Believers, why does God need your flattery?

IronGland

Why would an all knowing master of space and time feel the irrepressible need to be adored by mere insects (relatively speaking), and indeed punish them in the most absolute of terms if they fail in this task? Indeed it makes God seem very human, although rather immaturely so. We expect such behavior from schoolyard bullies, megalomaniac dictators and small children who demand adoration from their beaten dogs. One might think that God would be held to a somewhat higher standard. And yet this is exactly what the Judeo/Christian version of God would have us expect of Him.

I suppose I can understand that primitive peoples facing starvation after seeing their hard earned crops devoured by locusts might see the universe as a cruel game played by a vengeful deity exacting revenge for a perceived slight, say not enough virgins sacrificed last year. I suppose that one can look at the world today and still assume that a megalomaniac God is playing with us like the brat with his abused pet. Perhaps thats the only kind of God that would fit the facts e.g. the Holocaust, Central Africa, etc., etc., the only other possibility being random chance (which we might expect to be cruel).

I suppose there is no reason why a God might not be that spoiled brat version of God, as much as any other. If God exists then He is God and His nature is His nature and thats that. I also suppose that if I were to become convinced that such a God exists I would chose to worship Him rather that suffer the imponderable consequences. I would become like Doestoyevskys atheist philosopher who dies and suddenly finds himself on the other side, defying his expectations. He is given the option of walking a trillion trillion miles to heaven or sit for eternity in nothingness. He spends a thousand years sitting, out of principle, but then gets up a starts walking. What choice does he really have after all? Yet I find myself unable to believe in such a God, it just seems silly. Personally its easier for me to believe that the hammer fell on my head by random chance than that a spoiled brat did it.

Mac

Excellent question IG, one I've often posed myself.

mac, of the his quialities, if manifested by us, take on a new perspective class

donkey

Believers are have BLIND faith. Now we know why!!!

Edited by - donkey on 16 December 2002 21:32:56

Kenneson

"Who can forget Jacob Bronowski, in his superb V series 'The Ascent of Man,' standing among the ashes of his relatives at the Auschwitz crematorium and reminding us: 'This is how men behave, when they believe they have absolute knowledge.' "

Arthur C. Clarke

Who was to blame, God or man?

If there is no God, than man is to blame and he needs to quit justifying his actions by blaming God. And man needs to act to better the world, if he feels God is not doing His job. It appears easier to point the finger at God than at ourselves. That's what I see in all these threads that find fault with God.

Are people starving? Well, what are we the richest nation in the world doing for those people needing food and clean water? Are we more cognizant of their sufferings than we were of those who suffered in the Holocaust? Are people dying of disease? What are we doing about it?

Are we not apathetic and indifferent? Than how are we different from God whom we accuse of being the same? Why is wrong for God to be exactly the way we are?

Farkel

: Why would an all knowing master of space and time feel the irrepressible need to be adored by mere insects (relatively speaking), and indeed punish them in the most absolute of terms if they fail in this task? Indeed it makes God seem very human, although rather immaturely so. We expect such behavior from schoolyard bullies, megalomaniac dictators and small children who demand adoration from their beaten dogs. One might think that God would be held to a somewhat higher standard.

That God doesn't even adhere to the standards he sets for his own followers, and he's very fond of mass genocide when he's pissed off.

Farkel

rem

Kenneson,

If there is no God, than man is to blame and he needs to quit justifying his actions by blaming God

Of course atheists realize that man is really to blame for such things. We are just pointing out the logical absurdity of believing in an omnipotent, omniscient, omnibenevolent god in a world full of such pain and suffering. The whole problem of evil. I don't know of anyone who is seriously blaming god for such things. It's more of a thought experiment, if you will.

And man needs to act to better the world, if he feels God is not doing His job

This is what many people are doing. Unfortunately many other people have agendas that are not congruent with world peace (greed, power, etc.). In a world of over six billion individuals, there will never be complete peace and harmony.... unless there really is an omnipotent, omniscient, omnibenevolent god and he comes back from vacation.

Unfortunately, belief in an all powerful sky daddy makes many people complacent. They feel that they have no power to make any progress in this evil world, so they will wait on god to fix it someday. I don't believe that "wait on god" attitude is helpful. I think it also helps breed some of the most gloomy and depressed souls who believe that this life is crap and that their only hope is in the supposed afterlife.

Well, what are we the richest nation in the world doing for those people needing food and clean water?

We have sent much food just to have it rot on the docks by oppressive governments. Could we do more? Sure. But it's not like nothing is being done.

Why is wrong for God to be exactly the way we are?

God is supposed to be our loving father. He is supposed to be all-powerful, all-loving and all-knowing - things that humans certainly are not. Since we do not have such superpowers, it is not expected that we can solve all of earth's problems easily, or at all. A supposed deity with the aforementioned qualities does not have such an excuse.

rem

aChristian

You ask: Why would an all knowing master of space and time feel the irrepressible need to be adored by mere insects (relatively speaking), and indeed punish them in the most absolute of terms if they fail in this task? Indeed it makes God seem very human, although rather immaturely so. We expect such behavior from schoolyard bullies, megalomaniac dictators ... [etc., etc.]

I do not believe that the God of the Bible feels any "irrepressible need to be adored by" us, at least no more so than any parent feels the need to be loved by his or her children. Rather, I believe that the Bible tells us of a God who very much adores us, His children. Because He does, He wants what is best for us. That is why He instructs us to do many things His way. Because as our Creator He knows what is best for us. Just as any good parent insists that their young children follow their instructions in many matters. Good parents insist that their young children do things their way for their childrens' own good. They do so because they love their children and, because they do, they want what is best for them. When a human parent expects his or her children to show them love and respect and requires them to obey the rules they have made for their childrens' own protection is that human parent behaving like a 'megalomaniac dictator'? I don't think so. Neither is the God of the Bible, our heavenly Father, behaving in such a way.

You say that "the Judeo/Christian version of God" will 'punish us in the most absolute of terms if we fail'. I don't quite see it that way. I assume by 'punishing us in the most absolute of terms' you are referring to the God of the Bible's stated intent to take the lives of those of us who continually willfully disobey Him. Let me ask you this. What else would you have Him do? His only alternative would be to give everyone eternal life. Do you really believe that if an all powerful God does exist that he is morally obligated to give eternal life to every living creature He has ever created? Or maybe you just believe that such a God would only be morally obligated to give eternal life to all human beings. In other words, you believe such a God would be morally right in withholding eternal life from mosquitoes and squirrels but not from Adolph Hitler. I don't see it that way. If the God of the Bible does exist then He gave all creatures their lives and He has the right to end any one of their lives at any time.

I see it this way. Every day of life which God gives us is a gift. To some of us He gives only one day. To others He gives many thousands of days. The Bible tells us that God plans to reward some people with the gift of eternal life. Are human parents morally required to always give all of their children the same number of gifts? Are human parents morally justified in giving their obedient children gifts and rewards and withholding gifts and rewards from their disobedient children? If they are, why do you imply that the God of the Bible would be behaving immorally if, after giving all of His children some gifts, He gives more gifts and greater gifts to His obedient children as rewards for their obedience?

rem

If they are, why do you imply that the God of the Bible would be behaving immorally if, after giving all of His children some gifts, He gives more gifts and greater gifts to His obedient children as rewards for their obedience?

And obedience just happens to involve worship.

rem

meadow77

Well, we were created in God's image. If you created the universe, wouldn't you want at least an honerary mention?

rem

God must be pretty lonely, expecting adoration from his creation. Doesn't he have any other god golf buddies to hang with? Sounds like he's in need of a few adda-boy's from his peers.

Another thing I wonder about. Many Christians say that life is purposeless without god. Does that mean that god's life is hopeless and without purpose since he supposedly doesn't have a god to worship? Or maybe he does? I dunno.

rem

Believers, why does God need your flattery?

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