No 1229 of Living Life Series 1
Don't we often hear comment like this. We had hell of a fun at John's birthday party. What has hell to do with the party, more so with the goodness of the party? Could we say the same of heaven? Won't we too have more hell of a life when in heaven? Obviously times have changed.
But really too much of a good thing can be no good at all. This may bring us close to hell or even hell on Earth. This may unleash the fires of hell. We may end up getting our fingers burnt even if we are lucky somewhat.
So doesn't this point to us that we are changing. The threat of hell fire is no longer an issue. We are no pushovers. We need to be given the logic and to be won over.
It would be no winner to instil fear and bring us in line with God and saints. But having said that, don't our parents teach us in this way. They often say that if we don't do this, we will have pain. That is how we grow up and in time we can be our own to decide what are best.
Religion too is like that. We need to be shepherded and there will be the sheepdog and the shepherd. This is true in life and in any religion. But is that lack of trust? Are we not reliable to decide on our own? Must we be treated like toddlers and young children?
Religions may be different but religions too are alike in many ways. Religion tends to be paternalistic at times. All religions are often like that to those they need to nurture.
Religions are often the same in the way they grow the faith. Religions are many but still one in ways and in God. This the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 wants us to know.
We started out with discipline and discipline always have to do with the fear of the cane. But this is going out of favor. But can we really do away with discipline during the growing up stage, be it in life and in religion?
But in religion, poor God is maligned as the authoritarian and Satan, if ever he is what we think he is, will often get the brunt of acidic tongue of men.
Are men undoing the goodness of God and saints by trying to coerce others to God using the element of accept his love or be lost to his love? Can't men have love in themselves and see for themselves the God in themselves - the good in them and grow the good in themselves?
But we do need to be shepherded from time to time. Can't we take matters into our own hands or leave this to God and saints? Do we act for God and saints? Do we play God and make God harsh, imposing and demanding?
But there is no right or wrong answer. The social context must determine what must be done.
It would be no winner to instil fear and bring us in line with God and saints. But having said that, don't our parents teach us in this way. They often say that if we don't do this, we will have pain. That is how we grow up and in time we can be our own to decide what are best.
Religion too is like that. We need to be shepherded and there will be the sheepdog and the shepherd. This is true in life and in any religion. But is that lack of trust? Are we not reliable to decide on our own? Must we be treated like toddlers and young children?
Religions may be different but religions too are alike in many ways. Religion tends to be paternalistic at times. All religions are often like that to those they need to nurture.
Religions are often the same in the way they grow the faith. Religions are many but still one in ways and in God. This the good lord Lord Bo Tien 武天菩萨 wants us to know.
We started out with discipline and discipline always have to do with the fear of the cane. But this is going out of favor. But can we really do away with discipline during the growing up stage, be it in life and in religion?
But in religion, poor God is maligned as the authoritarian and Satan, if ever he is what we think he is, will often get the brunt of acidic tongue of men.
Are men undoing the goodness of God and saints by trying to coerce others to God using the element of accept his love or be lost to his love? Can't men have love in themselves and see for themselves the God in themselves - the good in them and grow the good in themselves?
But we do need to be shepherded from time to time. Can't we take matters into our own hands or leave this to God and saints? Do we act for God and saints? Do we play God and make God harsh, imposing and demanding?
But there is no right or wrong answer. The social context must determine what must be done.
