If God Made Man ….. Why?

[naomi24]

Allegedly the good end up sharing eternity with him – the bad, depending upon what you believe, are either doomed to hell, or once dead are dead forever – but what’s the ultimate purpose of it all? The perception that God is omniscient, and therefore must have known what would happen before he created anything, aside - some will say that God gave man free will and man has a choice between good and evil – but if God wants everyone to be good, why give man free will at all? He had it made before he did that – everyone was good – so exactly as he supposedly wanted them to be. Why would a 'wise' God devise such a senseless and counter-productive plan? It doesn’t seem terribly wise to me.

[naomi24]

And Steve?

[modeller]

No that was an answer to coccinelle //Power is man's worst enemy if only people could be content with their lot we'd be all living a peaceful life... //

[naomi24]

Modeller, oh, I see. The crux of the original question then.

[goodlife]

But what if it is not God’s purpose to convert this wicked world, but to destroy it instead? If this is so, then those who being taught the truth.
They are being asked to become part of a world that is doomed to destruction by God himself.

Naomi, Why do bother about doctrines? They only lead to confusion. You could never sift through religious confusion and find the truth even if you tried.

[vetuste_ennemi]

Goodlife, what an excellent contribution to the debate!

[naomi24]

Goodlife, the question is not whether God’s purpose is to convert the world or destroy it – the question is why, if he wanted perfect, sinless man, did he bestow free will at all? He is allegedly omnipotent, so he has no excuse. If man has caused him so much grief, God really is the willing author of his own misfortune. He’d have been better off sticking to what he had in the first place.

And this question doesn’t arise from sifting through religious confusion – it arises from the application of common sense.

Do you have an answer?

[vetuste_ennemi]

Did you always have these incisive insights, Goodlife, or did you have to work at it?

[modeller]

goodlife Aren't you worried that out of the 2 million cults and religions
in the world you have chosen the wrong one. Worshipping a false God is far worse than not having any god at all. Atheists can live and die happy but worshippers of false gods are in real trouble.

[vetuste_ennemi]

Braces himself for witty riposte...

[naomi24]

V-E, you may as well go and make a cup of tea. ;o)

[goodlife]

No,I said you are confusion. Because you could never sift through religious confusion and find the truth even if you tried.

Who rules this world of mankind? when you found that out you might devise such a senseless and counter-productive plan.

[vetuste_ennemi]

.. drops cup.

[naomi24]

Haaaaaaa! You're impressed then, V-E?

[naomi24]

Goodlife, good grief! This goes from bad to worse! God made Satan too – and allows him to rule the world! Jeepers! God really did mess up!

[joko]

why make it even possible for us to do bad? why not make the very concept impossible for us to even consider?
why not make us all so full of love and kindness that the word 'bad' didnt exist

a bit like that ricky gervais film - invention of lying.

and even now, surely he is so powerful, that a flick of his wrist would sort it all out anyway - why all this over elaborate stuff to sort the problem - like the arc and the flood?

why make such a massive headache for himself?

[goodlife]

True,as I have said before, as one of the senseless women speaks, you speak also. Shall we accept merely what is good from the true God and not accept also what is bad?” Even this ploy of Satan did not work, for we are told: “In all this Job did not sin with his lips.” (Job 2:9, 10)

[naomi24]

Goodlife, oh dear. Keyplus thinks I’m stupid, Lightbulb thinks I’m a half-wit, and you think I’m senseless – and that’s just three of you. I won’t mention what the rest from upstairs say. Just as well I’m far too level-headed to take any of it to heart. ;o)

And speaking of senseless, the whole story of God is senseless. It’s just plain silly.

//Shall we accept merely what is good from the true God and not accept also what is bad?//

Why would a good and wise creator God choose – see the word ‘choose’ there? - to create the bad? When it was within his power to create only beauty and harmony and love, he chose otherwise. Why? For what purpose?

And please … not poor Job. That was not this shameful God’s finest hour!

[modeller]

goodlife You haven't answered my question and it only needs a yes or no.
//Aren't you worried that out of the 2 million cults and religions
in the world you have chosen the wrong one.//

[naomi24]

modeller, no one of religion is worried about that. They all think theirs is the true religion - but none of them ask the question I've asked.

[sandyRoe]

The reward for being good isn't necessarily a seat at the high table. If it did no more than make this world a more congenial place that could be reason enough.