Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site oakhill.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!mhuxn!mhuxj!mhuxr!ulysses!allegra!bellcore!decvax!tektronix!hplabs!hpda!fortune!amdcad!amd!dual!mordor!ut-sally!oakhill!davet 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) Distribution: net Organization: Motorola Inc. Austin, Tx Lines: 57 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