The true test of freedom comes when we have to express freedom outwardly, and within societal interractions. So this concept of emotional freedom or “eternal” freedom through Jesus is irrelevant to the “state of freedom” or liberty that defines a society. It’s also irrelevant when it comes to equitable and just treatment of people. Just because internally one feels free that doesn’t mean that an injustice is not done upon them.

Now, Romney is a candidate for the office of President, he’s not up for a walk on the Church of Latter-day Saints-owned downtown strip of Salt Lake City. Romney is standing in front of the most diverse nation as a candidate, so I expect he is talking about our society, our nation, not about his internal feelings. I’m very happy that he’s free through Christ but how is that going to assure the liberties of this very diverse nation?

Richard, you will have to explain to me how a freedom comes from something else, be it divine, or earthly. I don’t see how such a perverse dichotomy, such as the concepts of heaven and hell, are to be considered a “freedom”. If a person, like myself, chose that Immortality was not desirable, where was I “given” this freedom to choose this? I believe many theists make the desire for their own eternal life elsewhere, to give credit to whatever deity they worship for “freeing” them of the responsibilities of this world. I don’t think that is a freedom. Freedom in Christ has always sounded to me like slavery.

“We are free from slavish fear to a God who is just waiting to condemn us.”

All Christian doctrine preaches that if we do not accept the “gift” of blissful immortality then we are in a sense rejecting god, and therefore choosing eternal torment. Again, I emphasize that I could never come to see this as a freedom. In the sense that immortality is a punishment to those who don’t desire it, you would be hard pressed to convince me that your God isn’t waiting to condemn me either way…

“Atheism flourishes just fine in places like the Soviet Union.”

The Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. The supposed “atheism” of Soviet Union was a result of the official status as a secular state. More than a third of the population was Christian during this time. Atheism has never flourished. If atheism is the rejection of dogma of any kind, including the godhood status of leaders like Pol Pot, than humanity is hard pressed to find in it’s history a good model, except perhaps Rome and early America.

If you lock a Christian up, he will have died thinking he is free. I have no problem with contained delusion.

It is high time I weigh in on the recent speech from Willard “Mitt” Romney in which he demonstrated his willingness to pander to Christian extremists, his ignorance of the Constitution, and what sounds at least a little bit like a theocratic vision f…