born in 1946, my christian education started very early even before I started school (in kindergarten at age 4). after kindergarten it was 16 years of catholic school. now, in my old age, I wonder if I missed the point. what I remember most about my religious education in school is that if you're good, then you go to heaven. if you're bad, then you go to hell. heaven is a really good place. hell is a REALLY bad place. did I miss the point? yes and no. I got the picture. but, if that was the message, then it was really the WRONG message. what is the point? does God play "gotcha", carefully tracking my sins? proving that I deserve hell (not that I need any proof)? no. "Everyone is in need of redemption. Our natural condition was characterized by guilt: “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” ( Romans 3:23 ). Christ’s redemption has freed us from guilt, being “justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” ( Romans 3:24...