Why Would God Care?

Dan writes:This is essentially what I'm talking about. I've never had a theist adequately explain why God, who by definition has got the biggest conceivable issues to concern itself with, would take an interest in the paltry matters of mankind. (Assuming it even noticed us.)

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!

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.

Phat writes: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?

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.

Phat writes:First of all, humans don't love ants. God loves humans.

Its not a matter of God being insecure. Would God care what we think? Gee...does a parent care what their kids think?

Personally, I would be concerned if my kids played violent video games that had murders and rapists in a virtual world than if my kids hung out at the library. I probably wouldn't be so concerned about them touching themselves as long as they didn't isolate from normal development, though.

In one sense, i can see that God is big enough to be unaffected by our behavior..in that perhaps He/She wants us to grow up and be responsible for our own choices. That does not mean that God is incapable of lending a helping hand out of a ditch once in awhile. After all...would you turn your back on your children?

Raphael writes:OK this is going waaaaaay back to page 1 but I feel I NEED to correct Brian. Brian said "Why would He care when He gleefully sent the Angel of Death to slaughter innocent Egyptian babies?" The babies were innocent, but their parents had every chance to save them, and they chose not to. End of story. They chose their children's deaths by not paying heed to Moses' warning that the Angel was coming.

Exodus 11 writes:1 Now the LORD had said to Moses, "I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. After that, he will let you go from here, and when he does, he will drive you out completely. 2 Tell the people that men and women alike are to ask their neighbors for articles of silver and gold." 3 (The LORD made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and Moses himself was highly regarded in Egypt by Pharaoh's officials and by the people.)4 So Moses said, "This is what the LORD says: 'About midnight I will go throughout Egypt. 5 Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the slave girl, who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle as well. 6 There will be loud wailing throughout Egypt”worse than there has ever been or ever will be again. 7 But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any man or animal.' Then you will know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. 8 All these officials of yours will come to me, bowing down before me and saying, 'Go, you and all the people who follow you!' After that I will leave." Then Moses, hot with anger, left Pharaoh.9 The LORD had said to Moses, "Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you”so that my wonders may be multiplied in Egypt." 10 Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh, but the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let the Israelites go out of his country.

Wrong. The bible says God hardened Pharaoh's heart, but that doesn't mean God forced him to not accept Moses' request. It means that Pharaoh was presented with the truth, and, like so many people now, he rejected it. It didn't match with his agenda. Pharaoh was thought to be a God personified. God didn't force Pharaoh to be obstinate, Pharaoh just chose to be that way after God presented him with the truth. God can't force anyone to do anything, that would take away free will. If God forces people, how do you know he's not forcing you to debate with me?

Exodus 9:12
But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart and he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said to Moses.

Exodus 10:1
[ The Plague of Locusts ] Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may perform these miraculous signs of mine among them

Exodus 10:20
But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let the Israelites go.

Exodus 10:27
But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he was not willing to let them go.

Exodus 11:10
Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh, but the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let the Israelites go out of his country.

Exodus 14:8
The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly.