Quote:Yes, as we didn't create ants, we have less claim to rights over them than god does to us as our creator.

Are you perfect? Are you omnipotent? Do you believe you have the right to destroy your children?

If I may answer...

"What makes us so special? Why is there a God for us? What's the sense in it? Why do you put us at the center of the universe?"

"Intellect and Will", or, "Rational Soul". The phrase "children of God" is used quite literally. Lets say you have a dog. You love your dog. Lets say you have a spouse. You love your spouse. Lets say you have a son. You love your child. Who do you love more, your dog or child? You can establish a relationship with your child that is completely different than that of the dog. Similarly, we are the "center of the universe" because we can have a relationship with God completely different than any other creation. A dog loves you because, in its mind, you are the alpha and you feed it. If you have a rational soul, biological functions are not the only stimuli of the person. There is more to the relationship between you and your kid because of free will.

Shorter: you may love your computer, but your computer doesn't love you because it wills nothing. If people are the only thing that have free will, we are the only thing that can love God back. Ergo, real relationship.

(March 28, 2013 at 2:28 pm)John V Wrote: Stupid fucking question.

Quote:and would it make any difference if they did?

If they'd worship me by staying out of my house and off my patio, sure, that would help.

Nice dodge.

Answer the question. Do you require the ants to worship you? Can the ants see you and verify you are real? Do you threaten them with an eternity of torture if they don't believe in you?

Perhaps you should think about your stupid fucking statements before you dribble them onto the forum, dipshit.

(March 28, 2013 at 2:43 pm)Baalzebutt Wrote: Nice dodge.

There was no dodge, it was just a really stupid question. Observe:

Quote:Answer the question. Do you require the ants to worship you?

Of course not, as we all know that ants are incapable of worship. Duh.

See - what was the point in answering that nonsense?

Quote:Can the ants see you and verify you are real?

Probably.

Quote:Do you threaten them with an eternity of torture if they don't believe in you?

No, I commit genocide on them for crossing an invisible line which they can't possibly understand. Lots of people do. We just don't care because we consider them lesser beings or something. Likewise, we're lesser beings than God, and there's no reason he should answer to us.

Quote:Shorter: you may love your computer, but your computer doesn't love you because it wills nothing. If people are the only thing that have free will, we are the only thing that can love God back. Ergo, real relationship.

If your god was truly worthy of love, he wouldn't have to threaten everybody who doesn't love him. I don't have to be threatened to love my wife or my kid. It either develops naturally or is intrinsic.

The unconditional love of a person for family, especially children, demonstrates the fact that we have invented a God who is less-capable of love than we are.

(March 28, 2013 at 2:52 pm)John V Wrote:

(March 28, 2013 at 2:43 pm)Baalzebutt Wrote: Nice dodge.

There was no dodge, it was just a really stupid question. Observe:

Quote:Answer the question. Do you require the ants to worship you?

Of course not, as we all know that ants are incapable of worship. Duh.

See - what was the point in answering that nonsense?

Quote:Can the ants see you and verify you are real?

Probably.

Quote:Do you threaten them with an eternity of torture if they don't believe in you?

No, I commit genocide on them for crossing an invisible line which they can't possibly understand. Lots of people do. We just don't care because we consider them lesser beings or something. Likewise, we're lesser beings than God, and there's no reason he should answer to us.

So what you are saying is that comparing the relationship between man and ants is really nothing at all like comparing the relationship between god and man?

I agree with you completely.

I would expect a god to not be such a slave to his emotions as we humans are.

I would expect an omniscient and omnipotent deity not to make so many mistakes, or punish his imperfect creations for his own oversights.

(March 28, 2013 at 2:56 pm)Baalzebutt Wrote: So what you are saying is that comparing the relationship between man and ants is really nothing at all like comparing the relationship between god and man?

I agree with you completely.

Moving the goalposts. Your OP mentioned genocide, not eternal suffering.

(March 28, 2013 at 3:05 pm)John V Wrote:

(March 28, 2013 at 2:56 pm)Baalzebutt Wrote: So what you are saying is that comparing the relationship between man and ants is really nothing at all like comparing the relationship between god and man?

I agree with you completely.

Moving the goalposts. Your OP mentioned genocide, not eternal suffering.

You're right. Silly me.

Because with only genocide in mind, your argument is so much more relevant.