Truthabounds, I’ll say first of all that, like Vetuste. I don’t think you’re a nasty man either. I think you’re a frightened man who fervently hopes that Armageddon will descend upon this world within your own lifetime to save you from the grave. Actually, I don’t understand why you’re so afraid, because if you die before your dream is achieved, you will be oblivious for eternity, so it isn’t going to bother you. When I talk to people who worry as you do, I think of my aunt who, before undergoing major surgery, told me ‘Well, if I don’t wake up, I won’t know anything about it’. Sensible lady. (I’m happy to say she did wake up).
Right, onwards.
//How do you know he's changed his mind? Have you proof? Show me your evidence?//
Here you are.
Genesis 6.6: And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
He sorted it out though by drowning practically everyone on the planet. Enter plan B. (Oops …that hasn’t worked either).
//So why would God demand a ransom sacrifice at all?//
You haven’t answered my question. You’re just spouting unfounded belief.
//To anticipation your next point - Joseph did not have intercourse with Mary until after Jesus' birth, hence Mary was a virgin and the spirit (life force) of Jesus was then placed in Mary's womb to enable him to be born perfect.//
Well, that wasn’t going to be my next point, but if you insist. Here we have a very complex issue incorporating the building blocks (or more correctly the stumbling blocks) encountered in the construction of a new religion, which include prophecy, myth, other religions, other Gods, other virgin births – of which there were many – and so on – and it’s an issue that the Gospel writers have truly tripped themselves up on. However, without going into detail about all that, have you ever wondered why the bible gives accounts (two – and each different from the other) of Joseph’s genealogy detailing his descent through the house of David – the route indicated by ‘prophecy’ for the expected Messiah’s arrival? If Jesus had been the son of God, how is his step-father’s family history relevant to the story?
//As all living creatures were created with free will and not made as robots - it stands to reason that they could choose which way to go. Hence evil entered into the world through Satan, who although created perfect - CHOSE to go his own way …..//
Again you have evaded the issue. If God is omniscient, he knew what would happen – even if free will which he decided to endow upon his creation - was the cause of the disaster. Your God is culpable. There is no escaping that.
//Which is why at the end of Armageddon, Satan will be removed to allow man to have a taste of complete freedom from suffering etc.//
That begs the question of why God created Satan at all – and furthermore, if it was another of God’s blunders, why Satan wasn’t disposed of immediately the problem was recognised?
//God has the ability to foreknow the future, but he does not use it all the time. //
He doesn’t? How do you know?
//To do so might infringe upon our own free will, a precious gift that God will never revoke.//
Oh, is that why? Who told you?