I'm not talking about creation as each being unique, I'm talking about individual character. If we are to follow the laws of God, then by that logic, everyone would have to think and act the same, thus eliminating individuality. Therefor Individuality would ultimately fall under the label of sin would it not. What makes a person an Individual, if not the Free Will that God provided to us, then what. If we are to obey or follow what God wants, then we would be nothing but lemmings.
2006-11-16 06:51:34 · 19 answers · asked by Enterrador 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
See, this is why I go by nature and not a book. Nature is so wonderfully diverse. I just can't imagine the One who gave us thousands of insect varieties, not to mention the platypus, wanting us all to believe the same thing, have sex the same way, wear the same clothes, etc.
2006-11-16 07:05:38 · answer #1 · answered by GreenEyedLilo 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Firstly, let me say that the reference to lemmings cracks me up... Now, onto my analysis. Many religions, especially members of my own (Christianity), have this idea that religion is about conforming to 'the way.' I don't believe that this is true and I think that the Bible is a testimony to this fact. Christianity is about forming a personal relationship with God. Think of it like marriage. Almost everyone's marriage is different. I would even go so far as to say that nobody's marriage is the same. Some couples have been together for a long time, others a very short time. Whatever the case may be, this doesn't change the value of the relationship.
It is true that God wants you to change so that you can get to know Him. However, I would urge caution to those who espouse TOO much change. God wants you to give up things that get in the way of knowing Him. He wants you to be good to others, be kind to others, and He wants you to like YOURSELF!
In order for God to be the personal God He is, His relationship has to be different with everyone. For some, He might seem more of a mystery. To others, He might appear more as a friend. However, the most important thing is that you have to find a place in your heart where you can talk to God without any interruptions (whether it be the playstation, alcohol, sex, drugs, your mom, the girlfriend, the cat, or in your case, the lemming.)
When you find Him, He'll let you know what you need to do. Don't listen to other people's stories of relationships because yours will be different.
2006-11-16 15:27:25 · answer #2 · answered by TransyMAJ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take a moment to look at the book known as the Bible. It is a collection of 66 smaller books written about over 40 individuals. Each of those books has unique characters and outlooks on life, God, and the world around us. From books like Joshusa that give us the world through the eyes of a military general, to Ruth with its love story, to the practical, finger-pointing sterness of Amos, and the whimsical visions of talking candlesticks and women in flying baskets of Zechariah.
Even the four gospels are very different. Matthew written to Jews, and Luke to Gentiles. One from the point of view of an insider, one from am outsider, one from an historian/scholar, and one from an aged veteran looking back on life.
They all show the indivuduality of the people who wrote them. Yet the all look to the same God, the same doctrines, and the same moral principals. But they are walked out in different ways by different individuals.
2006-11-16 15:02:50 · answer #3 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Everyone has been created equal by Christ. The spirit and soul is what counts...this world shall pass. Everyone has unique characteristics...it is Gods plan. He tells us why we were created this way. We make up the body of Christ...some are the hands, some the feet, some the mouth, some the ears etc...we cannot all be the hand or all the feet. We all have individual temptations. We all must overcome the sinful nature and live in the divine. God tells us to walk in the spirit and not in the flesh. Christians walk in the spirit and antichrists walk in the flesh.
2006-11-16 15:02:09 · answer #4 · answered by Shayna 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
If we follow the laws of god, doesn't mean that we're Lemmings. It means we are making a choice to do what is "right" as oppossed to what is "wrong". And to know what is right and wrong we study and learn the commandments of our Father in Heaven. The whole purpose of life is to overcome wickedness and sin by learning to choose God's will, not ours. The end goal is to live with Him and our families forever.
Being an individual means that we have different characterisitics that make us who we are. We compliment one another. That's not a sin. It is what we DO that can be a sin.
2006-11-16 15:01:22 · answer #5 · answered by CHatch 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
>>>If we are to follow the laws of God, then by that logic, everyone would have to think and act the same, thus eliminating individuality.
What does that have to do with individual character? Everybody agrees that murder is wrong. It is against the laws of God. You can reject the laws of God if you want, and jump off a cliff, because you reject the laws of gravity. But what you think won't change the consequences.
I can rape your wife and kill your children because I wish to assert my individual character and maintain my individuality???
We obey God's laws to be free to do what is right, and not necessarily what we feel like.
2006-11-16 15:02:46 · answer #6 · answered by Br. Dymphna S.F.O 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Not necessarily.
Sin is a deliberate thought, word, deed, or omission contrary to the eternal law of God.
In other words, sin is anything that hurts your relationship with God.
Some of the most holy people in history were individualists, look at St Francis of Assisi.
I think it would depend on where your individualism takes you in relation to God.
One problem might be the sin of pride.
Humility is a virtue which acknowledges that all we have and all we accomplish is God's work not ours.
The opposite of humility is the sin of pride. Pride in yourself is undue self-esteem or self-love, which seeks attention and honor and sets oneself in competition with God.
With love in Christ.
2006-11-20 01:25:59 · answer #7 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How does following the laws make us all the same? Personality, likes, dislikes, opinion, life choices, when to marry, how many children to have, what kind of job we get, are what make us individuals. Gods laws are merely laws to follow, but none of them, tell us what KIND of things to like, nor to choose, but rather gives us a simple guideline of what is right and good, and we apply that to our own lives.
No its not a sin, and Gods law in no way takes away our individuality.
2006-11-16 14:57:13 · answer #8 · answered by sweetie_baby 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Individuality, if you're going to take it to it's extreme meaning would mean that whatever each individual believes is right is ok....than yes, certain things, that are sin that are clearly outlined in God's Word as BEING sin, then would be wrong. However, we can be an INDIVIDUAL, and still be an adherent to God.....do you obey the laws of your land? are you any LESS an individual?
2006-11-16 14:56:31 · answer #9 · answered by lookn2cjc 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
No. There's plenty of variety in God. As someone else said, you can have common beliefs and still be unique
Kinda like genes and geneticist. They use the same genes and markers every time; but find there's an abundant variety of how those genes are coded.
2006-11-16 15:03:28 · answer #10 · answered by Maurice H 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋