MisterChester
Master
Let's leave the universe out of it for a minute. How would the world be different if God didn't exist?
Depends on what God you're talking about.
Let's leave the universe out of it for a minute. How would the world be different if God didn't exist?
I disagree with this. The Bible often compares our relationship with God as the parent/child relationships that we are more familiar with.
Does a child always understand the actions of the parent? Can they fully understand it? Of course not.
Do you still have to be a good parent, even when your child can not understand it? Absolutely.
A child's perspective is microscopic compared to that of an adult. Even a teenager lacks the worldly experience to fully comprehend the rules and restrictions set forth by his or her parents. Nevertheless, we teach them to obey first, understand later. My son had no idea why he wasn't allowed to run across the road. He couldn't yet comprehend the damage that could be caused to his body by an automobile, and he lacked the language skills for me to explain it to him. I still had to discipline him when he tried to do it.
This is not to say that 'discipline' is the reason for every action of God that seems unfair to us. That is certainly not true. I am simply presenting examples that demonstrate the difficulties of using a human perspective to understand the actions of a God with an infinite perspective. A God who exists outside of time, who created everything that we see and everything that we don't see. A God who knows the infinite ripple effect of every event that takes place.
I think it is downright silly to assume that a God capable of all of this is a God who owes us an explanation for anything, or that we could understand that explanation should it be provided.
If you're going to demand my obedience and worship it's not fair to be "too complicated" for me to understand.
Depends on what God you're talking about.
You're right, I should have been more specific. This question is directed to Christians and is referring to the God of the Bible.
How would the world be different if God didn't exist?
Of course, I just quoted it.Alpo said:Have you read it?
Alpo said:Have you read any of the critical commentaries on it....say Jung's "Answer to Job"?
deal me in said:Condemning me for the "crime" of being born is not a good start.
Two adults getting married has no real effect on the daily lives of anyone other than than those two adults. I have never understood why a disinterested third party would have any opinion about it.
I answered that for you...
Says every child to their parent......
Your opinion is always welcome and is a part of a civil discussion...I don't know how "rare" it is for folks to change their minds....I love Atheists (Except Dawkins...He just comes across like a bulbous head of a male organ) and spent many years in their camp....If it was so rare for folks to "change their minds" the phrases "Born Again", "Evangelical", or "Blind but now I see" would not be a common part of our language.....
I don't have the kind of Faith it takes to be an Atheist anymore.....Richard Dawkins even goes into "Ancient Aliens" territory when trying to explain the creation of life on our planet...I mean come on....When you are having to "go there" to explain how life on earth started are you really that smart a guy with all of the answers????
But if you are an Atheist I do admire your Faith in randomness and luck....I bet your Derby Picks are the bomb!!!!
Well, how do you know that?
Of course, I just quoted it.
No, I haven't read that. Care to summarize or make an argument?
I think this is a misunderstanding. You are condemned by your own sins. Choices that you made.
It's clearly stated in Genesis.
Who wrote it? How did they prove what they wrote is true? Who watched God create it?
Who wrote it? How did they prove what they wrote is true? Who watched God create it?
I answered that for you...
Multiple people wrote it. Most book of the Bible are eye witness accounts by the author of that book. No human watched God create the earth.
Not really, you made an evidence based claim with little evidence. I'm asking how we can tell the difference between a universe (specifically our little part of it) created by the Christian God and one that wasn't.
So if no one saw it happen, there are no eyewitness accounts to it. How can we prove the credibility of the people who witnessed what they claim to see?
Well, we all are, so He is.
James 2:10 KJV
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point , he is guilty of all.
John 8:34 KJV
Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
James 1:14-15 KJV
[14] But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. [15] Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Romans 5:12 KJV
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: