Posts by unsure

48

God of the Old Testament

by unsure in

to those on these forums who are christian and or to those who believe in the god of the old testament; how does one overcome many of the questionable actions god took or allowed to happen in the old testament?.

many if not most of us have heard of criticisms of the god of the old testament.

you can find these criticisms on many websites.. how do you explain to an honest hearted person why god acted the way they did?.

unsure

@Cold Steel

The Bible says God is love and that we were created in his image. If our human compassion and love (in God's image) can lead us to question some of the actions of God in the Bible, surely we can't be faulted for questioning it.

On top of all the other faith we need to beleive in which God, within which religion is the right one we are also expected to have faith in God's actions and not question them?

See my other thread asking "why does it have to be this complicated?"

https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/5631312687792128/there-evidence-creator-if-you-just-look

48

God of the Old Testament

by unsure in

to those on these forums who are christian and or to those who believe in the god of the old testament; how does one overcome many of the questionable actions god took or allowed to happen in the old testament?.

many if not most of us have heard of criticisms of the god of the old testament.

you can find these criticisms on many websites.. how do you explain to an honest hearted person why god acted the way they did?.

unsure

@Cold Steel said:
"God, on the other hand, views atheists as children who reach outrageous and exceedingly foolish conclusions based on inadequate understandings of all facets having to do with any given situation."

Atheists are very intelligent and base their viewpoints on facts rather than faith and confirmation bias.

Some of the greatest minds in human history are atheist.

The existence of a God cannot be proven.

I'm sorry, I want to believe and on some days I do, but I accept that I have no evidence to base this beleif on, only faith. To do otherwise would be lying to myself.

48

God of the Old Testament

by unsure in

to those on these forums who are christian and or to those who believe in the god of the old testament; how does one overcome many of the questionable actions god took or allowed to happen in the old testament?.

many if not most of us have heard of criticisms of the god of the old testament.

you can find these criticisms on many websites.. how do you explain to an honest hearted person why god acted the way they did?.

unsure

I hope that it is that we are too limited as human beings to understand God's purpose or thinking. It's the only way I can accept the God of the Old Testament and the Bible as a whole. I want to beleive in a God and it's the only explanation at this time that will allow me to believe.

48

God of the Old Testament

by unsure in

to those on these forums who are christian and or to those who believe in the god of the old testament; how does one overcome many of the questionable actions god took or allowed to happen in the old testament?.

many if not most of us have heard of criticisms of the god of the old testament.

you can find these criticisms on many websites.. how do you explain to an honest hearted person why god acted the way they did?.

unsure

A few of us have given examples of questionable actions in the Old Testament.

To those who take the Old Testament literally, why did God make those decisions?

41

Where do I go now?

by Libby in

jw
friends

so i thought my purpose was to serve jehovah and get baptised.

where do i go now to get baptised?

is baptism even a requirement for serving god or was that just for the disciples and people of that time.

unsure

@Libby

Very welcome. I'm happy I came across your post.

41

Where do I go now?

by Libby in

jw
friends

so i thought my purpose was to serve jehovah and get baptised.

where do i go now to get baptised?

is baptism even a requirement for serving god or was that just for the disciples and people of that time.

unsure

@Libby

I can sympathize with you and am sorry for what you are going through.

Most days I'm agnostic and some days I'm atheist. Many days I feel empty and that life is pointless and meaningless. Other days I try and have a hope in something.

Sometimes I pray to whatever is out there. In my prayers I confess that I don't understand their purpose, let alone which is the true religion. Sometimes I give thanks although I confess that I don't understand why I'm blessed in certain ways while others have nothing; I feel like a hypocrite. Sometimes I apologize for my sins although I don't understand why I should apologize and why God is testing us and allowing suffering in the first place. I ask that whatever is out there, reveal itself to me.

That is the way I pray. I open up my heart, try to humble myself, and wait.

Hope that helps.

48

God of the Old Testament

by unsure in

to those on these forums who are christian and or to those who believe in the god of the old testament; how does one overcome many of the questionable actions god took or allowed to happen in the old testament?.

many if not most of us have heard of criticisms of the god of the old testament.

you can find these criticisms on many websites.. how do you explain to an honest hearted person why god acted the way they did?.

unsure

I sometimes do think that yes, my human understanding is limited and God has a higher purpose I can't comprehend, but God should not hold it against people if they get angry at, or do not believe in him/her.

We should not be forced to worship or beleive in God if our personal logic and critical thinking skills do not allow for it.

And yes, taking away the possibility of living forever if we do not beleive/worship a God is forcing worship.

48

God of the Old Testament

by unsure in

to those on these forums who are christian and or to those who believe in the god of the old testament; how does one overcome many of the questionable actions god took or allowed to happen in the old testament?.

many if not most of us have heard of criticisms of the god of the old testament.

you can find these criticisms on many websites.. how do you explain to an honest hearted person why god acted the way they did?.

unsure

@Saved_JW

Appreciate the effort but all the points you are making are exactly the same as I've encountered before on Christian websites. They are apologist arguments.

48

God of the Old Testament

by unsure in

to those on these forums who are christian and or to those who believe in the god of the old testament; how does one overcome many of the questionable actions god took or allowed to happen in the old testament?.

many if not most of us have heard of criticisms of the god of the old testament.

you can find these criticisms on many websites.. how do you explain to an honest hearted person why god acted the way they did?.

unsure

@David_Jay

A human parent cannot be equally used in an illustration to explain an infinitely powerful being with the ability to do anything. However, if we are going to do so, a human father will do all he can to remove the smallest amount of suffering from their children.

Why can't this heavenly father remove suffering from his very creation?

The book of Isaiah describes God's love.

Genesis says we were created in his image.

If God is loving and we were created in his image, how can I not hold God to this expectation?

Let's say God isn't as loving; if so then why is he worthy of recognition?

Yes suffering can have a moral quality to it when you have the power to stop it.

Yes, suffering is incompatible with God when they have the power to stop it and remove it from creation. Yes suffering is an indicator of benevolence when God has the power to remove it.

48

God of the Old Testament

by unsure in

to those on these forums who are christian and or to those who believe in the god of the old testament; how does one overcome many of the questionable actions god took or allowed to happen in the old testament?.

many if not most of us have heard of criticisms of the god of the old testament.

you can find these criticisms on many websites.. how do you explain to an honest hearted person why god acted the way they did?.

unsure

@David_Jay

If there was no fall of man out of God's favor it means that the universe as it is now is as intended by God. It is full of suffering. Why would a loving God design it this way? It doesn't seem right. Christianity tries to explain suffering (but still fails in my opinion) through the fall of man.

Either way, if this God really cared surely they could have conceived a better design without the need to test us.

As brought out, this life is not always a gift to many. I have to take a high dosage of anxiety/anti-depressant medication just to function. The last time I tried to live without it, I had a severe, lengthy mental breakdown. Even now, on the medication, some days it is just enough to survive let alone enjoy life and see it as a gift.

I can't imagine what it is like for those even less fortunate than me.