(October 31, 2011 at 10:28 am)Rhythm Wrote: Perhaps I can so easily recognize the despot, the tyrant, and the facist for he what he is (speaking directly towards your god construct) because I've acknowledged the fact that these urges exist within me. In fact, aren't I always suggesting that your god is a front for your own values, your own prejudices? If I had the need and will to believe in a god it would likely end up being similar to your own, because I'm a human being, same as yourself. We have a demonstrable penchant for tyrant gods (that are predictably on our side). The sane among us don't assume god has to be a tyrant simply because we so often imagine him to be so. The sane instead prefer to explain that tyrant gods give us insight into what motivates ourselves, each other, and definitively not the cosmos itself.
I don't put myself in the judgement seat. God told us to love our neighbors, forgive those who wrong you, and bless those who persecute you. I am not hoping for revenge on my enemies because I don't have any. I don't hate anyone. God does not delight in the death of any wicked person, He desires that everyone comes to repentence. I hope and pray this for everyone What God wants is to give everyone eternal life, but He isn't going to force anyone to accept.
(October 31, 2011 at 10:28 am)Rhythm Wrote: Your god and my own inner tyrant are family, and they recognize each other immediately. The difference between you and I in this regard (it would seem), is that I'm not under any delusions that put that part of my psyche at the helm of the cosmic ship as you have done with yours.
The inner tyrant is in rebellion against God, they are not compatriots. It is the part of human beings that wants to do everything its own way and refuses to submit to Gods authority.
