THanks Kim,
YOu touch alot of points, but the subject of forgiveness is not found in the god of Karma, at least the way it ws explained to me here. No matter how much "good" one does after doing bad they must still be punished by the god of karma into another life, "the person STILL owes a debt" is the way it was described.
With Christians and with Jesus one can repent and ask God for forgiveness and if you are His child through Jesus Christ you will be forgiven, that debt is paid for by Jesus' blood shed on the cross.
THis is a HUGE difference between a loving God and a god of purely an eye for an eye mentality. The Christian God is grace and mercy to those who love Him, for He knows our inability to be absolutely perfect as He is. So He gave us Jesus, a sacrifice, that we may trust in HIm and be saved to heaven if we will trust in Him.
Late for work, but hope we talk more later!
This is why I ask the tough questions. Religions should be questioned, this includes Christianity. Christianity has a bench mark, Jesus Christ and the testimony given of Him, the bible.
When someone puts forth a statement that a Christian is this or that, they need to be questioned as to where in the bible this or that is found to be true of a Christian. Most of the problem rises out of ignorance as to what the bible says about Christians. Christians are followers of Jesus Christ. Therefore to say a Christian is this or that is to say that Jesus is this or that. So we look to the scriptures to see if Jesus was truly this or that as stated by the accuser.
So to answer all your questions about hate Colleen, the answer is no, Christ did not hate and therfore Christians do not hate, and I am a CHristian.
I must remind you Colleen that you study a book also, or books, so we are the same there. You follow ancient writings and so do I, again we are alike there. One difference I have noticed between you and I though is that you get quite abusive with your language towards those you disagree with, that sounds intolerate of anothers point of view.
Jesus, the One I follow, said that out of the heart the mouth speaks, if a person's heart is good they will speak good to others, even to those who they perceive are their enemies whether real or imagined. This is why Jesus and His followers are different than the norm, the world says if someone curses you you have every right to curse them back. God says, bless them who curse you and do good to them who despitefully use you.
The "Light" (Jesus) said, Jhn 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. Jhn 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.