Can god

[Firelight]

I don't know what God "can" do. I'd just like to see some evidence of anything that God "did" do. That would be a great start in trying to figure out what he's capable of.

I mean, if God made a rock too heavy for God to lift, that would tell us that God can do what is (so far as we know) logically impossible.

If God can heal so many diseases, as faith healers have claimed (without proof), then one must suppose that restoring a missing limb would be just as trivial. Hey, salamanders can do it, so surely God could do it for the guy who lost a couple of limbs in a "just war."

It takes faith and belief, or at the very least a hope or desire to believe, in God in order to recognize the “evidence” of the things he has done. If you deny the existence of God, then you will deny all evidence of him.

Yes God can restore limbs, but it’s highly unlikely to happen in this life. One must wait for the resurrection to have their body restored to its perfect order.

 

[Firelight]

Not 100% sure what you mean?

God can do everything that is not "impossible" such as making a round square. The bible's concept of good and evil is a bit of a mixed bag to be honest, depending on which parts you read, which is also why I think people struggle with it.

For instance according to Jesus, God is the only one that is good, and according to God he is the creator of everything that is good and evil, but he also despise evil. Also one of the commandments from God is that you can't kill, yet God kills a huge amount of people, but is obviously not considered evil. Because as stated in Psalms:

Psalms 145:9
9 - The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.

So God give people what they deserve, because it is good for them... not really sure how that is suppose to work. Given that humans should have learned the difference between good and evil during the fall, yet our understanding seems completely off track in regards to what God does. So again its pretty confusing with a lot of different information being thrown around.

Personally, I think it makes most sense to look at the bible's concept of good and evil from the perspective of God. He decide what is good and evil and humans are basically wrong and don't understand it. At least that way you get down to one contradiction from what I can see, which is Genesis and that humans should have learned the difference between them. Which basically mean that everything God does is good and has a purpose, but obviously not interested in letting us know what it is, and also if one goes with that, one shouldn't complain about anything bad happening to them or the world, because its all part of God's plan.

But as an atheist, there is to many contradictions and the lack of explanation from God should he be real, is not something I find worth worshipping regardless, to be honest I think he is a bit of a monster.

In my experience from talking with people that do believe in him, is that he is good when needed and not to blame for anything bad, and that explanation doesn't really work with me.

Bad things happen to both good and evil people. Good things happen to both good and evil people. If only bad things happened to evil people and only good things happened to good people, then people would be compelled to do good for the rewards and not because they chose to do good due to their own free will and choice. Free will would be lost and faith would not be challenged.

 

[InChrist]

But humans can't do everything and some ain't able to follow the teachings. A child dying at birth is not really capable of doing it and if they are removed from having to do it. Does that mean that God is punishing the parents or how would you explain that through free will?


So again, is God throwing some misfortune on the parents, because I think you would agree, that in many cases the parents can't really be blamed?


By natural evil, one doesn't mean like "Me doing something bad to you intentionally", but more like, a person might loose their whole family due to something like that, maybe loose their child, mother or whatever and now they are forced to live with that. Given that a natural disaster is not connected to humans, but can still cause a lot of suffering and given that we as human can't prevent an earthquake or a tsunami. but God could, but chooses not to, its common to refer to it as "natural evil".

Sort of like you seeing a baby falling into a swimming pool and choosing not to help it, most people would label that as an evil act. You are obviously not the cause of the baby falling in, but simply choosing not to help, I would argue is evil, in the normal understanding of the word. Yet, when God chooses not to intervene, people do not consider it evil, which I find strange?

But God has intervened. God left His glorious realm to come to earth, become flesh, dwell with humanity and make a way available for anyone to be free from the pain of this world forever.
This is a fallen world; a consequence of human sin. God is not fixing this world or the evil here. Instead, God is offering a new eternal heaven and earth, free of evil and pain, to anyone interested.

 

[Trailblazer]

But humans can't do everything and some ain't able to follow the teachings. A child dying at birth is not really capable of doing it and if they are removed from having to do it. Does that mean that God is punishing the parents or how would you explain that through free will?

I do not explain that through free will. It is explained through fate. No, God is not punishing the parents, this is just something that humans have to endure. In a material world people get sick and sometimes they die.

So again, is God throwing some misfortune on the parents, because I think you would agree, that in many cases the parents can't really be blamed?

Of course the parents are not to blame.

By natural evil, one doesn't mean like "Me doing something bad to you intentionally", but more like, a person might loose their whole family due to something like that, maybe loose their child, mother or whatever and now they are forced to live with that. Given that a natural disaster is not connected to humans, but can still cause a lot of suffering and given that we as human can't prevent an earthquake or a tsunami. but God could, but chooses not to, its common to refer to it as "natural evil".

Sort of like you seeing a baby falling into a swimming pool and choosing not to help it, most people would label that as an evil act. You are obviously not the cause of the baby falling in, but simply choosing not to help, I would argue is evil, in the normal understanding of the word. Yet, when God chooses not to intervene, people do not consider it evil, which I find strange?

Sure, hypothetically speaking since God is omnipotent God could prevent an earthquake or a tsunami or stop a baby from drowning, but what seems strange to me is that anyone would expect God to intervene in the physical world and rescue people, like Superman. God is not a human and has no such obligations to act like a human. There are many things that happen in this world that cause suffering and since God set it up that way, God is not going to reverse course.

 

[IndigoChild5559]

Can God say, think, or do things that are not literally written in the bible and how do you know how he feels, says, and thinks that's not literally written and translated and interpreted?

Edit
For example, how do you know God told you to "Not cross that street" and you did and almost got hit by a car?

God can do anything that is not contrary to his nature. A better question would be WILL God do anything? The answer is clearly no, that there are things God will not do.

When we attribute feelings to God, we are anthropomorphizing. God doesn't have a limbic area in some brain that produces emotions.

I don't think God gives specific information like, "Don't cross that street." I do think that God assists our conscience when we have moral discussions with ourselves. I've felt God has sometimes told me to "stop making excuses" for my bad behavior, for example. The problem is, how can we know when our own inner dialogue stops and God's voice begins? I don't think we can.

 

[Jacob Samuelson]

People can lie, but according to Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18 'God can Not lie', so No, God is Not omnipotent.

This is a paradox statement. Because God is able to lie, maintaining his omnipotence however, by so doing He will immediately cease to be God. So the action in itself can be done but the affect of the action completely changes who is performing the action. God cannot lie defines His Character not his ability.

 

[rational experiences]

Can God say, think, or do things that are not literally written in the bible and how do you know how he feels, says, and thinks that's not literally written and translated and interpreted?

Edit
For example, how do you know God told you to "Not cross that street" and you did and almost got hit by a car?

My sister got physically grabbed and pulled back after being told the advice.

Nearly hit by car.

God status. The state to record human image voice is physically in the heavens as the state a long time before any life exists. As the state recorded memory.

To be recorded.

The eternal being who sent us spiritually out of it's body still communicates directly to half the water life bio organics lost. Is ahead of us rationally. By record usage our body memory. A recording.

Why we always get warned spiritually proven real umpteen times by millions of humans.

 

[firedragon]

Can God

Would depend on the understanding of God. Is God a transcended being? Or is he a human being?

 

[RestlessSoul]

I don't know what God "can" do. I'd just like to see some evidence of anything that God "did" do. That would be a great start in trying to figure out what he's capable of.

I mean, if God made a rock too heavy for God to lift, that would tell us that God can do what is (so far as we know) logically impossible.

If God can heal so many diseases, as faith healers have claimed (without proof), then one must suppose that restoring a missing limb would be just as trivial. Hey, salamanders can do it, so surely God could do it for the guy who lost a couple of limbs in a "just war."

But you do know what God can do, or at least what any person of faith believes God can do. Every time you look at the stars, you see His handiwork, though you may choose to call that accident. Still, you know what believers claim God can do, so why pretend ignorance? And the evolution of a consciousness capable not only of naming the stars but of navigating by them, first across the oceans and now, figuratively, through oceans of time and space; how can that not be miraculous? Do you know what the odds are, against the universe expanding after the Big Bang at exactly the rate and in the manner necessary to support the evolution of intelligent life?

It seems to me, and forgive me if I'm wrong, that you put an awful lot of effort into proving to yourself that there can be no God; have you never considered asking yourself what, if there was a God and a loving one at that, this might mean to you?

 

[RestlessSoul]

My sister got physically grabbed and pulled back after being told the advice.

Nearly hit by car.

God status. The state to record human image voice is physically in the heavens as the state a long time before any life exists. As the state recorded memory.

To be recorded.

The eternal being who sent us spiritually out of it's body still communicates directly to half the water life bio organics lost. Is ahead of us rationally. By record usage our body memory. A recording.

Why we always get warned spiritually proven real umpteen times by millions of humans.

Out of interest, can you expand on that point about communication with life via water? It chimes with something I heard recently...

 

[Nimos]

Bad things happen to both good and evil people. Good things happen to both good and evil people. If only bad things happened to evil people and only good things happened to good people, then people would be compelled to do good for the rewards and not because they chose to do good due to their own free will and choice. Free will would be lost and faith would not be challenged.

But doesn't God punish those that do wrong and have made it somewhat clear what he likes and doesn't like?

If he is going to punish everyone equally, then everyone regardless of what they have done in life of bad things ought to have an equal chance of getting saved in the end. Yet that is not what the bible tells us, clearly those that does what God likes gets saved and those that doesn't won't. I don't really see the difference?

 

[Nimos]

But God has intervened. God left His glorious realm to come to earth, become flesh, dwell with humanity and make a way available for anyone to be free from the pain of this world forever.
This is a fallen world; a consequence of human sin. God is not fixing this world or the evil here. Instead, God is offering a new eternal heaven and earth, free of evil and pain, to anyone interested.

How is this cycle then going to ever end? If God doesn't care about this world anymore and it is simply here to give us a chance to get to a new and better place. Then God should make it impossible or command that people stop having children so the rest of humanity can pass on, right? If we keep getting children then it will never end.

This cycle on Earth and everything we do is completely pointless, screw the environment, helping the poor, education etc. nothing of that is needed in order to empty the Earth of people. Medicine and anything healthy ought to be considered a sin, because getting this life over with as fast as possible, should be the highest priority.

 

[Nimos]

I do not explain that through free will. It is explained through fate. No, God is not punishing the parents, this is just something that humans have to endure. In a material world people get sick and sometimes they die.

But who decide our fate? or how is it determined?

Also if it is simply fate, people should have no reason to be upset about any of these things. Loosing a child during birth, is simply pointless to be upset about, it was bound to happen anyway, so stop worrying about it.

I understand that it might sound harsh, but logically, if what you are saying is true, that is the only way to deal with such things in a reasonable manner.

Sure, hypothetically speaking since God is omnipotent God could prevent an earthquake or a tsunami or stop a baby from drowning, but what seems strange to me is that anyone would expect God to intervene in the physical world and rescue people, like Superman. God is not a human and has no such obligations to act like a human. There are many things that happen in this world that cause suffering and since God set it up that way, God is not going to reverse course.

Because if God is not intervening, it raises several issues:

1. There is no foundation for believing that he exist to begin with.
2. Why would we even care about God, even if he exist, if he doesn't intervene. It doesn't matter whether he exist or not. Because he wouldn't intervene in any shape or form, meaning that he won't be answering prayers or do anything else, because that would be considered an intervention. Also the foundation for Baha'u'llah is falling apart, because him being a messenger from God, would also be considered an intervention in this world.

A God that is not "measurable" (don't mean scientifically) is completely pointless and there is no foundation or reason to consider such being real for even for a second, it wouldn't matter. You have no reason to believe that any scriptures are real or that any person claiming anything about God is real. Because there is absolutely no way that these information could come from a God that doesn't intervene in the physical world.

 

[Colt]

Can God say, think, or do things that are not literally written in the bible and how do you know how he feels, says, and thinks that's not literally written and translated and interpreted?

Edit
For example, how do you know God told you to "Not cross that street" and you did and almost got hit by a car?

Mind is loaned to us, we are supposed to think before walking into traffic.

Of course God can and does transcend the Bible. The God revealed in the life of Jesus transcended the dim view of the God of the Old Testament. The OT is a vastly exaggerated history of one group of people on earth who's view of God was largely a shadow of themselves. Petrifying the Bible into the "Word of God" incarcerates the spiritual imagination and stunts personal and social growth.

When one reads what the OT says we find people "hearing voices" to commit murder and all sorts of other atrocities. Today many of the OT characters would be put on trial for war crimes.

 

[ChildOfKcarf]

Can God say, think, or do things that are not literally written in the bible and how do you know how he feels, says, and thinks that's not literally written and translated and interpreted?

Edit
For example, how do you know God told you to "Not cross that street" and you did and almost got hit by a car?

The word of Kcarf states that God is a conscious being who can act on his own will

 

[Unveiled Artist]

God can do anything that is not contrary to his nature. A better question would be WILL God do anything? The answer is clearly no, that there are things God will not do.

Are you anthropomorphizing when you discuss what's contrary to god's nature and what he will not do?

I don't think God gives specific information like, "Don't cross that street." I do think that God assists our conscience when we have moral discussions with ourselves. I've felt God has sometimes told me to "stop making excuses" for my bad behavior, for example. The problem is, how can we know when our own inner dialogue stops and God's voice begins? I don't think we can.

That's pretty much the gist. For example, I'd get a conscious feeling not to cross the street. I do it anyway, and I almost get hit. Then I think, duh. I should have listened. One can say that was from god or that my mind just didn't want to listen to my gut from a evolutionary perspective. I'd say that's similar to god telling you to stop making excuses.

There are some people I read about who can tell the difference. All of them, though, say their voice has to align with scripture. I haven't heard an explanation from a person who isn't scripture oriented. I assume they go on feeling or trust that what they hear may be from god I guess depending on the intensity of it and how personal it is.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Would depend on the understanding of God. Is God a transcended being? Or is he a human being?

I don't know. I don't know the nature of god just how it's described as a being or entity for some people and experience, love, and spiritual awakening for others. Human being, no.

In this case god would probably be an entity if he can do/think/and all of that.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

The word of Kcarf states that God is a conscious being who can act on his own will

Like a separate entity? A ghost?

 

[firedragon]

I don't know. I don't know the nature of god just how it's described as a being or entity for some people and experience, love, and spiritual awakening for others. Human being, no.

In this case god would probably be an entity if he can do/think/and all of that.

Well, there are some who approach the concept of God with out any scripture or institutionalised teachings. That maybe an independent approach. I suppose.

 

[Trailblazer]

How is this cycle then going to ever end?

As I have told you, I believe that the previous cycle of religion ended in 1844 AD and now we are living in a new age.

If God doesn't care about this world anymore and it is simply here to give us a chance to get to a new and better place. Then God should make it impossible or command that people stop having children so the rest of humanity can pass on, right? If we keep getting children then it will never end.

I believe that God does care about this world and the people living in it and that is why God sent Baha'u'llah with a message that contains what will be necessary for humans to build a better world.

This cycle on Earth and everything we do is completely pointless, screw the environment, helping the poor, education etc. nothing of that is needed in order to empty the Earth of people. Medicine and anything healthy ought to be considered a sin, because getting this life over with as fast as possible, should be the highest priority.

As a Baha'i I do not see it that way. This earthly life is important because it is preparation for the afterlife since it is here that we develop our character through everyday living, facing challenges and overcoming them. Also, we need to make this world better for future generations so they can have better opportunities and live happier lives. All of us have to live our lifespan in this world so we should focus on making this world a better place for everyone.

Baha'is are enjoined to live life in this world and try to make this world a better place and not focus on the afterlife. We know there is an afterlife and that heaven will be a better place, but we are not supposed to focus on it since it will come soon enough since this life is very short.