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Judgment dayI have always keep my lips together and smile as far as religious conviction and associated matters are of concern. Reason for such reaction is not that I'm an atheist, it's partly due to my insufficient convictions or proactive knowledge of religion to argue my beliefs. Most importantly, I love to maintain my adventure of experiencing the diversity offered by different cultures and traditions.
Just today, some Christians from "some church" were going door-to-door, distributing pampers. Without me stating the obvious, it's certainly another way of "spreading beliefs". Anyway, I noticed it's a hot story going around town. Don't know if you have heard it or perhaps in my case, my boss actually shown us in video. It's about making the people realise that they have sinned. And God hath sent Jesus to purge or atone our sins.
If I didn't interpret wrongly, the important thing here is to encourage us to realise the sacrifices Jesus has done, and the best way to acknowledge this is to accept God into our hearts. I deciphered much was achieved through creating self-awareness of the unethical and/or immoral behavior and even thoughts (!) within us. And reminding us that such "sins" might subject us to a judgment day. I even read from the pamplet, words in an illustrating diagram of "sins" which includes "envy", "proud"... it occurred to me, are these abit too extreme?
Not scrutinishing words in a diagram or being ignorant, personally I feel thoughts are okay unless you act in a way which harms/affect the other party. Isn't it a privilege to have privacy in our minds, without being worried that what we spoke in our minds might condemn us? Of course, it might be argued that it's thumbs-up for the purest of mind. However, its that practical?
And definitely, it's perfectly fine to be proud of our achievements. Just be careful not to go overboard to cause annoyance to others. In addition, enviousness reminds and focus us to what we do not have/lack, such that we will seek to improve. Isn't that the effect caused by the recent advertisement on foreign-students being able to speak Mandarin?
Next ambiguous issue is whether there are other alternatives to acknowledge the greatness of God? I recalled watching the Ten Commandments when I was in Primary 4 and there was the scene when Moses came back with the craved stones and the Gods punished those who worshipped the Golden Ox of their own. And kinda derived a certainty to the opening question - as long as we live and let live, I think it's another legitimate acknowledgment via respect for his creations, don't you agree?
Maybe the Christians might have found now to be the most appropriate time to spread the gospel word ba.. considering people are discouraged by the prevailing economic ordeal, it might very well give them time to reflect on their life decisions. In the midst, the opinion of believing in the wonders of the Lord to calm tension don't seemed unappealing.
Lastly, is there really a judgment day when we will have to answer for our accumulative sins? Before this, how shall we address the equitable definition of "sins"? Ok, the creator have the right to judge us. He's omnipresent, that accounts that he has the ability to spare time for everybody for each judgment. But is it certain that the after-life is only hell and heaven, and that it is inevitable for a judgment day to decide where the departed belong to?
I will never forget the discussions I have with certain believers who knock on our door. (Well, mainly because I got to learnt of Jehovah.. God is just his "celebrity" nick?). There were two who shared with me this ending phrase in the Bible which mentioned that the end product of the world is a guranteed paradise for all. If so, will we still expect the pressence of hell? Did the fallen angel turn over a new leaf? If all these will occurr, does that render all existing judgment day analogy meaningless?
Surely, there are alot to be discovered, if not, better left with open options...