Would an Abrahamic God deserve our forgiveness?

[Raban]

"If there is a god he will have to beg for my forgiveness." -quote found etched into the wall of a Nazi Concentration Camp

A peculiar quote which makes one reflect. If a God does exist in an omniscient, omnipresent ect ect manner, would this God deserve to forgiven for the act of creating a world in which such great suffering is wrought upon so many? Regardless of whether humanity causes this in a 'Fall' would he be justified in not only creating us, but then judging us for our actions in what some would deem as a hell?
Now this question I suppose goes back to one of the primary questions in human existence, is life worth living? Would it be better to live and suffer, or never to have lived, and never have existed in a state which could perceive any good or any bad? I myself am conflicted on this manner. Kahlil Gibran once said that pain hollows us out so that we may be filled, but wouldn't some people be hollowed out till there was nothing left and never filled with anything? Your thoughts?

 

[Ashoka]

Hmm. I'd forgive him. Contrary to what some may think, I don't hate Yahweh. Even Rama said he would forgive Ravana if he surrendered for abducting his wife Sita (of course, he was killed anyway, but still). Then again, I have not been through the same horrors that the person in the quote went through (I think a Nazi concentration camp survivor said that?) so, hard to say for sure.

If for whatever reason he sought forgiveness, for some it may be too late. But, even so, I would forgive him...or, well, at least I would try to.

 

[ZooGirl02]

I don't believe that God has ever done anything wrong so I see no reason to forgive Him to begin with.

 

[Riverwolf]

A God who humbles himself so much as to seek mortal forgiveness...

My thoughts are that such a thing would be mind-blowing to say the least.

 

[Ashoka]

A God who humbles himself so much as to seek mortal forgiveness...

My thoughts are that such a thing would be mind-blowing to say the least.

Indeed!

 

[Sha'irullah]

A being who demands death, genocide and needless atrocities? Rape included I may add.

This deity is the simultaneous result of suffering and good and expects the human being to appreciate this.

Such a being could not be forgiven considering that if its omniscience and omnipotence is true then it is a sadistic entity.

 

[Sha'irullah]

A God who humbles himself so much as to seek mortal forgiveness...

My thoughts are that such a thing would be mind-blowing to say the least.

Humbled itself as a mortal and expected us to love it despite wanting to cast us into a fiery pit for eternity for denying its love? Sounds awfully cruel

 

[captainbryce]

Regardless of whether humanity causes this in a 'Fall' would he be justified in not only creating us, but then judging us for our actions in what some would deem as a hell?

Yes, he is justified, and doesn't require your forgiveness. It is you who would require his.

Now this question I suppose goes back to one of the primary questions in human existence, is life worth living? Would it be better to live and suffer, or never to have lived, and never have existed in a state which could perceive any good or any bad? I myself am conflicted on this manner. Kahlil Gibran once said that pain hollows us out so that we may be filled, but wouldn't some people be hollowed out till there was nothing left and never filled with anything? Your thoughts?

My thoughts are, it is better to have lived with the opportunity to receive Christ, and attain eternal salvation in paradise that to never have lived.

 

[ChristineES]

In my faith, God does not require forgiveness.

 

[Skwim]

Would an Abrahamic God deserve our forgiveness?

Considering the glorified character of god, I seriously doubt my forgiveness, were I to give it, would mean anything, so I wouldn't bother. The god of Abraham is not a nice guy by any stretch of the word, and lacking any demonstration of guilt over what he has done, I can't see anyone forgiving him, those toadies trying to curry favor notwithstanding.

 

[arthra]

If you read the scriptures it is usually the case that mankind transgresses and brings his own downfall ... and God forgives man.

Pray in behalf of all and entreat God for forgiveness and bounty for all. Beware, beware that any soul take revenge or retaliate over another even if he be a bloodthirsty enemy. Beware, beware that any one rebuke or reproach a soul, though he may be an ill-wisher and an ill-doer. Do ye not look upon the creature, advance ye toward the Creator. Behold ye not the rebellious people, turn your faces toward the Lord of Hosts. Look ye not upon the ground, raise your eyes to the world-illuminating Sun, which hath transformed every atom of the gloomy soil into bright and luminous substance.

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha v1, p. 45

 

[ChristineES]

If you think about this, since the people who would need to "forgive" God don't even believe in God (mostly) or at least that concept of god, then it would not God or god that they would need to forgive but those who write about Him and believe in those things.

 

[fantome profane]

I think it is a very interesting question. I am of the opinion "forgiving God" is a very important step on the road to enlightenment. I realize that this may be true only of my own path, so I won't universalize it. But still I think that there are a lot of people who would benefit greatly if only they would just "forgive God". Frankly I think some people are held back because they can't forgive, and some people are held back because they will not allow themselves to get angry in the first place.

And I put the phrase "forgive God" in quotes, because I mean it literally if it applies in your belief system, or metaphorically if it does not.

Some people need to forgive the universe for not being what they want it to be. Some people need to forgive the universe for not being fair. Some people need to forgive the universe for being "Godless".

Of course some people still need to acknowledge that the universe is unfair, before they can forgive the universe for it. Some people need to allow themselves to "get angry at God", because only then can they "forgive God".

(I realize the OP had intended to limit this to the Abrahamic God, and I have expanded beyond that concept. Forgive me )

 

[Random]

"If there is a god he will have to beg for my forgiveness."

A peculiar quote which makes one reflect.

Who said that?

You didn't cite the source of the quote.

 

[Random]

"If there is a god he will have to beg for my forgiveness." -quote found etched into the wall of a Nazi Concentration Camp

A peculiar quote which makes one reflect.

I see now that you've altered your OP.

 

[dyanaprajna2011]

No, not at all.

 

[ChristineES]

I see now that you've altered your OP.

The thing is God didn't cause the Holocaust, people did. People do simply dreadful things to each other.

 

[Raban]

For those did not see, the quote comes from a Nazi Concentration camp prisoner, (it had just slipped my mind originally, and Random mentioned it)

 

[nazz]

I personally am grateful to be alive, to exist, despite everything.

 

[Raban]

The thing is God didn't cause the Holocaust, people did. People do simply dreadful things to each other.

While I agree with you in theory, (i find it easy to play devils advocate ) it could be argued that either A. God did nothing to stop it, which is morally unacceptable in most cultures (Ie you witness someone being murdered and you could have stopped it but you didn't). or B. He created the realm of existence and therefore indirectly allowed such atrocities and horrors to be committed. Now in response, I understand a theist may simply say, (the common answer to evil and suffering) that we are endowed with free will. This however does not rest well with many, as God is considered omnipotent, omniscient, and all good, so why does he not change it? This is not even accounting for the horrors of the Old Testament apparently orchestrated by God. This is something that I and many others struggle with immensely, and I find weak arguments going either way, of what God should, shouldn't or should've done.