Can God be loved even as a fictional character?

[Won2blv]

Been a while since I've posted but I had a thought the other day and I am curious what all of you would say about it...

When I read novels I often get close to the characters. I always love when the character displays traits that I can relate to but also to their humanity. By that, I mean how I love when they'll do something seemingly stupid, cruel, flippantly, etc. but you understand why they made the decision. But I have been thinking a lot on how hard it is to give up my faith in god because of a relationship I feel I have developed with him. I believed that the relationship had to be real because of how real it felt. But as my faith in god has slipped I knew there would have to be some way to get over this conundrum. I think the solution is that I can love god even as a fictional character. I know that many atheist hate how the god of the bible is portrayed. But if he is just a fictional character and all of the stories are made up, I think that I can still draw close to him while learning from those "atrocities." I personally get annoyed when certain atheist can almost never ascribe any single good trait or quality to god or Jesus. What comes to mind is an essay Matt Dillahunty wrote about how horrible the sermon on the mount was. But there are many other examples. It has really helped me to come to peace with a non belief in god and my still lingering love for him. I have been reading the bible more than ever with a whole new perspective.

So what do you think? Putting aside your feelings on religion and god of the bible, is it possible or healthy to still feel affection for god and even Jesus even if you acknowledge them as mostly fictional? I say mostly because even if Jesus or some actual man that Jesus was based off of walked the earth, he was almost certainly not truly divine.

[houseofcantor]

How is one to make an assessment of a character after putting aside the knowledge of said character? 

[Alex K]

I love Him. Of course he hits me all the time and kills and maims infants every day.. But you gotta understand, He had such a difficult childhood!

[Won2blv]

I love Him.  Of course he hits me all the time and kills and maims infants every day.. But you gotta understand,  He had such a difficult childhood!

He kills and maims infants every day?

[ignoramus]

I suppose I can love him in a the I love Darth Vader.
Since they are both fictitious, I must say that the Bible needs better script writers (judging by the amount of people here who were religious)

[Won2blv]

How is one to make an assessment of a character after putting aside the knowledge of said character? 

Well everyone would agree that every person probably has their specific religious beliefs. Some say that there are as many denominations of Christianity as there are Christians. So basically the point I'm making is that an individual can read about Noah's flood and know it didn't happen but still draw from the experiences of every character involved. And maybe some draw the conclusion that they hate god after that. But its a fictional story, so you're only hating a fictional character

[Won2blv]

I suppose I can love him in a the I love Darth Vader.
Since they are both fictitious, I must say that the Bible needs better script writers (judging by the amount of people here who were religious)

I'm not making an effort to say that my reasoning should encourage more believers. Its simply a discussion about why I feel like not believing in god means I have to resent him as well

[Alex K]

I love Him.  Of course he hits me all the time and kills and maims infants every day.. But you gotta understand,  He had such a difficult childhood!

He kills and maims infants every day?

Sure... Like the other day when he invented Leukaemia But it's not His fault. He has such a good and fragile heart under His psychopathic madman facade

[ignoramus]

I suppose I can love him in a the I love Darth Vader.
Since they are both fictitious, I must say that the Bible needs better script writers (judging by the amount of people here who were religious)

I'm not making an effort to say that my reasoning should encourage more believers. Its simply a discussion about why I feel like not believing in god means I have to resent him as well

Absolutely true! Not believing in God (as opposed to being angry at him) actually means not having any feeling for said character.
Since God doesn't exist, it's not him we despise, it's the deluded followers! Yourself excluded of course!   hehe

[houseofcantor]

How is one to make an assessment of a character after putting aside the knowledge of said character? 

Well everyone would agree that every person probably has their specific religious beliefs. Some say that there are as many denominations of Christianity as there are Christians. So basically the point I'm making is that an individual can read about Noah's flood and know it didn't happen but still draw from the experiences of every character involved. And maybe some draw the conclusion that they hate god after that. But its a fictional story, so you're only hating a fictional character

You know, this is like coming to a sober group and asking us to help justify your drinking. 

And to be sure of the context, you're talking the "Christian God," yeah? 'Cause there ain't really nothing likable about that guy. What is it about said individual that is so compelling as compared to pantheism, for instance?