If the answer is Yes, don`t you find these characteristics to be contradictory?
Just - Receive an equal reward or punishment for an action. I.E. You don`t send guy to prison for life for stealing a pack of cigaretts.
Mercy - Rendering less a punishment for an action. The offense outweighs the punishment. I.E. Judge gives a defendant a slap on the wrist with the warning that if you do it again the punishment will be more strict.
How can God be all-merciful and all-just. This does not make any sense.
2007-10-18 23:44:35 · 27 answers · asked by Future 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes.
"Just - Receive an equal reward or punishment for an action. I.E. You don`t send guy to prison for life for stealing a pack of cigarettes."
The problem with your argument is God doesn't care what you stole. Steal a piece of gum, steal a bag of money, steal a life, it's all stealing. equal punishment for an action. yup.
God is merciful because if you repent of your sin (like stealing gum or money or a life) God will forgive you. No one who repents and are born again you will not have to face the right punishment, Jesus' blood washed us clean of sins.
Does that make more sense?
2007-10-19 00:00:23 · answer #1 · answered by Christian in Kuwait 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋
You are quite right. The bible is riddled with examples of genocide (see Judges 1), I could go on and on. For a measured view read Richard Dawkins The God Delusion. It explains, much better than I can, the basic flaw. THERE IS NO GOD and many, many other delusions EG So called Muslim martyrs go to paradise to waited upon by 72 virgins. A pretty vile concept. The truth is it was a mistranslation. The passage really reads he will receive 72 white grapes! A delicacy at that time. Do not get sidetracked by creationists. There is NO living creature on our planet that cannot be explained by the process of evolution. Hope this helps
2007-10-18 23:59:42 · answer #2 · answered by Grumpy Old Man 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Sorry to break the news but... there is no "God". I'm spiritual but not religious. Religion, every wacky one of them, imposes the silliest stipulations on becoming a member. That's right, there is no "Heaven" where you meet up with all your friends & family and play happy fun games forever, no, you will not get 70 virgins if you blow up a building (only 70? I'd blow through 70 in a week!) You should try being a free thinker... I was raised Catholic, but the more & more I learned about it, the more stupid and silly the whole thing sounded. The only thing that separates us from an ape mentally is our newest "frontal lobe" brain where logic occurs. Apes (animals) are said to not go to heaven, but we do...because our faulty logic says so?
Nope- you live as a complex bag of salty chemicals. When this "bag of chemicals" can no longer function in a uniform fashion... you die, end of life, end of story, end of book.
2007-10-19 00:01:33 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
First of all, do not assume that your definition of just and mercy are the same as that of God. The terms you describe are very abstract and do not have an explicit absolute meaning in the real world.
However, I believe that God is really all-merciful and all-just. The problem usually comes when people assume that their definition of justice and mercy are that of God. That goes both for believers and non-believers.
Also, I'm not sure if this can directly answer your question but when it means that God 'punishes' you when you commit sin it doesn't really mean God Himself condemns you. You condemn yourself for refusing to do more good in your life. Sin is often described as refusing God's love and turning away from God.
Think of it this way, if your girlfriend was constantly unfaithful to you and clearly doesn't value your love for her despite the many times you've shown your mercy, would you seriously keep your relationship with her like that?
P.S.
And here come the people with itchy Thumbs-down fingers.
2007-10-18 23:59:46 · answer #4 · answered by Otaku in Need 4 · 0⤊ 4⤋
I guess God is in the Faith Business. If you want something that 'Makes Sense" try Philosophy, Logic or Science...come back to the Big Leagues later,but do not take too long.
2007-10-18 23:57:16 · answer #5 · answered by FORTY55_ 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
For your good intentions..
God is merciful and just.
God is merciful He forgives.. So settle your case before you face judgment.
We have all the chances now. God forgives everything you confess. We are given the Sacrament of reconciliation.
When you die. God is just in your judgment day. If you were all good and then have this at an instant thought of anger before you died. God won't send you for eternal punishment but gives you a temporal punishment in purgatory.
God bless
I hope you are open minded in accepting God.
2007-10-19 00:03:27 · answer #6 · answered by jerriel 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Wow! Please stop the planet so I can get off! So many blind followers of a faith that condemns a person for simply being hungry? For wanting food? For wanting money to provide basics to his family? Please!!!
Religion seeks discipline through fear. Believe in me or go to hell! Which one of hundreds of religions should I start believing in? And everyone says there’s the right one. Religion is nothing more then a way to instill morals into young children before they start to think on their own...I'm a good person, I lead an honest life. I don't need a religion to tell me that I sin every day I wake up!
You "god" followers are really pathetic!
4 year olds getting raped then murdered- unwanted babies being thrown into trash bins, mothers locking children in dog kennels for years.... and don’t give me any of that “the will of man” crap & “freedom to make decisions” BS!
Take your god & hypocritical religion to a deserted island where I can blow you all up!
All you thumbs down yahoo retards need to start thinking for yourself.
There is no “God”
2007-10-19 06:44:50 · answer #7 · answered by surfer_candy 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
All merciful because Christ died for all men, even those who in the end will burn in hell. Secondly, He is just for a few reasons: He didn't have to come to earth to die for any of us. He could've allowed us all to burn. He gives us a chance everyday to come to Him and escape a fiery hell! He is just, just because. Just because He is God! He is holy and pure. Nothing sinful has He ever, ever done. His every action is motivated by love, pure love. But, although He loves us so much. He stills has guidelines He must follow, His guidelines and not ours. The reason we as humans have such a hard time trying to understand is this: We don't wannna be holy. We like being sinners and doing all sorts of vile things, it's in our nature. Man in general is an evil creature and not the other way around. Take a long good, good look at the world we live in, do you come to this conclusion????????????
2007-10-18 23:55:08 · answer #8 · answered by chezpaul1777 2 · 2⤊ 4⤋
Yes.
He is all-just: We do not deserve to see the Kingdom of Heaven. None of us. We have all sinned. The bible says "none is good, no not one."
He is all-merciful: He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to earth to recieve our punishment for us so we do not have to. The only thing that He requires is that we accept Jesus and believe on Him.
If we truly accept Jesus as our Saviors, we will try to live a lifestyle that reflects that.
It is our own decision if we reject the Savior God sent, or not.
2007-10-18 23:59:31 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
His mercy is based on His forgiveness. He says in His Word, You have not because you ask not. Have you ever asked His forgiveness. He is more than willing to extend His grace and mercy to all who ask with a sincere heart.
As for justice, He is the only one who will have the last say on the day of judgment.
Which side will you be on?
2007-10-19 00:00:37 · answer #10 · answered by excelerate 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋