From: (No Email available)

Date: 2005-09-06 20:06:15

Comment:

"If you are so interested in religious stories, you should read the christian apokryphal stories, they are just as old (some even older) as the so called canonical stories, but they were kept secret and they were never read in front of the common people who couldn't read, later these christians became angry with it and labeled these secret books as fake, although they are just the same as the other books who are accepted".


"AND I still don't believe God still punishes people these days, the soul must make a learning experience out of every life it goes through and sin doesn't exist for a soul.
Certainly taking medicines is NOT a sin nor alcohol, Noah was the first man (according to the bible) to get drunk, was he thrown into some fire see? nope".

The christian apocryphal was and still is part of the cannon.  They were never kept secret.  But, you are right that most of the people at that time could not read.  I think the old books that you are talking about is the, so called, gnostic gospels.  Those writings were not the inspired word of God but something someone made up (fake as you put it).

As for God punishing people, I don't think he goes out of his way to punish anyone but he does allow evil to happen to just about anyone.  He also provides help to those who may have been a victem to an evil act.  God will ensure that good comes out of evil.  We continue learn from it and hopefuly lead a holy life.  Don't be fooled.  His punishment is eternal death. A complete separation of the unrepentent sinner from God.  I think at that point the unrepentant sinner realises the loss and realises the emense pain involved in that eternal separation.  Ultimately, it really is the person's say wether they go to heavan or hell.