meaning i.e:- reason, deprives us of freedom; with that in mind, do you believe that humankind needs to counter and be opposed to reason, to act unreasonably - without meaning - in order to be free?

Meaning is different from reason. We could act free when non of the options in disposal are not opposed to meaning.