Some questions

Sent in by Gina L

I was born and raised in a strict Catholic family. Since the time I was a child I questioned certain things about Christianity that I never found answers to.

First, if God is all-knowing, he knew Adam and Eve would sin. He knew he'd redeem sinners through his son Jesus. He also knew that many people wouldn't live up to the standards to allow entry into heaven, thus condemning them to an eternity in hell. The New Testament stresses the loving, forgiving nature of God. But what I have always wondered is, if "God is Love" then why would he create us knowing most of us will be damned for all of eternity.

Second, if we need to live a certain way and believe certain things in order to obtain salvation, why are our lives so short? Doesn't it seem like an insurmountable task to be completed in an average lifespan?

Thirdly, if we were created in "the image of God" and God loves all of us as his children, why is the feminine aspect of our nature so suppressed? Are only men truly created in the likeness of God?

And another thing...why is such a sin to believe in mystical experiences or psychic phenomena even if they bring to us a feeling of love, peace, compassion, acceptance and all the other things that a loving, peaceful and compassionate god would value?

I believe in good and evil in the world, but I'm having a really hard time finding answers that clarify these things for me. And I really think that God would want us to understand them to encourage us to become closer to him, leading us eventually to heaven for all of eternity.

And why are none of these types of things ever addressed in church? Why doesn't the priest's homily ever help us understand this? Is it because if he addressed the topic, he'd have to admit he wonders the same thing?

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