Hi John:

You have opened the door to that part of Christianity I have always wondered about. I have never had the concept of Heaven explained to my complete understanding. Instead, I have blindly accepted that it would be a better place than the earth we presently inhabit.

In my deepest hiding place... I have wondered if the "ancients" developed the concept to keep the faithful "hitched to the wagon." I have also wondered if the concept of the "other place" (hell) is not really what we make of our lives while we exist as humans on earth. I have rationalized that having these doubts does not conflict with my faith. Ultimately, Christianity is primarily the belief that goodness will overcome evil... through the acceptance that Jesus was the Son of God and died for our sins.

As a Christian, I do not expect to be rewarded. To my way of thinking, being "born again" is nothing more than having belief in Christ and all he stood for. I do not link Heaven with being born again... but I also know that many Christians do.

I do know that the Colonies that became the United States were Christian settlements and that the resulting Country was a Christian Nation for hundreds of years until our Corrupt High Court began to chip away at the cornerstone that made us a great nation. I wonder how the high courts in Saudi Arabia would respond if I told them they must change their government to accomodate my beliefs at the expense of their core beliefs?

My guess is that I would disappear quickly and painfully with my head on a lance. How the Supreme Court rationalized their way into their present position on separation of church and state is a mystery to me? Our coins state, "In God We Trust!"

Toleration is fine... but not at the expense of being a Christian Nation.

Merry Christmas!