Does God Care What We Believe?

[Mister Emu]

How could anyone but you distinguish between your "direct experience" and a delusion?

They couldn't and technically neither can I. I didn't say my experience was a particularly good reason for someone else to believe anything about God.

Cries of delusion or "you want to believe it" are impotent; I've had the experience of direct contact with the divine and that is solid reason for me to believe He exists in the way experienced.

 

[Thief]

Apart from scripture, what logical reason is there that God would have an interest in what we believe?

I believe the peace of heaven is guarded
not all are allowed to enter

whatever we do or say....we do so because
we thought we should
or we felt like it

to be free in heaven.....we must keep the peace

what you think and feel will be the pivot point

 

[Tony L Smith]

Apart from scripture, what logical reason is there that God would have an interest in what we believe?

If he is Father, and we can create hell or heaven on earth while we are here, and if he is at least as caring as we are then yes.

 

[Thief]

So, where does belief fit in?

and the angelic will ask....
What do you believe?

followed by....
Who told you that?!!!!
and why did you believe it?

 

[columbus]

They couldn't and technically neither can I. I didn't say my experience was a particularly good reason for someone else to believe anything about God.

So, for people who have not had your particular experience, it would be irrational to believe in your God image?
That apparently includes about 99% of people. Even other people who identify with the same label you do usually disagree with you about something important or another.

Why would I, or anybody, take your opinions on the subject seriously? Or any similar subject, given that your beliefs are based on evidence indistinguishable from delusion?
For instance, you and I agree that elective abortions are bad. But if that opinion is only based on your "direct experience", we don't have much in common.
Tom

 

[Mister Emu]

So, for people who have not had your particular experience, it would be irrational to believe in your God image?

Well I can't speak for anyone who might share my ideas on God as to their reasons.

Why would I, or anybody, take your opinions on the subject seriously?

Why would you think I care in the slightest?

If you refuse to take my opinions seriously because I've had a personal experience with what I call God, I'll just "shake the dust off my feet" and move on.

For instance, you and I agree that elective abortions are bad. But if that opinion is only based on your "direct experience"

I'm unsure of where this arose, I've made a number of arguments against abortion and none rely upon my experiences with divinity.

 

[james bond]

Both atheism and evolution affect our behavior for the worst. We want ultimate government power with atheism and Communism. It leads to mass killings and genocide by humans. Then we have evolution which purports there is no God, so we can do what we want and that is to pursue Hollywood values.

 

[omega2xx]

Flood, Egypt's firstborn sons, [

In both of these case the people were warned and could have avoided what happened. Therefore it was not an indulgence of God.

Numbers 31, entire villages/cities, etc.

Punishment for sin is not an indulgence either.

Ezk 33:11 - Say to them, "As I live!" declares the Lord God, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked , but rather that the wicked turn from his ways and live...

I Tim 2:3-4 - This is good in the sight of God our Savior. who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

 

[Kenny]

Apart from scripture, what logical reason is there that God would have an interest in what we believe?

Interesting question... perhaps because what one believes determines his direction and outcome? Do not all parents try to instill good beliefs into their children that they can make good decisions?

I didn't answer the two options on the survey as the options are two restrictive. IMO

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

We have no Idea at all how or what God Thinks.

It is reasonable to think that he did not go to all the trouble to create this universe, for us to use this world and its flora and fauna, for a waste dump or for target practice.

Any sort of God, Good or Evil, would not want his creation destroyed by others.

All our actions should fit with this premise. If only for self preservation.

 

[Thief]

We have no Idea at all how or what God Thinks.

It is reasonable to think that he did not go to all the trouble to create this universe, for us to use this world and its flora and fauna, for a waste dump or for target practice.

Any sort of God, Good or Evil, would not want his creation destroyed by others.

All our actions should fit with this premise. If only for self preservation.

ah yes....but God gave Man dominion.....

ooops

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

ah yes....but God gave Man dominion.....

ooops

If I give you something of mine to look after... I would not expect you to do your best to destroy it.
God would probably be equally upset.

For most of the worlds existence we have not had dominion. There is little likelihood that we will continue to do so either.
The insect world could lay claim to dominion rather more than us.

 

[viole]

Post the verse that God indulges in killing children.

Well, 2 Kings 2:24 comes to mind.

Not to count all the orders to kill women and children. True, maybe He did not kill them personally, but I guess Hitler did not kill personally anybody, either.

The same with angels dispatched to kill first borns. And the indiscriminate massacre of the flood.

Yes, Scripture does indeed tells us a lot about the Guy you worship.

Ciao

- viole

 

[Amadeus27]

I have to believe that at least the majority of religious people don't think that believing things without question is necessary in God's eyes. It just seems so ludicrous.

Without question? Of course, everyone, even the most earnest of believers [if they are also honest] will have and admit to having questions. What is needed that too many believing Christians do not have is the ability to hear what God is saying to their hearts.

Unbelievers hear little from God and often if not usually reject and/or misunderstand what they do hear. For them [the unbelievers] while they have time and opportunity that may be OK until time runs out for them.

For believers, if they really are believers, they must recognize the Voice of God. This is their Way to Him. Abraham and Isaac and Jacob had no written scripture, but they according the scriptures [which you don't want us to use here] they did hear from God. They heard His voice, whatever that meant to them. God will be understood by anyone who approaches Him properly.

So does He care? Why would He bother to speak as He does if He did not?

I hear His voice, but at times I quench the Spirit, His Spirit, and I get into trouble with Him. Does He care? If He did not I would not received additional chances.

Give God the glory!

 

[Amadeus27]

But, there is no way to know what message that people claim to be from God is actually from God. So, why would God expect us to believe any of them?

No way to know! To an unbeliever without a hunger and thirst for something better, this is so. For a person who is hungry and thirsty there is certainly is a Way. Loving God and serving God is not science, at least not science as most people are likely to see science.

 

[Amadeus27]

Apart from Scripture we don't know anything for sure about God.

But without the quickening of scripture in us, even the scripture tells us nothing for certain. Because our hearts were open, a glimmer was seen and we moved toward the Light. Then we used what we already had [from God] in order to be given more and then our burden to move closer increased.

 

[Thief]

If I give you something of mine to look after... I would not expect you to do your best to destroy it.
God would probably be equally upset.

For most of the worlds existence we have not had dominion. There is little likelihood that we will continue to do so either.
The insect world could lay claim to dominion rather more than us.

nay.....I do believe Man has been given dominion

and God cares what we believe?

 

[leibowde84]

I take your point, and likewise we want the best for our children, for them to do what's best for themselves right? But we also want to know them, we want to share a two way relationship, reciprocal love- not just follow their lives on facebook! wouldn't you agree? Why would God feel any different about his children?

If God's children don't believe he exists, that's on God. God could easily choose to reveal himself with absolute clarity. So, since he obviously doesn't to some, he shouldn't judge them for it. Sure, I bet he would prefer it, but the question is whether he would judge them.

 

[Thief]

If God's children don't believe he exists, that's on God. God could easily choose to reveal himself with absolute clarity. So, since he obviously doesn't to some, he shouldn't judge them for it. Sure, I bet he would prefer it, but the question is whether he would judge them.

and it is written.....ye have the scripture and the prophets

 

[leibowde84]

Questioning and disbelieving in G-d are natural human proclivities, the Torah is chock full of such things. G-d doesn't punish man for that. Having these thoughts doesn't break any of G-d's laws.

A belief in G-d gives one an avenue to following G-d's teachings, but anyone can do good actions without having a belief in G-d. Indeed the word 'good' is defined as doing things in accordance with G-d's laws.

In Judaism, actions are the only measurable things in G-d's 'eyes'. It is a tenet of Judaism that anyone can get to Heaven, no matter their beliefs. That's why we don't say that a person needs to be Jewish to get to Heaven. Everyone goes to Heaven eventually.

I thought there wasn't actually a heaven in Judaism.