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chowmama

(506 posts)
Sat Feb 25, 2023, 09:47 PM Feb 2023

How does this make sense?

Ok - God is omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent. All-knowing, all-powerful and everywhere. Yet without some people (they know who they are) running around, He would undoubtedly let somebody, somewhere, get away with something. Lucky he has them, right? Doesn't this sound the slightest bit... presumptuous? Disrespectful? Suspicious of their own God's flaws and fallibility?

And then there's the whole "Love God or he'll burn you in hell for all eternity" Is this God or the Godfather? I mean, it's the ultimate offer you can't refuse, right? How does somebody worship an entity who needs this level of reassurance? If he was a human, we'd be sending him for therapy, not confirming his worldview.

I mean, I know they made Him in their own image. (And it's always a Him.) Needy, petty, vindictive, downright sadistic. But - what is wrong with these people?

19 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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How does this make sense? (Original Post) chowmama Feb 2023 OP
Since faith negates any logic or challenge, it is easily misused. NewHendoLib Feb 2023 #1
FAITH: Trying your damndest to believe in something you know 3Hotdogs Feb 2023 #10
Yeah, it doesn't really make any sense at all PJMcK Feb 2023 #2
+1 Meadowoak Feb 2023 #9
There is no invisible sky god, who waves a magic wand vlyons Feb 2023 #3
Message auto-removed Name removed Mar 2023 #15
It doesn't. vlyons Mar 2023 #16
Message auto-removed Name removed Mar 2023 #17
What gap? vlyons Mar 2023 #18
Message auto-removed Name removed Mar 2023 #19
None of it makes any sense. Sky Jewels Feb 2023 #4
Tull says... odins folly Feb 2023 #5
In the prodigal son, the father never leaves his home, never helps his son out. The whole parable Karadeniz Feb 2023 #6
Wise, Ma'am, To Leave Out Benevolent.... The Magistrate Feb 2023 #7
Amen Ferrets are Cool Feb 2023 #8
God-fearing Bayard Feb 2023 #11
If you listen to survivors of Nazi concentration camps, BigmanPigman Feb 2023 #12
Religious belief requires one to suspend logic and reason Major Nikon Feb 2023 #13
Message auto-removed Name removed Mar 2023 #14

vlyons

(10,252 posts)
3. There is no invisible sky god, who waves a magic wand
Sat Feb 25, 2023, 10:22 PM
Feb 2023

to suspend the laws of physics and make time flow backwards. That they tell you to accept their god dogma on faith tells you that it doesn't stand up to reason and analysis.

BTW: There is no creator god in Buddhism.

Response to vlyons (Reply #3)

vlyons

(10,252 posts)
16. It doesn't.
Fri Mar 10, 2023, 04:12 PM
Mar 2023

You have to look to science, physics and biology, to explain nature. Buddha lived 2500 years before Darwin wrote "Origin of the Species." Buddhism accurately observes that 1) all things arise from previous causes and conditions, even if we can't know ALL the causes and conditions. So there is no creator god, else who or what created a creator god? 2) Buddhism is about learning to control your mind, especially to not be at the effect of negative emotions. 3) Buddhism teaches a code of ethical morality the 8-fold path, as the path to liberation from suffering. That path includes: right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right concentration, right mindfulness. If you want to know about Buddhism, there's plenty to read and learn online. All schools and traditions of Buddhism begin with Buddha's very first teaching on the 4 Noble Truths. Go read it and find out for yourself.

Response to vlyons (Reply #16)

vlyons

(10,252 posts)
18. What gap?
Fri Mar 10, 2023, 04:25 PM
Mar 2023

Maybe you need to study biology for explanations for the diversity of life on this planet. I just accept that evolution is based on random genetic changes that may, or may not, be advantageous to continuation of a species, depending on natural environmental changes.

Response to vlyons (Reply #18)

Sky Jewels

(8,819 posts)
4. None of it makes any sense.
Sat Feb 25, 2023, 10:48 PM
Feb 2023

They’re all convoluted, patriarchal bullshit mythologies made up by primitive societies to control the many (especially women) to empower and enrich the few.

odins folly

(258 posts)
5. Tull says...
Sat Feb 25, 2023, 11:09 PM
Feb 2023

Aqualung

© Ian Anderson 1971

In the beginning Man created God;
and in the image of Man
created he him.


2 And Man gave unto God a multitude of
names,that he might be Lord of all
the earth when it was suited to Man

3 And on the seven millionth
day Man rested and did lean
heavily on his God and saw that
it was good.

4 And Man formed Aqualung of
the dust of the ground, and a
host of others likened unto his kind.

5 And these lesser men were cast into the
void; And some were burned, and some were
put apart from their kind.

6 And Man became the God that he had
created and with his miracles did
rule over all the earth.

7 But as all these things
came to pass, the Spirit that did
cause man to create his God
lived on within all men: even
within Aqualung.

8 And man saw it not.

9 But for Christ's sake he'd
better start looking.

Karadeniz

(23,404 posts)
6. In the prodigal son, the father never leaves his home, never helps his son out. The whole parable
Sat Feb 25, 2023, 11:30 PM
Feb 2023

is imagery for the god system and the soul's function.

The Magistrate

(96,043 posts)
7. Wise, Ma'am, To Leave Out Benevolent....
Sat Feb 25, 2023, 11:32 PM
Feb 2023

Ive long liked the comment of Epicurious:




“Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.

Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.

Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?

Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?”



Bayard

(24,145 posts)
11. God-fearing
Sun Feb 26, 2023, 12:20 AM
Feb 2023

I've never understood that concept in people that say God loves them. Sounds like a pretty abusive relationship.

BigmanPigman

(52,234 posts)
12. If you listen to survivors of Nazi concentration camps,
Sun Feb 26, 2023, 12:41 AM
Feb 2023

many who were originally very religious, you can understand why many ended up not believing in God. After their experiences they had chosen to disbelieve for exactly the reasons you stated. How could a so-called "loving and just God" do that to people who worship his love for all those who love him. That is the best argument for atheism that I can think of.

Many believe that there is no Hell since living on Earth sure is hell so you can only go up from here. Man, I hope there is no reincarnation since I DO NOT wan⁰t to come back here...Ever!!!

Hell is another BS concept of enslavement and mass murder by religious assholes for thousands of years. Mostly all are male as well. Domination and control of others is what religion is about. Not love, just the opposite. How is killing someone in the "name of God" accepted as an excuse to believe in such a hypocritical concept? "It is OK for ME to kill, but not for YOU to kill since my God is the savior". What shit!

Major Nikon

(36,900 posts)
13. Religious belief requires one to suspend logic and reason
Sun Feb 26, 2023, 09:45 AM
Feb 2023

This is particularly true when it falls along the lines of organized religion.

One must have "faith" something told to them is true without one single shred of proof of any of it. Then you must accept the particular version of what is being told is true while ignoring the reality what is being told follows a very familiar script of miracles, prophecy, so-called "anointed" people who somehow manage to speak to the deity directly (again without a shred of proof).

Then you must accept this totally not made up deity wants you to behave a certain way to receive a promised reward or face a promised punishment all conveniently unverifiable.

All of this has to be indoctrinated into children at the beginning of understanding because obviously anyone who understands logic and reason first is pretty much assured of never accepting any of it for obvious reasons.

The hazard to all of this is it devalues critical thinking and conditions people to readily accept nonsense. It's not a coincidence there's a lot of intersection between the GQP and ultra religious belief in much the same way we see other oppressive regimes built on a foundation of theocracy. If you can convince someone you speak for the almighty, you can get them to accept pretty much anything regardless of how much it goes against their own self interest. That same recipe is as old as time and we still can't manage to learn from it.

Response to chowmama (Original post)

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