I just had a conversation with someone about the "god of the Old Testament." Seems the individual cannot reconcile Jesus with the "god of the Old Testament" who is oh so judgemental. A lot of it had to do with the "putting of human attributes on God." Well, I have a little rejoinder to that sort of thinking.
Humanity is quite capable of evil, and in a grudging sense is often capable of doing good. Now, ask yourself this. If humanity behaved the way that Jesus behaved in the New Testament, would it be bad to "put human attributes on God?" Loving, forgiving, wise, just, self-sacrificial out of a pius love for others? I think any sane person would agree that saying that we are created in God's image and that we relate to God through shared psychological traits wouldn't be bad at all.
Yaweh, the God of Israel, is a jealous and judgemental god, but then all conceptions of deities with a moral pulse are judgemental. The crucial difference is that he offers us a way out that is in line with our nature. God knows our weakness and did all of the work himself. That's what amazes me continuously about God. He knows us, is similar to us and yet sacrificed so much to bring about an end to evil in the world in a way that is honorable.
Is God judgemental? Of course, but then so is all of humanity. However, with only one extreme exception, he will forgive anything and wash away the stain of the evil. Anyone may come to him and be forgiven. There are extremely few people who can come even within the same sport, let alone league or ballpark of that level of forgiveness. Keep that in mind the next time you read or think about the Old Testament and think, "damn this god is a judgemental ass." That same god foreshadowed in numerous places the degree of forgiveness that he was going to extend to humanity. It's a very simplistic reading that sees only fire and brimstone instead of the nuanced, loving god of the New Testament.
Well put. I've mused to myself that the reason Lucifer despises us is because we are literally made in the in the Likeness of God. In short, little effigies Old Scratch may trounce and bat around like a cat. God is judgemental, and God does not go back on His word, even for loved ones. Hence Satan's supposed victory in the Garden of Eden. Satan thought that he had the perfect revenge, to force God to forsake those he loved, or to become a liar, and contort Himself into image of Lucifer.
But alas, God turned the tables on the middle child of eternity (just think, "Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!"). He used Satan's(an apt name, as it's a derivitive of the old Semetic for laywer) own club against him, when He forced the Law to be reconciled against God made in the image and likneness of Man, in the form of Jesus Christ. Thus giving Him a way to keep those He wanted for Himself.
God's a smartass. You have to love Him.
God does indeed have that side to Him.
What amazes me about the people who get really pissed off about the idea of a judgemental god is that these are often the same people who get really upset about international injustices like what's going on in Darfur. Yet, when you bring up the idea that the Janjaweed may face eternal damnation for their genocidal attacks, they freak out. Must be hitting too close to home or something for them.
Secular-humanists fear acknowledgement of any higher axiology than that of philospher-kings, or the epistemology of anything other the furits of falsifiable-reproducibility.
It goes far to explain their curious world-view.
Great post, Mike. Keep up the good work.
What a bunch of crap. The only forgiveness of any request to `God' is of your own choosing. The benefit of a `God' is to allow man to obsolve himself of any blame for that which he feels compelled to ask forgiveness. Humanity has been given a scapegoat for all that is wrong in this world and its name is GOD!. I cannot speak to where we came from and how it has come to be but to put all the blame on a `God' for our inherant evilness is what promulgates it. `That's ok I can do anything evil that my mind can conjure up and all I have to do is ask for God's forgiveness and I am obsolved of any blame' But where has it been communicated of such absolution but in the mind of the evil doer. `God gave me foregiveness so I am free to do it again!' BULLSHIT you are all blind to the truth that the only true god is Man himself and until humanity comes to this truth he will continue to commit mortal sin in the name of GOD.
Have you ever... read any real scripture Joe? You sound like a complete ignoramus on the subject. Christianity does not preach that sort of forgiveness. The only time that sins are forgiven within the context of Christianity is when the sinner genuinely repents (which means in their heart turns away).
If you go on freely committing heinous crimes, then you never repented, according to scripture, and are still going to hell. "Sin now, confess later" as some Roman Catholics put it, doesn't work.
As to the sinning in God's name, there is a verse for that. "You shall not take the Lord's name in vain."