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RE: Can God be objectively good despite criticism against Him/Her/It?
May 4, 2022 at 3:36 pm
(May 4, 2022 at 1:48 pm)Ahriman Wrote: I mean, I know I've said some pretty harsh things about God (in real life), but perhaps God is above all forms of criticism? And acts like the one truly objectively good thing in a person's life, despite what that person might think or say about God?
If one defines God as "that which sustains the cosmos", one could imagine that such a thing is above criticism. Why? Because it isn't a "person", and it doesn't "care", and it doesn't have anything to do with your personal struggles. Its business is existence itself, not your self-absorbed life.
It would be like asking if a mountain is above criticism. Yup, it is, even if you'd like the top to be a bit more of a peak.
As for there being a god who is the "one truly objectively good thing in a person's life", that's utter fantasy. I'm the best thing in your life by pointing that out to you. You're welcome.
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RE: Can God be objectively good despite criticism against Him/Her/It?
May 4, 2022 at 3:39 pm
(This post was last modified: May 4, 2022 at 3:40 pm by The Grand Nudger.)
Technically, they're beneath moral criticism, not above it.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
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RE: Can God be objectively good despite criticism against Him/Her/It?
May 4, 2022 at 3:42 pm
God, obviously, can be whatever the believer thinks.
If there was one way to look at the concept of a god we wouldn't need all these different religions and their offshoots.
“If you are the smartest person in the room, then you are in the wrong room.” — Confucius
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RE: Can God be objectively good despite criticism against Him/Her/It?
May 4, 2022 at 3:49 pm
(May 4, 2022 at 3:42 pm)arewethereyet Wrote: God, obviously, can be whatever the believer thinks.
If there was one way to look at the concept of a god we wouldn't need all these different religions and their offshoots.
True. One view on an individual's concept of God is an "all-powerful idealized version of the self". That would make it above criticism. No-one criticizes what they perceive as the best aspects of themselves.
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RE: Can God be objectively good despite criticism against Him/Her/It?
May 4, 2022 at 3:52 pm
(May 4, 2022 at 3:36 pm)HappySkeptic Wrote: (May 4, 2022 at 1:48 pm)Ahriman Wrote: I mean, I know I've said some pretty harsh things about God (in real life), but perhaps God is above all forms of criticism? And acts like the one truly objectively good thing in a person's life, despite what that person might think or say about God?
If one defines God as "that which sustains the cosmos", one could imagine that such a thing is above criticism. Why? Because it isn't a "person", and it doesn't "care", and it doesn't have anything to do with your personal struggles. Its business is existence itself, not your self-absorbed life.
It would be like asking if a mountain is above criticism. Yup, it is, even if you'd like the top to be a bit more of a peak.
As for there being a god who is the "one truly objectively good thing in a person's life", that's utter fantasy. I'm the best thing in your life by pointing that out to you. You're welcome. Utter fantasy? To who? An atheist? Don't make me laugh. Of course an atheist would think it's "utter fantasy".
"Imagination, life is your creation"
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RE: Can God be objectively good despite criticism against Him/Her/It?
May 4, 2022 at 4:07 pm
The Judeo-Christian god is the ultimate good by definition. This isn't complicated.
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RE: Can God be objectively good despite criticism against Him/Her/It?
May 4, 2022 at 4:14 pm
(This post was last modified: May 4, 2022 at 4:15 pm by The Grand Nudger.)
That's more the pagan god they hijacked when they needed to sound like there was some rational philosophy underlying their religion. The judeo christian god isn't good in the stories, he's just their guy.
That's probably what ahriman is angling for. I mean sure, he's talked some shit, but gods his guy.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
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RE: Can God be objectively good despite criticism against Him/Her/It?
May 4, 2022 at 4:17 pm
(May 4, 2022 at 3:52 pm)Ahriman Wrote: (May 4, 2022 at 3:36 pm)HappySkeptic Wrote: As for there being a god who is the "one truly objectively good thing in a person's life", that's utter fantasy. I'm the best thing in your life by pointing that out to you. You're welcome. Utter fantasy? To who? An atheist? Don't make me laugh. Of course an atheist would think it's "utter fantasy".
If you want to define God as "the best thing in my life" or "something that is watching over me" or "the voice in my head that tells me to do the right thing", then that is what God is to you.
It doesn't mean that an objective God exists, nor that it is objectively good. You just imagine that that both are true, despite no evidence. That's fine with me, but not fine FOR me.
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RE: Can God be objectively good despite criticism against Him/Her/It?
May 4, 2022 at 4:19 pm
Seems to me that the god of the OT was a merciless brute. Therefore the writers had to come up with a more likable character so in comes Jebus the original hippie, though he shows flashes of daddy's temper now and then.
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RE: Can God be objectively good despite criticism against Him/Her/It?
May 4, 2022 at 4:31 pm
That's actually a contemporary western revision of jesus, itself.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
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