The parable of the ant. more...?

Question

I'm beginning to realize how terrible it is for humans to fear a god whose judgment is harsh and absolute. I see us as bugs under his microscope, and he has as little chance of understanding us as a kid has of understanding the feelings of ants. Perhaps that makes me an anti-christ, challenging god's wisdom and omniscience.

I am but an ant, standing up for my kind against a kid with a magnifying glass. The ultimate bully who stomps on us without remorse, without understanding, without compassion. A bully who throws most of us into a bonfire while promising the obedient ants that he will not throw them into the bonfire.

It is an obscene form of judgment, without true love for what we are. And I will oppose it, of this I am certain.

We are taught to be ashamed of our humanity, to feel guilty that we are not perfect, to believe that on our own, we are not fit to be in the presence of a god. How petty is god's understanding of us. We are, all of us, on a path of wisdom.
Comment?

Answer 1

I agree with your challenge of OUR UNDERSTANDING of God's wisdom and omniscience. The picture that is portrayed that is anything but loving. I honestly am not prepared to judge at this point (though I think about it constantly!) whether the misunderstanding is due to those who received revelations and how they translated what they think they heard, or whether there were problems- intentional or unintentional - in converting those revelations to a unified whole (scripture) or whether the way they are translated and presented in a unified way as theology is at fault. (And then there is the whole level of our own ability to discern truth...)

What I do know in the depths of my being, and I have known this since the birth of my first child, is that unconditional love is possible for humans and if for us then most certainly for the God who made us of love (if He is really there and I still hope He is). God would not create us out of His Love and then place conditions on our remaining in His heart forever.

I don't know how this has gotten past so many otherwise warm and caring people, but I guess it has to do with the strong grip of fear and how it so indwells our being on every level. Its a very difficult thing to battle and we need to please have compassion on all (including me) who battle this. Those who have been raised in highly legalistic forms of christianity and who also have suffered unloving, betraying, soul injuring lives may be thinking as well as they can and it will take extreme LOVING measures to rescue them. And that is the task of all of us.

Thank you for your care and for this question. :-)

Answer 2

Thats a biological trait, some creatures hibernate during the winter and others store food. Its not a particularly smart anology if you're comparing humans to ants and grasshoppers. Also, you're making the false assertion that Socialists use welfare systems. I most certainly don't and never will. (Hopefully) Socialism is just forced charity, I believe in caring and sharing for the less fortunate. Well, I live in Australia. Which is under the Australian Labor Party which declares itself socialist. But If I happen to lose my job, or become bankrupt. I have the comfort of knowing the government will help me get back on my feet and help find myself a job, and pay for my healthcare, food and housing whilst I do so. Its a 'security and comfort' thing aswell.

Answer 3

Sorry, you have no understand of how much God truly LOVES us. And for that I feel bad for you. God loves us even more than the angels in some ways. For we were perfect, sinned and now have a way back, the angels who fell, don't. Not because they are less than us, they are not, in fact the Bible says that "men are created below the angels." Its just that not ALL of mankind has been perfect, and therefore, according to the Bible, during God's Kingdom reign each and every man, woman and child will be resurrected to grow to perfection during the Kingdom's 1,000 year reign. (Rev. 20)

It is THEN, that Satan will be loosed "for a short time" (Rev. 20) to mislead the PERFECT mankind as he did the PERFECT Adam and Eve. Thus the final test, where everyone is at perfection and given the same and final chance as Adam and Eve, to choose Good and God's side or side with Satan and be destroyed with Satan forever in the Lake of Fire, the 2nd death, the lake of fire (Rev. 20:14). The Lake of Fire at Rev. 20:14 is where Hades and Death are BOTH DESTROYED FOREVER! This means that both DEATH and HELL will be destroyed by the Holy Spirit/Ghost for all Eternity. No one will suffer forever as they say in sermons as this is a false and pagan (extra-biblical) idea.

The ONLY FOUR WORDS USED FOR HELL in the Bible are Hades, Sheol, Gehenna and Tartarus and not one of them means a burning hell. In fact they all mean a place of rest or death. Even Job asked God to hide him in hell to keep him from suffering.

Answer 4

If you really pay attention to how nature works in animals and insects, we as humans can learn from them. We can become just as strong, but we are dominion over the Animals therefore, we should not put ourselves less than them, but them (Animals, Insects), are teaching us the path to survive.

Sometimes we find ourselves in so much kindness that we are taken for our weakness through that, but one day, you snap and become the Ant or become the Lion or the Scorpion and our sting is just as powerful. I had to change in order to be a better Man than what I was and I stand my ground and my Fort and enforce it with all my power and those who dare to cross my path with vengeance get hurt....it's no more Mr. Nice Guy!!!

Answer 5

You view God as unkind and cruel, but you fail to realize that God sent His one and only Son to die a horrible death on the Cross. He was tortured and brutalized before being nailed through his hands and feet. He did this to cover up for our sins, the ones we committed in the past, present, and future. What a awesome gift God gave us in His Son. On the contrary, God thinks and loves us so much that He did not even spare His own Son, to die for us. And if He did not spare His own Son for us, would He not give us all thing? Maybe, you ought to consider your view on who really wicked. People that reject His great salvation or a God who is willing to reach you right where you are in your circumstance. Despite, that fact that you may be a drug dealer, rapist, pedaphile, murderer, homosexual, and on and on.

Answer 6

The idea that one must suffer eternally for the sins committed in a finite life is disturbing, considering how God is suppose to be just and forgiving.

Answer 7

Not too long -- just about right. I pretty much agree with your thought and your cheery way of putting it. ;-) You might get a kick out of looking up "Process Theology." Part of the idea is that God is in the process of Becoming just like everything else.

Answer 8

Another strong argument for atheism. It would be refreshing if a theist could do as good a job as you did.

Side note: Kevin, who "answered" right above me must suffer from ADD.

Answer 9

LOL Kevin.

to the original post, we aren't all on a path of wisdom, some are on a path of stupidity.

Answer 10

well said thank goodness someone else sees that if a god did exist what a terrible creature it would be to treat its creations so mercilessly, do as you would have others do to you, what more do we need to do to measure up to our potential.