Two Gods seen in the Bible

by Ireneus 21 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  Ireneus

  A careful reader of the Bible can see depiction of two Gods in the Bible—one that of a loving Father figure, and the other an impulsive sort of who has been copied thoughtlessly from other cultures.
  

  1) God of love (as seen in Genesis chapter 1) who creates humans (men and woman simultaneously) “in His image” (which means He gave the best He can to His children, the potential to become like Him) as a crown of creation with a command to take care of all species, and goes into silence unconcerned of mankind’s response [gratitude or worship] to Him, yet with a presupposition to “renew” in case humans deplete/destroy the resources (Mathew 19:28; Revelation 21:1-5). Thus God’s action defines Him as “the servant of humanity.” (Luke 22:26, 27) This is in contrast to the second God (as seen in Genesis chapter 2 and 3 and throughout other books) who makes the planning for suffering and death for humans in co-operation with His adversary.

  2) God of impartiality (Deut 10:17; Mathew 5:44-48) who asks us to love/greet everyone. This is in contrast to the second God who commands His worshippers not even to greet those who do not share their beliefs. (2John 1:10)

  3) God of tender mercies who hates all sorts of sacrifices (Mathew 9:13; Jeremiah 6:20; 7:31; Psalm 50:9, 10; Isaiah 1:11-13) and killings (Isaiah 66:3) because He knows the workings of human body, as confirmed by Centre for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education at Stanford: ‘When people act in a compassionate way, pleasure circuits get activated in their brain which leads to a feeling of increased wellbeing, joy and optimism and drives away several physical and psychological ailments.’ [http://ccare.stanford.edu/] This God is in contrast to the second God who makes elaborate provisions for ‘revenge and killings’ (Numbers 31:17, 18) and sacrifices for anything and everything (Ex, Lev, Num, and Deut …) who uses killing to test even his faithful one (He commanded Abraham to kill his only son—in view of the trauma that presents to the child, it was a barbaric act even though test was aborted before its climax).

  The former can only be discovered through discernment as it is given in low profile whereas the latter is invented by theologians and human writers. No wonder, the image of second God (which forms the bulk of Bible) alienated many thinking people like Thomas Alva Edison who said: "I do not believe in the God of the theologians; but that there is a Supreme Intelligence I do not doubt." (The Freethinker, British Magazine, 1970) It is the depiction of this second God that made some say “A peaceful atheist is far more spiritual than a hateful believer.”
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  Drearyweather

  Rather than two God's for me it is the case of a person with supreme authorities having different shades of personalities.

  Maybe like the judge of a Supreme court, who at his home loves his 20-year-old son very much. However, when the son commits a serious crime and is brought before the judge in the court (who is the father), his father hands over a severe sentence to him to satisfy the law. (The law transcends family relationships).
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  venus

  Second God’s view of woman is like that of King Henry VIII who had an illusion that only a son will save England. When his wife, Anne, gave birth to a girl, he still tried for more marriages to have a son which set in motion for a series of disasters like beheading of Anne. Yet history showed Anne’s daughter, Elizabeth, was one of the greatest rulers of England, despite her not being the son, but a daughter.

  Second God treats woman as good for nothing. (1 Timothy 2:11-15) Yet no other book has influenced me like You can heal your life, written by Lousie L Hay, a woman, with an incredible insight into the workings of body and mind. It is a book I read daily, even though I am familiar with its contents.
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  Amelia Ashton

  I never saw God as giving humans the best he could. I always wondered why many animals have superior hearing and sight to us. Why did he minimise our running capabilities to be far inferior to any of the big cats. Why could our offspring not be independent at birth like fish or even grow in an external egg so child birth complications would be reduced. Why did he not foresee denying us the ability to fly would cause us to invent planet polluting machines to carry us instead. I do not feel as a grand designer, humans, his supposedly pièce de résistance is his best effort at all. Don't even get me started on the personal waste disposal system he gave us. :P
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  Ireneus

  Drearyweather

  It is two Gods because one commands for all sorts of sacrifices, and the other benevolent God says ‘I have not authorized any of those sacrifices’ (Jeremiah 7:22, 31; 8:8)
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  Ireneus

  Amelia Ashton

  You are looking at the fallen state of affairs of mankind and making these comments. In the pre-fallen state, humans could have been far better than what we are now. Regarding other species excelling in certain areas in comparison to humans, you are making category error—it is like asking ‘why can’t trees fly?’ Each species is unique contributing to the variety and beauty of the nature. Among all the species, you can see some general divisions—species with one sense, species with two senses, three senses, four senses, and five senses. But when it comes to humans, they have six senses—touch (pressure), hearing, seeing, smelling, taste, and intuitive/inventive thinking. You will note lower species do not have what we have—intuition, ability to come up with revolutionary ideas and reasoning, ability to design sophisticated machines …etc.
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  DATA-DOG

  The “fallen state” is nothing more than a myth. Adam and Eve didn’t go to the bathroom? Lol!

  We are “a little lower” than angels, or 98% related to Bonobos..

  Religions that have the core teaching of “fallen humanity” are poisonous to the soul. There is nothing more than being human, and spending your life trying to deny what you are is the path to bigotry, judgmental thinking, hatred for oneself and others, frustration, depression and ultimately madness.

  DD
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  Ireneus

  DATA-DOG

  I used the phrase “fallen state” in the sense that humans could have been better in the past than us today. We make improvement only in technology, not in our behavior pattern. If one’s blood pressure is increasing day by day, we know that it is not a good sign. Similarly, our nations are becoming stronger and stronger as the time passes by assuring Mutually Assured Destruction with the latest being the introduction of Poseidon, the world destroyer, from Russia—https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a22537135/russias-nuclear-tsunami-apocalypse-torpedo-is-named-poseidon/).

  Even when we make improvements in technology, later we find it was not at all a progress. For example, cell phones used by almost everyone now. Its irregular microwave pulses create disturbing patterns on functional MRI studies. There have been studies that say cell phone microwave energy is often toxic to brain cells.

  Lyon, France, May 31, 2011 — The WHO/International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B), based on an increased risk for glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer associated with wireless phone use. Int Agency Research on Cancer 2011

  In summary, this study provides evidence that in humans RF-EMF exposure from cell phone use affects brain function, as shown by the regional increases in metabolic activity. It also documents that the observed effects were greatest in brain regions that had the highest amplitude of RF-EMF emissions (for the specific cell phones used in this study and their position relative to the head when in use), which suggests that the metabolic increases are secondary to the absorption of RF-EMF energy emitted by the cell phone. Further studies are needed to assess if these effects could have potential long-term harmful consequences. Jama Network 2011

  There are many more: https://bigthink.com/laurie-vazquez/6-scientists-who-regret-their-greatest-inventions

  If you say “fallen state” is a myth, opposite camp can say what you say is also a myth as theories are bound to receive jolt occasionally like this: “Mysterious ancient humans with brains like modern people.” https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/ancient-humans-homo-naledi-brains-intelligence-evolution-behaviour-a8351451.html
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  OrphanCrow

  Ireneus: I used the phrase “fallen state” in the sense that humans could have been better in the past than us today.

  "Could have been" is the basis of myth. "Could have" is a speculative position

  We make improvement only in technology, not in our behavior pattern.

  How do you know that? How do you know that "we do not make improvement in our behavior pattern?"

  Even when we make improvements in technology, later we find it was not at all a progress.

  Improvements in medical technology have increased our life spans greatly. That is progress. Improvements in communication technology is progress. Improvements in transportation technology is progress.

  You are making sweeping generalizations that are not grounded in facts. You are grounded in mythological thinking.

  
  
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  DATA-DOG

  Humans were not better in the past then we are now. They weren’t better physically, they weren’t better mentally, and they weren’t better as far as their behavior is concerned. All we have to do is look at history.

  Each generation of humanity getting weaker, or humans being of better quality in the past is also a myth. Humanity is better now than it ever has been, our real problem is that we are very intelligent, but sometimes not too wise. There are too many of us, and we are not taking responsibility for the way we are affecting our planet.

  As a Taoist, I believe we are just part of a giant self regulating system called the universe. When any species over populates and ruins its own environment, there will be an accounting at some point. It’s inevitable.

  That will be the Armageddon, or the paradigm shift, or the new age that everyone talks about. In the meantime we could be hit by a meteor or a super volcano could blow.

  DD