Now you got me thinking about God's purpose as to the person in the photo. I am certain that it must be an important one. Perhaps his purpose is to donate his hotdog money to a TV evangelist's desire buy yet another airplane. Or perhaps his purpose is be killed in a hurricane or an earthquake as an example to the rest of us of what not to do (assuming that he is not just accidently killed in one of these events that is really directed against a heathen neighbor- sort of a red-shirt for God) God's ways are mysterious you know- they look so much like random to the uninitiated.
God's purpose
- Thread starter Thor 2
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Now you got me thinking about God's purpose as to the person in the photo. I am certain that it must be an important one. Perhaps his purpose is to donate his hotdog money to a TV evangelist's desire buy yet another airplane. Or perhaps his purpose is be killed in a hurricane or an earthquake as an example to the rest of us of what not to do (assuming that he is not just accidently killed in one of these events that is really directed against a heathen neighbor- sort of a red-shirt for God) God's ways are mysterious you know- they look so much like random to the uninitiated.
Okay- I will give you the obvious "theist" answers:
1. If God is omnipotent and omniscient, as most theologies propose, then God must have no further purpose, or else He would already have achieved it. Time means nothing for such a God, existing literally forever, and if He/She knows all and can do all, then He/She would have already have done all that they wished to do (whatever that might have been- knowable or unknowable). God has left- the universe is the residual trash without a future purpose.
2. God is quite limited in power and not very capable, so He/She requires a long time to achieve their "purpose." It is far from clear what He/She hopes to achieve, in part because it is so illogical so far and in part because He/She seems to have no interest in making this matter definitively clear to us. Just look at all the different religions and subreligions on Earth that resulted from this inability (or lack of desire) to communicate these matters to us.
3. As in Vonnegut's fictional religion in Cats Craddle, God made us out of mud so we could sit up and look around and say- "Hey, that's neat! Good job, God!" Works as well as any other in my opinion.
4. God made us to share his love on Hallmark cards and Internet forums. You may already accept this concept. I am unclear why He/She could not have posted such information directly- perhaps he is waiting for his Son to visit and solve the technical problems with his modem?
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Magrat
Mrs. Rincewind
Youd think an omnipotent/omnipresent/all powerful diety could have possibly present his/her/its self a little more clearly, and without contradiction, to people. Why don't the gods of different religions all say the same thing, if there is one god? Why do the teachings of each religion contradict with themselves? Why hasn't he/she/it shown up in the past ~1400 years, assuming the moslim/ Jew/christian god is the same individual? Etc etc you all already know this stuff.
I still would like an answer from logger if god had like, amnesia or something, and that's why he "made us to know him". Because that's still not an answer, and still makes no sense. Not even when my pastor tried it.
Seriously he's God, why the confusion? Why can't he just do the Bewitched Nose Twitch and instantly have a copy of a clearly written, no-parable, modern translation set of instructions with footnotes and a glossary and an appendix with diagrams in everyone's preferred language just appear on everyone's nightstand when they wake up tomorrow morning?
Magrat
Mrs. Rincewind
You've sat under a pastor's teaching for how many years and you don't know that Christians don't consider the Islam god one in the same?
I really am having a hard time believing you were ever a Christian. ...snip...
He is the creator, we are the created. Faith is how he has chosen for us to know him. You know because of our sin nature.
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Post edited. Let's focus on the topic, not each other, please.
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If he came down and sat on your shoulder while handing you his book, you would still throw it back in his face while yelling some sort of profanity.
Understand now?
This, exactly this.
Again, you really should already know the answer to this.
Yes, your reality, hope you enjoy it, I know I will.
Rincewind
Philosopher
Mike we've been over this nut before, it's called faith, you have none. That of course is completely fine by me.
Yes, a slave of Christ, completely sold out to him, same as your pastor.
Magrat
Mrs. Rincewind
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I must admit- I have fallen short of being as Christian and kindly in my own life as logger has continued to advocate and demonstrate through his own posts. I can only try to do better in the future.
My only defense is that, given I do not believe in a god, my actions are not inspired by any fear of supernatural punishment. I just feel bad if I treat someone else poorly. Perhaps it is my inner Jesus speaking (and I didn't even think that I understood Aramaic).
My only defense is that, given I do not believe in a god, my actions are not inspired by any fear of supernatural punishment. I just feel bad if I treat someone else poorly. Perhaps it is my inner Jesus speaking (and I didn't even think that I understood Aramaic).
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Magrat
Mrs. Rincewind
Oh looool sorry Rince, I'm kinda a ditz.
Why not?
He has clearly created a lot, why not life as we know it?
Why not create beings who could choose their destiny. They would be created with the free will to love, create, nurture, and learn.
Of course they would also have the power to hate, tear down, and destroy, but that would also give others the power to go against those who do evil.
Maybe I doubt it but who knows. We haven't a clue what is really beyond our galaxy, or in other spiritual dimensions, if other spiritual dimensions really exist.
Magrat
Mrs. Rincewind
The answer is "because the bible said so" which is not an answer. You, and my pastor, and every other christian, are incapable of explaining any of this because it is inexplicable. To you that's evidence of "God's glory". To everyone else, it is evidence you're deluded.
Yes, I was christian. I believed my hardest. I ran bible studies, I volunteered at service, I was even in the choir.
My friend, if you ever wake up from this, I can promise you it is better on this side.
Ouch
Do you think human's have a conscience?
There is a great line in an original Outer Limits where an alien creature, ambushed and confronted by the hero Earthling (played by Robert Culp") in a building filled with the alien's friends, tells the hero in a hushed tone "I am not afraid to die!" Culp asks, "Then why are we whispering?"
If the highlighted is true, then why are you posting?