Chalam:
With Arminianism, at least people get to choose their own destiny, in Calvinism they don't, they are not elected and are without hope.
I think you missed the point of my question. Free will, which needs to be defined, does not answer the question.
For those who might be reading this and are grappling with this thorny theological issue, once again I firmly believe salvation has nothing to do with getting to the bottom of this theological issue. Indeed, it is probably about not fully understanding it!
On this I render a hearty amen! The Arminian/Calvinism debate is not a "closed hand" issue. Meaning that the affirmation or denial of this doctrine is not essential to one's salvation.
Designs:
Of course Protestantism, Catholicism, and the Orthodox churches meet the criteria of a Cult, just bigger numbers than groups like the Witnesses or LDS.
How did you come to this conclusion?
Members and Leaders of these groups make claims similar to our former religion and slip under the door the little pieces of paper that try and get them off of the hook of responsibility that we would use. 'We're filled with God's Spirit', 'God dwells in me', you know the spheal.
Aside from cult founders like Russell, Smith, Young, Jones, Baker-Eddy, Blavatsky, et. al., I would like some evidence where Protestant scholars like Luther, Calvin, Knox, Lattimer, Hus, Bunyan, Edwards, Van Til, Clark, Machen, Sproul, etc. have made a pronouncement like your above statement.
Anchored to Creeds, yet it was in reality made up as they went along.
I disagree with your caviller characterization of the various creeds. Chrisitianity formulated creeds in order to combat false ideas about the Father, the Son, and/or the Holy Spirit that had sprung up in early church history.
Are you stuck in a Cult, again, difficult to grapple with that one isn't it.
No, because Christianity does not correspond to any cult model that I am aware of. I am free to read any criticism of Christianity available to me. All of them aren't worth the paper they're printed on, but that is another discussion.
The retort is that someone who challenges the Fundamentalists who come here to Convert the XJWs must be atheist.
I am not sure what you mean here, so if you wouldn't mind expanding on this a bit, I might be able to understand what you are trying to say.
All of the mental protections we were trained to have as Witnesses carry over to people and their new found religious persuasions.
Oh, yes, the old, you're thinking like a JW accusation. To be honest, I have seen that come from the atheists on this board more than I have from the educated Christians. Many times I have pointed out the conservative Christian response only to have atheists employ "thought stopping" processes to defend their orthodoxy from attack. I am not saying that this may be true of you, as I believe that this is the first time that I have interacted with you.
My only question of you, is how do you come to the conclusions you have posted here.
