An imperfect God

[naomi24]

The God promoted by believers cannot be reconciled with the God of the Bible. He made mistakes, he was unjust, and he was neither omniscient nor omnipresent. Nevertheless, despite glaring evidence to the contrary, members of his fan club tell us he was perfect. How do they justify that?

[goodlife]

If you really examine what it says, and do not simply accept what certain ones claim that it says, you will find reason to trust it. Yes, evidence exists that the Bible was indeed inspired by God, And Something else that identifies the Bible as coming from God is the honesty of its writers. It is contrary to imperfect human nature to admit mistakes or failures, especially in writing. With most ancient writers reported only their successes.

[naomi24]

I have examined what it says - hence my question. You, it seems, have not.

[RATTER15]

//If you really examine what it says, and do not simply accept what certain ones claim that it says, you will find reason to trust it.//

"Behold the day of the Lord comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger...Whoever is found will be thrust through and whoever is caught will fall by the sword. Their infants will be dashed in pieces before their eyes, their houses will be plundered and their wives ravished."
..........Isaiah 13:9, 13:15

"Therefore fathers shall eat their sons in the midst of you and sons shall eat their fathers...I will send famine and wild beasts against you and they shall rob you of your children; pestilence and blood shall pass through you; and I will bring a sword upon you. I, the Lord, have spoken."
..........Ezekiel 5:10, 5:17

"And I will fill your mountains with the slain; on your hills and in your valleys and in all your ravines those slain with the sword shall fall...Then you shall know that I am the Lord."
..........Ezekiel 35:8

"...I make weal and create woe, I am the Lord, who do all these things."
..........Isaiah 45:7



JESUS"Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother- in-law...."
..........Matthew 10:34

"'But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them before me.'"
..........Luke 19:27

(parable) "If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned."
..........John 15:6

"The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous, and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth."
..........Matthew 13:49



Im not trusting him so far, im probably just reading it wrong!!

[Khandro]

Khandro scuttles off to find a bible and yes Ratter; Matthew 10:34 is correct. But what does it mean? - had he been on the sauce? because a little before he says 10:29, 'Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.' which sounds a bit Pythonesque to me!

[RATTER15]

Khandro, so the parrot is not an ex-parrot, it will be resurrected?

[goodlife]

Well in the Bible we are told: Wisdom is the prime thing. Acquire wisdom; and with all that you acquire, acquire understanding.” (Prov. 4:7) Does the research just described fulfill those words? Has it resulted in the wisdom we should pursue as “the prime thing”? Well, is it solving earth’s major problems? Has it led people to healthier, happier, more secure, peaceful and productive lives? Has it helped man to get along better with his neighbor? You know the answer. Today we live in a sick, mixed-up world, in times of unprecedented frustration, in a day when the very existence of man and all creatures on this planet is seriously threatened. And, paradoxically, much of Atheists modern research has contributed to this very state of affairs. (Eccl. 8:17)

[naomi24]

Goodlife, rather than continue to offer us the benefit of your dubious wisdom, why don't you answer the question?

[goodlife]

No point you know all.

[naomi24]

You don't answer it because you can't.

[goodlife]

I meet people every day , but the BIBLE is for the meek ones and By doing so, we will continue to be happy, praising the one in whom we take exquisite delight, our God, (Ps 37:11)

[naomi24]

Yes indeed! That question falls outside of your capabilities, doesn't it. Answer that, and your religion, together with your sanctimonious sermonising, falls flat on its face!

[Khandro]

@naomi, I by no means believe all that is written in the Bible (see above), but just as a beautiful piece of music brings comfort and solace to some people I see no reason why they should not read and find sustenance in it. I sometimes wonder though, why you get so het up about this; what exactly is your mission?

[naomi24]

Khandro, I'm not sure 'het up' is the right term - although I understand why written purposeful dialogue might come across that way. Yes, if people want to find solace in books or music, that's their choice, but that doesn't entitle them to impose their preferences upon others, nor does it give them a right to demand that others accept that imposition without question or challenge. In my opinion, belief in the God of Abraham has caused nothing but misery, pain, hatred, conflict and separation to this world, and it continues unabated because religion demands 'respect' regardless of what it does - and in the main, for some unaccountable reason, it gets it. Well, I don't respect religion one iota because in my book it's not 'okay' for families to be doomed to poverty because birth control is forbidden; it's not 'okay' for people to blow others to smithereens; it's not 'okay' for one half of the population to be considered less than the rest; it's not 'okay' to indoctrinate children with fear, and it's not 'okay' to teach false information as fact. I see nothing to respect in any of that, and therefore if I am able to do my bit in exposing the lies surrounding this God - and lies are precisely what the Abrahamic religions thrive on - I will do it - so yes, I suppose you could say I'm on a mission. You see, I'm one of those hard-hearted, godless, morally corrupt atheists who just happens to genuinely care about her fellow man and about the state of this sad world we live in.

I hope that answers your question, but if not I'll do my best to answer any others you may have.

[Khandro]

Oh dear naomi, you do seem to be in such a muddle (He said patronisingly!) it is you who asks these questions, and I'm not sure who is 'imposing their preferences' on you, but maybe some one has? Regarding God and the Bible which is your question; the Bible may embrace God, but I don't know if God embraces the Bible.

[naomi24]

Khandro, I have to say I find your response rather perplexing. You asked the question......

//I sometimes wonder though, why you get so het up about this; what exactly is your mission?//

... and I answered it, so I fear it's you who is in a muddle.

If you're not sure who imposes their preferences on the rest of us, I suggest you read the posts from the religious again. Additionally, you also appear to have misunderstood my original question completely, so perhaps you should read that again too, along with the bible.

To quote you: //"some people cannot read and understand what they are looking at." True, very true.//

Sadly, in your case it seems that is, indeed, very true.

[RATTER15]

Naomi, I envy your way with words, you say everything I want to say so perfectly. :)

[naomi24]

Thanks Ratter. ;o)

[sith123]

you have to examine it :) and trust your instinct

[naomi24]

But Sith, if you examine it honestly you find that God is not who you think he is, which is the whole point of the original question.

[goodlife]

naomi You've been watching too much Father Ted