What do theists mean when they say god is perfect? I may be wrong but I doubt very seriously that any two of 7 billion people will have exactly the same concept of what constitutes perfection. At this point the theist will say that it’s not about what people think perfection is but what god thinks perfection is. So god set the standard for perfection and then declared himself to be such?
Okay let’s look at the attributes of god and see if there is even one theist here who will dare to declare that this is his idea of perfection.
1. He is jealous
2. Although he is omnipotent, he has a lot of things he can’t do, e.g., he can’t forgive sin without violent bloodshed.
3. He refuses to take responsibility for his actions or for the things he allows others to do. Did he not praise Job for not blaming god for his troubles? And do not Christians excuse god by claiming he only allowed Satan to hurt Job?
4. He doesn’t keep his promises. Joshua 17:18, “But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong.” But in Judges 1:19, “And the LORD was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.”
5. He punishes minor offences with draconian ruthlessness, 2 Samuel 6: 1-7 god kills Uzzah for trying to save the arc of the covenant, Numbers 15: 32:36, god orders the death of a man who was picking up sticks on the sabbath.; but forgives major transgressions. King David sets Bathsheba’s husband up to be killed to cover her untimely pregnancy, but god gives him a chance to repent, which he did not give to Uzzah.
6. He commands people to do things he considers sinful then punishes them for doing what he told them to do. 2 Samuel 24: 1 where god tells king David to hold the census
7. He punishes the innocent. God killed 70,000 men (this figure may not even include the women and children) because of Kind David’s census.
8. He deceives people, 2 Thessalonians 2:11, “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.” Oh but theists will say he did this for a reason. These people deserved to be deceived and lied to. In other words there’s no absolute moral standard for deception and lying. It’s all relative.
Now since 7 is the number of perfection, we’ll stop here.
I hear drippy and GC complaining that all my examples involve human standards of perfection and what is good for humans instead of seeing things through the eyes of god. Yes, that’s true. You would have me believe that god created me with my own eyes, the ability to feel pain and sorrow, then put me in a world where pain and sorrow are the only way for me to grow as he wants me to grow.
But why insist on ascribing a human words like perfection on god if I’m not to define perfection in human terms? I’m a human and the word has no meaning outside human terms.
Okay let’s look at the attributes of god and see if there is even one theist here who will dare to declare that this is his idea of perfection.
1. He is jealous
2. Although he is omnipotent, he has a lot of things he can’t do, e.g., he can’t forgive sin without violent bloodshed.
3. He refuses to take responsibility for his actions or for the things he allows others to do. Did he not praise Job for not blaming god for his troubles? And do not Christians excuse god by claiming he only allowed Satan to hurt Job?
4. He doesn’t keep his promises. Joshua 17:18, “But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong.” But in Judges 1:19, “And the LORD was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.”
5. He punishes minor offences with draconian ruthlessness, 2 Samuel 6: 1-7 god kills Uzzah for trying to save the arc of the covenant, Numbers 15: 32:36, god orders the death of a man who was picking up sticks on the sabbath.; but forgives major transgressions. King David sets Bathsheba’s husband up to be killed to cover her untimely pregnancy, but god gives him a chance to repent, which he did not give to Uzzah.
6. He commands people to do things he considers sinful then punishes them for doing what he told them to do. 2 Samuel 24: 1 where god tells king David to hold the census
7. He punishes the innocent. God killed 70,000 men (this figure may not even include the women and children) because of Kind David’s census.
8. He deceives people, 2 Thessalonians 2:11, “And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.” Oh but theists will say he did this for a reason. These people deserved to be deceived and lied to. In other words there’s no absolute moral standard for deception and lying. It’s all relative.
Now since 7 is the number of perfection, we’ll stop here.
I hear drippy and GC complaining that all my examples involve human standards of perfection and what is good for humans instead of seeing things through the eyes of god. Yes, that’s true. You would have me believe that god created me with my own eyes, the ability to feel pain and sorrow, then put me in a world where pain and sorrow are the only way for me to grow as he wants me to grow.
But why insist on ascribing a human words like perfection on god if I’m not to define perfection in human terms? I’m a human and the word has no meaning outside human terms.
The god who allows children to be raped out of respect for the free will choice of the rapist, but punishes gay men for engaging in mutually consensual sex couldn't possibly be responsible for an intelligently designed universe.
I may defend your right to free speech, but i won't help you pass out flyers.
Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.
--Voltaire
Nietzsche isn't dead. How do I know he lives? He lives in my mind.
I may defend your right to free speech, but i won't help you pass out flyers.
Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.
--Voltaire
Nietzsche isn't dead. How do I know he lives? He lives in my mind.
