.. As you understand the word to mean in modern English. Most of the questions I see here on this web site are centered around "How can an all loving God ________, or How can unconditional love allow for _________??"

The word in the original Greek that describes the type of love God offers is Agape'. The Word Agape is one of four Koine Greek words that all get translated into the word "love" into the English.

Agape' is unique to God in that it is a chosen or conditional love given a set of criteria or circumstances. That criteria is that we Accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, that atones for sin, and that we forgive those who sin against us as we sin against God. Once those criteria have been met, then we can experience boundless Agape' love.

Those being found outside of the Love offered are subject to wrath, the full consequence of sin, and/or the gambit of things you all like to point out as being outside the "love" of God.

So again, God's love is not unconditional, and it is not forced upon everyone. It is conditional, but for those who fall with in those conditions it will be boundless.

If he loved his son he wouldn't have allowed him to be nailed to a fucking cross. Kind of a pathetic way for a god to "die" isn't it? If we don't accept the disturbing offer of sacrificing an innocent for our "crimes" then his wrath falls upon us? Really?

The only thing that's boundless with your desert tribal god is his ego.

So God is even more evil than we imagined. Thanks!

(May 6, 2012 at 2:30 am)Drich Wrote: .. As you understand the word to mean in modern English. Most of the questions I see here on this web site are centered around "How can an all loving God ________, or How can unconditional love allow for _________??"

The word in the original Greek that describes the type of love God offers is Agape'. The Word Agape is one of four Koine Greek words that all get translated into the word "love" into the English.

Agape' is unique to God in that it is a chosen or conditional love given a set of criteria or circumstances. That criteria is that we Accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, that atones for sin, and that we forgive those who sin against us as we sin against God. Once those criteria have been met, then we can experience boundless Agape' love.

Those being found outside of the Love offered are subject to wrath, the full consequence of sin, and/or the gambit of things you all like to point out as being outside the "love" of God.

So again, God's love is not unconditional, and it is not forced upon everyone. It is conditional, but for those who fall with in those conditions it will be boundless.

Clearly, reality disagrees. Christians (those who apparently meet the criteria) suffer and die at pretty much the same rate as the rest of the world.

And this is why I don't think that the bible is trustworthy, because it always seems to come down to "well, the translation COULD be...". If god had been a smart one, why not let it be written in a way that can't be interpreted?

For sake of argument, let's assume that what you say with respect to the translation is true (I actually have no reason to doubt it).

1. We're still no closer to demonstrating that such a being exists.

2. I still wouldn't worship it.

Goes against what your bible teaches mate:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:2

Unless the whole world to the goat herders was just the surrounding desert folks.

What they have all said Drich...

I do not want or need any love, of any kind, from a fictional character.