Let's look at the Holy Spirit...

[thepreacher]

Wait

[Guest]

Brother, how hungry are you for God?

{{{ I'm hungry to understand the world around me. Whether God is the answer is irrelevant to the question }}}

The Only Question Brother, how hungry are you for God?

[ethical.atheist]

I'm not talking about an arbitrary rule. That was your word that you inserted into my example. Then you gave your answer based on your own made up example. You also added your offspring etc, etc. We cannot have a logical discussion if you continue to change my statements, then answer your own questions.

I added my offspring, because we are supposedly God's offspring.

I said arbitrary rule, because God made the apple and God made the rule. I mean... he created the apple for it to not be eaten. That sounds awfully arbitrary, and even, a bit silly.

That means if your little Johnny (I am talking about an adult offspring) came up to you a kept hitting you with a baseball bat, you would just sit there and enjoy it, you wouldn't leave his house?

Well... since we are talking about a one time folly (eating the apple) lets say my son doesn't know any better and does it once. Adam and Eve realized what they had done immediately and cowered in fear. If my son were to hurt me and realize what he had done right away, I certainly couldn't turn away and would be hard pressed to even get angry.

Besides, what Adam and Eve did was nothing like a baseball bat. You can't cause harm to God. He is omnipotent.

If your little Johnny said, come on over to my house, I have a highly contagious disease you can share it with me. You would have no problem just running right over there? Or, would you wait until Johnny was cured before you continue a close relationship with him?

This, again, assumes that ANYTHING could harm God.

It would be like you playing blackjack at an LV casino. You get caught counting cards. Complain all you want and tell them if it was your casino, you would change the rules.The point is they make the rules, not you. Either you play their game or leave.

Well.. rules aren't exactly just there. Rules are usually there for a good reason. Card counting at a casino is a bad example because that isn't exactly against the rules. If you can cont the card in your head, then everything is just fine. It is when you use a separate device to count for you.

If God is a deity worth worship, I'd imagine he would not make rules that are just arbitrary. That would definitely just confuse people and absolutely make it more difficult for them to love him. If there is a god, I really don't think he would be so silly.

[Guest]

If there is a god, I really don't think he would be so silly.

"What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?" (Psalms 8:4)

"The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple." (Psalms 119:130)

[ethical.atheist]

What is so funny? I think this is a serious problem.

If you want someone to follow rules, they must be justifiable. We see this in our own societies. If a rule does not make immediate sense to someone, they are more likely to break it.

Have you ever crossed a street anywhere but at the corners? Well... that is against the law in my state. You have to think for a while before you realize why it is illegal. (You have the study the direction someone looks while they make a turn in high traffic.) I break that law almost every day of my life.

Rules for the sake of rules end up broken.

Now, tell me about the last time you told your child (or anyone for that matter) "Do [blah] because I said so." Well...they aren't going to like it and will be more likely to break it.

Now, God says "Don't eat this apple that I made!" and you say, "What? Why did you even make it if it is not to be eaten? And why can't we eat it?" He says, "Hey! I'm God. Just listen to me."

God wouldn't be silly to do something like this. I mean, he created humans and would most likely understand exactly the way we work, because he made us that way. When God didn't explain his reason for making the apple and the consequences for eating it, he was being a silly/irresponsible leader. I just don't see an omnipotent/benevolent god doing something so asinine.

Edited December 24, 2006 by ethical.atheist

[ted]

That's because you have a terrible grasp of what the Bible says to us.

In your mind, God's ways seems asinine. You not agreeing with God doesn't mean He's wrong.

t.

[ethical.atheist]

That's because you have a terrible grasp of what the Bible says to us.

Well I would say, if God did exist, your bible has a horrible grasp of his nature.

In your mind, God's ways seems asinine. You not agreeing with God doesn't mean He's wrong.

I'm not "not agreeing with God." I am "not agreeing with your holy book that makes God look silly." I'm not saying "God is wrong." I'm saying that "your book is silly." and "the story of eden is ridiculous in so many different ways."

As an atheist, I am not denying the possibility for this God to exist. It is for this reason that I am interested in framing the possibilities of this God. If this God does exist, I think he must be rational and reasonable if he is truly a supreme being and our creater.

Edited December 24, 2006 by ethical.atheist

[sweetycakes]

That's because you have a terrible grasp of what the Bible says to us.

Well I would say, if God did exist, your bible has a horrible grasp of his nature.

In your mind, God's ways seems asinine. You not agreeing with God doesn't mean He's wrong.

I'm not "not agreeing with God." I am "not agreeing with your holy book that makes God look silly." I'm not saying "God is wrong." I'm saying that "your book is silly." and "the story of eden is ridiculous in so many different ways."

As an atheist, I am not denying the possibility for this God to exist. It is for this reason that I am interested in framing the possibilities of this God. If this God does exist, I think he must be rational and reasonable if he is truly a supreme being and our creater.

E.A

(Edited by moderator)

"For the foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of men, and the weakness of God is stronger than the strength of men."

1 Cor 1.25

[GeneV]

That's because you have a terrible grasp of what the Bible says to us.

Well I would say, if God did exist, your bible has a horrible grasp of his nature.

In your mind, God's ways seems asinine. You not agreeing with God doesn't mean He's wrong.

I'm not "not agreeing with God." I am "not agreeing with your holy book that makes God look silly." I'm not saying "God is wrong." I'm saying that "your book is silly." and "the story of eden is ridiculous in so many different ways."

As an atheist, I am not denying the possibility for this God to exist. It is for this reason that I am interested in framing the possibilities of this God. If this God does exist, I think he must be rational and reasonable if he is truly a supreme being and our creater.

E.A

Will you just stop your nonsensical prattling for a while, and have yourself a MERRY CHRISTMAS !

"For the foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of men, and the weakness of God is stronger than the strength of men."

1 Cor 1.25

And there I was about to say something........

[ted]

That's because you have a terrible grasp of what the Bible says to us.

Well I would say, if God did exist, your bible has a horrible grasp of his nature.

In your mind, God's ways seems asinine. You not agreeing with God doesn't mean He's wrong.

I'm not "not agreeing with God." I am "not agreeing with your holy book that makes God look silly." I'm not saying "God is wrong." I'm saying that "your book is silly." and "the story of eden is ridiculous in so many different ways."

As an atheist, I am not denying the possibility for this God to exist. It is for this reason that I am interested in framing the possibilities of this God. If this God does exist, I think he must be rational and reasonable if he is truly a supreme being and our creater.

If you cast aside the Bible as silly, you may never come to know God.

If you are confident in your abilities to seek Him in ways which do not include His written word, so be it.

I'm just not sure how you will come to know Him without it, I guess.

Then again, I came to Him without knowing much about the Bible, though. In fact, I used to laugh at it, too.

Carry on, I reckon. Maybe He will hit you upside the heart like He did in my case. Though, I don't wish the same losses on you like I went through to find Him.

t.