Why Didn't God Save His Son?

[modeller]

I was asked this question by a theist who was looking for some theological answer. He was rather put out when I said ' He couldn't because he didn't want to be accused of nepotism .'

[modeller]

If you really want to see how God enjoys sacrifice the word propitiation says it all. It means a sacrifice , a death ,that satisfies God's justice.
Jesus was the propitiation for our sins.

http://www.studylight.org/dic/hbd/view.cgi?number=T1978

[modeller]

Octavius Yes there is a parallel but poor old Pelops wasn't saved at the last moment but was resurrected later. More like Jesus.

[jake-the-peg]

I always think the Christian theology of the trinity gets in a great mess here.

Jesus' death is meant to be a sacrifice to save humanity - but the doctrine of the Trinity claims that Jesus was God made flesh part, one and the same being.

So God sacrifices himself to save humanity from himself?

It's all barking gibberish and the more spin Christians put on it the more nonsensical it all sounds.



However if you throw away monotheism it starts to make sense - The God of the Old testament is notoriously vengeful and judgemental. Jesus is a semi-divine Hercules type figure who sacrifices himself to win around Jehova and save humanity.

Paul, a Roman citizen is very familliar with Roman Gods and legends and is much less tied up with this Jesus as God idea and forms the start of this theology - but this won't was with the strictly monotheistic Jewish wing.

So it all ties itself in knots

That's my take on it anyway

[jomifl]

So Jake, the 'trinity' is judaism, christism and paulism. small wonder it doesn't make sense(absence of deity notwithstanding)

[pixie373]

Why does God "want us to fear him"? Bit of a bully?

[modeller]

pixie Why indeed ? But it is the message from all religions. Do as I tell you or else.! And if God doesn't punish you now , we will. It has been said the Mafia learnt their trade from the Vatican.

[modeller]

I should have said that is the reason the Mafia bosses are called Godfathers.

[naomi24]

//Why does God "want us to fear him"? Bit of a bully? //

An understatement. We're talking about eternity here - and depending upon which particular flavour of religion floats your personal boat, the options are eternal life, eternal torture, or eternal oblivion. If people didn't crave the first and fear the second and third, they wouldn't obey him. Apart from the dubious bargain that is everlasting life in exchange for sycophantic subservience, God has nothing to offer and would be redundant.

[pixie373]

Seems odd to be all-forgiving, all-loving, all-seeing and understanding while demanding obedience, perfection and worship with eternal damnation for those who fail.

[naomi24]

Mmmm ... doesn't it. ;o)

[atalanta]

Beso - if you are still around - read your bible. god didn't tell Eve not to eat the fruit. He told Adam.

[beso]

Then why does God punish women at all. he didn't even bother telling her the rules.

It would seem then that her "sin" in the eyes of God was to suggest Adam took a bite. However Adam certainly knew God had forbidden it. He was the one who was most culpable.

And yet Adam and all men thereafter are not similarly subjected to pain as punishment.

I know it must seem unlikely to some but could it be that the Bible is a load of rubbish made up by misogynists?