kx000
Valued Senior Member
How can God transgress?
By creating that universe, or as the foundations of the universe.
How can God transgress?
He didn't transgress, he just decided to do it.By creating that universe, or as the foundations of the universe.
No limits, no transgression. What's to forgive?No limit but he is good.
Forgive who?No limits, no transgression. What's to forgive?
He didn't transgress, he just decided to do it.
Amnesia?Forgive who?
Hmm. I’ll have to see what this is in reference to. Sounds like legalism.The 600+ is possibly in reference to the 613 Commandments in the Old Testament.
See : http://gods-word-first.org/bible-study/613commandments.html
edit : saw davewhite04's Post after Replying...so disregard "possibly".
I imagine it refers to Leviticus - the statutes. The first ten chapters is a lot of persnicketing about who should sacrifice what animal by what method. Then comes a lot of nonsense about dietary restrictions - to keep the Jews from socializing with other peoples. (Yes, I know there's been much rationalization of the pork rule, but no reasonable objection to lobster, camel or cooking dairy and meat products in the same pot.) - and then a lot of public health and hygiene regulations; a list of sex taboos, and finally, the code of behaviour: theft, fraud, alms, perjury, prostitution, etc., interspersed with rituals and injunctions against the practice of other religions.Hmm. I’ll have to see what this is in reference to. Sounds like legalism.
It isn't is it?He doesnt know if Hate is heaven worthy.
Probably.Amnesia?
It isn't is it?
"formidable devil" what does that mean?But, by the time you know that hate is the underlord you are met with resitance, and formidable devil.
"formidable devil" what does that mean?
Have seen the cartoon "One Punch"? That might answer your many questions.A worthy adversary, or a anti-hero if you will.
Straw man number one, that the "rules" are arbitrary "whims". You can only entertain this notion with your pretense that this little story is not an analogy to religion. In the real world, religious adherence correlates to many objective benefits, for the individuals and society. And I'm not interested in arguing what those are. You've probably heard them, and maybe seen the studies, and you either dismiss them or not. Guidelines that correlate to real world benefits cannot be arbitrary. As such, the boy had a chance to discover this for himself, even by simple trial and error.The first place the boy's parents are found wanting is in their complete absence from the boy's life. Who are these people who expect their children to follow a whole manual full of rules that they have invented, who expect strict adherence to their whims, yet who lack the compassion to care for the children who are forced to live under their draconian rule?
Aside from repeating the first straw man, the "rulebook" includes many reasons. It is not an "or else" coercion. It tells the natural consequences of bad choices. If you choose to do highly addictive drugs, can't control your gambling, etc. you will find yourself in a living hell, where you've condemned yourself. And it's that self-condemnation that you will carry with you into any afterlife. It's like a simple lie that you have to continue to compound with more lies. You're trapped, when simply telling the truth would free you from that vicious circle, of justifying bad behavior and thereby reinforcing it.The second place they are found wanting is that, as far as we know, all of the rules in the rulebook are completely arbitrary. Certainly there are few signs (actually none, in the description I gave) that the parents who wrote the rulebook provided any reasons for the rules being what they are. Essentially, they just say "follow our rules, or else!" They are running a fear-based regime from a distance.
This just combines both your first two straw men, repeating the first for the third time now. There really doesn't seem to be much "there" there.First, you might say that maybe the parents had the best of intentions in writing the rulebook. If that's what you think, then consider whether the parents could have done a better job by dispensing with the rulebook altogether and being actively present in the boy's life, guiding him in moral behaviour.
Again, a repetition of a previous straw man. And Christians do not follow the orthodox Jewish laws, nor consider there to be "a few thousand rules". There's really only ten hard and fast rules, with most of them having pretty obvious reasons to any rational human. Humans have reason so they can abstract principles for themselves. Or freely choose to employ rejecting and dismissing things they find distasteful, like children and broccoli. You can tell a child the benefits of eating broccoli all day, but without their own intention to understand, you won't get anywhere.Second, you might say the rules aren't arbitrary at all, but are an attempt to codify right moral behaviour in an easily-digestible list of only a few thousand rules. But in that case, why give a list of rules to the boy without explaining the reasons why the rules are as they are? If the rules only say "Don't trash the house, or else!" then is it surprising that the boy might not understand why it would be bad to trash the house? Also, a list of rules doesn't give the boy any rational reason to follow the rules, other than fear of adverse consequences from the parents. If the parents' moral authority is based on nothing but fear, then I'd say they are acting immorally. They are not parents; they are authoritarian dictators. if, on the other hand, the parents are merely attempting to codify some "higher" principles, then why not tell the boy about the higher principles instead? If he is to be held morally culpable by the parents, then he must be in a position to understand the moral reasons for the rules, assuming there are some. But if he can do that, the rulebook is irrelevant in the end, and even moreso are the absent parents.
They aren't arbitrary? So, based on higher principles, then?Straw man number one, that the "rules" are arbitrary "whims".
So the parents' rules are based on the parents' real-world experience of how actions tend to play our with consequences in the real-world. Is that what you're saying? In that sense, there's nothing special about the parents' rule book. Anybody could write an equivalent book, based on their own real-world experience, and it would be just as authoritative. Right?You can only entertain this notion with your pretense that this little story is not an analogy to religion. In the real world, religious adherence correlates to many objective benefits, for the individuals and society. And I'm not interested in arguing what those are. You've probably heard them, and maybe seen the studies, and you either dismiss them or not. Guidelines that correlate to real world benefits cannot be arbitrary. As such, the boy had a chance to discover this for himself, even by simple trial and error.
Does your own God tell you how to act? How does he do that? From your previous descriptions, it sounded to me like he was effectively absent. Now you're telling me he communicates with you on a regular basis? Explain how that works, please.As pointed out by others, the next straw man is that God is an absentee parent. To those who have freely chosen to separate themselves from God, that may seem valid. But they are runaways, not orphans.
That metaphorical hell would be just as real in reference to any other hypothetical rule book, whether written by the parents or not. Do you agree? Those consequences you mention will be there whether or not the parents are absent.Aside from repeating the first straw man, the "rulebook" includes many reasons. It is not an "or else" coercion. It tells the natural consequences of bad choices. If you choose to do highly addictive drugs, can't control your gambling, etc. you will find yourself in a living hell, where you've condemned yourself.
Ah! But now we come to role the parents actually play. They turn up on the doorstep at some point and drag you off to prison because you didn't follow the rules. This consequence is no metaphorical abstraction like it was before; it's a real outcome imposed by force of the parent's assumed authority over the boy.And it's that self-condemnation that you will carry with you into any afterlife.
??It's like a simple lie that you have to continue to compound with more lies. You're trapped, when simply telling the truth would free you from that vicious circle, of justifying bad behavior and thereby reinforcing it.
The ten commandments? Ah yes, an excellent summary of the most important moral principles, as given by the Almighty.And Christians do not follow the orthodox Jewish laws, nor consider there to be "a few thousand rules". There's really only ten hard and fast rules, with most of them having pretty obvious reasons to any rational human.
Indeed.Humans have reason so they can abstract principles for themselves.
Best to threaten them with prison if they don't eat it. That'll learn them!You can tell a child the benefits of eating broccoli all day, but without their own intention to understand, you won't get anywhere.
Based on reality. If you murder, make false accusations, hate your parents, etc. you will have a harder time in life.They aren't arbitrary? So, based on higher principles, then?
Maybe anyone could write a rule book, but why reinvent the wheel? And just like children benefit greatly from their parents teaching them how the world works, and that their natural instincts will get them into trouble, even adults benefit from organizations focused on reiterating those same sorts of lessons, but for adult experiences. The community organized around the "rule book" is a support structure to encourage good choices. I've never met an adult Christian who was genuinely afraid of God enforcing the rules. Because aside from children, and perhaps new converts, they know why they're following those rules, and it's not just punishment avoidance. You have to be pretty deluded to believe that all religious adults have no clue why they follow their religion other than fear. Maybe your straw men aren't intentional. Maybe they just demonstrate a severe lack of understanding of your fellow humans.So the parents' rules are based on the parents' real-world experience of how actions tend to play our with consequences in the real-world. Is that what you're saying? In that sense, there's nothing special about the parents' rule book. Anybody could write an equivalent book, based on their own real-world experience, and it would be just as authoritative. Right?
The only difference I can see between the parents' rule book and the rule books written by other people, in that case, is that the parents have the power to enforce their rules. Would you agree?
Is the defining characteristic of your own parents that they "tell you how to act"? Or is it the love and support they show you? And do you only recognize that love and support when it's direct and obvious? Or do you recognize their motives in small and otherwise insignificant things?Does your own God tell you how to act? How does he do that? From your previous descriptions, it sounded to me like he was effectively absent. Now you're telling me he communicates with you on a regular basis? Explain how that works, please.
Except there's a conspicuous lack of such secular rule books.That metaphorical hell would be just as real in reference to any other hypothetical rule book, whether written by the parents or not. Do you agree? Those consequences you mention will be there whether or not the parents are absent.
Really? Not metaphorical, in a "rule book" replete with parable and aphorism?Ah! But now we come to role the parents actually play. They turn up on the doorstep at some point and drag you off to prison because you didn't follow the rules. This consequence is no metaphorical abstraction like it was before; it's a real outcome imposed by force of the parent's assumed authority over the boy.
In the case of God, of course, we are told that the very real punishment is to be eternal, after death. God abstracts his wayward followers from their metaphorical hell and keeps them for all eternity in a literal hell.
An example of how justifying behavior can trap you in that behavior. You know, the "eternal" you were just talking about.??It's like a simple lie that you have to continue to compound with more lies. You're trapped, when simply telling the truth would free you from that vicious circle, of justifying bad behavior and thereby reinforcing it.
Lies? Justifying bad behaviour? What?
Wow, I wonder if that was a Freudian slip, duplicating one commandment to leave out another. One has to wonder if you covet your neighbor's wife or just their goods. Your 1 & 2 are the same commandment. That said...The ten commandments? Ah yes, an excellent summary of the most important moral principles, as given by the Almighty.
The first four, most importantly, all deal with God. How do they go?
1. Yahweh is the biggest god, so don't you go worshippin' some other god.
2. Don't make any idols. [This one is obviously as important as the one about murder, coming later.]
3. Don't be naughty and use God's name as a swear word! [God gets offended by that shit.]
4. Dedicate your Saturdays to the worship of the Lord. [He likes that shit.]
Then we get to the non-God-related ones:
5. Honor your father and mother. [What, even if they abuse you?]
6. Don't kill. [God forgot to make this one clear. Probably he means don't murder, but there's no way to really tell. Oh, and murdering certain people or groups is apparently approved elsewhere in the bible.]
7. Don't commit adultery. [God's marriage institution is sacred!]
8. Don't steal.
9. Don't bear false witness against your neighbour.
10. Don't covet. [Thought crime will get you in trouble with God!]
Yes, clearly these are the most important rules that all human beings need to follow. It's such a comprehensive list of the most important things, too. God did a good job there. Certainly didn't leave out anything important. Agree?
Wait! Where's the Golden Rule? Oh, never mind, God added that as an amendment when he sent Jesus down, so he got there in the end even if he forgot in the first instance.
God doesn't drag anyone off to hell. They condemn themselves, like the criminal who makes a mistake, as if wanting to be caught. I answered that, you just didn't realize it.Indeed.
Which brings us back to the question of whether parents (God) did anything wrong in dragging the boy off to prison (sending wrongdoers to hell for eternity).
Amongst all your bluster and righteous indignation, it looks like you forgot to answer that, Vociferous.
Straw man. You try to instill good habits that will someday take root. You only want the best for them, but must allow them to eventually make decisions for themselves. And their own decisions will be what could lend to obesity, diabetes, etc.. Those are natural consequences, not anything a parent imposes.Best to threaten them with prison if they don't eat it. That'll learn them!You can tell a child the benefits of eating broccoli all day, but without their own intention to understand, you won't get anywhere.
Strange that you say that, then complain that there are no secular rulebooks (which is false, by the way).Maybe anyone could write a rule book, but why reinvent the wheel?
It seems to me that God is not a vital part of such a community. Any moral rule book would do as well as, say, the bible. Do you agree?And just like children benefit greatly from their parents teaching them how the world works, and that their natural instincts will get them into trouble, even adults benefit from organizations focused on reiterating those same sorts of lessons, but for adult experiences. The community organized around the "rule book" is a support structure to encourage good choices.
Maybe you should get out more?I've never met an adult Christian who was genuinely afraid of God enforcing the rules.
Does it have anything to do with God?Because aside from children, and perhaps new converts, they know why they're following those rules, and it's not just punishment avoidance.
Sorry. Are you addressing me, or "you" in some generic sense?You have to be pretty deluded to believe that all religious adults have no clue why they follow their religion other than fear.
I put a hypothetical scenario and some questions up for your consideration, and for anybody else who is interested in responding. Where are the straw men?Maybe your straw men aren't intentional. Maybe they just demonstrate a severe lack of understanding of your fellow humans.
My parents have been present in my life. See the thread title and the example. What have present parents got to do with anything?Is the defining characteristic of your own parents that they "tell you how to act"? Or is it the love and support they show you? And do you only recognize that love and support when it's direct and obvious? Or do you recognize their motives in small and otherwise insignificant things?
I've already told you that humans communicate on a regular basis. That's how that works. Like the above mentioned support structure, for instance.
Hardly. There's a vast literature about secular morality. Maybe you should consider reading more widely.Except there's a conspicuous lack of such secular rule books.
Rather telling, that.
Seems a bit of a harsh punishment - eternal damnation for failing to obey God's rules in one's brief mortal life.Really? Not metaphorical, in a "rule book" replete with parable and aphorism?
It's a real outcome, as a result of the individual's choices that separate them from God.
Interesting.And not "wayward followers", non-followers.
Sorry. You've lost me. I have no idea what you're talking about.An example of how justifying behavior can trap you in that behavior. You know, the "eternal" you were just talking about.
No. I was simply using lists of the 10 commandments that some Christians put up on the internet for their fellow Christians.Wow, I wonder if that was a Freudian slip, duplicating one commandment to leave out another.
"Do not covet" would cover both of those things, in my opinion. You think that needs two separate commandments? Which one do you choose to ditch in order to emphasise the importance of not covetting as two of God's most important commandments, then? Or do you merge two of the others on my list into one?One has to wonder if you covet your neighbor's wife or just their goods.
Is that your only change then? Merge my 1 and 2 into a single commandment, thus de-emphasising God, and split my commandment 10 into two separate commandments, thus placing quite a lot of emphasis on that particular thought crime? You're really worried that people shouldn't covet stuff, I guess...Your 1 & 2 are the same commandment.
God sure left a lot of things to personal interpretation, didn't he? Couldn't he have expressed his most important commandments a bit more clearly?That said...
- False gods can be anything you lend undue importance to in life. Sacrificing family or principles for work, vice, etc.
- Your number 2, see above.
- When a bride takes her husbands name, she not only represents her husband in name, she's expressing her marriage vow. Likewise, when someone takes the name of God, by calling themselves a Christ-ian, their actions represent God and violating that can turn others from God.
- Akin to work becoming a false god, life requires some balance.
- Harboring resentments, especially lifelong ones against your parents, is unhealthy. Blame is one of the primary ways people justify their own bad choices.
- There's actually a longstanding Jewish understanding, spoken of throughout the Bible, of that as unlawful killing.
- Your own vows should be sacred.
- Glad to see you have no objections to not stealing.
- Same for bearing false witness. Good for you.
- Jealousy is not healthy, whether of goods or wives. It's not the thought, it's whether the though generates envy.
Is that all it is? You don't think that God left anything important out of his ten most important commandments? You don't see any significant gaps there?The Golden Rule is an encapsulation of many of the Ten.
Arguably, all criminals condemn themselves. Do the crime, do the time. The authorities are there to make sure you do the time. In my parable, the relevant authorities are the parents. In your bible, the relevant authority is God. The authorities are the enforcers. They make sure that those who stray from the dictated path are punished.God doesn't drag anyone off to hell. They condemn themselves, like the criminal who makes a mistake, as if wanting to be caught. I answered that, you just didn't realize it.
Are you saying, by analogy, that your God doesn't impose anything on human beings? If that is the case, then would you agree that he truly is an absent parent?You try to instill good habits that will someday take root. You only want the best for them, but must allow them to eventually make decisions for themselves. And their own decisions will be what could lend to obesity, diabetes, etc.. Those are natural consequences, not anything a parent imposes.
If that's gonna happen anyway, why bother punishing somebody for punishing himself?If you murder, make false accusations, hate your parents, etc. you will have a harder time in life.
Nope. Nothing like that is mentioned in Leviticus, where the rules are elaborated in mind-numbing detail. He's talking about actual contemporary rivals: other gods.False gods can be anything you lend undue importance to in life. Sacrificing family or principles for work, vice, etc..
So, a woman who falls over the lawnmower her husband left by the back door, and exclaims: "Oh, Gordon!" is thereby turning other people away from marriage?When a bride takes her husbands name, she not only represents her husband in name, she's expressing her marriage vow. Likewise, when someone takes the name of God, by calling themselves a Christ-ian, their actions represent God and violating that can turn others from God.
Maybe, maybe not. Hate, life-long resentment and mental health are not mentioned in the commandment. Just "honour", which mostly means 'obey'.Harboring resentments, especially lifelong ones against your parents, is unhealthy.
The murder a fellow citizen is unlawful in all societies, with and without gods, while the slaughter of other nationalities is celebrated with medals and monuments. Jehova didn't invent this double standard.There's actually a longstanding Jewish understanding, spoken of throughout the Bible, of that as unlawful killing.
Coveting has nothing to do with health or jealousy. The commandment is about desire, greed and lust. People wanting each other's stuff is destabilizing to a society; it makes sense to discourage the tendency, just as it makes social sense to discourage lying and stealing. That's common sense and common law - not mortal sins.Jealousy is not healthy, whether of goods or wives.
You'd think He could have just said so. Saved a lot of stone.The Golden Rule is an encapsulation of many of the Ten.
Straw man...