Jivatma wrote:I agree with salvation being God's grace. What I don't agree with is that we (as well as our sin) are products of other individuals. If I am responsible for my salvation then I am the sinner, initially. Now, my initial sin that caused me to fall made be susceptible to the perpetuation of Adam and Eve's sin in human society. So I do understand how their sin has affected me, but still I do not accept that they are responsible for my being prone to suffer the after-effects of their sin in the first place. I sinned and that caused Adam and Eve's sin to affect me. That is how I accept it because I do not believe that the spirit-soul begins it's existence at the birth of the flesh-body. The materialists/atheists believe that the life (soul) begins as a product of material arrangement. So when I see a religion that believes similar it seems like a symptom of atheism.
Who told you that Christianity teaches "life begins as a product of material arrangement" ? The Bible says,
"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being" (Genesis 2:7). Also, your way of dealing with original sin is exactly what it is.....your way! God's ways are not our ways, they are higher (Isaiah 55:8-9). Also, if Adam and Eve were not responsible in any way for you suffering for your sins, then why are you suffering? Do you suggest that you are suffering because of your sins only? If this is the case, why did Christ suffer? He was sinless! In fact, it is two-fold. Adam and Eve's sin gives us a sinful nature in terms of us desiring at times to rebel against God. God foresaw us exercising this desire, thus not only do we suffer because of our own sins, but also because of the original sin.
Jivatma wrote:That verse only shows how all sin is equal in the eyes of God. As far as salvation is concerned, we either have it or we don't, correct? So one type of sin is just as condemning as another type of sin. Would you not agree? It is in this context that I understand what Jesus is saying.
The point is, Jesus gets rid of the implication in the desciples question that someone's own personal suffering from sin is always the result of their own actions. It can be from a result of sin in general. Again, did Christ suffer and die because of His sin? No.
Jivatma wrote:This is a possibility, I suppose. But I don't see why it would be necessary for God to do such. I mean, He did create linear time. He did create cause and effect, action and reaction. So I don't see why it would be necessary for God to punish someone prior to them doing it. Also, the whole concept of punishment is to teach a lesson. If you punish someone before they do something then are they to learn their lesson so that they won't end up doing that thing for which they had been punished?? I don't subscribe to the "we suffer because God is angry" conception. We suffer because God allows our ignorance. The parameter of suffering is allowed by God because it ultimately brings us closer to God. That is God's transcendental love and causeless mercy upon all of His children.
What if God knows someone will not learn their lesson because they will decide to harden their heart? Again, God's judgement is perfect. I'm sure He knows what He is doing. To be quite honest with you, rather than me speculate reasons why God would do something (and I do so only in defense), I'd rather bow the knee. The secret things belong to the Lord, and the things which are revealed belong to us (refer to Deuteronomy 29:29).