WAB
Contributor
Unfortunately, one is not able to apply the same set of standards to God that one would set to one's self or one's neighbor. During my years-long arguments with Calvinists and evangelicals in general (some here, some elsewhere), we are told that our judgment is flawed, by nature (ours by design), but that God is not responsible for it. God created us flawed, but we take the blame for it. Our legs are tied together at birth, but we are held at fault for falling down, etc. Our imperfection is called sin, but we had no choice NOT to sin.
Most theology is the exact opposite of ethical or moral; it is the art of subterfuge: the art of laying blame to the victim. Sorry Learner.
That being said, most religions are going through their adolescence, getting their sea-legs, if you'll excuse the mixed metaphors. I went to a Catholic mass last year, and despite the whole thing being steeped in ritual and tradition, the homily was more like a psychological discussion than a sermon; the pastor (priest) more like a coach than a disciplined leader. It was all warm and fuzzy, and I actually enjoyed it.
Bishop Spong, reviled by hardline, Old School, orthodox Catholics (papists), has a great phrase: Love wastefully.
Lion and Learner will say that is unscriptural, and they would be right. And that the bible is inerrant, and they would be wrong.
Spinoza knew scripture inside and out, more deeply than most of the rabbis and teachers who reviled him. He was beyond expert in Hebrew, and wrote a book on it. But even he thought the kabbalists were out of their minds.
Spinoza's interpretation of scripture is actually quite profound. His works are of course banned by the Catholic church, even today. And, even though he was a Jew, though a secular one, he considered Jesus to have been perhaps one of the most enlightened men who ever lived. So do I.
I regard references to Hell as non-literal. Since Jesus spoke in figurative speech, in symbolic, poetic terms, to His audience, I see no reason at all to think He meant his references to Gehenna literally. It was a scare tactic. He went on at length explaining that the written law was meant for those who didn't have it written in their hearts (and He didn't mean the pump in your chest), ie those who had common sense, decency, and good conscience. If you were good, by nature, you could break certain rules, at least to a certain, limited degree (such as laws pertaining to the Sabbath). The rules were for people who needed to be frightened into behaving according to the law, because they wouldn't abide by the law if left to their own devices.
It's true today, in our secular society. Good people don't need to consciously, deliberately follow a set of rules or laws. Rules and laws are on the books, at least to some extent, for the cultivation and restraint of people who cannot restrain themselves. This is NOT to say that the law does not apply to everyone. It does.
...Who's face is on this coin? (...silence?...shrugging? "Yeah, and?") Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is God's... (confused faces: "Who the heck is this guy?")
Anyone can be a criminal, given enough time and influence, and simply because of happenstance, and circumstances beyond their control.
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