Why is the biblical god so human-like?

[freefromfaith]

Strange huh? the biblical gods actions are quite godlike: he created the universe! He even created plants before he created a star to sustain them! Why are his interactions with man so...well...to be honest...full of petty/malicious/vengeful behavior?

I mean, god is all knowing right? He knew when he created man that man would sin. Why would he find it necessary to then destroy man (flood) in a fit of anger? This is something I would expect from an emotional, imperfect being....ya know, like a human. Boooohoooo, I didn't get my way so I'm going to lash out. I think all of you with children will recognize this as behavior in our 2-4 year olds that we try to teach them to outgrow.

Strange huh?

Peace

p.s. To avoid all of the stock posts that usually follow anyone questioning the bible: I am not questioning your belief in an all powerful/all knowing supernatural being. I just find the bible very difficult to believe as the word of an all powerful being. There is a difference.

[Guest LadyC]

God is emotional. and humans are made in HIS image.

but petty? malicious? imperfect? nope. His anger and vengence are always JUST.... unlike our own.

[freefromfaith]

God is emotional. and humans are made in HIS image.

but petty? malicious? imperfect? nope. His anger and vengence are always JUST.... unlike our own.

I know you *believe* that his anger and vengeance are always JUST. Please explain the justice behind the flood. I've explained why I think it is unjust given the whole god is perfect argument.

Peace.

[arron]

GOD (not god) always puts up with a lot before HIS ANGER IS SHOWN IN VENENGENCE HE never does something with out a purpose

[jesusiskingofkings]

I didn't get my way so I'm going to lash out. I think all of you with children will recognize this as behavior in our 2-4 year olds that we try to teach them to outgrow.

Who is that 2-4 year old to question the action of the parent? God did create us in his image. That means emotions as well. Do you want your children to love you, so does God. He created servents, the angels, now he created children.

One angel decided to put himself above God. We have a choice, to eather become his children, or rebel like 1/3 of the angels. It's our chice, just like your children have a choice to obey you or rebel and end up in prison one day.

Do you get angry when your child dis-obeys you? What would you do, punish them? God also must punish sin. With out that fear, children will do all kinds of wrong. But sadly, we are not remembering as we should the fear of punishment, and the world will be distroyed agian, this time by fire.

Only a loving father keeps giving his children warnings, and chances to change, and to obey the rules he set for the child. But to many warnings with no action backing it up, and the child no longer fears the punishment, and thinks you are an unfair parent. But who is really being unfair the parent, or the child?

[Blien]

You mean we are like him.

He created us in HIS image and Likeness

We are like him, not him us. Except the sin part. Cheers

[Guest]

PEACE

"And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Luke 2:9-14

Why are his interactions with man so...well...to be honest...full of petty/malicious/vengeful behavior?..... Strange huh?

Truthfully

To Be Honest

It Is Needful To Know Truth

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6

STRANGE LOVE

God Calls

The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

Jeremiah 31:3

Petty And Blinded Men

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

2 Corinthians 4:4

Malicious Men

But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

Proverbs 8:36

Vengeful And Unprofitable Men

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:

Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

Their feet are swift to shed blood:

Destruction and misery are in their ways:

And the way of peace have they not known:

There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Romans 3:10-18

Liars One And All

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaker a lie, he speaker of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

John 8:44

Yet God Reasons With Men

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Isaiah 1:18

Strange Huh?

Believe

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believe th in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

And Be Still

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Psalms 46:10

Peace

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 14:27

Be Blessed Beloved

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:

The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:

The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them. Numbers 6:24-27

Love, Joe

[freefromfaith]

Who is that 2-4 year old to question the action of the parent?

Actually I was comparing gods behavior to that of a 2-4 year old child.

Do you get angry when your child dis-obeys you? What would you do, punish them? God also must punish sin. With out that fear, children will do all kinds of wrong. But sadly, we are not remembering as we should the fear of punishment, and the world will be distroyed agian, this time by fire.

Only a loving father keeps giving his children warnings, and chances to change, and to obey the rules he set for the child. But to many warnings with no action backing it up, and the child no longer fears the punishment, and thinks you are an unfair parent. But who is really being unfair the parent, or the child?

so what you are saying is that even though god could anticipate our sin, and even though god could anticipate his anger with our sin, the only strategy he could come up with to get us to play within his rules was to kill us? Thanks for backing up my argument. This is NOT the kind of behavior one would expect from a supreme being, even one with emotions.

The notion that *physical* punishment is required to get a human being to behave a certain way is antiquated and destined for the garbage heap of bad human ideas. Am I saying that there should be no negative consequences to improper behavior? Of course not. We even have tools (god given if you are inclined to believe that way) to investigate the biological basis of behavior and help us improve our strategies for dealing with problematic behavior. Neuroscience has taught us that the brain is a very efficient pattern-matching organ. It has also shown that, although the brain can change over time, the brain has key developmental stages. If the brain does not receive the correct sensory input it needs during these stages it will *NEVER* build the connections that it would have if the sensory input was there. *We* have already come far enough as humans to realize that spanking children is an unproductive childhood "motivator". Studies show that not even the death penalty is a deterrent to extreme behaviors. Why didn't god know this when he killed everyone(almost)?

Peace

[EricH]

It only makes sense that if God is trying to communicate with us, he woudl do so in a form we could understand. That is why He actually became human in person of Jesus.

[freefromfaith]

It only makes sense that if God is trying to communicate with us, he woudl do so in a form we could understand. That is why He actually became human in person of Jesus.

yes, but where do you stand on the argument that an all-knowing being would not have killed his children in vengeance?