Obama might be the best President in 100 years.

[Boris]

“This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.'" 1 Samuel 15:2-3

God is love.

Was God wrong? Look at the worldwide problems cause they left a few alive each time. Would we have world peace had these peoples God said to destroy? Yes!

 

[Gameface]

So, by your logic, I'd suppose that the John Birch Society reporting various connections of influential Americans to alleged CPUSA "masterminds" has just got to be unbelievable because, hey, somebody would certainly snitch on them, or something like that. Therefore, the alleged Communist plot to destroy America from within has gotta be bunk.

That theory just strikes me as analogous to your allegation that God is behind all kinds of genocidal campaigns all over the world.

The Bible is suspect, in my opinion, as a reliable reference to the acts of God. The Old Testament was in the first place, non-existent prior to Solomon. There were Levite settlements (no farms, just an altar and some houses for the Levites). The Bible has some historical references to the age from Moses to Saul, the father of Solomon, alleging that the chief priest Phinehas did something wrong in allowing his children to run amok in wanton sensuality on the Temple steps, and according the Bible, his family was destroyed for this, and Samual the Prophet was recognized instead.

But basically, the idea was not specifically racial in nature, and it was always related to some offensive conduct that God hated or felt He could not allow to go unanswered.

Solomon got together the first standing army in Israel, and had his soldiers go around Israel busting up all the scattered altars and decreed that everyone had to come to Jerusalem and pay taxes and offer sacrifices to his priests there. Solomon established Statism in Israel, and he supported it with a State Religion, and he had his priestly scribes re-work the sacred history to confirm his absolute authority, and then he extracted infinite contributions from the people, and from the bigshots, and the heads of state for a thousand miles around, in some directions at least, to support the construction of the fabulous Temple.

Somehow, I doubt the truthful objectivity of the religious record that was started at that point in time. I don't think it necessarily speaks for God, even the God of Israel. Might be a little self-justifying attributions in there in regard to who is and who is not in God's favor. Might bear some reasoned study before just claiming God commanded all that.

I'll let God explain it if I ever see Him, okay?

I have similar questions in regard to the texts of Christianity, and the later prophets of the Old Testament, and such. And also with current and historical Mormon stuff, okay.

The Bible says don't respect false prophets. If someone claiming to be a prophet speaking for God says anything that isn't true or predicts anything that doesn't happen, God says don't you believe it.

The Bible also says that there will be a plague of false prophets in the last days, and that they will be destroyed so thoroughly that in what Israel remains, nobody will care to claim to be a prophet.

Okay, kiddos?

So God, the character from the Bible, did order genocides, then? I think that's what you just said, but it was all kind of hidden in gibberish.

 

[babe]

So God, the character from the Bible, did order genocides, then? I think that's what you just said, but it was all kind of hidden in gibberish.

I said your opinion of God looks like the delusional conspiracy theories you accuse others of having in regard to human management.... politics.

God, if a meaningful reality, would have to be something better than what anyone has imagined. If not much more merciful than we have even imagined, we would not have happened in the first place.

What would it take for an absolutely powerful, just, and moral Being to decide to put up with humans? Let alone promote us through an infinite caring labor throughout millennia?

 

[Siro]

I said your opinion of God looks like the delusional conspiracy theories you accuse others of having in regard to human management.... politics.

God, if a meaningful reality, would have to be something better than what anyone has imagined. If not much more merciful than we have even imagined, we would not have happened in the first place.

What would it take for an absolutely powerful, just, and moral Being to decide to put up with humans? Let alone promote us through an infinite caring labor throughout millennia?

Why would this absolutely powerful being even bother at all with what humans are doing? It's like a human flipping out over ant morality.

Additionally, Gameface is specifically talking about the character God from the Bible. Not your own personal view of what God is.

 

[Gameface]

Why would this absolutely powerful being even bother at all with what humans are doing? It's like a human flipping out over ant morality.

Additionally, Gameface is specifically talking about the character God from the Bible. Not your own personal view of what God is.

I saw a bunch of ants fornicating the other day so I turned my garden hose on their ant hill.

 

[Siro]

I saw a bunch of ants fornicating the other day so I turned my garden hose on their ant hill.

It had to be done. Hopefully you'll make up for it by sending them an ant-human hybrid to die for their sins.

 

[Dr. Jones]

Not sure why you guys feel the need to completely disrespect someone else's faith.
I'm a to each their own.

Not sure why I'd feel the need to bash away at others beliefs unless those beliefs directly harmed innocent people.

I'm no great example of a Christian, but I do believe in God. Totally okay with those that don't and give the exact same respect regardless. Has no effect on my opinion of them.

I'm also not offended by anything said here... I simply don't get it.

 

[Siro]

Not sure why you guys feel the need to completely disrespect someone else's faith.
I'm a to each their own.

Not sure why I'd feel the need to bash away at others beliefs unless those beliefs directly harmed innocent people.

I'm no great example of a Christian, but I do believe in God. Totally okay with those that don't and give the exact same respect regardless. Has no effect on my opinion of them.

I'm also not offended by anything said here... I simply don't get it.

Eh, come on. We're not "disregarding". We're just making fun. Why is religion all that serious?

 

[Dr. Jones]

Eh, come on. We're not "disregarding". We're just making fun. Why is religion all that serious?

I think I stated plenty plainly that I don't find it offensive.
It seems a bit more than just having fun with it to me, but I will happily take you at your word because I think you're a good dude.

I am generally curious, at times, why some want to bash one for believing in God.

No biggie, was just asking and thanks for the answer.

(Also, if God does exist.. that is kind of serious as far as belief is concerned.

 

[Siro]

I think I stated plenty plainly that I don't find it offensive.
It seems a bit more than just having fun with it to me, but I will happily take you at your word because I think you're a good dude.

I am generally curious, at times, why some want to bash one for believing in God.

No biggie, was just asking and thanks for the answer.

(Also, if God does exist.. that is kind of serious as far as belief is concerned.

Just for the record, I respect Christianity. I also don't share the perspective on its role in history that many of less religious posters have. But surely, we gotta let go of the idea of the "sacred". In this incredible modern age, shouldn't the concept of God have at least kept up?

 

[Dr. Jones]

Just for the record, I respect Christianity. I also don't share the perspective on its role in history that many of less religious posters have. But surely, we gotta let go of the idea of the "sacred". In this incredible modern age, shouldn't the concept of God have at least kept up?

Thanks for the respectful response.
Are you denying the possibility that "this incredible modern age" is a departure from God?
Is it entirely impossible that God's values and ideals have been consistent while society veers ever so slightly away from those same values and the secular see such a departure between "reality" and the Bible?

I don't claim to know God is real. That's why I don't find it odd when others don't believe.
Most Christians seem to have this huge divide between belief and non-belief, whereas I view both as paper thin.

 

[Siro]

Thanks for the respectful response.
Are you denying the possibility that "this incredible modern age" is a departure from God?
Is it entirely impossible that God's values and ideals have been consistent while society veers ever so slightly away from those same values and the secular see such a departure between "reality" and the Bible?

I don't claim to know God is real. That's why I don't find it odd when others don't believe.
Most Christians seem to have this huge divide between belief and non-belief, whereas I view both as paper thin.

It's not that. The tribal God who's pretty much a father figure is so year 800. That's the God that everyone must talk about in a certain way else he gets upset. It's too small a God for this age. This is the one reason many see belief and "science" as incompatible. That God has become smaller than us.

There are some modern Christian thinkers that I like for having a bigger view of God. Check out John Shelby Spong, for example. He's an interesting Christian.