Why does God need a book?

[OnceConvinced]

The bible tells us about the Book of Life, which contains the names of those who have been saved and are going to Heaven. If your name does not appear you go to Hell. (Chick Tracts even have God asking the chief Angel "Does his name appear in the book of life?")

There are two issues I have with this (and topics for discussion):

1) If God is all knowing and he knows each of us personally, then why does he need a book to record our names? Santa doesn't need a book to know who's naughty and nice. He just knows. But God needs a book. Why does he need a book when he is all knowing?

2) Why a book? Wouldn't they have really amazing technology in Heaven? You'd think they'd have computers, perhaps even something superior to computers. If the bible had described some kind of metal box that contained all the names... or perhaps a flat round disk, that would go a long way to showing that the bible was divine and not just ancient man's ignorance. Imagine how huge the book would have to be! It would be mammoth. So why use a book rather than some other form of data storage?

Feel free to speculate, even if you have nothing solid.

[Mithrae]

Feel free to speculate, even if you have nothing solid.

Transparency and accountability? Surely many of the damned would demand to see that they are indeed being sent to the right place

[no1special]

[Replying to post 9 by Zzyzx]

Do you assume that story (or a bible story) is true if the writer claims it is true (as you said previously)?

I did not say I assume , I said I accept .

Do you assume that a person has not read the entire bible if they misquote it?

I did not say I assume , I said I realized .

Do you speculate about the existence of God (since that cannot be shown to be true)?

I do not speculate , I believe . You speculate about God's existence and for you to say it can not be shown to be true it would mean that you know everything .
There is a difference in meaning between the words believe , realize and the words assume and speculate .

[ThePainefulTruth]

[Replying to post 1 by OnceConvinced]

The metaphorical problem with the Book of Life isn't nearly as much a problem for me as the implication--that our fates are preordained, which begs the question, what the hell are we going through all this for? Then there's the problem of throwing all the people who aren't in the book into eternal suffering in the lake of fire. I mean, here are all the good guys at a banquet with God, knowing (and hearing) all that screaming and gnashing of teeth going on in hell. Doesn't simple oblivion make a lot more sense for the damned than the (suspiciously human) vindictive fear tactic of hell?

[Zzyzx]

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[Replying to post 9 by Zzyzx]
Your original question was...

Why does he need a book when he is all knowing?

Which one of the verses you mentioned above claims that He NEEDS a book ?

Notice that the "your original question" you quoted is NOT my question at all but the OP question by OC. He and I are not parts of a trinity.

Can you NOT answer the questions I asked "Who supposedly has the supposed book? What is its purpose? By whom is it used? Some seem to think that whoever controls access to "heaven" uses (consults, needs) the book. Who would that be?"

The passages I presented seem to provide answers to at least some of the questions. You have read the bible, haven't you? You were familiar with all of the quotes, weren't you?

[ttruscott]

...

Are you talking about the Bible or the Book of Life?

I'm sorry, you are right -between multi tasking and going to fast I did get the wrong idea.

1) If God is all knowing and he knows each of us personally, then why does he need a book to record our names? Santa doesn't need a book to know who's naughty and nice. He just knows. But God needs a book. Why does he need a book when he is all knowing?

2) Why a book? Wouldn't they have really amazing technology in Heaven? You'd think they'd have computers, perhaps even something superior to computers. If the bible had described some kind of metal box that contained all the names... or perhaps a flat round disk, that would go a long way to showing that the bible was divine and not just ancient man's ignorance. Imagine how huge the book would have to be! It would be mammoth. So why use a book rather than some other form of data storage?

I don't think this needs to be accepted as a real paper and ink book as it is kept in a spiritual place with no physical substance...it is a metaphor for HIS mind and thoughts about us that HE IS all knowing about us and does not forget.

Peace, Ted

[OnceConvinced]

[Replying to post 1 by OnceConvinced]

Why does he need a book when he is all knowing?

Who says God needs a book ? You , not the Bible . The Bible only says that there is a book of life while you assume God needs it .

Then why is there such a book if God doesn't need it? Why is God using this book at all? What purpose could it possibly have?

Does it bother you that God would use a book and not something more high tech like a computer database? Don't you think that a God would use something more high tech than a book?

[OnceConvinced]

I don't think this needs to be accepted as a real paper and ink book as it is kept in a spiritual place with no physical substance...it is a metaphor for HIS mind and thoughts about us that HE IS all knowing about us and does not forget.

Peace, Ted

Ah the old metaphor excuse. If it doesn't make sense, then turn it into a Metaphor. The Apologists way of getting out of a sticky corner.

That does seem reasonable I suppose, if it was indeed intended as a metaphor. I don't think I buy it though. I think any person reading would presume it was a real book being talked about, just as Christians typically do. Really, why would God throw a metaphor in when one isn't needed? The bible could just say that God keeps a record of the names. Really, that would be more sensible, because as it stands at the moment, this notion of a book being used (and not something more high tech) is damning evidence to me that the Bible is not God's word, but the word of ignorant man. It would be the same for many others too. It's things like this that really undermine the integrity of Bible.

[1213]

1) If God is all knowing and he knows each of us personally, then why does he need a book to record our names? Santa doesn't need a book to know who's naughty and nice. He just knows. But God needs a book. Why does he need a book when he is all knowing?

Actually also the works are written in those books.

I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and they opened books. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev. 20:12

But why? I don’t know. I think there can be good reasons for that. For example it may be easier for people to check the reasons for their judgment.

Why a book? Wouldn't they have really amazing technology in Heaven? You'd think they'd have computers, perhaps even something superior to computers.

Bible doesn’t really describe what kind of books they are. They could be some kind of advanced eBooks. However, traditional book is actually very good, it does not need electricity and it is quite ecological material. Computers are not as eco friendly and durable.

[ttruscott]

I don't think this needs to be accepted as a real paper and ink book as it is kept in a spiritual place with no physical substance...it is a metaphor for HIS mind and thoughts about us that HE IS all knowing about us and does not forget.

Peace, Ted

Ah the old metaphor excuse. If it doesn't make sense, then turn it into a Metaphor. The Apologists way of getting out of a sticky corner.

...

What is there about the metaphor that does not exactly say what we suppose is meant and if you reject it, wouldn't Christianity have to believe that the only physical thing in GOD's heavenly palace is a book?? No one believes that that I ever heard of,

peace, Ted

[OnceConvinced]

I don't think this needs to be accepted as a real paper and ink book as it is kept in a spiritual place with no physical substance...it is a metaphor for HIS mind and thoughts about us that HE IS all knowing about us and does not forget.

Peace, Ted

Ah the old metaphor excuse. If it doesn't make sense, then turn it into a Metaphor. The Apologists way of getting out of a sticky corner.

...

What is there about the metaphor that does not exactly say what we suppose is meant and if you reject it, wouldn't Christianity have to believe that the only physical thing in GOD's heavenly palace is a book?? No one believes that that I ever heard of,

peace, Ted

I'm sure there's more than just books there, but I'm betting the Christians of 2000 years ago had no problem with the concept of God using a literal book to keep the names in. They wouldn't have anticipated billions of names needing to be entered as they expected Christ to return in their life times and had no real idea just how big the world was. A book would seem quite reasonable in a day and age where there were no computers and the known world was only 2 or 3 continents.

When I was younger the idea of a book being used was quite rational to me. It was rational to other Christians too, but that was long before computers became widespread. These days it seems less logical, so when someone now suddenly claims that "book of life" might be a metaphor, it's very hard not to be cynical.