Now this applies to me.
I don't ask or expect anything of the deities, except to give me what I need to get through the day. But They give other good things to me, unexpectedly.
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Which "deity" is offering the best deal?
- Thread starter -Peacemaker-
- Start date
Now this applies to me.
I don't ask or expect anything of the deities, except to give me what I need to get through the day. But They give other good things to me, unexpectedly.
:clap "ekaṃ sad viprā bahudhā" means "the Truth is One, the wise know It by many names".
Rainbow Mage
Lib Democrat/Agnostic/Epicurean-ish/Buddhist-ish
IOV there is only one God, known by different names in the various languages and cultures.
So there's no question of "which deity offers the best deal" because no multiple deities exist anyway.
Peace,
Bruce
Well that's certainly your opinion Bruce and you're welcome to it. I think many gods exist as one God and the one exists as many. I am not Monotheist.
Gjallarhorn
N'yog-Sothep
Only to those not owning the hand.
Eww... God feces.
Why does it matter? No matter what deity you worship, earth is going to have the exact thing going on.
Leyora
Essentia Omnia
IOV there is only one God, known by different names in the various languages and cultures.
So there's no question of "which deity offers the best deal" because no multiple deities exist anyway.
Peace,
Bruce
That would be cool if geek gods didn't exist... Which are clearly separate beings.
I think the mainstream Protestant version of Jesus is trumped by the Mormon version of Jesus, because he gives you all that plus the chance to be a god yourself.
... if you're a guy, anyhow.
I'd say probably the non-deity Buddha's teachings, or maybe Krishna in second place. Perhaps Stoic conceptions of the Logos as well. No religions or philosophies seem to offer anything that really catches my eye, but some seem to be a lot more intriguing than others.
I tend to view Christianity and some other Abrahamic varieties of religions as kind of like the quick diet approach. That is, they don't seem to prescribe rigorous ways of building true virtue and character through rational means, but instead propose concepts that I view as fairly empty (like promises of eternal paradise, given rather than earned, and a focus on trivial things that don't impact virtue while failing to emphasize some of the more fundamental issues of virtue), along with odd threats and a description of a thoroughly wrathful deity rather than one I'd ever view as loving. There exist claims that people are all wretched and in need of some external source of salvation, claims requesting submission or worship, etc. It's just not a personality that I find attractive or worth being on the good side of, let alone the bad side of.
Some of the Dharmic or Stoic concepts, however, seem to offer a lot more. In contrast to being like a quick diet, I view some of them as truly nutritious eating along with the right kinds and quantities of exercise; no shortcuts. Processes for systematically reducing and eliminating weaknesses, focuses on self-reliance and solving of real-world problems, insights into how to observe rather than judge to overcome suffering, a much broader and cyclical universe or multiverse compared to the ones typically described in Abrahamic contexts, specific meditations about focusing on feeling loving-kindness towards all sentient beings rather than just the general commandment to do so, cyclical universalism that eventually leads to transcendent permanent bliss for each being, etc. I view these religions or philosophies as having more to offer, and as far as deities go, Buddhism and Stoicism aren't centered around deities but I'd say the Bhagavad Gita in some ways describes how I'd imagine a god to be if one existed (Krishna). I don't get that sense at all when reading Abrahamic texts.
Shermana
Heretic
Are you aware that all such criteria applies to Allah as well?
And Jesus isn't even God by the way. He's "a god". But that's for another debate....or is it?
Rainbow Mage
Lib Democrat/Agnostic/Epicurean-ish/Buddhist-ish
If my religion were based on what I could get I'd be Muslim. Fair skinned male youths and virgins, rivers of alcohol, and trees glittering with gem fruits.
It literally is a gay man's paradise. Much better deal then heaven.
And if you're wondering what a gay guy is going to do with 70 female virgins- gossip and do each other's nails
It literally is a gay man's paradise. Much better deal then heaven.
And if you're wondering what a gay guy is going to do with 70 female virgins- gossip and do each other's nails
Sir Doom
Cooler than most of you
And if you're wondering what a gay guy is going to do with 70 female virgins- gossip and do each other's nails
Haha, you'd be the only guy in paradise that still had 70 virgins (aside from the other gay fellas, that is).
-Peacemaker-
.45 Cal
I've edited my post to clarify that the deal that the Christian God is offering. From what I can see, Jews and Muslims have a more agnostic view of God than a Christian view. The biblical Christian views God as an intimate companion, one that he prays to and listens for his voice. One who experiences his presence through manifestations such as healings, prophecy, speaking in tongues, etc. Again, at least in practice Muslims and Jews seem to experience God as something unknowable and distant. Advantage Jesus
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The description in the OP seems to describe a sort of perpetual childhood at this point. Loving compansionship with a personality that provides for all needs, like a parent.
I can see why the concept would be desirable for some, but I don't view it as such. I think some religious concepts propose better means for growing and acquiring wisdom and responsibility than others. I don't view "the promise of provision in this life so that one need not worry about what they'll eat or wear" or "the promise to spend eternity in paradise" as particularly suitable goals.
Katzpur
Not your average Mormon
Guys can't become goddesses, though, so neener, neener, neener!
Father Heathen
Veteran Member
Me Myself
Back to my username
I will scratch from the begining any deity that offers even the 0.00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001% posibility of me being in (eternal) hell. Or anyone I know or care about being there or even people I dispise for that matter.
If I was going to "sell" omnipotence to a deity, I wont give it to the one that enterteins the idea of everlasting suffering.
Now if we propose all deities already exist with their promised powers... I have problems with that, because Shiva will never let you be in hell for ever anyways, and he is sure to grant you this even if you dont follow him. Neither would Krishna send you to hell for ever.
About the best deal, I like the hinduist ones. "We can help you if you ask our help. We may help you even if you accidentaly call upon us. Yes, you can pray to other deities as well, so you may get the goodness from all the other deities"
So there are so uch deities that dont mind you praying to others and thus extracting the best of every deity´s "deals" without even the very ver very sligthest chance of Hell !
If I was going to "sell" omnipotence to a deity, I wont give it to the one that enterteins the idea of everlasting suffering.
Now if we propose all deities already exist with their promised powers... I have problems with that, because Shiva will never let you be in hell for ever anyways, and he is sure to grant you this even if you dont follow him. Neither would Krishna send you to hell for ever.
About the best deal, I like the hinduist ones. "We can help you if you ask our help. We may help you even if you accidentaly call upon us. Yes, you can pray to other deities as well, so you may get the goodness from all the other deities"
So there are so uch deities that dont mind you praying to others and thus extracting the best of every deity´s "deals" without even the very ver very sligthest chance of Hell !
F0uad
Well-Known Member
If my religion were based on what I could get I'd be Muslim. Fair skinned male youths and virgins, rivers of alcohol, and trees glittering with gem fruits.
It literally is a gay man's paradise. Much better deal then heaven.
And if you're wondering what a gay guy is going to do with 70 female virgins- gossip and do each other's nails
No virgins sorry.
In the Islamic idea of heaven you can get whatever you wish. When you have everything that you wish for god will even then make it better for you. The path on earth is a difficult one though, you have to ''deserve'' heaven.