At first, I skimmed quickly through your essay, thinking that I had quickly discerned which arguments you were making, and I was going to respond prematurely, but a sentence caught my eye, and I stopped to read your whole essay.

Now, I cannot speak to what other Christians believe, only of my understanding of the Bible. Besides, many people do a quick study of others outside their particular group, glancing, making casual assessments and judgments about what they believe and without any discussion.

Anyways, the first thing you have heard is twisted. All people are inherently sinful no matter what their life choices are. All choices have consequences. God hates sin, because "Sin" actually means "doing harm or hurt to oneself or to others." God hates sin for that very reason. Like a good parent who doesn't want to see their children get hurt, He has made rules to avoid bad results. God made us, and like parents, He probably has a fairly good idea what's best for us - as individuals and as all Humankind. So, the rules aren't a matter of "right and wrong," per se, but "right" if following the rule for our own benefit, and "wrong" is disobeying the rules, creating a liability.

So, there's that.

Further, in James' letter, chapter one , verse 5, I've read, "If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking."

Also, Proverbs in the Old Testament is rife with exhortations to get knowledge and to diligently seek wisdom. What you seem to have heard sounds like a very lazy form of Christianity to me.

So, there's that.

Now, your definition of love could use a little tweaking by comparative analysis by the use of other translations like Young's Literal Translation. For instance, I have understood from my own searches that God "does not keep a record of our day-to-day mistakes. God is not petty, but judges our continuing practice of various sins. Sexual misconduct is not a mistake. It is a choice. No matter the extenuating circumstances, it is a choice. Hetero or homo sin, a choice.

In addition, you miss the difference between "sin" and "fruit" listed inGalatians 5:19-23: "When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!"

Nevertheless, your view of the Corinthian quote seems to bring God down to our human level. However, "God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?" James 4:12 puts the difference between God and mankind quite succinctly: "God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy."

Finally, as for "eternal torment," it is, rather, a timeless separation from God, certainly not pleasant - perhaps painfully boring, lonely, and completely isolated from the nourishing waters of the Word. I have come to understand the more figurative or allegorical use of the word "fire." My educated guess, I suppose.

Finally, (and I know this response has gotten way too long), God created Humankind originally, but then told them to be fruitful and multiply. So, from then on, people create people.

God also made Adam and Eve telling them to do the same thing: Have kids. Originally they were referred to as the children of God...but we know that that didn't last long, and at that, no one was considered a child of God any longer - at least in the New Testament view. That may be a nice Hippie-type thought, but it is wrong-headed... As the apostle Paul explained in his letter to the Romans (3:21-23), "But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard."

(I'm sure you can find all kinds of references to use to counter what I've said, but Jesus made the principle I'm trying to solidify very clear to the Religious Leaders of His lifetime, "Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones." - Matthew 3:9. So,flail away, if you choose. I can take it.)