Theists: what does your god want for you?

[Angrboda]

To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women.

[Neo-Scholastic]

Simple. We are to love the Lord and our neighbor as ourselves.

I'm not sure if you believe in a personal god, but if you do, what I am wondering is what you think that god wants for you? I think you have answered what god wants of you. Or don't you think that's a separate question?

Oh, I see the subtle distinction. Good question. As you noted they are almost the same thing. To love the Lord is to receive the blessings of His Divine Love. To love our neighbor as ourselves is a privilege, to love as the Lord loves. In loving each other (chastely by the way) we reap the joys of service.

[Whateverist]

Or do you think God really wants you to eventually stand up to him and stand up for what you think is right?

He wants me to remember Him, love Him, praise Him, and submit to His commandments. And he doesn't need any of those things, but he is deserving of them.

A little disappointing for me to hear but your call of course.

I cannot and never could imagine a God who wants only sycophantic rule followers.

Rules are everywhere; Science shows that almost everything in nature are subject to certain laws and limitations - the clouds, trees, animals, evolution, DNA replication, the orbiting of the planets, the beating of your heart, etc. - are all following rules or laws that they have been programmed with from the beginning of their existence. These things have a set of instructions which are intended to manage, command, and regulate the behavior of each of these physical systems in different ways.

My point is that if you can at least imagine (or assume) that a god created this universe as well all these different laws and instructions for each and every thing, then it shouldn't be significantly harder to imagine that He would do the same thing for humans as well.

Of course objects don't follow the laws of physics out of a sense of duty. There is no choice involved. Animals -apart from ourselves- do not behave in keeping with their nature to please God. They have evolved to respond the way they do and do so for no other discernible purpose. Humans are capable of a great deal of variability in their response. I suppose one could say that is the essence of their nature or else note that the capacity for delayed response coupled with reason has estranged humans from their nature. Either way, it seems that it is only humans who have the capacity for deliberate rule following. But then why should humans have so much capacity for judgment if its only purpose (as you see it) is to permit them to choose to follow a god's commands? Why not just hard-wire it into our nature as with every other animal? What purpose does it serve?

[Godscreated]

Do you have any idea what your god wants for you? Does He wish you to do the good you perceive and to grow in your capacity to perceive what is important and what is best? Or does He wish for you to follow His rules? Will those of you who believe in a judgment day be judged like Job and Abraham on your willingness to sacrifice all else to follow orders and do his bidding? Or do you think God really wants you to eventually stand up to him and stand up for what you think is right?

I cannot and never could imagine a God who wants only sycophantic rule followers. Of what possible value would that be to such a one? If God really were anyone you should want to spend eternity with, He should first of all be someone you can respect. Can anyone of any religion explain this to me?

To respect God is to know Him through his Word, to have a personal relationship with Him and this is only possible through one's belief in Christ, Christ himself said no one can come to the Father except through Me. God wants all those who are saved to follow his will for their lives, to do this the above is essential. He desires for us to follow his will for our lives so that his will is done according to his plan. If we do not follow his will for our lives He will use others to keep his plan on track, it is the one's who chose not to follow God's will for their lives that miss out on the blessings He had for us. All Christians suffer this tragedy.

[Neo-Scholastic]

...But then why should humans have so much capacity for judgment if its only purpose (as you see it) is to permit them to choose to follow a god's commands? Why not just hard-wire it into our nature as with every other animal? What purpose does it serve?

That's how we partake of God's nature. We are in His image not because we are hairless bipeds, but rather because we have been granted the discretion to act according to our choices, i.e. free will. God Himself freely creates. Not because He must, since He is self-sufficient and needs nothing, but because He desires to create. God has free will so if we are to be in "His image" we must have the liberty to manifest our loves, too.

[fr0d0]

I think what stroodle said, but my eyes were bleeding after the first two paragraphs!

My answer: I wish I knew.

[jstrodel]

My eyes are bleeding too. It is real. It isn't just a bunch of rules. I have seen God.

[LastPoet]

Beat that Godschild

[fr0d0]

I have seen God.

And what did he look like? Answer limit 200 words

[downbeatplumb]

I have seen God.

And what did he look like? Answer limit 200 words

Spaghetti and meat balls of course.