X-Ftn-To: kamerynn 

(Hi, allow me to drop in :)

kamerynn  wrote:
>*your* definition of responsibility is as irrelevant as *mine*.
>What matters, here, is the term's various uses.
>1) the moisture is responsible for the rust.
>2) the man is responsible for his rational choice.
>The term "responsible" is being used differently in 1 and 2;
>both 1 and 2 are correct.  My point was: responsiblility,
>constued in manner #2, implies free will.  (this is what I
>meant by "responsibility, properly construed, [implies
>free will]")

To me, free will means that we choose the form of our existence. Each
choice has its consequences and forms us in the chosen direction.

>> Interestingly enough, the above definition of punishment shows the
>> foolishness of Hell actually existing.  Do you see how?  If not, I will
>> share my thoughts on that.
>
>Because the *punishment* is not "behavior changing" since one
>does not have the chance to return to reality and act in
>a rehabilitated way.  Hell, of course, is not meant as a
>retroactive punishment for the puposes of rehabilitation.  It is
>meant as a deterrent with the force of carrying out it's threat.

Actually, hell is a logical consequence of some choices - for hatred,
ignorance of reality, opposition to truth... these choices have the
quality of hell, and people who choose those qualities of existence
during life, might likely end up in a place where they are
characteristic to the external environment. The same thing applies for
heaven - those who choose the heavenly qualities in life, like love,
knowledge, compassion, truth etc, will have an external environment
that has such qualities.

>Thus, while the punishment is not behavior changing, the threat
>of it is (you call this indirect punishment).  Correct me if I'm
>wrong, but Hell likely causes people to act differently and
>is, therefore, not foolish in the manner you expect.

There is no punishment, or reward, not in that sense. Every act is its
own reward or punishment, because by acting you determine your
reality. Actions based on truth and reality have good results, at
least in the spiritual sphere, while the actions based on ignorance
and hatred result in separation of one's own essence from God, which
is by definition hell.

-- 
Homepage: http://www.danijel.org