God Is Not A Tolerant God

[Sunstone]

Because the "God" character is a homicidal control-freak who can't let go of a grudge.

Besides which, he has some really bad personality flaws too.

 

[doppelganger]

Cuz we have "free will"

Or because "He" is a homicidal control-freak who can't let go of a grudge, and that renders "Him" pretty unlovable. So he needed to be redeemed.

They're desperate for answers.

"He only hits me because he loves me" is certainly an answer.

 

[sandy whitelinger]

Bigot
"a prejudiced person who is intolerant of any opinions differing from his own"

Wouldn't you say that fits the God of the Bible quite well?

Where did that definition come from? Merriam Webster defines a bigot as:

"a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices..."

There is no mention of prejudice. Is this your own addition?

In repsct to Merriam's definition, then, yes, God could be bigoted. It come from being absolutely correct in all things and therefore intolerant of wrong "opinions." Yet God's view of things is not an "opinion" per se but truth.

Now for the second half of the definition from Merriams:

"one who regards or treats the members of a group (as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance."

In regards to hatred God does not hate people He loves them ie: "God so loved the world..." World in this case refers to all people.

As far as being intolerant, yes, God is intolerant, I've not denied that. What He is intolerant of though is sin and not groups of people as a generic whole.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

I agree with much of this...but I do see the Bible as containing many spiritual truths and guidelines to reaching the Almighty's heart. I think if one goes through life not thinking about God then they are largley not going to feel His influence. Why? Because those who seek God must first believe that He exists, and secondly must believe that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. So, once a human being excercises faith in God then they have unlocked the door, so to speak, for God to enter in and improve their lives as He sees fit. God rewards our faith in Him. I believe that those who believe and serve God can expect in general to be blessed people--and this doesn't always mean money (althought it can). I think God wants His servants blessed so that others will look at us and want what we have... :angel2:

The Holy Spirit works with in all of us... It is us to accept the fact... It is up to us to let our light shine.
God did not come to Jesus aid when he was man... he had to make his own way... what he did he did through God's power.
The same is true for us... The Holy Spirit will Guide us and God will give us strength...
But the impetus has to come from us.
Nothing we do is with out effort or even pain... we must show we are worthy of Jesus sacrifice.
God is not counting the score of our converts... it is not a game... with sides and winners and losers. he will treat us all the same... when the time comes and our sins are shorn away the strength of our faith will show in the light of our souls.
This is Salvation.

 

[LoveNeverFails]

The Holy Spirit works with in all of us... It is us to accept the fact... It is up to us to let our light shine.
God did not come to Jesus aid when he was man... he had to make his own way... what he did he did through God's power.
The same is true for us... The Holy Spirit will Guide us and God will give us strength...
But the impetus has to come from us.
Nothing we do is with out effort or even pain... we must show we are worthy of Jesus sacrifice.
God is not counting the score of our converts... it is not a game... with sides and winners and losers. he will treat us all the same... when the time comes and our sins are shorn away the strength of our faith will show in the light of our souls.
This is Salvation.

Do you believe in Universal Salvation?

 

[Darkness]

Maybe coming from a finite human it would seem that way. From my understanding of the God of the bible, those that put their trust in him in all circumstances end up coming out on top. I've found that in my own life as well. Suppose for a second that the Christian God is the one who created the heavens and the earth. Why would our opinions have any influence over God's decision making?

Realize that you are a finite human telling me what is the transcendent reality. I do not know about you, but I do not base my morality on if we come out on top or not. That is why I find the Fall of Lucifer so appealing. In one Lucifer mythos, Lucifer risks everything and rebels against God, because He knows it is the right thing to do. Lucifer is not afraid to stand up for the right thing, even if it means a life of misery or Eternal death.

Are we as finite specks of dust in this sliver of time supposed to know any better than God?

Who is to say a vastly superior being is vastly more moral?

Where did that definition come from? Merriam Webster defines a bigot as:

"a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices..."

There is no mention of prejudice. Is this your own addition?

It is from Dictionary.com

Let's just drop this Sandy. It is turning into a semantic battle and that is useless.

All I ask is that you answer me this, Do you believe women should be subject to men? That is all I really need to know. What word we use to describe it is meaningless.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Do you believe in Universal Salvation?

As I understand it, YES
As many others understand it, NO.

As I have explained in previous posts...
I believe Our souls all return to God

As nothing that is not perfect can exist in the presence of God
Our sins and memories are shorn from our souls,
Those that have lived a life full of sin will have very little of self left
Their very souls will have been dimmed.
Those that have attempted to follow Christ's teachings and have repented their sins,
will have souls that shine far brighter in the presence of God.
However as our souls are of God all will come back to his presence.

It is this sheering away of sin that we call the torment of hell.
It is the returning to God that we call Salvation.
For many it is a very small S...

You can see I am certainly not a Calvinist. Nor even Lutheran.

 

[sandy whitelinger]

It is from Dictionary.com

Let's just drop this Sandy. It is turning into a semantic battle and that is useless.

All I ask is that you answer me this, Do you believe women should be subject to men? That is all I really need to know. What word we use to describe it is meaningless.

I'm beginning to understand. You wish to demean God by using verbal slurs. When the debate begins and you fail in your slurs by the incorrect usage of said slurs you then try another one. When that fails you change the subject. You have gone to wanting to call God a mysogynist. When that failed you changed to calling God a bigot. When that was about to fail then you wished to change the subject to my views on women.

You obviously don't care to debate in any meaningful manner and wish to cease without further embarrassment to yourself. Should you wish to debate in a meaningful manner then definate parameters must be established, ie. which definitions of words will be used, which definite subject will be debated, and such like. You seem to not care to do this, I suppose because the light of truth destroys your misperceptions.

I can understand how definite meanings can skew you perceptions and cause you to try your blasphemies on someone more gullible.


G'day.

 

[Darkness]

You obviously don't care to debate in any meaningful manner and wish to cease without further embarrassment to yourself. Should you wish to debate in a meaningful manner then definate parameters must be established, ie. which definitions of words will be used, which definite subject will be debated, and such like. You seem to not care to do this, I suppose because the light of truth destroys your misperceptions.

"Oh, hear the words of Beelzebub, the Lord of the Flies!"

I have tried to define parameters but everytime I give you a set of parameters you reject it. I do not know what you want from me!

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Ireland only Just won over Georgia
The home nations are all having trouble.
Georgia were magnificent.
They only have 500 players in the country and only 8 rugby pitches. They make up for it in heart and strength, a simple but skilful plan.
They are paid £40 per week.

 

[LoveNeverFails]

As I understand it, YES
As many others understand it, NO.

As I have explained in previous posts...
I believe Our souls all return to God

As nothing that is not perfect can exist in the presence of God
Our sins and memories are shorn from our souls,
Those that have lived a life full of sin will have very little of self left
Their very souls will have been dimmed.
Those that have attempted to follow Christ's teachings and have repented their sins,
will have souls that shine far brighter in the presence of God.
However as our souls are of God all will come back to his presence.

It is this sheering away of sin that we call the torment of hell.
It is the returning to God that we call Salvation.
For many it is a very small S...

You can see I am certainly not a Calvinist. Nor even Lutheran.

Why, that's exactly what I believe, I just have never quite put it like that!:angel2::yes: With the exception of losing our memories...or perhaps just losing the bad ones, LOL...

 

[sandy whitelinger]

"Oh, hear the words of Beelzebub, the Lord of the Flies!"

I have tried to define parameters but everytime I give you a set of parameters you reject it. I do not know what you want from me!

Can we start with one subject and the correct usage of words?

Or perhaps we could go back to your post #151 where you referred to God as a mysoginist and wanted scripture to disprove it. I circumvented the whole process by pointed out that by the correct usage of the word your point was meaningless.

You then proceeded to change the subject.

Should you wish to go back even further I pointed out that your view of God came from an incomplete view of scripture. If you remember I pointed out that you err not knowing scripture nor the power of God. I will admit that I was erroneous in that because you really don't even seem to know the correct meaning of the words you use.

My bad!

 

[Darkness]

Can we start with one subject and the correct usage of words?

What is the correct usage of misogyny? You seem to want to use the strict dictionary definition, which is simply "the hatred of women," and then you cry how I am twisting everything and trying to slur God. I think misogyny could be used as a broader term. Wikipedia says "demanding silence from a woman" is misogyny. That is exactly what is demanded from the Bible.

Consider the word Existentialism:

"a chiefly 20th century philosophical movement embracing diverse doctrines but centering on analysis of individual existence in an unfathomable universe and the plight of the individual who must assume ultimate responsibility for acts of free will without any certain knowledge of what is right or wrong or good or bad"

Webster's Dictionary completely ignores the central focus of Existentialism, which is the creation of meaning in a "mundane" Universe.

 

[sandy whitelinger]

What is the correct usage of misogyny? You seem to want to use the strict dictionary definition, which is simply "the hatred of women," ...

Yes, the correct definition of words allows for the correct usage of them and the clearer exchange of ideas. I'm going to assume then that you can't do that.

 

[Ringer]

I do not know about you, but I do not base my morality on if we come out on top or not.

And neither do I base my morality on such.

Who is to say a vastly superior being is vastly more moral?

The bible if you are a Christian. Why is it that you are able to use the bible to build a case for a cruel, unjust, intolerant and venegful God yet fail to see or acknowledge the fact that the bible tells us God is love and does not sin like man does? As I have said before and also I believe Sandy would agree with, you seem to be out on your own personal vendetta against the Christian God with no intent of of truely understanding the circumstances in which you think proves your point. I may not understand everything God does in certain circumstances but I know the characteristics of God that are shown from the bible. When you understand the knowable aspects of God's character, it forces you to look at the situations that you comtempt for from a different POV.

 

[Darkness]

Yes, the correct definition of words allows for the correct usage of them and the clearer exchange of ideas. I'm going to assume then that you can't do that.

Working within your strict definition of misogyny, I cannot prove that God is a misogynist. I am not admitting defeat. We are simply at a fundamental difference on what is and is not acceptable.

Why is it that you are able to use the bible to build a case for a cruel, unjust, intolerant and venegful God yet fail to see or acknowledge the fact that the bible tells us God is love and does not sin like man does?

I will tell you why that is. The Bible merely states that God is Love and that He does not Sin. That is it! I do not see any great demonstrations of love (I know you will say Jesus' Death on the Cross, but that does not stand up to scrutiny) or sinless behavior. I can show you places where God commits hateful acts, such as an Eternal Hell or ordering the death of everyone in a village. It is solid evidence condemning God.

As I have said before and also I believe Sandy would agree with, you seem to be out on your own personal vendetta against the Christian God with no intent of of truely understanding the circumstances in which you think proves your point. I may not understand everything God does in certain circumstances but I know the characteristics of God that are shown from the bible. When you understand the knowable aspects of God's character, it forces you to look at the situations that you comtempt for from a different POV.

I see God slaughtering innocent women and children. I see God punishing many people for one man's disobedience. I see God persecuting anyone who disagrees with Him. I read everything you read, and yet where I see insane evil and raging psychopathy, you see Love and Holiness.

If you want further insight into my way of thinking, read In Praise of the Devil.

 

[sandy whitelinger]

Working within your strict definition of misogyny, I cannot prove that God is a misogynist. I am not admitting defeat. We are simply at a fundamental difference on what is and is not acceptable.

It only says something about your intentions when you use your own definitions to try and use pejoratives against God. By that method you can say anything you want about anybody or anything and only be right in your own mind. For example not admitting defeat when trying to label God a misogynist and a bigot with wrong definitions doesn't make you right ...only obstinately ignorant.

 

[Darkness]

It only says something about your intentions when you use your own definitions to try and use pejoratives against God. By that method you can say anything you want about anybody or anything and only be right in your own mind. For example not admitting defeat when trying to label God a misogynist and a bigot with wrong definitions doesn't make you right ...only obstinately ignorant.

How much do you have to spin my words? I never wanted to use my own private definition! I used a different definition then is acceptable within your narrow definition of words. I have shown an example from Wikipedia that my choice of definition is acceptable and right, but you won't hear it. What more can I do?