Hey there LH! This is great - the old gang's slowly getting together again; it's almost like old times! How you been keeping?

(March 19, 2012 at 12:34 am)Drich Wrote: If God wanted a single denomination

No, people formed all the autonomous religious branches within the Christian Church that we recognise today each having its own organization. I'm not aware of any god. Why is it that you Christians lack the same faith in the same creator? Logically, you can't all be right, but you can all be wrong.

Quote:Rather Jesus Gave us two commands. to love our Lord God with all of our Heart, Mind, Spirit and Strength, and the Second is like it. We are to love our neighbor as ourselves.

This in no way answers my question, so I'll politely ignore statements where you go off topic altogether, thank you.

Quote:Remember God wants us to Love HIM with all of our being, not spend all of our efforts perfecting the method of worship. (Worshiping, worship)

This is another separate topic, though curiously I feel the need to address this - WHY would a creator want his creation to love him? What difference does that make? Nothing. A perfect immortal being has no want or need for love or devotion from finite perishable beings.

Besides, what God *wants* isn't happening in any case. There are people who are alive now and were alive before who don't love him at all, and some who have never loved him. So what?

(March 22, 2012 at 3:42 pm)Welsh cake Wrote:

(March 19, 2012 at 12:34 am)Drich Wrote: Remember God wants us to Love HIM with all of our being, not spend all of our efforts perfecting the method of worship. (Worshiping, worship)

This is another separate topic, though curiously I feel the need to address this - WHY would a creator want his creation to love him? What difference does that make? Nothing. A perfect immortal being has no want or need for love or devotion from finite perishable beings.

Besides, what God *wants* isn't happening in any case. There are people who are alive now and were alive before who don't love him at all, and some who have never loved him. So what?

Good point. If God is supposed to be our mentor He really sucks at it. If I'm bringing along a younger person and my main ambition is that they should admire me above all else, then how do you think I'm doing? But maybe this god really just is petty, small minded and fretful about small things as Mark Twain opined.

Here is an idea. Maybe God is like the Matrix. Maybe our adulation is what powers Him up? Maybe if no one believed or cared he'd just fade out. It's worth a try.

(March 22, 2012 at 3:54 pm)whateverist Wrote:

(March 22, 2012 at 3:42 pm)Welsh cake Wrote:

(March 19, 2012 at 12:34 am)Drich Wrote: Remember God wants us to Love HIM with all of our being, not spend all of our efforts perfecting the method of worship. (Worshiping, worship)

This is another separate topic, though curiously I feel the need to address this - WHY would a creator want his creation to love him? What difference does that make? Nothing. A perfect immortal being has no want or need for love or devotion from finite perishable beings.

Besides, what God *wants* isn't happening in any case. There are people who are alive now and were alive before who don't love him at all, and some who have never loved him. So what?

Good point. If God is supposed to be our mentor He really sucks at it. If I'm bringing along a younger person and my main ambition is that they should admire me above all else, then how do you think I'm doing? But maybe this god really just is petty, small minded and fretful about small things as Mark Twain opined.

Here is an idea. Maybe God is like the Matrix. Maybe our adulation is what powers Him up? Maybe if no one believed or cared he'd just fade out. It's worth a try.

God in the old testament seems to display traits of a very serious personality disorder. He could be diagnosed with at least bipolar, narcissistic and borderline personality disorder.

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(March 22, 2012 at 3:54 pm)whateverist Wrote: Here is an idea. Maybe God is like the Matrix. Maybe our adulation is what powers Him up? Maybe if no one believed or cared he'd just fade out. It's worth a try.

I recommend reading Small Gods by (Sir) Terry Pratchett, if you haven't already. It explores that very point; belief generates gods. The gods expand in power and importance at a rate proportional to the amount of belief in them. If a god loses popularity, less and less people believe in it and so the god dissipates, getting smaller and smaller, finally evaporating altogether to join the ever-increasing ranks of forgotten gods. Plus it's incredibly funny.

Quote:Remember God wants us to Love HIM with all of our being,

--and is so insecure,that if we do not,he will hurt us in one or several quite inventive ways .

THAT is called 'Hobson's choice" or 'coercion'.


He has never seemed all that fussed about us loving our neighbours. I don't think he's serious about that admonition.

(March 22, 2012 at 3:42 pm)Welsh cake Wrote: No,

Yes! As I said if God wanted a single denomination He would have set Christianity up like He did the Jews. As it is we have two Great Commands Love the Lord God with all of our being, and love our neighbor as ourselves. the first allows us to express our love in what ever gifts we have been given. Because we are all different our worship will look different. This division results in different denominations.

Quote:people formed all the autonomous religious branches within the Christian Church that we recognize today each having its own organization. I'm not aware of any god. Why is it that you Christians lack the same faith in the same creator? Logically, you can't all be right, but you can all be wrong.

No matter how Wrong we are we all unite under one principle. The forgiveness of sin through the shed blood of Christ. That mean if there is forgiveness for open rebellious sin, there is forgiveness for a worship that includes the all encompassing love we have for God.

Quote:This is another separate topic, though curiously I feel the need to address this - WHY would a creator want his creation to love him?

The same reason a good parent want their child to love them. The answer you seek is built in the relationships we foster with our children. With our spouces.

Quote:What difference does that make? Nothing. A perfect immortal being has no want or need for love or devotion from finite perishable beings.

The question should be ask are we all made to be finite? or just the one who do not elect eternal life?

Quote:Besides, what God *wants* isn't happening in any case. There are people who are alive now and were alive before who don't love him at all, and some who have never loved him. So what?

Which is exactly the reason we have been given this life. To have the opportunity to decide for ourselves whether we wish to spend eternity with God. Can we love Him? When you are standing at your final judgment you will know for sure what you have decided in this life. and although you do not want to go to hell you know it is what you choose. there will be no doubt.

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(March 22, 2012 at 7:07 pm)padraic Wrote:

Quote:Remember God wants us to Love HIM with all of our being,

--and is so insecure,that if we do not,he will hurt us in one or several quite inventive ways .

THAT is called 'Hobson's choice" or 'coercion'.


He has never seemed all that fussed about us loving our neighbours. I don't think he's serious about that admonition.

Classify it any way you wish. in the end it is a command that we will all answer to.

(March 21, 2012 at 7:18 pm)Drich Wrote:

(March 20, 2012 at 8:59 pm)Mosrhun Wrote: Why did god create the billion trillions of known stars and the planets orbiting them? Are we just that fucking awesome that god put other shit in space for the lulz?

I honestly don't know. But Christ just before He left told us "In my father's house their are many mansions, and I go prepare a place for you." Maybe those are one billions of trillions of known stars are some of those mansions He was talking about.

-or-

Because the universe is infinite and we will have an infinite amount of time, maybe we get to explore everything out there. If so, and we get star ships I call dibs on the name Enterprise for mine!!

-or- It's like you think there could be other life out there who knows.

How silly.

Advice to Drich: When you find you've reached the bottom of the barrel, stop scraping.

(March 23, 2012 at 12:47 am)Drich Wrote: The same reason a good parent want their child to love them. The answer you seek is built in the relationships we foster with our children. With our spouces.

Ignoring the fact that you cannot spell "spouses", are you really likening god wanting all human beings to love him with you or me wanting our kids or spouses to love us? Did you really just suggest that?

I don't recall saying to my kids and wife "love me OR ELSE" - there is no comparison and my love for my family, which they reciprocate is purer in every way, than the love that your dirty, disgusting, bullying, made up, S.O.B sky daddy gives and takes.