Forgiveness...

Yes. Forgiveness is the strongest point to Christianity. No other religion emphasizes forgiveness to the extent that Christianity does. Before Christ, the world lay dark w/o forgiveness. After Christ, forgiveness bathed the world in acceptance and the true heart and action of love… “I and The Other Are One.”

(If you want a “less is more” lesson, check out Buddhism. If you want a “go with the flow and do not fight the nature of things” lesson, check out Taoism. It is not that Christianity doesn’t cover these topics, it is just that these other traditions do it better. But for forgiveness, there’s nothing like Christianity.)

You don’t need faith. You can just look at what’s in front of you. Christianity comes with a translation need. Luckily you have a symbolic mind that can read the allusions.

Therefore, hell is having to live with your sin. Heaven is being completely one with God. Christ came to show that God is truly one with man, to suffer with man. Through this suffering comes compassion and The Ultimate Forgiveness. So yes, Jesus picked up your tab. It happened and it is done.

Furthermore, anyone who asks God for forgiveness and has worked on his heart is forgiven. That is how the Universe works. Don’t you feel that way for your own children? That is how God feels for you, his child.

I think Catholic guilt can be a problem. God has already forgiven us. You need only to learn how to forgive yourself. Say it with me, “God has already forgiven me. I must forgive myself.” Catch all and any negative self-talk and replace it. Watch some Joel Osteen. Sign up for his free podcast www.joelosteen.com