The Christian god: slave driver or kind shepard ?

[ChristineES]

I don't see God as a slave driver. Sure, we all have to work for what we know, what we want, what we need, and so on. If we didn't do it ourselves, we would have no reason at all to live. I'd rather learn things on my own then have knowledge just "emptied" into my head. I value things more if I earn them rather than just have them always handed to me. I am pretty sure that is the same for most of us.
Being a "Good Shepherd" might be misconstrued, even a good shepherd doesn't pick grass for a sheep and hand feed them, he or she has the sheep find their own grass and might guide them towards it. Even a good shepherd doesn't pick up a able-bodied sheep and carry it around, he or she will let it walk on it's own.

 

[nazz]

Contrary to what other religions claim. But hey, if that's belief, so be it.

I'd like to add that I believe God is doing everything God can to lessen suffering.

 

[Gudrun]

If he cant end the suffering of the beings he was responsible for creating, he is not powerful enough to be the one true god of everything and our heavenly father. I don't care if he "loves" us. He causes us all to suffer because he couldnt plan well enough. And then acts all high and mighty as if he actually deserves to. He's no more than a pompous idiotic bully.

 

[I.S.L.A.M617]

I'll take option C. An artificial figurehead used by slave drivers masquerading as kind shepherds.

 

[Gudrun]

I like option C too

 

[Brynhild]

As for me, when I started getting into the christian faith, I had so much fear of god and it caused horrible mental anguish that lasted for years. So I found a religion that works for me and doesnt cause me such pain. Because of this I want nothing to do with god and I would have to go with slavedriver rather than sheppard.

 

[nazz]

As for me, when I started getting into the christian faith, I had so much fear of god and it caused horrible mental anguish that lasted for years. So I found a religion that works for me and doesnt cause me such pain. Because of this I want nothing to do with god and I would have to go with slavedriver rather than sheppard.

One of the gods of the Bible is something to fear.

 

[ChristineES]

It's hard for me to understand. Since I became a Christian, I have not had any fear of God whatsoever.

 

[FranklinMichaelV.3]

It's hard for me to understand. Since I became a Christian, I have not had any fear of God whatsoever.

I grew up around the Fire and Brimstone motif...took me awhile to move away from the Fear of God idea.

 

[ChristineES]

I grew up around the Fire and Brimstone motif...took me awhile to move away from the Fear of God idea.

I think it's because that I became a Christian long before I joined any Church or heard a lot of preachers (I had only heard a couple and they didn't speak of hell or demons or whatever).

 

[nazz]

It's hard for me to understand. Since I became a Christian, I have not had any fear of God whatsoever.

This is true for me as well.

 

[FranklinMichaelV.3]

I think it's because that I became a Christian long before I joined any Church or heard a lot of preachers (I had only heard a couple and they didn't speak of hell or demons or whatever).

That would do it. It's a lot harder to shake as a child.

It wasn't until I started learning about the attributes that were put into God did I start to really develop an idea of what God may be.

 

[Brynhild]

I refuse to worship a god who rules by fear. It's wrong. So many Christians only go along with the faith because they fear punishment and hell. They just go through the motions to escape what they fear.

 

[FranklinMichaelV.3]

I refuse to worship a god who rules by fear. It's wrong. So many Christians only go along with the faith because they fear punishment and hell. They just go through the motions to escape what they fear.

Some do.

But not all.

It's a diverse religion, the ones who do fear tend to make the loudest noise.

 

[ChristineES]

I refuse to worship a god who rules by fear. It's wrong. So many Christians only go along with the faith because they fear punishment and hell. They just go through the motions to escape what they fear.

While I have to admit there are a few people who follow the faith out of fear, I also know that most of them do not. As has already been pointed out, Christianity is a very diverse type of religion/faith, as are most faiths and religions.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Hoffman has a wonderful discussion about how misapprehend the biblical 'shepherd.'

 

[sojourner]

I refuse to worship a god who rules by fear. It's wrong. So many Christians only go along with the faith because they fear punishment and hell. They just go through the motions to escape what they fear.

What I've always failed to understand is why people feel a need to fear God? I was always raised to know that God is loving and good.

 

[Ashoka]

What I've always failed to understand is why people feel a need to fear God? I was always raised to know that God is loving and good.

That's what I thought too lol! God is love, and that is that. No strings attached.