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Merciful God?
- Thread starter davfra
- Start date
Kilgore Trout
Misanthropic Humanist
I suggest leaving all of the disbieving to the experts.
<yawn>
Oh goodie ... yet another "you're God is a meanie" thread.
</yawn>
Yeah, I know.:sleep:
RJ50
Active Member
A psychopath is what I have in mind!
Breathe
Hostis humani generis
That's nice.
It's your mind. Waste it howsoever you wish. :kissbette
Sir Doom
Cooler than most of you
Breathe
Hostis humani generis
Okay, I'll try and put something useful up since I feel like I didn't contribute much to the conversation. I know I'm accepting bait, here (probably to the annoyance of Jay ), but, what the hell, I'll have a quick try.
To the OP, try chewing upon this to get a better idea of the mentality of
It was fairly common for societies to view families, and the tribe, as one organic unit: the actions of the family would affect the children (and they often do in the modern world, too: grow up in a poor household, you're unlikely to "make it big" in most societies, and still going to have to put out more to get the same opportunities as others) and the tribe as a whole, so at a guess, in the tribal mindset, this made sense and wasn't anything unusual. It does say, as well, that he will reward to the thousandth generation.
These could, of course, merely be hyperboles to explain how God is extremely generous, but is also just, within the tribal mindset, and not as actual figures of rewards or punishments of generations.
Maybe, anyway. Perhaps one of our Jewish members could correct me.
), but, what the hell, I'll have a quick try.To the OP, try chewing upon this to get a better idea of the mentality of
Visiting the guilt of the parents upon the children: God does not punish the idolater alone, but his descendants as well, just as He rewards descendants for their ancestors' loyalty and obedience. This view of divine retribution as extending to descendants corresponds to the concept of solidarity in ancient societies, especially those with a tribal background, like Israel. It is stated most starkly in their own lifetimes. This indicated that the punishment of descendants is intended to be as a deterrent to, and punishment of, their ancestors, not a transfer of guilt to the descendants in their own right.
- excerpt of commentary from the Jewish Study Bible
It was fairly common for societies to view families, and the tribe, as one organic unit: the actions of the family would affect the children (and they often do in the modern world, too: grow up in a poor household, you're unlikely to "make it big" in most societies, and still going to have to put out more to get the same opportunities as others) and the tribe as a whole, so at a guess, in the tribal mindset, this made sense and wasn't anything unusual. It does say, as well, that he will reward to the thousandth generation.
These could, of course, merely be hyperboles to explain how God is extremely generous, but is also just, within the tribal mindset, and not as actual figures of rewards or punishments of generations.
Maybe, anyway. Perhaps one of our Jewish members could correct me.
I know I'm accepting bait, here (probably to the annoyance of Jay
There is a lot that could be written about the verse. None of it would do any good.
"Oh goodie ... yet another "you're God is a meanie" thread."
I'm new on here and I was under the impression that this was a forum to discuss seriously religous questions.
Comments like the above obviously contradict this idea. For the record, I'm an agnostic looking for answers.
Not sure if this is the right place now.
I contribute to a football forum and get more sensible answers than the above.
'I am a jealous God' can only be interpretid one way.
I'm new on here and I was under the impression that this was a forum to discuss seriously religous questions.
Comments like the above obviously contradict this idea. For the record, I'm an agnostic looking for answers.
Not sure if this is the right place now.
I contribute to a football forum and get more sensible answers than the above.
'I am a jealous God' can only be interpretid one way.
Okay, I'll try and put something useful up since I feel like I didn't contribute much to the conversation. I know I'm accepting bait, here (probably to the annoyance of Jay
To the OP, try chewing upon this to get a better idea of the mentality of
Visiting the guilt of the parents upon the children: God does not punish the idolater alone, but his descendants as well, just as He rewards descendants for their ancestors' loyalty and obedience. This view of divine retribution as extending to descendants corresponds to the concept of solidarity in ancient societies, especially those with a tribal background, like Israel. It is stated most starkly in their own lifetimes. This indicated that the punishment of descendants is intended to be as a deterrent to, and punishment of, their ancestors, not a transfer of guilt to the descendants in their own right.
- excerpt of commentary from the Jewish Study Bible
And this explains the mindset of humans, especially during that era, and why they might have written this or explained their God in this way. But if we think of this, not as literature, but as an accurate description of the perfect and timeless God, the explanation doesn't quite satisfy.It was fairly common for societies to view families, and the tribe, as one organic unit: the actions of the family would affect the children (and they often do in the modern world, too: grow up in a poor household, you're unlikely to "make it big" in most societies, and still going to have to put out more to get the same opportunities as others) and the tribe as a whole, so at a guess, in the tribal mindset, this made sense and wasn't anything unusual. It does say, as well, that he will reward to the thousandth generation.
These could, of course, merely be hyperboles to explain how God is extremely generous, but is also just, within the tribal mindset, and not as actual figures of rewards or punishments of generations.
Maybe, anyway. Perhaps one of our Jewish members could correct me.
Either we have a God who changes how he punishes people, and thus the morality of inflicting punishment upon innocents, based upon how people think at various times, or we have a God who thinks it is good and moral to treat families and tribes as one organic unit, and inflict punishment upon innocent people.
Breathe
Hostis humani generis
Or a hyperbole.
Which brings us back to literature. Calling it a hyperbole would imply that this isn't an accurate description of God.
Breathe
Hostis humani generis
That's fine by me; I believe anthromorphism is there for our earlier understandings, but we shouldn't mistake the map for the terrain.
I agree.
no-body
Well-Known Member
That seems simplistic. God is not a human being so I can see that being interpreted in many different ways. If you are looking at the Christian fundamentalist perspective sure, but at least from a Jewish angle you will get a more cerebral thought out response.
I have a bit of a different problem than the one you have presented here.
Keeping the above verse in mind, we also read in the OT:
Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall children be put to death for their fathers; a person shall be put to death for his own sin."
Deut 24: 16
Ok, so which is it?
no-body
Well-Known Member
That seems simple enough, that is speaking of human law not God's law. It really depends on how you interpret it to me the OP quotes are a warning about karma and how far actions you take effect things.