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Author
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Topic: Why Would God Care?
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Phat
Member Posts: 18300 From: Denver,Colorado USA Joined: 12-30-2003 Member Rating: 1.1
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Re: Put in Perspective.....
Clever Alias writes: But if we continue the father metaphor, and even go ahead and work under the assumption that God does have some reason why he thinks of us as children, and not ants, wouldn't he be proudest of us when we moved out of the house, so to speak? When we realized we could get by fine without him? (Whether or not we're living in a way he might consider wise?) Thats one way to look at it... BOOMING VOICE: Run Alongest, O Children And never Forget The Things That I taughteth! ADULT: OK, Lord! Thanks for not smiting me those nights I came home drunk! And thanks for eternal life, too! That was great! I'll see you when I die! *Grins and waves* NOW MORE SOMBER VOICE: How could I have forgotten to tell him that he needs to be plugged into the right source! He never did understand what was wrong with the whole independent spirit thing! *Beckons to His eldest Son* Jesus! Go fetch him! JESUS: Father, why not just send the comforter? GOD: OH! Thats right! With the Holy Spirit eternally with them, my children will always have the option of plugging in to the family jewels! They will never become spiritually lost and confused! Of course, why am I using this simpleton to type the obvious on a keyboard? I AM GOD! I have no need of a computer or a cellphone! Authors Disclaimer: No Booming Voices were heard nor animals harmed in the making of this script.
Responsibility for proper use of the Holy Spirit is the responsibility of the wearer. God assumes no responsibility for failed marriages, addictions of any kind, or defects of character. Edited by Phat, : spelling...I am NOT God!
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Dan Carroll
Inactive Member
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Message 47 of 217 (389929)
03-16-2007 7:33 PM
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Reply to: Message 46 by Phat
03-16-2007 7:10 PM
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Re: Put in Perspective.....
How could I have forgotten to tell him that he needs to be plugged into the right source! He never did understand what was wrong with the whole independent spirit thing! Still not following what is wrong with that. Especially in the context of a paternal figure.
I AM GOD! I have no need of a computer or a cellphone! It would make a lot more sense if he did use one. His current means of contact don't seem to work on a lot of people. (Why he wants to make contact is still anybody's guess, of course... we still don't seem to have gotten around to that whole "why would God care" question.)
"I know some of you are going to say 'I did look it up, and that's not true.' That's 'cause you looked it up in a book. Next time, look it up in your gut." -Stephen Colbert
| This message is a reply to: | | | Message 46 by Phat, posted 03-16-2007 7:10 PM | | Phat has not replied |
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Dan Carroll
Inactive Member
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Message 48 of 217 (389932)
03-16-2007 7:38 PM
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Reply to: Message 45 by ICANT
03-16-2007 6:12 PM
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HUMANS are the only one, or thing in the universe that can make a choice. If you could explain that to my dog, I'd really appreciate it. I'd much rather tell him where he has to crap, instead of watching him personally inspect every last inch of Pine Grove before he decides where to do his business.
"I know some of you are going to say 'I did look it up, and that's not true.' That's 'cause you looked it up in a book. Next time, look it up in your gut." -Stephen Colbert
| This message is a reply to: | | | Message 45 by ICANT, posted 03-16-2007 6:12 PM | | ICANT has not replied |
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nator
Member (Idle past 2191 days) Posts: 12961 From: Ann Arbor Joined: 12-09-2001
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Message 49 of 217 (390042)
03-17-2007 8:55 PM
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Reply to: Message 30 by Phat
03-15-2007 12:27 PM
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Re: Watch that first commandment
quote:
Basically, humanity can either worship itself or worship something outside itself.
You forgot a third option. "Not worship anything at all".
| This message is a reply to: | | | Message 30 by Phat, posted 03-15-2007 12:27 PM | | Phat has replied |
| Replies to this message: | | | Message 206 by Phat, posted 12-23-2007 10:22 AM | | nator has not replied |
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Coragyps
Member (Idle past 756 days) Posts: 5553 From: Snyder, Texas, USA Joined: 11-12-2002
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Re: Put in Perspective.....
Why he wants to make contact is still anybody's guess, of course... Telemarketing. To cell phones, yet.
| This message is a reply to: | | | Message 47 by Dan Carroll, posted 03-16-2007 7:33 PM | | Dan Carroll has not replied |
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Phat
Member Posts: 18300 From: Denver,Colorado USA Joined: 12-30-2003 Member Rating: 1.1
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Remix
Dan writes: Let's assume, for the sake of argument, that there is, in fact, a God. And not just any old God, but an elderly man, with a long white beard, who sounds a bit like James Mason. His thought process is at least superficially comparable to a human's, and he watches over all of His Creation, taking an active (if at times mysterious) hand in its development. You are presupposing that God is a product of the human imagination. That is not the summation of my beliefs, but I'll go with James Mason for the sake of argument. We must, of course, assume that this God 7.0 version that you have created is the same God as the one who foreknew us and who imagined/created us long long before the first humans were anywhere near capable of imaging/creating Him.(or Her..for all you jabberwocks)
Jar writes: As a believer I find it inconceivable that a GOD, a GOD who by a simple act of will, could create this universe would get upset over things such as those you have mentioned. The GOD who could will all of this wondrous universe into existence would not be insecure. That GOD would not be bothered if someone didn't believe in Her, at most would find it humorous; that GOD would see it more on the order of the ant who denied the existence of the human that dropped the crumbs. I think that the analogy falls apart when it equates human awareness of ants with Gods awareness of humans. God would know the thoughts of each human...would know the number of hairs on the head and ulcers in the stomach. We, on the other hand, know very little about the ants unless we are scientists who specialize in insect study. Even then, we don't know what the little buggers are capable of thinking...aside from work work work and serve the Queen! 
Dan writes: Why would how humans lives even be within its notice? Are we that blindingly important, when stacked up against the entire universe? We don't really know what is important to God, but many of us believe that loving and communing with Him and loving and serving our neighbors rates pretty high. As for the attention to the smaller details of the universe, we can well imagine that God is certainly capable of handling such a task....whether or not He is interested in doing so.
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purpledawn
Member (Idle past 3479 days) Posts: 4453 From: Indiana Joined: 04-25-2004
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Does God Claim to Care?
So far I don't see that you've shown that God claims to care. I see that some religious people claim God cares and I see that some people care, but I don't see where God claims to care. I think the question really is, why do people care about things others do that don't impact them? Why do some people feel the need to control nature and what happens naturally? When you find out why people care, then you will know why "God" cares.
Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?
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ringo
Member (Idle past 433 days) Posts: 20940 From: frozen wasteland Joined: 03-23-2005
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Message 53 of 217 (390622)
03-21-2007 11:18 AM
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Reply to: Message 51 by Phat
03-21-2007 7:07 AM
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Re: Remix
Phat writes: ... the one who foreknew us and who imagined/created us long long before the first humans were anywhere near capable of imaging/creating Him. You're assuming that imagining God takes "more" intelligence rather than "less". How do you know that the ability to imagine God (or any other superstition) isn't just a primitive knee-jerk reptillian reaction that has vestigialized in most of us?  More in the direction of the topic, how do you know that the ability to imagine God isn't just a rationalization for sticking-our-big-noses-in-other-people's-business? In other words, if sticking-our-big-noses-in-other-people's-business was once a survival instinct, but is now counter-productive, wouldn't the primitive corners of our brains still try to justify it? Might not that primitive justification come in the form of a strong belief in a Giant Flying Spook?
Help scientific research in your spare time. No cost. No obligation.Join the World Community Grid with Team EvC
| This message is a reply to: | | | Message 51 by Phat, posted 03-21-2007 7:07 AM | | Phat has not replied |
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Dan Carroll
Inactive Member
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Message 54 of 217 (390639)
03-21-2007 11:50 AM
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Reply to: Message 51 by Phat
03-21-2007 7:07 AM
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Re: Remix
You are presupposing that God is a product of the human imagination. Actually, I was presupposing the existence of a real God, for the sake of this discussion. That's why I said, "Let's assume, for the sake of argument, that there is, in fact, a God." But whatever makes you happy, I guess.
We must, of course, assume that this God 7.0 version that you have created... Apart from a joke about voice and a beard that has been taken far too literally, I fail to see what separates this God from the Christian God.
"I know some of you are going to say 'I did look it up, and that's not true.' That's 'cause you looked it up in a book. Next time, look it up in your gut." -Stephen Colbert
| This message is a reply to: | | | Message 51 by Phat, posted 03-21-2007 7:07 AM | | Phat has not replied |
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jar
Member (Idle past 416 days) Posts: 34026 From: Texas!! Joined: 04-20-2004
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Message 55 of 217 (390641)
03-21-2007 11:52 AM
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Reply to: Message 51 by Phat
03-21-2007 7:07 AM
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Re: Remix
Phat writes: I think that the analogy falls apart when it equates human awareness of ants with Gods awareness of humans. God would know the thoughts of each human...would know the number of hairs on the head and ulcers in the stomach. We, on the other hand, know very little about the ants unless we are scientists who specialize in insect study. Even then, we don't know what the little buggers are capable of thinking...aside from work work work and serve the Queen! Far from falling apart, what you suggest simply enforces and supports my assertions. I said:
jar writes: As a believer I find it inconceivable that a GOD, a GOD who by a simple act of will, could create this universe would get upset over things such as those you have mentioned. The GOD who could will all of this wondrous universe into existence would not be insecure. That GOD would not be bothered if someone didn't believe in Her, at most would find it humorous; that GOD would see it more on the order of the ant who denied the existence of the human that dropped the crumbs. How does what you posted show the analogy falling apart?
Aslan is not a Tame Lion
| This message is a reply to: | | | Message 51 by Phat, posted 03-21-2007 7:07 AM | | Phat has replied |
| Replies to this message: | | | Message 59 by Phat, posted 03-21-2007 3:21 PM | | jar has replied |
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Dan Carroll
Inactive Member
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Re: Does God Claim to Care?
So far I don't see that you've shown that God claims to care. If he doesn't, any restriction people place on their behavior for the sake of religion alone is a pretty major waste of time.
I think the question really is, why do people care about things others do that don't impact them? No. The question really is why would God care. That's why I titled the thread "Why Would God Care?"
"I know some of you are going to say 'I did look it up, and that's not true.' That's 'cause you looked it up in a book. Next time, look it up in your gut." -Stephen Colbert
| This message is a reply to: | | | Message 52 by purpledawn, posted 03-21-2007 8:28 AM | | purpledawn has replied |
| Replies to this message: | | | Message 70 by purpledawn, posted 03-21-2007 7:03 PM | | Dan Carroll has replied |
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New Cat's Eye
Inactive Member
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The question I have, given this scenario, is why God would care that little Jimmy Highschoolboy touches himself at night. What makes you think god cares? Or, are you asking why is it considered a sin? I don't think calling something a sin neccessarily means that god cares about it in the sense that you are using it.
| This message is a reply to: | | | Message 1 by Dan Carroll, posted 03-13-2007 9:03 PM | | Dan Carroll has replied |
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Dan Carroll
Inactive Member
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What makes you think god cares? Read the post directly above yours.
I don't think calling something a sin neccessarily means that god cares about it in the sense that you are using it. A sin is an action which God feels should be punished by eternal torture. If I wasn't absolutely 100% sure this was an effort to derail the topic into a semantic argument, I'd want to know what whacked out version of the word "care" you're using.
"I know some of you are going to say 'I did look it up, and that's not true.' That's 'cause you looked it up in a book. Next time, look it up in your gut." -Stephen Colbert
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Phat
Member Posts: 18300 From: Denver,Colorado USA Joined: 12-30-2003 Member Rating: 1.1
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Message 59 of 217 (390693)
03-21-2007 3:21 PM
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Reply to: Message 55 by jar
03-21-2007 11:52 AM
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Re: Remix
First of all, humans don't love ants. God loves humans. Was what I was taught wrong? That God knows my littlest thoughts and fears...and that He knows the number of hairs on my head?
| This message is a reply to: | | | Message 55 by jar, posted 03-21-2007 11:52 AM | | jar has replied |
| Replies to this message: | | | Message 61 by jar, posted 03-21-2007 3:39 PM | | Phat has replied |
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Phat
Member Posts: 18300 From: Denver,Colorado USA Joined: 12-30-2003 Member Rating: 1.1
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Sin
Dan writes: A sin is an action which God feels should be punished by eternal torture. I looked it up on Clusty.
Clusty writes: "Sin" has several different meanings, and can refer to:
A morally wrong act. See Sin.
A female character from John Milton's Paradise Lost. She is the daughter of Satan and mother of Death.
A Sumerian god. See Sin (mythology).
The sky god and chief deity of the Haida pantheon. See Sin (Haida).
An abbreviation of sine in mathematics.
The twenty-first letter of many Semitic alphabets. See Shin
The Social Insurance Number for Canadians.
Sin, the primary monster in the game Final Fantasy X.
The title of a computer game. See Sin (computer game).
A town in Aargau. See Sin, Switzerland
A town in Egypt, named in the Bible (Ezek. 30:15). See Pelusium
A single by Nine Inch Nails. See Sin (Nine Inch Nails song).
Another name for the Minaean god Wadd. I was always taught that everyone sins. The issue is why God would or would not care. Sin, to me, always meant separation. In that context, every action that we do on a daily basis has meaning. I suppose the question could be meaningful to whom? I mean...lets assume God could care less. Then what do we have?
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