[quote='TaraJo' pid='338521' dateline='1348066772']
[quote]That would be a good analogy, except that according to Judeo Christian mythology, god is the one making demands of me.[/quote]Actually no. This is your understanding of Christianity. In biblical Christianity God has asked you to make a desision. Either choose to be with Him or seperated from Him and all that He has created.
[quote] I gotta believe, I gotta kiss his ass and I gotta follow a few hundred rules many of which don't make sense with zero evidence that he actually exists. I don't buy it. [/quote]Neither do I nor any other bible believing Christians. For Christ scarfice has freed us from the law or the "Few Hundred rules" as our only means to finding salvation.
[quote]So, does anyone want to explain why that second metaphor seems more comparable to Christian God?[/quote]In reality it doesn't it just seem more accurate to fit your understanding of God and Christianity.
[quote]So, you're saying God is an almighty narcissist? Love me or I hate you? It sure seems that way because if you don't accept his love, you get tortured for eternity. [/quote] If you do not want to be with God for eternity praising and worshiping Him wouldn't being forced into doing that for all eternity be a kin to eternal torture? As it is now you get to choose to either be with God or seperated from Him.
[quote] The big problem there is still pretty much the same, though: if god actually wanted someone to love him, he might do something, anything, to show that he even actually exists.[/quote]Why do you believe He doesn't?
He makes a very specific set of promises to those who ask seek and knock for Him.
[quote]So, again, let's use a little metaphor here, shall we? Let's say my parents had another baby, before I was born, this one that I don't know about and one whose existence isn't in any historical record like family picture albums, or medical records, right? Let's say further that this child leaves and I never see him or her for 30 years, right? Would I be expected to love a brother/sister who, as far as I know doesn't even exist? [/quote]But would you purposly ignore or even hate her just because she never sought you out?
[quote] Maybe you can, in a "you're my sibling so I have to love you way" or "I love all people way" but on a personal level, no, you can't. [/quote]God does not expect this. He tells us that all we have to do is have the faith of a mustard seed and He will move heaven and earth for us. It is from this working together that true love is built. just like it would be with your unknown sister. IF you had the smallest amount of faith in the story of your long lost sister and sought her out your meeting would be just the start of a bond that would not easily be broken.
[quote]But you don't reject this sibling, either. I mean, fuck, all it would take is a picture of an older brother or meeting my big sister or something like that and, yeah, I'll be on board. [/quote]Then simply ask God for the Picture He promises in Luke 11. Then activly seek it out and don't quit till you get what you have been asking and seeking after.
[quote] And that's the point: God has given me just as much evidence that he exists as said hypothetical sibling: none! So why should I believe in one any more than I do the other? [/quote]What have you asked for? I remember you telling God that He should seek you out. I am not asking you that. I am asking what have you done that resembles the task put upon us to seek out God?
[quote]I'd be glad to humble myself before god, as long as I'm humbling myself before a god that actually exists. After all, I don't want to fall into a trap and start worshiping a false god that's actually a demon..... do you?[/quote]How could you know the difference?
[quote]That would be a good analogy, except that according to Judeo Christian mythology, god is the one making demands of me.[/quote]Actually no. This is your understanding of Christianity. In biblical Christianity God has asked you to make a desision. Either choose to be with Him or seperated from Him and all that He has created.
[quote] I gotta believe, I gotta kiss his ass and I gotta follow a few hundred rules many of which don't make sense with zero evidence that he actually exists. I don't buy it. [/quote]Neither do I nor any other bible believing Christians. For Christ scarfice has freed us from the law or the "Few Hundred rules" as our only means to finding salvation.
[quote]So, does anyone want to explain why that second metaphor seems more comparable to Christian God?[/quote]In reality it doesn't it just seem more accurate to fit your understanding of God and Christianity.
[quote]So, you're saying God is an almighty narcissist? Love me or I hate you? It sure seems that way because if you don't accept his love, you get tortured for eternity. [/quote] If you do not want to be with God for eternity praising and worshiping Him wouldn't being forced into doing that for all eternity be a kin to eternal torture? As it is now you get to choose to either be with God or seperated from Him.
[quote] The big problem there is still pretty much the same, though: if god actually wanted someone to love him, he might do something, anything, to show that he even actually exists.[/quote]Why do you believe He doesn't?
He makes a very specific set of promises to those who ask seek and knock for Him.
[quote]So, again, let's use a little metaphor here, shall we? Let's say my parents had another baby, before I was born, this one that I don't know about and one whose existence isn't in any historical record like family picture albums, or medical records, right? Let's say further that this child leaves and I never see him or her for 30 years, right? Would I be expected to love a brother/sister who, as far as I know doesn't even exist? [/quote]But would you purposly ignore or even hate her just because she never sought you out?
[quote] Maybe you can, in a "you're my sibling so I have to love you way" or "I love all people way" but on a personal level, no, you can't. [/quote]God does not expect this. He tells us that all we have to do is have the faith of a mustard seed and He will move heaven and earth for us. It is from this working together that true love is built. just like it would be with your unknown sister. IF you had the smallest amount of faith in the story of your long lost sister and sought her out your meeting would be just the start of a bond that would not easily be broken.
[quote]But you don't reject this sibling, either. I mean, fuck, all it would take is a picture of an older brother or meeting my big sister or something like that and, yeah, I'll be on board. [/quote]Then simply ask God for the Picture He promises in Luke 11. Then activly seek it out and don't quit till you get what you have been asking and seeking after.
[quote] And that's the point: God has given me just as much evidence that he exists as said hypothetical sibling: none! So why should I believe in one any more than I do the other? [/quote]What have you asked for? I remember you telling God that He should seek you out. I am not asking you that. I am asking what have you done that resembles the task put upon us to seek out God?
[quote]I'd be glad to humble myself before god, as long as I'm humbling myself before a god that actually exists. After all, I don't want to fall into a trap and start worshiping a false god that's actually a demon..... do you?[/quote]How could you know the difference?
