Is it just me, or does UR seem to be the only belief system that allows true freedom of thought and exploration (as compared to ET and annihilation)?
Before hoping in UR and having my thoughts of Hell thrown out the window I was always afraid that if I had doubts, or starting thinking outside of my orthodox views, or even wondered about other religions or beliefs (about whether they had any validity or not) I would fear for my eternal welfare. I was always afraid that I'd stand before God and he'd reject me. Now I don't really worry about that anymore. I figure either God really IS love and he'll reject NOBODY or I'll be annihilated by a god that really isn't love at all. And, since I don't worry about eternal suffering in Hell and have hope in a God that REALLY does LOVE ALL people, I don't worry so much about what I wonder about, doubt, or explore. I'm not saying I plan on converting to Hinduism or anything like that, but I'm also more open to coming out of the orthodox-box and really explore new ideas. For instance: I've considered the idea that reincarnation could be something that actually exists. Now, I don't so much hold to that anymore, but I'm definitely open to the idea that, if it's real, it'd only be a part of God's plan to perfect all men. (I mean, Origen pondered about the pre-existence of souls/spirits, which I actually found interesting.)
So, has UR allowed you to be more open minded?
Quote from: Tim B on October 13, 2009, 06:23:13 AM
So, has UR allowed you to be more open minded?
Almost... embarassingly so!
I say that because I remember a time when I thought that perhaps others WERE evil.. even if they were being loving... but they were from a different religion, etc. but somehow the love that they were putting in the world was.. WRONG. somehow. I'm not sure how. But hey, when the main beliefs behind Jesus is "God is love. but he will torture you if you don't choose Him" your beliefs and thoughts and ideas of what love is can get REALLY skewed and a person can get real confused. :msealed: You either accept that confusion or you FIGHT it.
So now I see things much more simply and much more beautifully....
I see every knee bowing and confessing Jesus is Lord...
But it's a beautiful thing, a wonderful thing.
and I see LOVE ENDURING.
If it is truly love. Then it is TRULY FROM GOD.
No matter if someone mistakes the name and calls God something else for now..
if it is LOVE, it comes from GOD!
LOVE has one source and one source only... GOD!
I see God in so many places, in so many people than I ever did before.
I see God in everything.
UR has most definitely opened my mind!!
and my HEART! :HeartThrob:
Knowing that we are all brothers and sisters and we are ALL on a journey back home...
Has made my heart and my mind free of a lot of the chains and shackles they originally had.
Quote from: Tim B on October 13, 2009, 06:23:13 AM
So, has UR allowed you to be more open minded?
Absolutely, for two reasons:
First, while I certainly share the Good News with anyone who wishes to listen, I don't have to worry that someone I know might burn forever in hellfire, and therefore, I don't have to push that person away by endlessly trying to convert him on and on to get him over to Jesus before it's too late. In this respect, I think the belief in UR helps someone form real friendships and hold real love for all, rather than having one small group over here of "saved people" with whom you're friends and whom you love wholeheartedly, and another huge group over there of "unsaved people" with whom your only desire is to convert as many as you possibly can.
Second, it unchains one's own mind to a staggering degree compared to the other two. With ET or annihilation, you pretty much have two options: either you're right, or you're
screwed. Remember those times in school when you had to give a presentation in front of the class, and how nervous you felt about how you might screw it up? What if your
entire eternal destiny hinged on not screwing it up? Talk about
pressure! With UR, on the other hand, you can feel free to seriously consider ideas that are not part of your belief system, because you know, first, that the love of God is always in your heart, and second, that if you're wrong, God will simply correct you, not toss you into a burning vat of flames to roast forever and ever just because you had a fleeting moment of doubt or consideration of a doctrine that turned out to be false.
And ET adherents wonder why we want to tell people about UR. :happygrin:
Quote from: Tim B on October 13, 2009, 06:23:13 AM
Is it just me, or does UR seem to be the only belief system that allows true freedom of thought and exploration (as compared to ET and annihilation)?
Is that really true? Or is it just that you found a forum with mostly openminded and relaxed people?
Does it seem more openminded because UR is what you like.
I'm sure Calvinists that try to convert URs don't think we are openminded because we don't listen/explore...