I am agnostic and do not think highly of organized religion. How could God, if he exists, banish me to hell if there is compelling scientific evidence that he probably does not exist? Wouldn't he be punishing me for the intelligence HE gave me?
Oh, and another question...If God know everything; Why would he even create us as he already knows what is going to happen? Can God create a rock he can not lift??
Have at it...Most logical/intelligent response wins!!!!!
2006-11-26 17:54:39 · 10 answers · asked by Nicholi 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The Bible says "Rely not on your understanding." (Note: It doesn't say not to use it). We cannot understand God or wholly know Him in this life. We are blind to the spiritual. All we know is what we are given in this life. There is an equally strong argument for the case of God's existence. He gave use knowledge and understanding so that we might know some of God and that we might choose to give our lives to Him. Intelligence can be lead astray form the truth. But in all honesty it is not required of us to understand grace in order for use to receive it or for it to work. All we need to do is believe that we are saved through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection. There for you could know all things in this life and the next and still be cast away by God because you do not believe nor have you accepted Him. You are not being punished for you intelligence. You are more so being punished for being told the truth and refusing it.
As to your second question; God created us for our sake and not for His. If God hadn't created us we would not get to experience life even thought God knows our tomorrows. Strangely enough; though He knows our choices we are not bound by "fate" so to say. We have been given a unique gift of free will. God knows the life you will lead if you don't chose Him. He knows All that you will miss out on and where you will end. At the same time He knows your life if you were to chose Him. He has a plan for you if you will accept Him and give your life to Him and get to know Him.
As to your third question (the one you tagged on the end there) "Can God create a rock that He cannot lift??". The short answer is yes He has. An amazing thing is that He did it with out contradicting Himself and we benefit because of it. You see...
God Created us and we chose sin instead of choosing to follow God (read fist chapters of Genesis in the Bible) That "Rock" is sin. Sin has caused all Humans to fall short of the glory of God therefor Crushing us with the "Rock" of our sin. God became Human (Jesus) Yet still remained God ,The Father, in heaven. Jesus was and is God. And for his time on earth He held back his power and authority. Jesus gave his life to pay for our sin. The very God of all creation came to earth and died for our sin. Thus being Crushed by the "rock" of sin. Jesus remained in the grave for three days and then raised Himself from the grave. Thus lifting the "Rock". Not only was He crushed by the "rock" He lifted it and in turn gave use the power through His spirit to lift that vary same "rock" that once crushed us and long ago crushed God. All we need to do is believe that He gave and is giving us that power to life the rock of sin and receive the gift of life that surpasses all understanding. Amazing isn't it.
At any rate that's my sermon for this evening. May God bless you with wisdom and knowledge of the truth. I encourage you to seek him out. If you have any other questions or what not feel free to email me. You'll find my contacts in my profile.
2006-11-26 18:55:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus didn't think highly of organized religion either. In fact, He called the Phaisees a brood of vipers. And those who thought they were so righteous because of their loud prayers and giving money, he called them whitewashed tombs because they looked good on the outside, but on the inside they were dead.
There is some evidence that appears to show that God doesn't exist, but a closer look shows He does. The evidence for His existence is overwhelming. This thought about God's existence and the evidence of it comes up a lot. I will put some stuff about it on my blog page tomorrow, if you want to check it out.
God is an eternal God working in a temporal world. The omniscient God who has always known everything at all times is not limited by time and the world He created. Yet prayer changes things. It's like a huge spiritual and physical puzzle all working together.
He created us out of love. He wants to have an eternal relationship with all of us. He wants us to want Him, to choose Him. With free will comes the opportunity to not choose Him. How could He say "Well I won't create the ones I know won't choose me."If they weren't created, they never had free will. God is not kidding, He's not playing around. He means exactly what he says. He is real and commits real actions.
If God wanted to create a rock He cannot lift, then He certainly could. He already does have some limitations....God cannot lie, the Bible tells us.
2006-11-27 03:02:56 · answer #2 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First, I'm not a Christian, so take that as you will.
As far as compelling scientific evidence that he probably doesn't exist, I'd love to see any of that. You may have evidence that a God wasn't needed to create our world or our universe, but evidence that he doesn't exist..... well .... doesn't exist.
As an agnostic, one would assume that you are open to the possibility of some God, if you find evidence. That's a perfectly logical stance, and I don't fault you for that. For me, that evidence came as a feeling, and as an assurance that things would work out well at certain times.
One example was when a co-worker fell into a vat of phosphate solution that was heated to 180 degrees F. This man had second and third degree burns over 100% of his body. I prayed for him, and KNEW, not hoped, but knew that he would be OK. It took time, but he recovered, and has, while wearing long sleeved shirt and long pants, no visible scars at all.
What that assruance meant to me was that SOMETHING in this universe existed beyond chance. It may not necessarily mean that any specific god exists, but I felt heard, and I knew that something was right with the universe. It's not quantifiable, and certainly not proof for anyone other than me, but I dont' need somebody else's proof; I need only my own.
I don't begrudge you your opinion as I don't believe in a punishing God. I don't believe you're going to any hell or any other sort of eternal punishment. I believe each of us is here to learn something, and we each choose our own paths. If, in the end, you're right and I'm wrong, I know simply that I've lived the life I wanted to, and have no regrets. I hope that you live that way for yourself too.
2006-11-27 02:05:03 · answer #3 · answered by Deirdre H 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Heaven and Hell are states of the mind, and this planet is all we have at the moment. The truth is God doesn't know what we are going to do, but people assign these characteristics to Him since they have no understanding of what he is. No, there is no rock that God cannot lift since there are more efficient ways of lifting a rock than with your arms or legs.
2006-11-27 01:59:53 · answer #4 · answered by Atlas 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is zero scientific evidence regarding God. You may wish to check some actual scientific journals instead of reading crackpot pseudo-science.
God does not punish people on account of their intelligence or lack thereof. God allows people who reject his love and mercy while they're on earth to be apart from him eternally. That is, God honors people's choice.
God knows everything that is going to happen, yes. He created us because he wanted to.
God is spirit, not body. So any lifting of any rocks is irrelevant.
2006-11-27 01:59:18 · answer #5 · answered by Gestalt 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Look, what evidence shows that God DOESN'T exist. Where did the world come from????
We don't know the point to life YET.
God must have created us for a reason. Seeing as we cannot find the reason now, we might find it once we die. But there has to be a reason.
2006-11-27 01:57:49 · answer #6 · answered by Blue Fairy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
one must not study by science alone, but by philosophy and science will man truely obtain the knowlage he seeks.
please read my responce to the omnipresent God and decision making, Im tierd of typing it.
No as it lacks reason, God is all reason therefor their is no logica purpous for God creating such a rock.
2006-11-27 01:59:29 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2006-11-27 01:55:36 · answer #8 · answered by GBI_D 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You'll enjoy this question, too:
If God knew beforehand that I was going to reject him, then did he create me just to go to Hell?
2006-11-27 01:57:11 · answer #9 · answered by Amy 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
God created us to be in heaven he did not create hell for us he did that bc of lucifer the angel who was in charge of the chior in heaven. When lucifer wanted to be GOD of heaven and raised up against GOD, GOD had to kick lucifer out of heaven with the angels that were with lucifer so that is why he created hell. The reason why we can go is bc of adam and eve they disobeyed GOD and so bc of that ALL of us are full of sin in nature. That is why GOD had to make jesus bc their had to be pure scarifice and bc of that jesus had to die on the cross for our sins so we could be forgiven of them by just asking GOD to forgive us. GOD CREATED US TO BE IN HEAVEN with him. that is why. YES you do have free will he does not want to force you to love him would you want to force someone to love you of course not you would want them to love you bc of they want to not bc they were forced to. He gave us intellengance so we could spread the word and do things that we have to do to survive.
the reason why he corrects us when we do wrong is bc he is our father and he loves us. Your parents correct you when you do wrong bc they love you and want you to do right.
there is proof that he does exist if you read toward the back of the bible it lists the signs of the end of the world and some of the things in the back already came to pass.
that is the easiest why i can think to explain it.
2006-11-27 02:06:14 · answer #10 · answered by knowssignlanguage 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋