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General questions about the Christian idea of God and love
September 13, 2014 at 2:57 am
(This post was last modified: September 13, 2014 at 2:58 am by Mudhammam.)
1. What do Christians mean by God's love or God is love?
2. Is God's love conceived as conditional or unconditional?
3. If it is unconditional, how can one ever divorce themselves from it?
4. Does God continue to love those whom he has reserved hell for?
5. If God is omnipresent, in what sense is it logical to speak of the absence of his presence in hell?
6. If God is immutable, how can any love he possesses for us ever change into wrath?
7. If you have/had a child who disowned you as a parent, and you therefore reacted by revoking any extension of love you possessed for them, in what sense could your love be considered unconditional?
8. If God's love is conditioned on our actions or beliefs about him, is it fair to say that God's love is inferior to the love that many human parents do in fact possess for their children?
He who loves God cannot endeavour that God should love him in return - Baruch Spinoza
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RE: General questions about the Christian idea of God and love
September 13, 2014 at 3:13 am
I wonna see a Christian answer this.
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
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RE: General questions about the Christian idea of God and love
September 13, 2014 at 3:19 am
1. What do Christians mean by God's love or God is love?
God is the embodiment of the word?
2. Is God's love conceived as conditional or unconditional?
Unconditional
3. If it is unconditional, how can one ever divorce themselves from it?
You can't
4. Does God continue to love those whom he has reserved hell for?
Yes
5. If God is omnipresent, in what sense is it logical to speak of the absence of his presence in hell?
a. Hell isn't a physical reality.
b. He's present for hell on earth.
6. If God is immutable, how can any love he possesses for us ever change into wrath?
He is just. Not punishing wouldn't be love.
7. If you have/had a child who disowned you as a parent, and you therefore reacted by revoking any extension of love you possessed for them, in what sense could your love be considered unconditional?
Inapplicable. You're misconstruing just reward with lack of love. Love is always a prime consideration. The child rejecting love is them punishing themselves. The love is never withdrawn. The child just refuses it.
8. If God's love is conditioned on our actions or beliefs about him, is it fair to say that God's love is inferior to the love that many human parents do in fact possess for their children?
No it's superior. If a parent encourages the child to hatred they aren't helping the child. Not showing it love.
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RE: General questions about the Christian idea of God and love
September 13, 2014 at 3:55 am
(This post was last modified: September 13, 2014 at 4:01 am by Mudhammam.)
Are Christians who then characterize hell as a divorce from God's love, rather than a punishment (the divorce is seen by them as the punishment), incorrect in their conception? What is it about the nature of hell that "restricts" an omnipotent God from allowing a person to repent after they have experienced the terms of his punishment? Or is hell a place where its occupants will have no desire to do so? Or is God simply unwilling to forgive at that point?
He who loves God cannot endeavour that God should love him in return - Baruch Spinoza
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RE: General questions about the Christian idea of God and love
September 13, 2014 at 4:47 am
Are Christians who then characterize hell as a divorce from God's love, rather than a punishment (the divorce is seen by them as the punishment), incorrect in their conception?
I think so, yes.
What is it about the nature of hell that "restricts" an omnipotent God from allowing a person to repent after they have experienced the terms of his punishment? Or is hell a place where its occupants will have no desire to do so? Or is God simply unwilling to forgive at that point?
I believe people choose to stay in hell. Before and after death. Eventually everyone will be drawn to God. Is the inevitable conclusion.
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RE: General questions about the Christian idea of God and love
September 13, 2014 at 5:06 am
Do you have any evidence for that Frodo?
Or is that merely your opinion?
If you're not supposed to ride faster than your guardian angel can fly then mine had better get a bloody SR-71.
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RE: General questions about the Christian idea of God and love
September 13, 2014 at 5:27 am
(This post was last modified: September 13, 2014 at 5:29 am by fr0d0.)
It's not opinion Zen. It's a standard take that's been around for centuries. It's involved though. I could link you a book.
"All will be drawn to him" is a direct quote
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RE: General questions about the Christian idea of God and love
September 13, 2014 at 9:00 am
Wooah good questions Pickup.
@ frOdO: sorry buddy I think your answers were complete bollocks, ridiculous balderdash but good for you for answering.
It's not immoral to eat meat, abort a fetus or love someone of the same sex...I think that about covers it
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RE: General questions about the Christian idea of God and love
September 13, 2014 at 9:04 am
(September 13, 2014 at 9:02 am)fr0d0 Wrote: Constructive comments backed up with reason are always good to have vodka
Aw, now you are making fun of me
It's not immoral to eat meat, abort a fetus or love someone of the same sex...I think that about covers it