Would a loving human parent slam and lock the door forever against a son or daughter regardless of what evil they have done? Would a loving parent God sentence billions of people, or even one person, to never-ending torture with no pardon, no parole? To all who believe in God, do you believe in hell? I would never want to spend eternity with such a cruel monster God!I have never met anyone—no matter how much better parenting, brain chemistry and nutrition, no matter how much love, time and truth—that can say for sure would forever refuse to wake up and choose good instead of evil.Would a loving, all-powerful parent God refuse to help millions of people in war zones who pray desperately to keep them and their families safe, but are massacred despite all their anguished prayers? Massacred often by soldiers who claim to be religious—even Christian. Soldiers on both sides praying to God while they kill each other. Soldiers on both sides believing their noble, patriotic duty—approved by God—is to go murder their enemies in war.I wish we had a fair, loving, all-powerful parent God who would rescue all who fervently prayed for help from war, starvation, cancer, addiction, tornadoes, drought, drunk drivers, rape, family violence, blindness, false charges, drones, torture and much more! Hundreds of millions of people throughout human history have prayed desperately to God the best they knew how, and received no help.Did Jesus of Nazareth actually live? If he did, did the writers of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the Bible accurately tell Jesus’ teachings and actions? In centuries since, did those people who copied and translated the original writings do a good job and make no important mistakes? Huge questions! Who knows for sure?The Bible says Jesus spoke often about God as a loving Father who would answer prayers and give what we ask for.Matthew 7:11, “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him.”Matthew 18:19, “Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.”Matthew 21:22, “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”If Jesus actually lived, and if he said these verses, he was sadly deluded about God and reality.Well-meaning or not, he was not speaking the truth. Talk about politicians’ lies and companies’ false advertising to sell products! These verses are false advertising for God.I am humbled to realize I swallowed and spread this false advertising for God for many years. I was a sincere Christian preacher in the 1960s. I had not yet learned to question the Bible deeply and to reject its bullshit. I thank many who helped me open my eyes!
Letters: Mutual Feelings Mutual Feelings
I love the Alibi newspaper.
Letters: Re: Mutual Feelings Re: Mutual Feelings
We love you too! Unless you don’t like Mariah Carey. Then we hate you. Bye!
Letters: This One Time At Slayer ... This One Time At Slayer ...
I saw Slayer open for Judas Priest at Irvine Meadows in California, like 25 years ago. My husband at the time thought you were so good he bought your CD and went to the parking lot to listen to you. He didn’t even listen to Judas Priest play. I also saw you play when Anthrax opened for you. What a trip you are going to be in ABQ—totally awesome!
Letters: Re: This One Time At Slayer ... Re: This One Time At Slayer ...
Hope you were able to make it to the show!
Letters: I Can “Crossword” Again! I Can “Crossword” Again!
Thank you for bringing the crossword back to it’s original size.I can finally read the numbers again! Not your doing? Thanks anyway.Love the comics page as well.
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