Christians: How do you know that God is good? (read the whole thing before answering, slackers)?

Question

Thought experiment:

Assumption:
Let's say that Satan is the good guy. He created man and loves them, helping them in their times of need.
But then Yahweh, jealous of Satan, decides to take credit for Satan's work and sends a book down full of propaganda against His rival to lead Man away from Satan.

Question:
Can you prove this is not the case? Would you quote the Bible, which, for all you know, could be full of deception from Yahweh? Wouldn't that be like proving Hitler was right by quoting Nazi Propaganda?

Would you say that you know it is true because you can feel God's love? And yet, how do you know it is not the loving Satan who answers your prayers, whether he takes credit in it or not?

Conclusion:
Perhaps it is not wise to make assumptions of your God from a book which is the "Word of God." I can write a book about how good I am too, but that doesn't make it true.

Is wiser to search for your OWN truth through observation, or to blindly trust another's world-view?

Answer 1

THANK YOU.... AT LEAST SOMEONE HERE IS THINKING!!!!

MY POINT EXACTLY!!

Answer 2

Hmm. After a lot of thought, I'd have to say that I do have proof.

#1 a lot of books have been written through Satan's power, but not the bible.

#2 God, being all powerful, could foil any plan of Satan, and would leave some proof of his existence, or else, there would be no reason to believe in him.

Some would say that maybe Satan has some power that God can't stop, but I believe in no god, but THE all powerful God. I won't go into proof of that.

My belief is that even though there are some bad things out there, God left some guidance for Humans, some pure guidance that is, otherwise we would be left with a legitimate excuse to do bad.

Thanks.

Answer 3

People had the sides sorted out before any book came which was created over a number of years. Not sent down. The positive side named god and the negative side was satan, as for what if the positive side was satan or what ever... no offense but that's like saying what if rabbits were lions and lions where really named rabbits. We celebrate the positive and condemn the negative and to do so we gave them their names. If they got it mixed up, their bad but more importently is a person's intent.

Answer 4

Good Is Great!! Thought know from my life experience and come throughts!!
Quote:Conclusion:
Perhaps it is not wise to make assumptions of your God from a book which is the "Word of God." I can write a book about how good I am too, but that doesn't make it true.

Is wiser to search for your OWN truth through observation, or to blindly trust another's world-view?

Nah Key word "WORLD" perhaps that is the problem in which you are so much interested in!!! this world isn't going to last much longer
-Signs of the end:
-Man would Destroy The Earth"Global warming if u will but i call it human oppression!!"
-Earthquakes desasters
-Man would go out and fro"In the last 250 years man technology has increased faster than ever in any timespan before the mid 1800's
-Increase in Gay's "Moral Sin"
-Increase in global crime
need i say more!!

Answer 5

Well, first off, don't call me a slacker before you've even read my answer! (insert mock huff here.) ;o)

How would one come to one's "OWN" truth? You say observation, but observation through what frame of reference? Who can say what is truly an objective, neutral lens through which to see the truth?

We all start out blindly following someone else's world view. Usually our parents.

How do you feel about Socrates? He said justice is another's good.

God says love your neighbor as yourself, and look out for your brother's interests above your own.

Does that sound evil to you?

I had a friend in high school who believed that no one really saw colors the same. What I see as red, you may see as purple. We have no way of verifying that when we see colors, we are seeing the same thing. We can only know when we agree upon the name.

Truth is not so easy a thing to nail down by one's own observation.

Answer 6

You can write a book sure! But you aren't God! You didn't create the heavens and the earth. You didn't create man and woman or the animals etc. We are all sinners, so you are correct, just because you say in a book you are good, you woud be wrong. God is the way, the truth and the life. God doesn't have to prove himself to us. We are to believe based on faith. But, God has already stated in Revlelations you will have a 2nd chance to believe. I'm just glad I will be gone in the Rapture! Hopefully, you will accept God and ask forgiveness before that time. I wouldn't want to be on earth during that time period.

Answer 7

I believe that God is good because Jesus came to earth and died and rose again because He loves me and each and everyone of us - what could be a better way to show His love than that? I John 3:16 - "This is how we know what love is - Jesus Christ gave His life for us." Satan only tells lies - but God is truth (John 14:9)

Answer 8

I concur with what you say. If God is what many claim him to be, God cannot expect the modern man to believe what is said in the bible either case. If Jesus was sent to earth centuries ago, God expecting us to believe just that is absurd. He must then give some sort of message, signal, or who knows what, that the bible are truly his words (if those words are even his that is).

Answer 9

The difference is very simple. God has given me a book called the bible that He has said is inspired by Him. Satan has not. God will be my judge and if the book He claimed was the way of salvation is not, then He will have to answer, not me.

Answer 10

I cant prove what you say is not true. I cant say it is not possible the scenario you mention is not something that may actually be.

I can however say, I have found my own truth through my own observations, and not through anyone elses views, as I am a non-traditional Christian, not a fundie, and not a believer who was taught, or lead to be one since birth.

Appreciate the thought though!

Answer 11

"He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself,
and he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself."
Proverbs 9:7
(This means, 'A wise person will accept rebuke and learn from it, and become even wiser, A scoffer will never accept correction and therefore cannot grow and change.')

I could tell some people about the 'goodness of God' until the cows come home, and it would make no difference to them.)