The Adolescence of God's Children

[1213]

...Otherwise we are just always children. ...

I have understood the Bible so, that children of God, remain always children of God. Similarly, as people remain always children of their parents.

 

[sealchan]

I have understood the Bible so, that children of God, remain always children of God. Similarly, as people remain always children of their parents.

Sure and I assume you would also not extend the metaphor of God as parent to say that like real children grow up to become parents themselves...God's children do not grow up to be gods themselves. But I'm suggesting that the metaphor as you and many others use it is limited and we, the human species, are outgrowing it..."literally". We are at least adolescents of God now and we are finding our way with respect to God like powers that can preempt any act of God by making the salvation or destruction of humanity in humanities hands rather than God's.

This requires a change in how we think with respect to the Bible. We are becoming more like the patriarchs and the prophets in the sense that we can know the truth within ourselves as Jesus has taught. Be guided by it within ourselves such as through the Holy Spirit. Accept or reject it depending on our own will. This means that with time we grow up and become more than children. We are fragments of the will of God in a small, but important way we are also in control of that fragment of will. We know, in other words, something of what we are doing and we are not stuck in the initial ignorance of the Garden of Eden.

This has become plainly evident with the invention of nuclear weapons...we can, in effect, choose to start our own armaggedon and make it counter to any prophecy offered by any spiritual text (assuming it is not so vague to be fairly judged in its accuracy or not). Humanity has more to fear from itself than it does from God. This is the state of development which I dub "adolescent".

 

[1213]

… powers that can preempt any act of God by making the salvation or destruction of humanity in humanities hands rather than God's.

That is very optimistic. I think you are badly wrong about the power of people.

initial ignorance of the Garden of Eden.

I think Garden of Eden was not about ignorance. People were there with God and could have asked anything directly from God, but no, the woman wanted to become like God and choose this hard way to know evil.

This has become plainly evident with the invention of nuclear weapons...we can, in effect, choose to start our own armaggedon and make it counter to any prophecy offered by any spiritual text (assuming it is not so vague to be fairly judged in its accuracy or not). Humanity has more to fear from itself than it does from God. This is the state of development which I dub "adolescent".

But that is only your belief. I don’t think people can do anything to prevent things to happen as it is said in the Bible.

 

[sealchan]

That is very optimistic. I think you are badly wrong about the power of people.

How is this optimistic and bad? Does not humanity have the power to destroy itself by its own will? That seems to me to be self-evident (ask the Japanese). How am I bad in drawing attention to the possibility of nuclear war? Isn't it worse to bury your head in the sand?

I think Garden of Eden was not about ignorance. People were there with God and could have asked anything directly from God, but no, the woman wanted to become like God and choose this hard way to know evil.

Not knowing good from evil, how was Eve to judge her choice before she made it? Why would we not want to become like God? Isn't that the whole point of religion?

But that is only your belief. I don’t think people can do anything to prevent things to happen as it is said in the Bible.

What prophecy within the Bible that points to events after the Bible has actually come true? Neither the second coming nor the apocalypse came when it was predicted and fools continually try again and again to do so. Sure, if you squint hard enough and wait long enough anything anyone has ever predicted will eventually come true...but what fool waits for that?

 

[1213]

Does not humanity have the power to destroy itself by its own will?

In principle yes, but it would not be allowed by God that people destroy whole humanity, therefore it is not possible.

Not knowing good from evil, how was Eve to judge her choice before she made it? Why would we not want to become like God? Isn't that the whole point of religion?

It was not good or bad, it was only matter that has certain consequences. Eve knew what will happen, but she chose the fruit, because she wanted to become like God.

Become like God depends on, what does it mean. For many it seems to be about getting God’s power, to become rulers. And it is interesting how many women seem to have strong lust for power. Power itself is not bad, but the high positions are not meant for those who want to be served, but for those who serve others.

If becoming like God means that person loves as God loves, that I think is good. Usually that doesn’t seem to be the case. People only seem to like the idea of power and that others would serve them.

What prophecy within the Bible that points to events after the Bible has actually come true? Neither the second coming nor the apocalypse came when it was predicted and fools continually try again and again to do so. Sure, if you squint hard enough and wait long enough anything anyone has ever predicted will eventually come true...but what fool waits for that?

Second coming, did happen, when Jesus returned from the death. However, the judgment day should not have happened yet, if we believe what the Bible tells.

Bible has come true for example in that it knew Jews will be scattered and later gathered back.

I will scatter you among the nations, and I will draw out the sword after you: and your land will be a desolation, and your cities shall be a waste.
Leviticus 26:33

Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them; for I am Yahweh their God; but I will for their sake remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God. I am Yahweh.'"
Leviticus 26:44-45
It shall happen, when all these things are come on you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you shall call them to mind among all the nations, where Yahweh your God has driven you, and shall return to Yahweh your God, and shall obey his voice according to all that I command you this day, you and your children, with all your heart, and with all your soul; that then Yahweh your God will turn your captivity, and have compassion on you, and will return and gather you from all the peoples, where Yahweh your God has scattered you. If any of your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of the heavens, from there will Yahweh your God gather you, and from there will he bring you back:
Deuteronomy 30:1-4

I understand that the enemies of truth can’t accept that, but I hope Jews understand that and return back to their God. In them, there is still hope. But I think most atheists and even “Christians” are hopeless hypocrites, who hate the truth.

 

[tayla]

God will need to be patient, but one day, with a lot of effort and a lot of suffering, God's children will be all grown up and be themselves the gods that God raised them up to be.

I don't see much growing up going on. Seems the powerful still exploit the weak, and all are destroying our home planet. Those members of revealed religions and revealed spiritual paths still wish to indoctrinate everyone else. And overpopulation and the end of fossil fuels will likely result in catastrophic civilization collapse.

 

[sealchan]

I don't see much growing up going on. Seems the powerful still exploit the weak, and all are destroying our home planet. Those members of revealed religions and revealed spiritual paths still wish to indoctrinate everyone else. And overpopulation and the end of fossil fuels will likely result in catastrophic civilization collapse.

Yes, it is certainly a matter of interpretation whether humanity is progressing or not. Moving to the brink of nuclear conflict after a global war (WWII) doesn't look good on our "resume".

But perhaps the deeds of the worst of us speak too loudly and drown out the more common daily good deeds of the rest of us.

 

[tayla]

But perhaps the deeds of the worst of us speak too loudly and drown out the more common daily good deeds of the rest of us.

Yes perhaps. Hopefully it won't be by literal drowning. With water or some other liquid.