Especially since he's allegedly all powerful and all knowing and could destroy everything at any moment if he felt like it.... Not to mention, why would he need others to fight a spiritual "war" for him if he could easily defeat his enemies? This question was asked before and someone answered : "He doesn't need us to worship him. Its something we do to profess our faith, show our love and gratitude." If this is the case - then why would a God be selfish and tell people that they shouldn't have any other Gods before him? I really am trying to understand the Christian perception of God but it's just so far fetched, from my point of view, that I can honestly see why people become atheists. Please note that I'm not saying your God or religion is invalid because I don't believe that at all. I think Christianity does a lot of good for a lot of people. It just isn't for me. And one of the reasons is because I just don't *get* the Christian concept of God.
2006-11-17 04:39:01 · 6 answers · asked by swordarkeereon 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
But why are there consequences for not believing? If he doesn't need us - then why so many rules and why punishment? Now wanting, on the other hand, I guess my question is why would he "want" us? As servants or slaves? Or does he need someone to love him? What?
2006-11-17 04:43:47 · update #1
If we need him - once again - why all the rules and punishments for those who don't need him?
2006-11-17 04:45:07 · update #2
Darth - I totally agree with you. My concept of God is unlike the "typical" Christian perception of God. I don't see God as having human attributes - which is why I'm asking this question and trying to understand a God with human attributes.
2006-11-17 04:53:06 · update #3
Carol - actually I have had a spirtual experience with "God" (he saved my life and gave me purpose and meaning again), but my experience did not confirm, to me anyway, the Christian perception of God at all. As a matter of fact - it refuted it.
2006-11-17 05:03:09 · update #4
This is where the Christian theories fell flat...originally...for me. Since I started studying religions and such, I've found other flaws, but this one is a big one.
If this "God" is all powerful, he/she doesn't require us except as a person requires an aquarium to watch fish...yet we don't punish the fish for sinning against us.
If this "God" is all powerful and gave us such gifts as free choice, why would he/she then rip that away when it comes to requiring us to worship said being?
All arguments that many turn blind eyes to.
2006-11-17 04:57:44 · answer #1 · answered by Gwydyon 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
The reason why you are asking this question is because you see God as a being... a being more powerful than us, but as a being. God can't be defined. God is everything. He is the infinite. You can't be putting human attributes into him. Humans need, live, suffer. Love is love, and love is everything. Again, don't understand this love as the love that you feel. It's different, and since neither I nor you can be in God's position, we don't know how it is like...
2006-11-17 04:47:03 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
That's only because you obviously haven't encountered Him. He doesn't ask of us hard things. It was hard before Jesus came and died and resurrected, but even then God would occasionally find someone to be His man - warts and all.
Are there things in your life you don't *need* but would like to have? God perhaps didn't necessarily *need* children, but, apparently, He did want them. That's why He created Adam in His own image after His own likeness. I mean, people can survive without a family, but it's just not a very nice life without some sort of family life. He has had the angels worshipping Him long before man was created. And I don't believe that the creatures who bow down before Him crying, "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty" who've been singing this song for longer than we can imagine or conceptualize ever reach a place where they want to stop and say, "You know God, we've been singing this song for a long time now. I think it's time for a new tune." No, every time they look up, a new facet of God is revealed that wasn't revealed before, and their spirits just explode with, "Holy, Holy, Holy!!!"
But it seems God wanted a little more than this. It seems He had a little more in mind with Adam. One of the first commandments He gave Adam was to be fruitful and multiply. God wanted to start a family. He wanted to make this man, Adam, a part of what He was doing. One of the first things that happened was God brought the animals to Adam to see what he - Adam - would call them. God could have easily given the animals the names and just told Adam about it, and I'm sure Adam would have been fine with that. But no. He wanted to make Adam a part of what He had in mind for the earth. It was Adam that interrupted the plans that God had - not God.
I don't worship God because it's a mandate. I interact with Him, and in this interaction I cannot help but thank and praise and worship Him. I cannot help but adore Him! It just comes out as a response that is completely inspired at having had a brush with the very presence of God.
Before I had an encounter with God, I didn't get it either. But a hungry heart reached out to Him one day, and He was there. And it wasn't long before I discovered that He had always been there reaching out to me. I was just too blind and caught up in my own fears to see.
2006-11-17 04:56:08 · answer #3 · answered by Carol L 3 · 0⤊ 4⤋
Does He need us? No. But he chooses to want us
Do we need Him? Absolutely yes. Without Him, our future would be the lake of fire.
2006-11-17 04:41:32 · answer #4 · answered by Maurice H 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
No, He doesn't. But we need Him in each and every single second of our lives.
2006-11-17 04:49:50 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
WE NEED HIM
2006-11-17 04:41:42 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋