Is God omniscient? All knowing?

Question

That's what most religious people believe. At least that's what they tell me. So....if it's true that God exists and he knows the future, didn't he realize that in 2007 the Bible would sound kind of.... ridiculous? With all this stuff about beating slaves, stoning your children, secluding menstruating women, talking animals, impossible floods, virgin birth, raising the dead and so on......didn't it occur to him that in our times these things would make it virtually impossible for many people to believe that this came from an omniscient God? If he knew mankind would make it's way into the twenty first century, why doesn't his book sound a little more sensible to modern man? Even the New Testament tells women to keep quiet in church and submit to their husbands. Why didn't he see how difficult all this would be for people of our time to relate to?

Answer 1

My GOODNESS, Gandalf! All these answers and not one Christian can come up with anything more instructive than "He just is." If God is at all AND he's omniscient then he must be one evil heffalump. How else to explain the infanticide, the stoning of menstruating women, the extermination of all peoples during the Great Flood (all except Noah, of course, and the dinosaurs)? Any omniscient God would have realized that the Biblical account is ridiculous and fits only the time period in which it was written (and even then, barely).

This is what makes me crazy: Religious folk who insist that the Bible is the WORD of God even though it was translated by man. They are absolutely certain that whatever isn't literal was a story by Jesus to teach their own version of morality. I've asked this question numerous times: How can one say that the Biblical account is true when it was written by mere man? The answers are almost always the same. God dictated the Bible and it was written perfectly by the apostles. Man may have written it which explains the grammatical errors but it is no less God's truth. When we point out that God didn't even write his memoirs in a way believable to those of us in the 21st century we are told that it is God 'testing us'. THIS is one of the many things I find frightening and dangerous about religion - the wiliingness to suspend disbelief so much that when the truth of the lie is right in one's face he or she will pretend not to see it. Either this God isn't omniscient or he's one calculating bastage.

(((Gandalf!!)))

Answer 2

Ha! Of course He knew that the Bible in 2007 will sound weird. That's why there's a collection of 66 books in the Bible. If you don't get one, maybe you get the other. They all talk about the same thing.
BTW... the slavery and the wars, and the way women were treated, wasn't God's idea or doing, it's crystal clear men did it.
God sent His Son, and rescued a prostitute from being killed by the mob. That ought to give you an idea about God's view.
But... hmmm, some people can read the whole Bible and never get it.
Keep in mind, every book of the Bible was written with a certain purpose. You find the key, you understand the book.
Don't read the Bible unless you want to unlock the code. Or, read it.. maybe even you will get it, someday!

Answer 3

Maybe religious literature is like all forms of literature.....slowly evolving as the times change. And in order for people to see where we've come from they need to look into the past for the guidance. The Bible is, as you say, ridiculous in a lot of ways. I'm not a huge fan either. But if you read or listen to theologians today, typically they produce much more sensible religious thought that relates to our society.

Answer 4

You are delivering the classical case for Jesus setting up a Church: so that outsiders could not simply define what Christians believe ... and so Christians would have an authority to clarify what can be confusing.
The Flood is witnessed in many non-Biblical sources...The virgin birth -- well, there you are begging the question. Do you think God couldn't do that. Why ? And why couldn't God raise the dead. I'd say half of what you say assumes there couldn't be a God to begin with :)

Answer 5

Firstly, many of your examples are context-specific. Not everything in the Bible, particularly the Old Testament, was meant to transcend the circumstances of the nation of Israel. Your examples of women in the New Testament are also contextual issues. Secondly, the Bible was never intended to suit the fickle sensibilities of "modern man". It is intended to be controversial, counter-cultural, and offensive to the senses. Anyone who tells you that the God of the Bible is full of sugar and simple-minded instruction is misinformed. True obedience to Jesus of Nazareth is both radical and dangerous. It is not sensible to us because it is against our nature. Lastly, the Bible has always been hard for people to relate to because we are by nature alienated from God. We are hostile in mind to God's word. This is the Christian perspective, so I don't expect you to necessarily agree, but this is the answer to the question. God didn't ask Himself, "What will be easiest for people to relate to?" He simply acted out of His nature to solve the problems of sin and alienation. The Bible is a grand collection of writings that testify to the work of God in human history. God didn't write it, but we believe God inspired it. It was written in different languages and in different times. The fact that it was not recorded in modern English in newspaper format with color photos is irrelevant. It is quite simple to read if someone is willing to give their time, but not so easy to believe. That's why faith is such a rare and powerful thing. Thanks for your question. It is very well reasoned and thought-provoking.

Answer 6

Do you realize that man has only made all the technological advances really in the last few years, go back a two hundred years and man is riding horses. The Bible says in the last days knowledge would be increased and people would run to and fro. When I was born in the 60's people said that was crazy, its not crazy anymore, the Bible says in the last days one man, the anti-christ, will rule the whole earth, and will try to change times and days and you can;t buy or sell lest you have his mark. In the 60's people said that was crazy, no way one man could keep an eye on the whole earth, they don't say that anymore. The Bible says in the last days the sea willbe roaring, and eathquakes will happen in different places. Wow, we have them everyday. Make no mistake about it, Jesus is comeing, are you ready, it could be anyday, Jesus came 2000 years ago for sure and died on a cross for you. There is documented proof of that. I believe Jesus arose from the grave the third day just like the Bible says, And when He did He forever washed away our sins, if we accept him into our hearts, everything the Bible says is true, during old testament times is was a eye for an eye, thats about how it is day is it not, violence is everywhere, the US leads the way in it, Is Jesus touching your heart today, asking you to make a decision, if you would like to accept him as Lord, just pray this Prayer, Dear Jesus, I know and confess that I am sinner in need of salvation. I believe you died on a cross at calvery and arose from the grave to wash away my sins, I ask you right now to come into my heart and save me, I pray this Prayer believing in the name of Jesus Amen. If you prayed this prayer with a sincere heart you are now a child of God, rejoice that your name is written in the Lambs book of Life. Jesus will now send his Holy Spirit to come and live in your heart and guide you into all truth. If you made a decision for Christ or have any questions, Please send me an email, God Bless YOU!!

Answer 7

God is omniscient and He did inspire every word written in Bible and He has preserved the Bible for over 2000 years.

I think the widespread rejection of the Bible, the rejection of the idea that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, the rejection of the exclusive claims that Jesus made, and the widespread rejection that faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to be saved are all signs that Christ's return is soon.

Do you reject Christ because you were taught by your parents to reject or did you come to that decision on your own?

Answer 8

Unless one goes into the Vedas (the divine and original and eternal scriptures), there is no way one can understand the essence of the religion.

Hindus claim Gita, Christians Bible, Muslims Quran to be the guiding principle of their lives. No issue on that, but we need to understand the ABC, before we can go into the religions.

Answer 9

I believe in God, but God as spirit, the force of the universe. God does not think in human terms. Therefor, the answer to your question is, NO. The Bible (the reference book of choice by the uninformed) is a creation of man. It has been used to the detrement of mankind for almost 1700 years.

Answer 10

There has not been a society yet that has not felt some parts of the Bible were foolishness. Each of the past societies have been shown wrong, as will this one.

The book says exactly what it needs to say to work for all the ages, not just this one. Funny how many of the things you listed are not even in the book.

You might try actually reading it sometime.