(March 9, 2018 at 9:36 pm)vulcanlogician Wrote: As far as Yahweh's universality, I didn't mean to quote mine or strawman, and you have a point. The entire quote does elaborate more. But I'd have to say the quote in its entirety still misses the point. I assume you've read the OT. It describes a finite god-- the god of a single people. The Jews. The NT describes a new covenant, but it doesn't really describe a new god. So,according to the Bible, where Christians go to learn about their deity, we are dealing with a finite god . The author of the article has a well-developed God concept, and is informed by the likes of Anselm and Aquinas. Most Christians aren't. And it is rather unfair to atheists to "call them out" for criticizing the finite god in the Bible, when the vast majority of Christians believe in this finite god. But don't take my word for it--walk into a Baptist church and describe the philosopher's god to the people inside. They will sneer at it.
I am assuming you don't mean 'finite' as in not infinite. I assume you mean limited in scope in some way. I don't think that is right. There are references spread throughout the OT of non-Jews coming to some sort of knowledge of God.
The book of Job (who was not a Jew) - probably one of the oldest stories in the OT
Any character in the OT that predates Abraham
Baalam (Numbers 22)
Priest of the order of Melchizedek Genesis 14:18-20; Psalms 110:4; Hebrews 7
The book of Jonah (God working in the hearts of Ninevah)
Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:24 and following)
These stories show that God was known and at work in the lives of Gentiles during OT times. Just because a Jewish history did not chronicle more events, does not mean they did not happen. As such, the God of the OT was interested in all people and had a universal perspective--a characteristic that was fully manifested in the NT in verses like John 3:16. I don't think a complete picture of God from the OT to the NT is wanting in any way.
Let me know if I totally misunderstood your point.
Quote:It may annoy you personally to have your beliefs compared to the pagans whose gods' demands must be met or they will ruin next year's crops. Well guess what? There are plenty of Christians who blame natural disasters on the fact that America legalised gay marriage. Plenty of atheists on this forum argue vehemently against such illogic. The question is: if we don't do it, who will?
It sucks that so many rational believers feel the need to answer insults thrown at ignorant believers. My beef is with them. You and I can have a civil discussion about why you believe, and I don't. But for so many others, there is no rational discussion. We need to bow down to their tribal god or he will create sinkholes over gay wedding cakes. Someone needs to argue against this bullshit, and in the course of my arguments I reserve the right to call illogical belief which is inseparable from paganism out for what it is.
I don't disagree with anything you said above.
