I think the non-Calvinist Christian answer would be that we always have a choice. You could grow up, reject God and then return to Him. It's just a "risk" that people take being adults. Of course, it's interesting that the Catholic and Orthodox Churches do not generally require confession for younger children, and the Orthodox consider that children under 8 are not able to fully appreciate the meaning of their actions and so cannot be "sinning" in the conventional sense.
It's not like on a game show where you can take the money you've already won and walk away. You can't just commit suicide or engage in risky behavior. Also, even if suicide wasn't a ticket to hell it's still a very selfish choice because of the pain caused to family.
You *have to* keep playing, even if in the corner of your mind you have some awareness that the more you learn and think, the more your doubts grow.
Hmm- on the younger children topic, what about children that were never going to go to confession upon growing up, like in India?
I figured I'd put RAFO's top religiologists on the case
08/09/2011 02:03:55 PM
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well I am not religious but that seems a bit of a strawman argument
08/09/2011 05:01:57 PM
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Hm, so there's a broad Divine Plan, but it doesn't matter either way who wins the Super Bowl?
08/09/2011 05:25:23 PM
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Your argument only works if you get to decide who and what god is, like I said strawman
08/09/2011 06:32:17 PM
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I don't know that I'm a "top religiologist", but here goes:
08/09/2011 05:35:26 PM
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I can totally do this.
08/09/2011 06:57:19 PM
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Believe it or not, this is a thought I had when I was little and christian.
08/09/2011 07:39:24 PM
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Predestination is something only strict Calvinists believe.
08/09/2011 08:53:59 PM
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Didn't mean to bring up predestination.
08/09/2011 09:17:19 PM
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Sorry. That's how I read it...
09/09/2011 12:48:07 AM
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It's not a risk you can refuse...
09/09/2011 06:04:44 AM
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I think that looking for an absolute answer re: religion is pretty silly.
08/09/2011 08:22:16 PM
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That's a tough one...
09/09/2011 01:27:25 PM
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I'm treating this like a survey even though you didn't make it one: It's about a relationship.
12/09/2011 11:23:45 PM
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