The one blessed thing the Christian Right does not understand

[ThomWV]

If the second coming was tomorrow they would be in deep do-do. They can not break all the rules and expect a warm reception from their savior, I'm pretty sure it doesn't work like that..

[ixion]

1. That's the big problem. Thanks to the 'word' of their 'ministries'

they actually believe they're doing "god's work" by spreading hated and intolerance, violence and murder.

It goes back to the fire and brimstone crap of "sinners in the hands of an Angry God" nonsense.

[NightWatcher]

2. As long as they say " forgive me" with their last breath, they believe they have carte blanche

And many believe that once they say "forgive me Jesus" they can never lose their salvation regardless of what they do. It's called Fire Insurance.

[classof56]

3. As a former member of the Christian Right, I can tell that you for them it works just like that...

It's the "once saved always saved" belief subscribed to by the majority of fundies (there are exceptions) a.k.a. Eternal Security. However, there is a small perhaps growing number who think they have to embrace the coming Rapture wholeheartedly or they won't be snatched up. I think John Hagee is in that camp. Then there are the ones who don't sign on to "Eternal Security" and think instead they have to work like crazy to keep their salvation lest they "fall away" and be sent to the fires of hell. Also, there's the ones that believe you have to be baptized by immersion and filled with the Holy Spirit (hard work to stay filled, of course) or you are not in fact "saved" and you can kiss the Rapture and trip to heaven goodbye.

There are other iterations of the belief system--which gives a clue as to why there are all those different denominations. As I said, I'm an ex-Christian Righter who now doesn't much accept any of it. Maybe if "Christians" start living the way Jesus told them to, I might feel more kindly disposed toward them. For now, Lapsed Baptist I am and Lapsed Baptist I shall remain. If the part about "Eternal Security" is right, I may be covered, but since I don't believe in the Rapture, looks like I'm gonna be Earthbound when it happens.

If I've confused you, it's because I too am confused--a lot!

Tired Old Cynic

[Pyrzqxgl]

4. Particularly in regard to the Death Penalty.

It say's pretty clearly THOU SHALT NOT KILL and that means you, me, & the state. In fact if we are the state, that makes us murderers (all of us) every time an execution is carried out.