asked a while ago by George Carlin
2007-04-05 22:41:27 · 12 answers · asked by BANANA 6 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
Carlin's question is both funny and tragic, for it highlights how misconceptions about God can lead to much mischief and malice in the world. However, it also highlights the need for an important distinction when thinking about God. God is not conceived of in classical Christian theology as a being, a kind of projection of a great and powerful human, who is surrounded by a cloak of invisibility. Carlin's comedic insight is so devastating to many because that is precisely what they conceive of God as being, and in the illumination of truth, such a conception seems terribly inadequate-- both to believers and non-believers alike.
In classical Christian theology, God is not a being like anything in the world, and there is an infinite qualitative difference between the nature of man and the nature of God. It is this infinite qualitative difference that makes God inaccessible to our senses, not because God has a special power of invisibility. Because of this difference, God reveals himself through revelation, making himself known, either through the agency of what is called a theophany, or more commonly through secondary causes. Aquinas thought of God, not as a supreme being, or as a being in the world, but as the sheer act of being itself. Anselm conceived of God as being "that which nothing greater can be thought" and in doing so highlighted the radical difference between God and the world. Whether or not one believes this is a different matter. Faith in God cannot be coerced and a coerced faith is not much of a faith at all. But it is important to both theists and atheists to understand what is actually being talked about when the question of God's nature and existence is raised.
As far as killing in the name of Christ-- a sad fact of Christian history... However, those who would do so would face an immediate contradiction between the action and their profession of faith. In the Christian understanding of God, God (in Christ) commands love of enemies, and you could surmise, that this means no killing in his name. That so many have qualified this article of Christian faith makes the faith look hypocritical. And, as Carlin, knows, hypocrisy, more than anything else, is one of the greatest enemies of religion.
2007-04-06 01:28:34 · answer #1 · answered by Timaeus 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Generally, no, unless in the case of war or self defence. Sadly, however, some fundamentalists acting on what they think their warped idea of God wants, are happy to do so. The controversial Archbishop Spong states that he has received many death threats from Christians, none from Atheists. Likewise, there have been several cases of doctors who performed abortions in the US have been assassinated by "good" Christians acting for God.
2007-04-05 22:55:19 · answer #2 · answered by jackeenjim 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are those human beings you communicate of nevertheless alive on the instant? phantasm is that which looks, looks authentic, yet then disappears like a mirage yet fact (fact) is that it extremely is and has been consistently. Self is a fantasy that combines and dilutes fact (fact) with phantasm. Time is a be conscious we use to describe phantasm and its nature at the same time as existence is fact and is continually. existence is already eternal notwithstanding it really is the deluded concepts that combines existence and time and then lives by technique of the philosophy of "lifetime". we were given time as a fashion to settle on of which we choose more advantageous fact which brings us the nature of the fact or more advantageous phantasm which brings us the nature of phantasm. lack of life is the top results of the nature of phantasm. We ought to acquire what we sow. God merely would not choose us to attend til we die yet to comprehend the fact now and humble the time created and for this reason illusory self identity for the sake of the fact it extremely is the imagless Spirit of existence our loving Father whom Jesus got here to introduce us to and to teach us a thanks to humble the self.
2016-12-03 09:24:38 · answer #3 · answered by mayze 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christians are not commanded, nor think it's "ok" to kill others, unless in self-defense, or a justified act of war. If you want to see killing people of other faiths, then you must refer to Islam, because the Qu'ran instructs them to kill Christians, Jews, and all non-Muslims.
2007-04-05 22:47:24 · answer #4 · answered by C J 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
actually you have the wrong perception...
Christ didn't teach about killing...Christians are about love and acceptance.
The Koran on the other hand specially teaches the devoted Muslim to convert or kill...
Now every Muslim doesn't think in this fashion..but alot do..
Christians don't go around beheading people ..rather they sponsor charities
2007-04-05 23:01:38 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No not at all. FUndamentalists have some weird ideas, but they are often happy interpreting gods word to suit themselves anyway
2007-04-05 22:46:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They didn't seem to have a problem with it when they took Jerusalem from the Muslims...they slaughtered damn near everybody.
2007-04-05 23:24:55 · answer #7 · answered by G.reaper 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No... but they seem to be deeply worried about those who do not believe in any 'invisible man'.
2007-04-05 23:40:43 · answer #8 · answered by small 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No they do not but the average Muslim thinks it is just a great thing to do.
2007-04-05 22:45:45 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Outwardly no.
They have no trouble letting their angry jewish war-god do the job though.
2007-04-05 23:00:34 · answer #10 · answered by flip33 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋