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Author Topic:   Movie: "God on Trial"
iano
Member (Idle past 1961 days)
Posts: 6165
From: Co. Wicklow, Ireland.
Joined: 07-27-2005


Message 76 of 114 (601205)
01-19-2011 6:52 AM
Reply to: Message 75 by Larni
01-19-2011 6:47 AM


Re: The core of iano's argument
Larni writes:
This statement can only mean that you believe that even though your god could (and often does) create somebody with the intention of them living in agony for a spell then dieing there is infact something else that balances this up for the individual- if he accepts salvation in Jesus's sacrifice.
God doesn't create people with the intention of them living in agony for a spell, anymore than he creates them with the intention of them living in agony for all eternity.
Creating them knowing what will occur (through the mechanism of omniscience*) isn't the same as creating them with the intention that what will occur, will occur.
*assuming the mechanism of omscience isn't deterministic.
-
The offer of salvation balances up the fact that some will spend eternity in torment - the opportunity to criticise God on this score is neutralised and as a result shouldn't be done (shouldn't in the 'shouldn't be irrational' sense I mean, not shouldn't in the moral sense.)
Edited by iano, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 75 by Larni, posted 01-19-2011 6:47 AM Larni has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 78 by julzabro, posted 01-19-2011 7:41 AM iano has not replied
 Message 79 by julzabro, posted 01-19-2011 7:44 AM iano has replied
 Message 87 by Larni, posted 01-19-2011 10:45 AM iano has replied

  
julzabro
Junior Member (Idle past 4837 days)
Posts: 3
Joined: 01-19-2011


Message 77 of 114 (601207)
01-19-2011 7:39 AM
Reply to: Message 3 by hooah212002
01-14-2011 10:50 AM


About God on Trial
EXCELLENT movie. I found this on Youtube also and have been recommending to people ever since. It deserves Grammy's and the actors deserve Oscars....Brilliant!

This message is a reply to:
 Message 3 by hooah212002, posted 01-14-2011 10:50 AM hooah212002 has seen this message but not replied

  
julzabro
Junior Member (Idle past 4837 days)
Posts: 3
Joined: 01-19-2011


Message 78 of 114 (601208)
01-19-2011 7:41 AM
Reply to: Message 76 by iano
01-19-2011 6:52 AM


Re: The core of iano's argument
If God did not INTEND our agony, why are we in pain? Can a God make a mistake or can a God's INTENTIONS go unmet?
Edited by julzabro, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 76 by iano, posted 01-19-2011 6:52 AM iano has not replied

  
julzabro
Junior Member (Idle past 4837 days)
Posts: 3
Joined: 01-19-2011


Message 79 of 114 (601209)
01-19-2011 7:44 AM
Reply to: Message 76 by iano
01-19-2011 6:52 AM


Re: The core of iano's argument
"offer of salvation"??? It's not an offer since it's only valid to those capable of ignorance and/or denial. So for those using logic, we have no salvation according to this god. This is not an offer but DIShonesty.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 76 by iano, posted 01-19-2011 6:52 AM iano has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 81 by iano, posted 01-19-2011 8:14 AM julzabro has not replied

  
Aware Wolf
Member (Idle past 1440 days)
Posts: 156
From: New Hampshire, USA
Joined: 02-13-2009


Message 80 of 114 (601211)
01-19-2011 8:12 AM
Reply to: Message 67 by iano
01-19-2011 5:38 AM


iano writes:
Then you haven't grasped what a fuller knowledge of the environment of Heaven and the environment of Hell would do to the average unbelievers choice. They wouldn't be an unbeliever for one..
I believe I do understand it, and I still believe that the free-er choice is the one where you have all the information available to you. Just because one outcome seems preferable to another doesn't mean I'm not free to choose either outcome; just that the exertion of my free will will most often end up with my choosing the "better" option.
iano writes:
Eliminate free choice and you eliminate the person. Which means there is no point in making the person. But if there is no person to speak of you can't say it's better for the person that they never exist (other than as a figure of speech). There would be no person for it to be better for.
It would seem the definition of a person requires the level of free choice we have. Limit that and we might be like dogs or something. There's enough of them already probably.
Not sure I followed all that. You say that removing free will from a person makes him not a person. OK, I guess. It's still a thing that has nerve endings and pain receptors. Try to picture in your head a "thing" (person, non-person, whatever) writhing in agony. Now imagine that the agony never ceases, ever. Tell me your skin doesn't crawl.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 67 by iano, posted 01-19-2011 5:38 AM iano has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 82 by iano, posted 01-19-2011 8:30 AM Aware Wolf has replied

  
iano
Member (Idle past 1961 days)
Posts: 6165
From: Co. Wicklow, Ireland.
Joined: 07-27-2005


Message 81 of 114 (601212)
01-19-2011 8:14 AM
Reply to: Message 79 by julzabro
01-19-2011 7:44 AM


Re: The core of iano's argument
Not the most auspicious of starts..
Welcome to EvC julzabro

This message is a reply to:
 Message 79 by julzabro, posted 01-19-2011 7:44 AM julzabro has not replied

  
iano
Member (Idle past 1961 days)
Posts: 6165
From: Co. Wicklow, Ireland.
Joined: 07-27-2005


Message 82 of 114 (601213)
01-19-2011 8:30 AM
Reply to: Message 80 by Aware Wolf
01-19-2011 8:12 AM


Aware Wolf writes:
I believe I do understand it, and I still believe that the free-er choice is the one where you have all the information available to you. Just because one outcome seems preferable to another doesn't mean I'm not free to choose either outcome; just that the exertion of my free will will most often end up with my choosing the "better" option.
It's not 'seems preferable' to another. It is factually preferable to another. In which case the utter skewedness of the choice destroys the notion of free choice*
Would you say the choice to eat fresh fillet steak and the choice to eat a rotting fillet steak is a free choice.? I wouldn't. You might get someone to freely choose to eat the rotten - but only by addition of some or other skewing attraction, such as a large sum of money.
-
Not sure I followed all that. You say that removing free will from a person makes him not a person. OK, I guess.
Good. A core aspect of personhood is (in this context) moral free will.
It's still a thing that has nerve endings and pain receptors. Try to picture in your head a "thing" (person, non-person, whatever) writhing in agony. Now imagine that the agony never ceases, ever. Tell me your skin doesn't crawl.
Indeed it does. And in the case of something like an animal I'd consider the infliction of same unjust.
The will being the seat of the person and the personhood being respected (even at the cost of it choosing to be confined in misery) salves my concern.
The issue is whether the choice is a fair one and as far as I am concerned, the offer is a truly balanced one - what is to be desired (good or evil) has it's full fruit veiled on both sides of the equation. I don't believe (not do I think it arguable) that you can increase the knowledge of full fruit on both sides without upsetting that balance.
Edited by iano, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 80 by Aware Wolf, posted 01-19-2011 8:12 AM Aware Wolf has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 83 by Aware Wolf, posted 01-19-2011 9:39 AM iano has replied

  
Aware Wolf
Member (Idle past 1440 days)
Posts: 156
From: New Hampshire, USA
Joined: 02-13-2009


Message 83 of 114 (601220)
01-19-2011 9:39 AM
Reply to: Message 82 by iano
01-19-2011 8:30 AM


iano writes:
Would you say the choice to eat fresh fillet steak and the choice to eat a rotting fillet steak is a free choice.? I wouldn't.
If the person is free to choose either one, than it is a free choice, by definition. The fact that one choice is more attractive than the other does not magically remove someone's free will. The fact that I didn't slam my hand into my car door this morning does not mean that that choice was not available to me.
iano writes:
Indeed it does. And in the case of something like an animal I'd consider the infliction of same unjust.
The will being the seat of the person and the personhood being respected (even at the cost of it choosing to be confined in misery) salves my concern.
Jeez, iano, seriously? If you saw that someone was about to jam an ice pick into his leg, for whatever reason, you would stand by and let it happen, because the thought of interfering with his free choice is more repugnant to you than the thought of the agony he is about to experience?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 82 by iano, posted 01-19-2011 8:30 AM iano has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 84 by iano, posted 01-19-2011 10:03 AM Aware Wolf has replied

  
iano
Member (Idle past 1961 days)
Posts: 6165
From: Co. Wicklow, Ireland.
Joined: 07-27-2005


Message 84 of 114 (601223)
01-19-2011 10:03 AM
Reply to: Message 83 by Aware Wolf
01-19-2011 9:39 AM


Aware Wolf writes:
If the person is free to choose either one, than it is a free choice, by definition. The fact that one choice is more attractive than the other does not magically remove someone's free will. The fact that I didn't slam my hand into my car door this morning does not mean that that choice was not available to me.
Perhaps we can move on by calling it a free balanced choice? One which is presented in such a way so as not to skew the result by virtue of the desireability offered this way or that.
-
Jeez, iano, seriously? If you saw that someone was about to jam an ice pick into his leg, for whatever reason, you would stand by and let it happen, because the thought of interfering with his free choice is more repugnant to you than the thought of the agony he is about to experience?
Assuming I knew his free choice wasn't being unbalanced by eg: mental illness (which I assume it would be in this case), then hopefully I wouldn't interfere. What right have I to interfere with the free, balanced choice of another?
Edited by iano, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 83 by Aware Wolf, posted 01-19-2011 9:39 AM Aware Wolf has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 85 by Aware Wolf, posted 01-19-2011 10:15 AM iano has replied

  
Aware Wolf
Member (Idle past 1440 days)
Posts: 156
From: New Hampshire, USA
Joined: 02-13-2009


Message 85 of 114 (601226)
01-19-2011 10:15 AM
Reply to: Message 84 by iano
01-19-2011 10:03 AM


iano writes:
Assuming I knew his free choice wasn't being unbalanced by eg: mental illness, then hopefully I wouldn't interfere. What right have I to interfere with the free, balanced choice of another?
To me it's just simply obvious that interfering is the right, moral thing to do. Maybe this is an area where we'll just have to agree to disagree. I'll just make sure never to ask you to babysit my kids.
It was pleasant debating you, but I think I'll head back into lurker mode.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 84 by iano, posted 01-19-2011 10:03 AM iano has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 86 by iano, posted 01-19-2011 10:22 AM Aware Wolf has replied

  
iano
Member (Idle past 1961 days)
Posts: 6165
From: Co. Wicklow, Ireland.
Joined: 07-27-2005


Message 86 of 114 (601228)
01-19-2011 10:22 AM
Reply to: Message 85 by Aware Wolf
01-19-2011 10:15 AM


Aware Wolf writes:
To me it's just simply obvious that interfering is the right, moral thing to do.
That's probably because you'dve the idea in the back of your mind that the guy was a sandwich short of a picnic. I mean what possible other reason could someone have for sticking an ice-pick in their leg.
In answering I'm assuming the choice is actually true and balanced (by what, I do not know). And whilst that might not appear obvious to you, the position is at least rationally grounded: where does the right to interfere come from.
-
It was pleasant debating you, but I think I'll head back into lurker mode.
Hopefully a not too worn wolf
Thanks for the good-natured discussion too.
Edited by iano, : No reason given.
Edited by iano, : No reason given.
Edited by iano, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 85 by Aware Wolf, posted 01-19-2011 10:15 AM Aware Wolf has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 92 by Aware Wolf, posted 01-19-2011 2:34 PM iano has replied

  
Larni
Member (Idle past 184 days)
Posts: 4000
From: Liverpool
Joined: 09-16-2005


Message 87 of 114 (601232)
01-19-2011 10:45 AM
Reply to: Message 76 by iano
01-19-2011 6:52 AM


Re: The core of iano's argument
God doesn't create people with the intention of them living in agony for a spell
But he does. I see it on TV.
Iano, your position is that of a hostage with Stockholem syndrome defending the terrorist who let another hostage starve to death.
You can't defend the terrorist by saying he has the right to do what he wants because he created the situation and has a gun.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 76 by iano, posted 01-19-2011 6:52 AM iano has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 88 by iano, posted 01-19-2011 10:54 AM Larni has replied

  
iano
Member (Idle past 1961 days)
Posts: 6165
From: Co. Wicklow, Ireland.
Joined: 07-27-2005


Message 88 of 114 (601234)
01-19-2011 10:54 AM
Reply to: Message 87 by Larni
01-19-2011 10:45 AM


Re: The core of iano's argument
But he does. I see it on TV.
There's a difference creating and knowing bad things will occur and creating with the intention that bad things will occur. Either the future is open (my suggestion) or it's closed (the deterministic view).
You're supposing it's the latter of necessity.
You need to think of examples where rightful ownership is at play. Not terrorists with guns.
Edited by iano, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 87 by Larni, posted 01-19-2011 10:45 AM Larni has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 89 by Larni, posted 01-19-2011 11:00 AM iano has not replied

  
Larni
Member (Idle past 184 days)
Posts: 4000
From: Liverpool
Joined: 09-16-2005


Message 89 of 114 (601235)
01-19-2011 11:00 AM
Reply to: Message 88 by iano
01-19-2011 10:54 AM


Re: The core of iano's argument
Assuming your god controls the nature of his creation vis a vis being born in pain or out of pain he is a fiend.
If I have the choice of crafting a living being I'll do it right (if I had that kind of power). There is no reason to have children born with aids.
Your god perportedly has that power to create. Why does he create babies with aids when he could creat babies without aids?
Stockholme syndrome drips from every post you write. If you weren't worried about going to hell would you still defend your god's actions?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 88 by iano, posted 01-19-2011 10:54 AM iano has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 91 by Phat, posted 01-19-2011 1:51 PM Larni has replied

  
Granny Magda
Member
Posts: 2462
From: UK
Joined: 11-12-2007
Member Rating: 3.8


Message 90 of 114 (601251)
01-19-2011 1:30 PM
Reply to: Message 51 by iano
01-18-2011 5:25 AM


Re: Praise Be Unto His Child Murdering Glory
iano writes:
I'm not sure I understand your argument. If this is an accurate report of what took place then there is nothing anti-semitic about it.
Be real. There is nothing realistic about this nonsensical scene. The dialogue given is patently unrealistic. People simply don't talk or behave that way. The Jewish crowd are portrayed as cartoon villains, there is no attempt at realism. The Gospels describe this scene in very different ways and what they do describe is counter to everything we know about Roman governance. The whole scene with Pilate and Christ is, if not a fiction, at best a highly fictionalised account. Claiming it as accurate reportage is a big stretch of the imagination.
This quote is one of the most troublesome in the long history of Christian persecution of Jews. It is Blood Libel. It portrays an entire people as being Christ-killers. And, as you are again doubtless already aware, this is far from the only such offensively anti-Semitic quote. Perhaps this one is a little less ambiguous for you;
quote:
2:14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:
2:15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:
2:16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins always: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
1 Thessalonians 2;14-16
The Jews killed Christ, they are "contrary to men", they are against God, they always sin to the maximum possible and one day wrath will visit them.
That you should offer this as a potential source of spiritual comfort to Jews who were being persecuted by Christians is disgustingly offensive. I suppose if they were starving, you would have offered them bacon sandwiches.
To unravel:
1) God placed conditions "don't eat or else"
Not to me he didn't. I have taken none of his precious fruit. You revel in collective punishment. That you are unable to grasp that punishing innocent children for the "sins" of their ancestors is evil, is yet another sign of your utter moral blindness.
And that is before we even note that the Eden story is bloody fictional and that these "sins" never took place at all.
2) God doesn't have to ask our permission to set conditions. He owns us and can set any condition he likes.
Once again, you embrace slavery, thus offering further evidence that you are sociopathic or simply evil.
3) His one true route isn't in any way affected by the fact that blind men can't see it. You see, it's his job to save us, not ours.
And every Muslim would no doubt call you blind. Typically empty religious excuse making.
By the way, all God needs to save us from seems to be himself. He could simply not send people to hell, but no, he has to dress it up in a ridiculous parlour game. This makes absolutely no sense.
If measuring yourself according to the Biblical standard? Surely not!
By the "Biblical standard" (as if there was so simple a thing) we are all sinners. That is one of the most vile notions I have ever heard. It undermines any claim by Christians that the Bible can offer us any kind of morality. So, no, I would not use the Biblical standard, because neither a sociopath or a moron. If everyone is an evildoer, the word evil loses any value.
GM writes:
I would not place myself before judgement by your god though, because he has roved himself a moral imbecile and a cruel, vindictive monster.
iano writes:
As if that alters anything.
It may not alter anything for you, but I think that most people would prefer not to worship a vindictive monster. That you don't seem to see the problem is yet further indication of your sociopathic tendencies.
Yet you wouldn't hope God stops you committing the sins you'll commit today.
I have committed no "sins" today and quite frankly, fuck you, you arrogant arse.
So let me illustrate: as far as God is concerned, you and Hitler are like two grains of sand on the beach with you pointing out that you're ever so much closer to the moon (if closeness to it reflected your level of goodness) than Hitler.
You might not like it but that's the position.
Now you are comparing me to Hitler? Seriously, fuck you iano.
And, yet again, we see more evidence that you have not the slightest clue what morality is.
Start cranking up the desire level until the "simply not right" restraint is overcome.
Again, bullshit. Not everyone thinks like you. Some people have a wonderful thing called a conscience. That you seem unfamiliar with the concept is, yet again, an indicator of severe personality disorder. Not everyone thinks like you, thank God.
But God wants to punish wrongdoing. It's a function of holiness - something which he cannot change about himself.
And that is why I call him a monster; he could prevent or forgive wrongdoing, but instead, he chooses wrath.
To forgive means to pay the cost of the offence yourself. God offers to do that in Christ.
Jesus having a bad weekend has absolutely no connection to real forgiveness. It is an empty blood ritual that has no connection to people's "sins". It achieves nothing. My wrongdoings are my own. Jesus can no more take responsibility for my wrongdoing than he can take credit for my achievements.
If God wants to forgive us for the imagined "sins" that apparently so upset him, all he need do is forgive us. But, no, he has to force us to jump through these bizarre hoops.
The rules aren't either arbitrary or obscure. Everyone ever born has a conscience (a knowledge of good and evil).
Except for sociopaths And you apparently.
And everyone ever born has access to the exact same set of rules.
This is a straightforward lie. Millions have been born and died without ever having seen a Bible.
What basis is there for supposing punishment being carried out in any other currency?
I dunno... mercy? Another unfamiliar concept I'm guessing.
You would agree that your belief wouldn't alter things if they are indeed true?
Regardless of whether he is real or not, I can assure you that desire to separate myself from God does not motivate me at all. Outside of discussions like these, I never give him much thought.
Ask yourself if you are motivated by a desire to be separated from Brahma and you might get the idea.
Did you notice my saying "in so far as it is commandeered.." If you take the arguments as they are applied to the Jewish god in the film and criticise the biblical God with same then you're at crossed purposes.
You're mixing up your gods.
You are the one who started this discussion by suggesting that Jews should turn to the NT. Mixing up the two versions of God (the same God of course) was your game. I have been trying to point out to you how offensive this is throughout.
To suggest that Jews who are being slaughtered by Christians just need a bit more Christianity is spectacularly callous and insulting.
Mutate and Survive

On two occasions I have been asked, — "Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?" ... I am not able rightly to apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question. - Charles Babbage

This message is a reply to:
 Message 51 by iano, posted 01-18-2011 5:25 AM iano has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 94 by iano, posted 01-19-2011 5:40 PM Granny Magda has replied

  
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