It sounds more like atheism as defined by meta-beliefs.

In any case, the prefix “meta” should probably not be used with words that it isn't typically used with, unless there's some major unpacking that follows.

You have unwittingly stumbled upon something that many Christians do not like to admit: that we do exactly what we don't want to do. We do what we hate doing. This is something that we recognize in ourselves, that no matter how long we are here in this life, we still do evil, no matter how much we wish not to.

This is what we call “simul iustus et peccator”: simultaneously a sinner and saint. Two forces working in one man simultaneously. Saint Paul described the phenomenon: “The good that I wish to do, I do not do. The evil I wish not to do, that I do.”

There IS a resolution to this tension. I do not wish to lapse into theology here, but suffice it to say, your understanding of the matter is very shallow at best. You may as well be describing what it is like to be black when you are white, or a women, when you are a man. You THINK you know, but you really cannot know, because you are not one.

The mourning a believer does for a loved one who dies isn't because of a lack of belief that they're “in a better place.” It is because we are separated from them and will miss them between now and heaven/the new earth.

It isn't because we don't believe they're with God, or doubt that their pain is resolved. It is that we miss them. We're sad they're not with us. That a relationship has been (temporarily) lost.

Death is not a natural state. God didn't intend for us to die. So it is a wierd, uncomfortable, painful thing to go through. The comfort is in the belief that we'll live again in the ideal state, with Him, in the new earth.

I'm happy you've put a lot of thought into this, but your argument that we're sad because we “don't really believe our beliefs” starts from a false premise.

It sounds more like atheism as defined by meta-beliefs.

In any case, the prefix “meta” should probably not be used with words that it isn't typically used with, unless there's some major unpacking that follows.

You have unwittingly stumbled upon something that many Christians do not like to admit: that we do exactly what we don't want to do. We do what we hate doing. This is something that we recognize in ourselves, that no matter how long we are here in this life, we still do evil, no matter how much we wish not to.

This is what we call “simul iustus et peccator”: simultaneously a sinner and saint. Two forces working in one man simultaneously. Saint Paul described the phenomenon: “The good that I wish to do, I do not do. The evil I wish not to do, that I do.”

There IS a resolution to this tension. I do not wish to lapse into theology here, but suffice it to say, your understanding of the matter is very shallow at best. You may as well be describing what it is like to be black when you are white, or a women, when you are a man. You THINK you know, but you really cannot know, because you are not one.

The mourning a believer does for a loved one who dies isn't because of a lack of belief that they're “in a better place.” It is because we are separated from them and will miss them between now and heaven/the new earth.

It isn't because we don't believe they're with God, or doubt that their pain is resolved. It is that we miss them. We're sad they're not with us. That a relationship has been (temporarily) lost.

Death is not a natural state. God didn't intend for us to die. So it is a wierd, uncomfortable, painful thing to go through. The comfort is in the belief that we'll live again in the ideal state, with Him, in the new earth.

I'm happy you've put a lot of thought into this, but your argument that we're sad because we “don't really believe our beliefs” starts from a false premise.

When we believe God about our future it doesn't have to be a magical experience, but it should be real. Do you believe that by dying on the cross, Jesus made a payment for the penalty of sins? Does that make you a believer?

I mean, I can’t put it any plainer. Saying a Christian can go to Hell for any particular sin’s not the best theology, and it’s absolute anethema to the generic Born Again.

Regardless of the mildly bizzare assertion that people can’t act against their best interest, the central thesis here seems, to me, to be 100% wrong.

I sin daily (at least) and though I’ve been dissappointed in myself, I’ve never once imagined God was warming up the coals.

I am not afraid of death or any part of the world to come. But I do place an extremely high value on life–and not only my own. Because my god instructs me, “choose life.” Since he’s so cool, I place a high value on his pleasure. I understand that he derives pleasure from my obedience. So I choose life.

I have chosen not to skydive (although that would be SUPER cool) because my value of the loss suffered by my family should something go wrong so high. Am I afraid? Am I irrational? Am I deceiving myself?

I am likewise not cavilier about this incredible gift of life.

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As for the question of autocide, opinions vary almost at the individual level. (I have read disagreements within Jewish and Christian denominations–my limited area of knowlege.) Almost all consider madness-induced suicide to be tragic but not of moral consequence. Otherwise, all agree it is a great sin, but most tend to agree that it is not unpardonable.

If you are familiar with the predestination/free will issue, then you can understand that some believe that autocide reveals that you were never “saved” or “elect” in the first place.

Jesus was quite plain about there being degrees of reward and punishment. All Christians who receive this agree that autocide is a bad thing, and there will be reprocussions, barring the above.