Does God create perfect souls or imperfect souls? Or both?

You believe in your soul. Is it perfect or not?

regards
DL

 

So it was god's intention to have Adam and Eve eat from the Tree of Knowledge?

 

Our soul is a non material entity. It is neither perfect, nor imperfect. What sin does is cuts off communion from God. When we recognise that we haev done so (and attempted to repair our bond to the holy) grace comes into effect.

 

It sounds like you are discounting other views on original sin while holding your own superior. This is your interpretation or rather the interpretation that have been passed to you through your church, parents, teachers, etc.- there are other views out there, as was mentioned in Augustine's Confessions (the first Christian autobiography).

Peace and love

 

I have not been told what to think by anyone, I think what I want to.

Did you not say before that the definition of original sin differs between denominations? If that is the case then what is your problem with what I say it is?

 

So you came to that interpretation by yourself? I'm not even going to claim that my views on life are entirely my own- I mix bits and pieces of other ideas to create my own brand of spirituality.

It seems that there are other possibilities you haven't considered. Original sin is a doctrine not of Christ, but his followers, many years after his death.

Peace and love

 

Did I say I came to it completely by myself, I said that I haven't been told what to think by anyone.

I don't believe young children or babies are able to understand anything about sin or about disobeying God. I have the right to believe that, no one has told me that this is the case - it is what I believe.

Is that better for you?!

 

I am only asking you to think about where your opinions are coming from; those who believe unbaptized babies are going to hell come from Augustine's interpretation. Those who don't believe this can trace their opinion to another source.

Why are you so insulted? Many of my beliefs are Buddhist based, which doesn't in any way take away from my opinions; however, I am also not claiming that I created my views independently from other views.

Peace and love

 

I'm not insulted! I just find it strange that you insist people can only belive something if they have been told to! People can make their own assumptions and decisions about things? Maybe you always do what others tell you to, but not everyone does!

 

No, I didn't say that people can't have their own beliefs. It's funny that you saw it that way. I'm taking a history of Christianity course and it is interesting to learn what early debates have created the views that we have on the nature of Christ. Many of my classmates had no idea why they believe what they do, other than the fact that their church, family, etc. taught them that. They also were not told what to believe, but could attribute their beliefs to certain sources. What I believe is influenced by Buddhist texts, but they did not make me believe what I believe. Do you know where your beliefs originate from or how they are influenced?

Here is a question: can you have beliefs that you weren't exposed to? In other words, can you have an idea that are not influenced by any other ideas?

Peace and love

 

If you are asking whether a person can come up with idea X without being exposed to an idea similar to X before than I think so. But if you take your question to the extreme, of can you ever formulate an idea on your own with no inspiration, then I think no. All ideas are inspired to be like or to be not like something else...

 

Of course they can. People have independent thinking, new ideas and beliefs can always be generated. A number of people could also have the same basis for an idea or belief when never having met - it's imagination and personality traits that allow you to see the world in the way you do. Not everyone thinks the same, we are all individuals who see things differently.

I think there is a difference in being told a belief and just being exposed to it. We are exposed to millions of different beliefs, experiences, people all the time and that may influence how we are, but does not mean that it will change us. Just as someone may tell us that it is right or wrong to eat meat for example, it is does necessarily mean that we will agree and follow them.

 

santa
easter bunny
tooth fairy
that i am cool

 

god has abandoned his children...

save me jeebus!!

 

I had work experinence with the easter bunny - was pretty exciting time!

 

Your believe that 'god' doesn't exist is as much a fantasy as believing that 'god' does exist....

C'mon man face reality.

 

God is one of the many tools of the devil

 

Interesting view you have.

 

Ideas must be inspired; new ideas do not come from nowhere. As I read somewhere, a new idea is actually the combination of 2 or more existing ideas. We have cell phones and mp3 players; someone combined the two ideas to create the Juke. Another example is the Buddha's Middle Way, which was inspired by a lute player. You say that we have imagination, but can you imagine something you haven't been influenced by? Can you imagine a new color w/o using a combination of other colors that you have been exposed to?

Yes, we are influenced by beliefs, even if we do not adopt them. The Catholic Church believes condoms are sinful. I don't adopt this belief, but this belief helps form my belief that condoms are not sinful. You may not adopt a belief b/c you were exposed to it, but it does have an influence on your beliefs, whether you want to admit it or not. You don't have to believe everything you hear, but there will be some influence.

Peace and love

 

Yeah, but like I said there is a difference in being told and being exposed to ideas.

I have not said that I made up the whole idea by myself! I merely said that I was never told that belief!

You seem to be dragging this halfway across a field and through a hedge all for the same point!