2007-03-12 11:36:35 · 39 answers · asked by dmlk2 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Lmao, I don't think anyone gets that you are making a point with how you can't feel something that someone else wants you to feel, like god saying all who don't praise him will go to hell. Nice analogy.
2007-03-12 11:43:22 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋
Parents punish there children all the time. What is the criteria for love and what is the punishment of that you speak of? Parents have turned over their children to the state all the time for being incorrigible so is this what you are talking about? I know you are inferring that God is bad for putting his children in Hell but, I tell you those that go to Hell are not his children.
2007-03-12 11:52:44 · answer #2 · answered by Midge 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can see by some of the answers on this question that people just do not understand the relationship between God and his followers. Yes, God wants us to love him but not in the same sense that you would love another person. Our love is in obedience to his commandments. In that sense I guess love is not the word that best describes it. I would say that repect for who and what He is describes it better. God does not punish people for not loving him. He punishes for lack of obedience to his commands, one of which is to have no other gods before him. He simply says...in my own words...Look kid...I made you and I want you and I to spend all of eternity together...but...being that I can't handle being around people who do wrong things, I am going to give you a list of things that I need you to obey so we can spend eternity together. If you give me your promise to do your best to do these things then I promise to always stand by you no matter the circumstances of your life on earth. I am also going to send to you my Son, heart of my heart and mind of my mind and He shall show you how to live so that you will make the world a better place.
2007-03-12 11:54:42 · answer #3 · answered by Poohcat1 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Love is freely given. That's the whole free will, free to love God or not bit.
If you were punished for not loving your parents, it would completely twist and mangle the whole idea of love. You couldn't be punished for not doing something that's your choice to do or not when the act can't be coerced--the very idea is illogical.
Sounds like abuse. If you were punished for not loving, you'd "love", at least fake love. You'd do what it took not to be punished.
But it wouldn't be love. You don't love because somebody compels you to, threatening harm if you don't love.
Kinda like forcing somebody to "have sex" is rape.
2007-03-12 11:42:14 · answer #4 · answered by SlowClap 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Let's look at it under a different light. Parents do in a sense punish their children who don't love and respect them. Haven't you ever heard of kids left out of wills? Or how about the children who can't borrow from their parents anymore because they messed up too many times before? Come on now, do you take your kids out for ice cream every time they disobey you?
2007-03-12 11:45:44 · answer #5 · answered by Heaven's Messenger 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
As a matter of fact, my parents did punish me for not loving them -- at least, for not loving them exactly as they wanted me to. I was supposed to fix my mother's life, and as she sees it, I failed her.
I still love her. It's awfully hard to have a good relationship with her, but I do love her and want what's best for her.
2007-03-12 12:32:40 · answer #6 · answered by Contemplative Chanteuse IDK TIRH 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I would love my mother and father no matter what they did, and they should punish you for not loving them, because there is no reason not to love your parents. God Bless.
2007-03-12 11:52:09 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I would have a really hard time doing so. I'd probably struggle my whole life knowing I should love them, but feeling so afraid that I didn't love them "enough." I would always be analyzing my love and wondering if it was real, and most of all, wishing they were more lovable.
Kinda how I feel about God sometimes.
2007-03-12 11:44:40 · answer #8 · answered by of 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My parents used to punish me for not "obeying" them. God does the same.
2007-03-12 11:47:27 · answer #9 · answered by bonsai bobby 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is quite simple, and you are looking at it backwards.
If I, as a parent said to my child (who was of an age of reason), "You may live with me, so long as you love me. If you do not love me, you must move out," would you say that is unreasonable?
It is not God who punishes us for not loving Him. We choose our destination. We can choose God, or we can choose Hell. Those are the only two choices.
What is your choice?
2007-03-12 11:43:11 · answer #10 · answered by Jay 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I love them for giving me advice on how to live safely and successfully in this world. If I ignore their advice and do my own thing, I can't very well blame them for the outcome, now can I?
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2007-03-12 12:26:46 · answer #11 · answered by PaulCyp 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋