Is the God of the Bible a Saddist?

[sandy whitelinger]

Interestingly, if you look up the definition of "justice", you see concepts like "what is just" and "merited rewards or punishments"."

You will also see that it is based on a sytem of law.

In the context of the current discussion, that brings up an obvious question: Do the folks advocating the Biblical version of justice believe torture--let alone eternal, unthinkably horrible torture--is "just"?

The eternal destiny of the unbelieving is just according to the law of God.

 

[Jose Fly]

Funny how often some Christians gasp in horror when they hear stories of beheadings in Islamic countries, yet will defend to the end the concept of torture by the god they worship.

Who'da thunk so many Christians would be advocates of torture?

 

[Comicaze247]

You're wondering why god doesn't make the world a happier place for everyone (to rephrase it slightly).

Think of god as similar to a parent. Parents want their children to be happy, right? And what makes children happy? Toys and candy! Therefore, a good parent should give their child all the toys and candy they want ... right?

Obviously, if a parent raises their child like that, their child with be sick and spoiled rotten. So the best option for the child might not be the option the child wants the most.

Heck, parents even subject their kids to quite a bit of suffering (school, dental appointments, braces), but in the long run it works out best for the kids.

And even once you become an adult, the unpleasant things you go through are still some of the experiences that lead to the most personal growth.

You're comparing the Almighty to we lowly humans? Isn't that blasphemy!?:cover:

 

[Jose Fly]

Sandy,

I think you've made your position quite clear. You see nothing wrong with eternal, unthinkably horrible torture.

That speaks volumes.

EDIT: Also, could you tell me what "terrorism" means to you?

 

[sandy whitelinger]

So, there is no real reason for being good at the end of the day according to the bible.

Just don't get your timing off.

It's weird that christians seems to spend so much of their time and energy judging everyone for being immoral. It's a moot point.

Yes, it is when it comes to salvation.

 

[sandy whitelinger]

Sandy,

I think you've made your position quite clear. You see nothing wrong with eternal, unthinkably horrible torture.

That speaks volumes.

What I think about it is irrelevant to the issue.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Yes, it is when it comes to salvation.

Is there anything else that's relevant?

 

[sandy whitelinger]

You're comparing the Almighty to we lowly humans? Isn't that blasphemy!?:cover:

"Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things." Romans 1:22-23 KJV

 

[sandy whitelinger]

Is there anything else that's relevant?

Certainly, how one lives their life and treats their fellow man is a central theme of the Bible.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Certainly, how one lives their life and treats their fellow man is a central theme of the Bible.

How is it relevant in any meaningful way though? You are neither rewarded, nor punished, so why bother? A human lifetime is a wisp of a flash of time compared to eternity, so as long as you make it to the afterlife, how is how you spend that life meaningfully relevant?

 

[sandy whitelinger]

How is it relevant in any meaningful way though? You are neither rewarded, nor punished, so why bother? A human lifetime is a wisp of a flash of time compared to eternity, so as long as you make it to the afterlife, how is how you spend that life meaningfully relevant?

There is a whole issue of rewards in heaven (whatever that means), how others see the exercise your faith and how that effects their belief in God's existance, the issue of internal peace that only God can offer to those who believe in Him, among other things. Also at the moment the length of eternity is not always an immediate issue.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

There is a whole issue of rewards in heaven (whatever that means), how others see the exercise your faith and how that effects their belief in God's existance, the issue of internal peace that only God can offer to those who believe in Him, among other things. Also at the moment the length of eternity is not always an immediate issue.

I'm sorry - I don't see how this addresses my question.

 

[Comicaze247]

I do not believe that ANY god is all powerful or all knowing or any of the other 'omni's that are attached to him.

Well, since "God" is technically not male or female or anything, couldn't "He" be omniSEXUAL?

 

[JustWondering]

Sandy Whitelinger,
So YOUR God claims to love us yet inflicts horrible suffering on millions of people everyday. What purpose does this suffering serve? You tell us that your God will throw people in Hell for eternity because they reject him. So I take it he does not love those people? How does someone who is not lying or insane say they love you then inflict horrible suffering and torture on you? For eternity no less. Please explain this to me.

 

[sandy whitelinger]

I'm sorry - I don't see how this addresses my question.

The issue of how one gets to heaven is not based on how one lives their life but how a Christian lives their life has other relevant issues.

 

[sandy whitelinger]

Sandy Whitelinger,
So YOUR God claims to love us yet inflicts horrible suffering on millions of people everyday. What purpose does this suffering serve? You tell us that your God will throw people in Hell for eternity because they reject him. So I take it he does not love those people? How does someone who is not lying or insane say they love you then inflict horrible suffering and torture on you? For eternity no less. Please explain this to me.

First I would have to buy into your scrambled views...I don't.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

The issue of how one gets to heaven is not based on how one lives their life but how a Christian lives their life has other relevant issues.

That's a pretty subjective definition of relevant. And, if someone decides it doesn't matter to them, then it isn't relevant for them.

 

[JustWondering]

First I would have to buy into your scrambled views...I don't.

What scrambled views are those? Enlighten me.

 

[sandy whitelinger]

That's a pretty subjective definition of relevant. And, if someone decides it doesn't matter to them, then it isn't relevant for them.

The Bible finds neither of them subjective or irrelevant. Salvation and sanctification are two major elements of Scripture.

 

[sandy whitelinger]

What scrambled views are those?

Yours.

Enlighten me.

I seriously doubt you are interested. Proverbs 26:4