I don't believe in God making His power as a Creator, Sustainer & Destroyer of this Universe as a fear tool for coercing people to follow the path laid out in the religious texts. It is out of Love, He set those rules for us. I believe, it should be out of Love for Him that we should follow them. I frequently see people quote verses like as though God says to do this & that, so do it or you shall be severely punished for it. He gave us freewill to choose between bad & good & to do good out of Love for Him & not out of fear or repercussions from Him. Your genuine opinions, please?
2007-09-09 01:42:41 · 10 answers · asked by arun_vn 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I haven't read any Holy Books. I only have a very special perception of God and in that He is above what is mentioned in the Books or any of the religions in this world. He is Love and what He created is out of Love so we should reciprocate to Him in the same manner, that is, with Love.
2007-09-10 09:54:02 · update #1
Being an atheist, have you ever actually read the bible?
2007-09-09 01:47:56 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Being omnipotent has the side effect of unavoidable dictatorship. There really is no way around it - there are two options, he makes you do something or you do it on your own - but either way, he made the decision of whether or not he would take the first option, knowing what you would do if he didn't.
If you can understand my train of thought, what I'm saying here is that if God actually has full control over the universe, or even the ability to have it, then he is not just letting you do what you want, he is making the decision between what you want to do and what he wants you to do.
God's options:
1. You kneel and pray because he makes you do it
2. You go and play on the xbox
Because he is omniscient (knows everything), he KNEW that you would play the xbox if he didn't make you pray, so essentially he was still controlling your actions in the sense that he chose between these two things for you to do.
Also, if you had ever actually read some of the bible, it says right there in the first chapter that there's stuff he wants you to do unquestionably.
2007-09-09 01:58:05 · answer #2 · answered by DoctorScurvy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Bible teaches when Christ returns He will rule with a rod of iron. Revelation 12:5, Revelation 2:27
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
We are commanded to know the Word of God. Have you read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation? Israel was so afraid of God that they begged Moses to go up to see God for them. In the presence of God, Moses whole appearance changed.
For us who walk in the Spirit with the whole armor of God recognize His great love for us, but to the unbeliever who is not walking in the Spirit of God it is a fearful place. To the baby Christian, not mature in the knowledge of God,"It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Hebrews 10:31
We also have Scripture that tells us that "Judgment begins in the house of God."
"For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins." Hebrew 10:26
What the Holy Spirit begins in us the Holy Spirit is more than able to finish, but we cannot continually grieve the Holy Spirit with our actions.
We watch movies calling God's name in vain and we call evil good. Men take the violence of the world and turn it into movies and we watch this bloodshed and pay good money for it and call evil good.
And there are many more "lovey dovey" things that so-called Christians do that is not pleasing to God. I never want to hear from Jesus - "I never knew you."
I don't fear the Lord. I greatly fear displeasing the Lord because I love Him very much. I live in flesh and even Apostle Paul said we must crucify it daily.
We are also given commandments by God and these are not a loving mother's "I wish you would do them" list. These commandments are a loving Father's "If you don't do them, the consequences are" list.
One more fear that I will give you . . . God's chosen people, Israel, have they not been made an example for the world? Noah's Flood was it not made an example for the world? Sodom and Gomorrah were they not made an example for the world?
Jesus said that He didn't come to Judge the World the first time, but He is coming to Judge the World this second time.
Work out your Salvation with fear and trembling. That's in the Bible also.
I don't know what Bible you have been reading, but this is an awesome, powerful God that we serve. Christ doesn't return as the Lamb of God, but the Lion of Judah
2007-09-09 02:32:32 · answer #3 · answered by Jeancommunicates 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I see your brain is beginning to recover after the brain washing we receive in childhood.
God as a terrible and vengeful destroyer is only described in the Old Testament, which is the Jewish religion, now only taught to Christians mainly in the Bible Belt of the US.
Modern Christians else where in the US and in Europe, only believe in the God of forgiveness and love of the New Testament and consider the OT as a rather embarrassing part of our barbaric pre-history. Do not try to harmonize the two teachings. There is very little common ground. You must chose one or the other.
2007-09-09 02:29:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
God set up the world so that what we do matters to not only ourselves but also the others around us. This is an observation--I won't attempt to explain why. Since what we do matters then it makes sense that there be rules, guidelines, laws etc for behavior. God is frequently credited as being the author of these rules (including some that he did not make).
People who live in violation or who desire to live in violation of rules that they perceive as "God given" have a tendency to rebel against God's dictatorial authority.
2007-09-09 02:22:16 · answer #5 · answered by skip 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Choosing between bad and good has gone on since the eating of the fruit! There is only God's Will and the idea of free will is because of the fruit. If God had forbid them to eat the fruit, how could they have possible eaten it?
2007-09-09 01:50:51 · answer #6 · answered by Premaholic 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You are right, to an extent. Faith, hope and love are all important tenets of Christianity.
But so is obedience to God. Read the book of James. It can be downright frightening at times!
"Even the demons believe in one God....and shudder."
2007-09-09 01:54:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
He has committed mass genocide numerous times, hardly the acts of a loving God. He damns everybody to hell if they don't believe in him, hardly loving is it?
2007-09-09 02:13:28 · answer #8 · answered by The Return Of Sexy Thor 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have done it before,,it doesn't mean it is right and for that I'm sorry..
2007-09-09 01:51:05 · answer #9 · answered by I give you the Glory Father ! 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Y r my balls hairy?
2007-09-09 01:48:20 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋