Nov 19 2008
The Face of God…
So, I’ve discussed Heaven and Hell , or my lack of belief in either.
It seems the next logical thing to discuss is my belief in “God”. Since I’m not shy, I shall. However, I remind you that, just because I discuss my own beliefs does not mean I reject or sneer at other beliefs. These are just mine.
In my mind, what God is is not as important as what He isn’t. I believe in a deity that is tolerant, understanding, forgiving, who loves all humans equally, a God who is not disturbed except by people hurting each other unnecessarily. And that’s it.
I don’t know (or care) if God is a he or she or if there are series of them, a conglomerate, even an entity that created “us” (or shaped the natural forces of creation - either way) and left us to our own devices. I don’t know if he’s associated with any of the famous prophets that have lived and initiated religions: Buddha, Mohamed, Jesus Christ, Abraham, but I would not be surprised if they all touched on some of the truth. How much, well…
What I seriously don’t think God is is petty, tyrannical, egocentric, vindictive, intolerant. I don’t think he (she/they) care what belief system someone has (or if) nor do they condone horrific behavior in someone who professes to a particular religion. I don’t think he answers every prayer. I don’t think, actually, that he interferes with us, at least not anymore, like a parent that has done what he could to prepare his children and then left them to fend for themselves. If he does get involved, it is only once in a while, when it serves the greater good.
I can’t imagine any reasonable deity that would allow “righteous” people to hurt/kill others but would turn his (her/their) on people that do good but don’t follow a particular religion.
That doesn’t mean that I tell anyone what to believe. Many have tried to convince me to that I’m wrong, that I risk “hell” if I don’t change the way I view things. Too bad. I would go to hell rather than give a petty tyrant God the satisfaction of my worship.
Good thing for me, I don’t believe it’s going to be an issue.
I think that if there is a God, He is likely mighty pissed at the things that so called Christians do in His name.
Y’ask me, bible thumpers and ~witnesses~ do more to push people away from having any sort of relationship with God than they do to encourage it - and that is just sad.
I get so irked by people that talk the talk - and that’s ALL they do.
You said a mouthful there. The sad thing is I know there are any number of fabulous people who are quietly Christian and think/act in accordance with his teaching, content in their beliefs without browbeating those that don’t agree with them.
But those aren’t the people we hear about. Instead, we hear about those that spout nothing but hatred in the name of God. What a pity!
Flit - right on. Some of the most evil people I’ve ever encountered are so-called Christians - the fundamentalists. They pretend to be concerned about others’ souls but their voices drip with gleeful venom when they suggest someone will go to hell if they don’t accept Christ. They condemn and judge and berate. Hypocrisy oozes from their pores, and they have managed to get around the biblical admonition against judging others by declaring themselves to be God’s representatives on earth (saints). I frickin’ hate these whackjobs, and if the Biblical idea of hell is correct, these people are in for an unpleasant surprise down the road.
I worked with a guy that claimed to be a Christian - he was the head of one of the food banks I was involved with for awhile.
All about praying for people and serving and …. BS. He was the most hypocritical bastard you’d ever (not) want to meet. Made me sick!
Well said. In fact, this all could’ve come out of my own mouth. This is why I have a problem with organized religion. Not everyone can be right, which means everyone is wrong. The Bah’ai religion (which I don’t know much about) seems to make the most sense, in that they acknowledge all of the big guns: Jesus, Moses, Allah, Buddah, etc, as being prophets. Not the Son of God or the almighty anything. Just wise teachers from whom we can all probably learn something.
I so hear you guys. Universal unitarians tend toward the same thing. I can’t understand anyone believing in a God who would turn his back on the majority of his children.