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From: davet@oakhill.UUCP (Dave Trissel)
Newsgroups: net.religion,net.religion.christian
Subject: Re: QUESTIONS FROM A FRIEND
Message-ID: <347@oakhill.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 4-Mar-85 09:55:09 EST
Article-I.D.: oakhill.347
Posted: Mon Mar  4 09:55:09 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 9-Mar-85 08:48:15 EST
References: 
Reply-To: davet@oakhill.UUCP (Dave Trissel)
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Xref: watmath net.religion:5900 net.religion.christian:381
Summary: 

In article <109@gymble.UUCP> bennet@gymble.UUCP (Tom Bennet) writes:
>
>..........................................  God is upset by sin, and would
>be so if Christ died or not.  God is angry at the killing of Jesus
>because it was murder, regardless of what good resulted.
>

I find it odd that a God which a) knows everything beforehand, b) had the
patience to create the entire universe and c) has unbounded love does
something as primitive as getting angry.  One would expect such a God to
at least be slightly emotionally more mature than us mortal humans which are
merely creations.

This seems to be a perfect example of where man creates God in his own image.
"Well, God gets angry so when I'm angry its certainly excusable."

Another notable Biblical passage refers to God regretting that man was ever
made. Its hard to think that an intelligent God that knows the future would
regret the consequences of their own doing.  OR couldn't think of a better
way to run the world than to say "believe this or be doomed."  Don't you think
that even a third-grader with an inventive mind could come up with a better
scenario?

If there is such a universal entity such as God I would think that such
Biblical passages would be blasphemous, or at least highly amusing.

>A person changes their beliefs about anything only after becomming con-
>vinced of a different position.  When this takes place, there is a
>conscience decision to accept the new evidence.  I agree that such a 
>choice cannot be made arbitrarily.  Christians who expect people to change
>their minds about things must give them good cause to do so.

As one who grew up a dedicated Christian I certainly agree with this point.
As I learned to evaulate my belief system (something definitely discouraged
in the church) I found reality to be more and more different than what my
religion taught me was supposed to be happening.  I could see the benefits
of my old beliefs, but also the disadvantages.  At first the rift was heart-
wrenching.  Shedding long and closely held beliefs is usually that way.
But as time went on the process became easier since the search for Truth
became increasingly more important than the urge to hang on to previous
concepts.

>yet I think we also see that God's concern is for the redemption of the
>Creation ....

What did God do wrong?  Was it a bad decision on His/Her part?  Just how
intelligent is a God that can create the universe but not oversee its
perfect functioning?  If you insist that God wanted to create the universe
in a non-perfect manner doesn't this show an imperfection?  Couldn't God
as smart as He/She is figure out a way of obtaining the same result with
a perfect universe?  It appears that God loses either way.  Either God
was incapable of creating a perfect universe or was incapable of figuring
out how to do so to achieve His/Her/its ends.

Comments welcomed.

Dave Trissel         {ihnp4,seismo,ctvax,gatech}!ut-sally!oakhill!davet