The debate

"He’s absolutely right on that point, of course. Everyone’s entitled to their beliefs. It becomes an issue when people’s personal moral beliefs become a part of controlling the right of other people to live their lives according to their own values, which is what the religious right wants to do. They don’t want to just be free to live their lives the way they want to, they want to control how you live YOUR life, too, to force you to live (outwardly at least) in the way that makes THEM comfortable, which is where I call bull 'hockey'." - K. Voynar


This is a point of view frequently expressed today.  Here are the assumptions:


1.  All beliefs are equally valid.  
2.  No person has the right to tell someone else how to live.
3.  The religious want you to conform to their code of behavior. 


Here's my take.  I think number one is false, number two is true, and number three is false.  


Out of the three, the first one is probably the hardest sell.  "Isn't it arrogant to assume that your beliefs are the only true beliefs?"  Well, it is impossible not to do that, regardless of which view you take.  If I'm right, my belief is the only valid belief, and if you're right, yours is the only valid belief.  It can't be both.  


For number two, I do not believe that it is my job to tell others how to live.  "But they're sinning, you can't just think it's OK for them to continue doing that?"  Sin.  That is a key element to all of this.  In my opinion, one of the most misunderstood concepts among the churchy.  There seems to be a great lack of understanding of what sin is and what the effects are.  All have sinned, and all are under condemnation.  So we are all in need of the same remedy, and getting the misbehaving kid to quiet down and sit up straight is not the fix.


Number three, I do not want you to conform to my code of behavior.  There is no benefit to it.  Whether you behave like Mother Theresa or Sam Kennison, you can only earn one thing by your behavior, damnation.  I know that sounds harsh, and it is, but there is good news to offset it.  There is a forgiveness and a righteousness that can be obtained apart from your own behavior.  


What I do want, is for unbelievers to come to faith in Christ.  Easier said than done, I know.  But salvation can be found nowhere else.