Why do believers love God?

[viole]

Inasmuch as anything exists it is loved by God, correct. I answer in that vague way because St. Thomas says at one point that to the degree that sinners are sinners they do not exist (and some Fathers say the world isn't fully real yet concerning other things), so this causes me to question the degree to which things such as "poverty" exist, I need to study more to answer definitely.

As for things like COVID-19, absolutely. She is a beautiful creature of the Lord to me.

To add to it: we can logically conclude that evil does not exist. For if X existed and was evil, then it would be loved by God, since all that exists is loved by God. But God cannot love evil, therefore there is not such a thing as evil. There never was.

So, why do we need a heaven?

Ciao

- viole

 

[Link]

Your God. There are thousands others. Which is my point.

Ciao

- viole

But you can find the proper God, just strive and then it's up to him to guide you. You just got to work on methodology, everyone is different, but God won't hide himself forever if someone searches to find them.

 

[Lain]

Would you tell to a mother, who just lost her two years girl to bone cancer, that children cancer exists because God loves it?

Ciao

- viole

Yes if it I think it would help them to know why said cells exist.

 

[viole]

To solve the issue of evil and a proper theodicy, you have to approach system holistically. Otherwise, one individual affliction never makes sense, for why that person. It's precisely that afflictions hit good and bad, and are not always beneficial, that makes them look bad individually.

But if you look a holistic system, the afflictions and evil serve a purpose to reform humans and get them to return to God's king and guidance.

If the Mahdi (a) is accepted, I believe it as hadiths say, there will be no more illness and all cured of it.

And why didn't your God stated with that, instead of making us suffer in the meantime?

Ciao

- viole

 

[viole]

Yes if it I think it would help them to know why said cells exist.

Good luck.

Ciao

- viole

 

[Link]

And why didn't your God stated with that, instead of making us suffer in the meantime?

Ciao

- viole

Because we harm each other and chase desires and so this was to humble us. When humans are humble and enlightened, no need of diseases and illness. All cured when they accept Imam Mahdi (a).

 

[viole]

Because we harm each other and chase desires and so this was to humble us. When humans are humble and enlightened, no need of diseases and illness. All cured when they accept Imam Mahdi (a).

Most humans, probably, died before even understanding what God is. Miscarriages, children, etc.

Do they go to hell?

Ciao

- viole

 

[Lain]

To add to it: we can logically conclude that evil does not exist. For if X existed and was evil, then it would be loved by God, since all that exists is loved by God. But God cannot love evil, therefore there is not such a thing as evil. There never was.

So, why do we need a heaven?

Ciao

- viole

Evil is the deprivation of a due good to me, and in that sense it "exists" (my definition changed since I last spoke to you about it). Like an eye lacking the ability to see, the eye exists, it can not see, it should be able to, and that is evil.

As for Heaven (taking this as the final afterlife and not the intemediary one) that has nothing to do with evil really, being in a perfect incorruptible relationship with God. It exists because that's what God likes to give His creatures in my opinion.

 

[Link]

Most humans, probably, died before even understanding what God is. Miscarriages, children, etc.

Do they go to hell?

Ciao

- viole

You mean kids? Of course not.

 

[viole]

As for Heaven (taking this as the final afterlife and not the intemediary one) that has nothing to do with evil really, being in a perfect incorruptible relationship with God. It exists because that's what God likes to give His creatures in my opinion.

Which begs the question I just asked to a co-believer of yours: why didn't He just send us there immediately? What is the purpose of this valley of tears, so to speak.

Ciao

- viole

 

[viole]

You mean kids? Of course not.

So, where do they go?

Ciao

- viole

 

[Link]

Which begs the question I just asked to a co-believer of yours: why didn't He just send us there immediately? What is the purpose of this valley of tears, so to speak.

Ciao

- viole

To test us which is best in actions. Kids who die early don't get to prove themselves to God but also don't risk hell and get to go to heaven.

 

[firedragon]

Wikipedia is a nice, well-referenced source.

Ah.

In this case, no its absolutely not. I mean in this particular case.

 

[osgart]

Why do believers love God?
Below are the multiple choices. You can pick one or more, or give me another reason I hadn't thought of.

(a) Because the scriptures of their religion tell them that God is good and they should love God
(b) Because they see objective evidence in the world that indicates to them that God is good and worthy of being loved
(c) Because they believe that God is good since God has been good to them in their lives
(d) None of the above because I don’t love God

The scriptures of my religion say that God created humans out of His love for us and that we are supposed to love God, because otherwise we cut ourselves off from God’s love.

3: O SON OF MAN! Veiled in My immemorial being and in the ancient eternity of My essence, I knew My love for thee; therefore I created thee, have engraved on thee Mine image and revealed to thee My beauty.

4: O SON OF MAN! I loved thy creation, hence I created thee. Wherefore, do thou love Me, that I may name thy name and fill thy soul with the spirit of life.”

5: O SON OF BEING! Love Me, that I may love thee. If thou lovest Me not, My love can in no wise reach thee. Know this, O servant.

The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 4

In all honesty I had to pick (d). Why can’t I love God?

First, I believe God created a world that is a storehouse of suffering where He knew people would suffer, often through no fault of their own. Not only that, the all-knowing God knew that some people would suffer much more than other people and I do not consider this fair and equitable.

Second, I believe that God determines fate for the most part, leaving very little room for any choices. Any free will that people have is circumscribed by many factors such as childhood upbringing, heredity, education, adult experiences, and present life circumstances, so many people cannot just make changes they would like to make. So many things are beyond our control, and it is God who determines much of our fate.

Third, on top of all of the above the Baha’i Writings say that God sends tests for our own perfection and we should be grateful for the tests. Because of the tests I have always endured, whether God is actually sending them or not, I keep looking over my shoulder waiting for another test.

Will the tests of this life ever end? Is God sending these tests on purpose or are they just part of life? If they are just part of life, why do some people get more tests than other people? I am supposed to believe I am favored by God because I am tested more than others so I will end up being stronger and more spiritual, but I cannot make myself believe that even if it is true, since there is no evidence that is or will be the case. All we have are scriptures that say that and I cannot believe based on scriptures when I see no objective evidence.

How can people love a God that is responsible for any or all of the above? It is my concerted opinion that the main reason people love God is because of (a) and (c) above but I cannot love God because scriptures tell me I should and I cannot love God based upon how good God has been to me, since I do not feel that has been the case, although I am willing to admit I might be wrong since my perceptions of my past and present life situation could be wrong.

I want to love God but I have to have a reason that makes sense to me, so I thought by starting this thread some people might give me some reasons that make sense to me.

Sincerely, Trailblazer.

God being existentially real and genuinely good I think true believers love God for the following reasons:

We are on the wrong side of justice and deserve our circumstances.

There is a legitimate evil that is enemy to all that God is and we are responsible for being foot soldiers in the war against evil doings.

The eternal prize is so worthy, and God's truth is so great that every trial, test, horror, and tragedy is worth enduring to the end.

Finally, God's truth creates love in us that never dies.


Now I'm still an atheist because I don't sense, feel, or see any such presence. Nature is a giant mess. And the atrocities that happen are absolutely sickening and not deserved.

 

[Lain]

Which begs the question I just asked to a co-believer of yours: why didn't He just send us there immediately? What is the purpose of this valley of tears, so to speak.

Ciao

- viole

I have not the slightest idea due to deficiency in my knowledge. St. Thomas says that there is inequality in goods for the "perfection of the Universe," and that because God made some things corruptible like mankind (?) (for He made other things incorruptible/unable to fail in goodness) it "follows that they do sometimes fail [in goodness]." When I can grasp both of those ideas I'll have at least some of a good answer as a man, currently I have none.

 

[viole]

To test us which is best in actions. Kids who die early don't get to prove themselves to God but also don't risk hell and get to go to heaven.

So, why do we need to prove ourselves, if it is perfectly fine to basically go to heaven right away?

ciao

- viole

 

[viole]

I have not the slightest idea due to deficiency in my knowledge. St. Thomas says that there is inequality in goods for the "perfection of the Universe," and that because God made some things corruptible like mankind (?) (for He made other things incorruptible/unable to fail in goodness) it "follows that they do sometimes fail [in goodness]." When I can grasp both of those ideas I'll have at least some of a good answer, currently I have none.

Ok, “i don’t know” is a perfectly valid answer.

ciao

- viole

 

[Link]

So, why do we need to prove ourselves, if it is perfectly fine to basically go to heaven right away?

ciao

- viole

There are stages of paradise.

 

[viole]

There are stages of paradise.

So, children stay in the lowest?

Ciao

- viole

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

You’ve never been awe struck or mystified by the power of love?

No more than by any other strong emotion. Fear and hatred are just as powerful.