Theists: How do you determine that God is not a malevolent being?

[Grandliseur]

I've read the bible, and I assuredly disagree.

The thing about christians is that they tend to view their god through rose colored glasses; he can do no wrong.

I know many think so; and, I know why. Anyway, I just edited my post and included one other deity, a real time deity of the past. Are Christians behaving in this manner? Or, is the Christian message not to do harm?!

 

[Grandliseur]

Except for pretty much anything in the Old Testament.

At least you got humor. Kindly read my post again, I just edited it. Are Christians really giving you a message of violence or of empathy for the needy, etc.?!

 

[Mister Silver]

I know many thinks so; and, I know why. Anyway, I just edited my post and included one other deity, a real time deity of the past. Are Christians behaving in this manner? Or, is the Christian message not to do harm?!

Except that I perceive it as mankind's personality reflecting in the deities created by man.

 

[sayak83]

I do not intent to devote a lot of time on this, but there are many fictional stories by good authors in which we have multiple kinds of gods, very entertaining. R. A. Salvatore writes some of these, good reading.

The dark elves of his story line have an evil god. It is interesting to read about the kind of society that he has created based on worship of this deity.
The difference between a malevolent deity and benevolent are readily discerned.

Assuredly, the Christian God is benevolent.
--
Edit:
The Viking gods had a dark streak in their makeup. It seems that only the ones dying on the battlefield were permitted in Valhalla. As could be seen from the behavior of the Vikings, this affected their fierceness severely, kind of the deity in Mr. Salvatore's books.

Thus, it seems unavoidable for a people's deity not to affect the personality of the society that worships this deity.

The vikings where far less fierce than the Spanish army that decimated American civilizations.

 

[sayak83]

At least you got humor. Kindly read my post again, I just edited it. Are Christians really giving you a message of violence or of empathy for the needy, etc.?!

Violence. See for example, America and its gun culture.

 

[osgart]

godtalk is very very frustrating.

isn't the inaction and silence deafening when it comes to God.

rationalizations per second rps's must be quite high in the mind of the believer.

well, yanno, there's a reason for it all!

drives me to tears, trying to reason a God. I've tried it.

any God.

The God.

instant justice! delayed justice! war unpreventable! the need to suffer evil!
God is using it all to work all things out!
a God of limitations, though omnipotent.

enduring his own wrath. Satan's world, and power rule over it, blame Satan. every tragedy, every evil, a reason for it.

I mean wow.

 

[Mister Silver]

godtalk is very very frustrating.

isn't the inaction and silence deafening when it comes to God.

rationalizations per second rps's must be quite high in the mind of the believer.

well, yanno, there's a reason for it all!

drives me to tears, trying to reason a God. I've tried it.

any God.

The God.

instant justice! delayed justice! war unpreventable! the need to suffer evil!
God is using it all to work all things out!
a God of limitations, though omnipotent.

enduring his own wrath. Satan's world, and power rule over it, blame Satan. every tragedy, every evil, a reason for it.

I mean wow.

The problem lies in man creating excuses for a being that should be able to prove itself without human intervention. If there was such a thing as god, there would be no need for man to constantly defend him as though god couldn't defend himself.

 

[Grandliseur]

reflecting in the deities created by man

That is the materialistic universe paradigm speaking. Yet, many people around the world communicate with their deities - direct forth and back communication. Some witchcraft practices are able to at times to kill at a distance without using physical weaponry.

The idea that all gods, deities are simply phantasms of the mind is - a delusion of the western philosophy, mainly supported by atheists, or materialists. A huge number of people have spiritual experiences that cannot be explained by means of materialism. (I am not referring to anything Christian here)

 

[Grandliseur]

The vikings where far less fierce than the Spanish army that decimated American civilizations.

But, give them credit for trying! Don't you know the golden rule! He who has the gold, rules. The Spanish thought nothing of killing others for power or gold.

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

At least you got humor. Kindly read my post again, I just edited it. Are Christians really giving you a message of violence or of empathy for the needy, etc.?!

Yes I noticed your pot-shot. The subject of question is not Christians, grandliseur. As quoted, it is your god, who you claim is "surely benevolent". Except for the time that he regretted making the world because everyone was using the free will that he gave them so he killed everyone. And then when he robbed the Pharaoh of his free will to make a point, killing hundreds. And then when he got ticked off at the Hebrews and forced them to wander the desert for 40 years. And then when he waged war on several nations. Oh, and when he completely obliterated two cities that he didn't like. Then also when he came to the beckoned call of a prophet and mauled a group of children with bears. Also when he permitted Lot to be tortured just to see how much he loved him.

I mean, I could go on.

The Viking gods had a dark streak in their makeup. It seems that only the ones dying on the battlefield were permitted in Valhalla.

Yes, the honored dead are chosen from among the slain to reside in either Valhalla or Sessrúmnir. No different, really, than the lofty place in heaven that those who die as martyrs to your Christ get.

As could be seen from the behavior of the Vikings, this affected their fierceness severely, kind of the deity in Mr. Salvatore's books.

Norse wisdoms and poems clearly advise against throwing one's life away needlessly, such reckless endeavors were not deaths of honor. Odin far from demands bloodlust and brutality, instead advising wariness and hospitality. In fact, Norse cultures were remarkably diverse for that time period, with port cities hosting world markets that even gave venue to Muslim and Asian traders.

Thus, it seems unavoidable for a people's deity not to affect the personality of the society that worships this deity.

So how then, do you justify the wars against Europe under your god's name as his kingdom spread further north with blood and fire?

 

[Mister Silver]

That is the materialistic universe paradigm speaking. Yet, many people around the world communicate with their deities - direct forth and back communication.

Wow, I wonder how many of them would benefit from a visit to a mental health institution.

The idea that all gods, deities are simply phantasms of the mind is - a delusion of the western philosophy, mainly supported by atheists, or materialists. A huge number of people have spiritual experiences that cannot be explained by means of materialism. (I am not referring to anything Christian here)

If there was any evidence that any deity existed, everyone would believe. In fact, there would no longer be any need for faith. The fact that religious skepticism is a reality proves that religious thought leaves much to be desired in accordance with logic.

 

[Grandliseur]

Violence. See for example, America and its gun culture.

The US was born in the fires of violence. It keeps existing through violence. It cannot be understood by many other cultures. If you were to live in Japan for a few months, you would find that though there is crime to some degree, in most places women and men, the young, can go about, walking, etc., unmolested in many cities, without any fear, and most of the time with many kind people, kind words.

This thing with home invasions, the game of hitting people unconscious, shooting from cars, etc. - shows a satanic society the like of which is hard to find anywhere else. Though, I am sure some places come close.

 

[sayak83]

But, give them credit for trying! Don't you know the golden rule! He who has the gold, rules. The Spanish thought nothing of killing others for power or gold.

And how did the American colonists treat the Indians? Your attempt at showing Christian beliefs spurring better behavior than Pagan beliefs is not working yet.

 

[sayak83]

The US was born in the fires of violence. It keeps existing through violence. It cannot be understood by many other cultures. If you were to live in Japan for a few months, you would find that though there is crime to some degree, in most places women and men, the young, can go about, walking, etc., unmolested in many cities, without any fear, and most of the time with many kind people, kind words.

This thing with home invasions, the game of hitting people unconscious, shooting from cars, etc. - shows a satanic society the like of which is hard to find anywhere else. Though, I am sure some places come close.

Well Japan is not Christian. Whatever point you were trying to make, seems to have been lost along the way.

 

[Jumi]

It means chaos, but the solar system isn't chaos.

You think that scientific natural laws shouldn't exist without God and we shouldn't believe in science without agreeing with you.

That was history, what about today?

Probability. It will strike again, hundreds of times.

But if that stone flied and took one path and kept rotating then you have to think how that happened.

The galaxy doesn't seem to move like that. If it did, people might believe in gods from that reason.

 

[Grandliseur]

Yes I noticed your pot-shot. The subject of question is not Christians, grandliseur. As quoted, it is your god, who you claim is "surely benevolent". Except for the time that he regretted making the world because everyone was using the free will that he gave them so he killed everyone. And then when he robbed the Pharaoh of his free will to make a point, killing hundreds. And then when he got ticked off at the Hebrews and forced them to wander the desert for 40 years. And then when he waged war on several nations. Oh, and when he completely obliterated two cities that he didn't like. Then also when he came to the beckoned call of a prophet and mauled a group of children with bears. Also when he permitted Lot to be tortured just to see how much he loved him.

I mean, I could go on.


Yes, the honored dead are chosen from among the slain to reside in either Valhalla or Sessrúmnir. No different, really, than the lofty place in heaven that those who die as martyrs to your Christ get.


Norse wisdoms and poems clearly advise against throwing one's life away needlessly, such reckless endeavors were not deaths of honor. Odin far from demands bloodlust and brutality, instead advising wariness and hospitality. In fact, Norse cultures were remarkably diverse for that time period, with port cities hosting world markets that even gave venue to Muslim and Asian traders.


So how then, do you justify the wars against Europe under your god's name as his kingdom spread further north with blood and fire?

The reason the Vikings were mentioned is because those are my ancestors.

The Christian teachings have nothing to do with their implementation in Europe. While God has done many things you don't agree with, he is telling Christians to be peaceful.
For sure, some may not agree with God being benevolent. I cannot help that.

 

[Grandliseur]

And how did the American colonists treat the Indians? Your attempt at showing Christian beliefs spurring better behavior than Pagan beliefs is not working yet.

For sure! I seem to have a problem with Christians having done terrible things. However, that is not according to what they were taught!

Then, when people do not espouse the teaching they claim to follow, whose fault is it?
You cannot really fault Jesus for people not being obedient.

That would like finding fault with Hinduism because the world hasn't converted to it.

 

[The Kilted Heathen]

This thing with home invasions, the game of hitting people unconscious, shooting from cars, etc. - shows a satanic society the like of which is hard to find anywhere else.

South America. The Middle East (since all of human memory). North Korea.

 

[Grandliseur]

Well Japan is not Christian. Whatever point you were trying to make, seems to have been lost along the way.

It is not my fault that someone sidetracked the subject.

I cannot help it if you read a post that got directed toward the conditions of the US.

 

[Grandliseur]

South America. The Middle East (since all of human memory). North Korea.

You are right.

I said hard to find, not impossible. Though, the question here is - is the civilian NK population violent? Never heard this. The country's government is, for sure.