Jesus' Return

[William]

If there is one belief that seems to thread throughout Christian beliefs as commonly shared, it is that of the return of Jesus.

In pondering on this idea, I am left wondering as to the relevance of it as a belief to hold in today's day and age.

I can understand that up to the age of technology and especially this age of information [the information age] such a belief would not have been able to be easily regarded as overly questionable, but with our current knowledge of the universe we can understand that should the promised event happen, people would be more inclined to regard it as explainable in terms of our current knowledge.

What this means is that if an army of beings descended upon the planet, we would naturally understand these as being extraterrestrial.

In regard to that, we would also be less likely to believe any claims that they were our creators in the sense of having to proclaim them as 'gods' and their leader as 'god' or the representative thereof. In this case, Jesus.

If indeed these beings then got about 'cleaning up the world' of the corrupt war-mongering humans in positions of power, and set up a workable system in which parity becomes the normal, and gave peace a chance, there would still be no reason to worship these beings, (or the single leader) as if they were gods.

If we look at it another way - say humans were the ET and did this to another planetary species - would we not simply consider this to be something we decided we ought to do, and discourage the planets people from worshiping us?

Sure, we would not scorn their respect, and their gratefulness for us using our superior technology and power to overcome those who suppressed them and kept them engaged in systems of disparity, but there would be no reason for us to condone, let alone make it a stipulation that they ought worship us as gods.

Yet the belief through Christian doctrine clearly tells us that this is a stipulation, and those who do not agree to it will be separated from those who do.

It seems to me that there would be a problem with today's current population accepting such stipulation on the grounds that the opportunity afforded by the ET allow for the ability to build a system of parity doesn't and shouldn't require any of us worship the ET as gods. If it did, then the only reason they 'saved' us was so that they could become our new masters, and blackmail us with either accepting their terms or going without.

Q: In relation to the above, how would you respond to ET demanding you worship them as gods, and why?

[marco]

[Replying to post 6 by marco]

In relation to the OPQ;

Q: How would you respond to ET demanding you worship them as gods, and why?

I answered the question by referring to an actual situation where ET was called Cortez, and his approach was to let the natives think he was a god and take advantage of it. If I personally were ET and found myself on terra nova then I would probably say: 'ET wants to go home.' I'd be flattered to be considered a god, of course and, like Cortez, take full advantage.


If Jesus does present himself, it is likely he'll be mistaken for ET and face a line of tanks.

[William]

[Replying to post 11 by marco]

You are answering the Q from the position of if you were the ET.

The Q is;

Q: How would you respond to ET demanding you worship them as gods, and why?

[marco]

How would you respond to ET demanding you worship them as gods, and why?

I'm sorry - I didn't realise I was under exam conditions, William. The virtue of answering in a different fashion is not to seek irrelevance, but to point out that there are many ways of seeing the same problem.


If something came to Earth demanding it be treated as God, then discretion would weigh the situation up to see what disadvantage might accrue were I not to comply. In his first appearance Jesus didn't demand worship; in his second coming he might and if indeed he appears on a cloud, carrying an old-fashioned sword, a gladius perhaps made in Rome, then I will not only worship him but sing the Divine Praises three times.


I hope I have at least obtained a pass. Go well.

[William]

[Replying to post 13 by marco]

I'm sorry - I didn't realise I was under exam conditions, William.

As a moderator marco, you are aware of the rules and how to example following them. All I was doing was trying to help by reminding you. "Keep to the OP topic".

If something came to Earth demanding it be treated as God, then discretion would weigh the situation up to see what disadvantage might accrue were I not to comply...

Why? (That was part of the OPQ)

...In his first appearance Jesus didn't demand worship; in his second coming he might and if indeed he appears on a cloud, carrying an old-fashioned sword, a gladius perhaps made in Rome, then I will not only worship him but sing the Divine Praises three times.

Why?

[marco]

[Replying to post 13 by marco]

I'm sorry - I didn't realise I was under exam conditions, William.

As a moderator marco, you are aware of the rules and how to example following them. All I was doing was trying to help by reminding you. "Keep to the OP topic".

I have not infringed any rules; I gave an answer which I considered appropriate to the OP. It may not have been the expected answer but I am not a mind reader. I continue to believe that my incursion into Spanish South America exemplified the scenario imaginatively outlined in the OP. Ergo, relevant.

The remainder of my response was an attempt to return the situation to accustomed good humour, but obviously there's only one answer. Not knowing it, I shall leave it and ET there.

[William]

[Replying to post 15 by marco]

Okay. So the reader can assume by this response that one is unable to answer the question as to WHY one would bow down to the demands of the oppressive.

Should the reader suppose 'just because' as adequate and answer?

Perhaps then, the answer is simply that. "It is just how atheists do things in the face of adversity." There is no 'why' - it just is. Fair enough.

Thanks for contributing that marco.

[tam]

Peace to you both.

I could be misunderstanding, but it seems to me that Marco did give a reason:

If something came to Earth demanding it be treated as God, then discretion would weigh the situation up to see what disadvantage might accrue were I not to comply.

So Marco might do this to avoid certain kinds of harm or disadvantages (as he saw fit).


Peace again!

[William]

[Replying to post 17 by tam]

The OPQ is not only about what one would do but why one would do what one would do.

iow WHY would discretion weigh the situation up to see what disadvantage might accrue were one not to comply.

[1213]

... If it did, then the only reason they 'saved' us was so that they could become our new masters, and blackmail us with either accepting their terms or going without.

Q: In relation to the above, how would you respond to ET demanding you worship them as gods, and why?

I believe there will come time, when ET comes and demands worshiping. I believe he should not be worshiped.

Reason why I wouldnt want to do that is, I want to be loyal to Bible God, who doesnt demand worshiping. He expects people to be righteous and those who are, will have eternal life as a gift.

These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.
Mat. 25:46

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23

[William]

[Replying to post 19 by 1213]

I believe there will come time, when ET comes and demands worshiping. I believe he should not be worshiped.

Reason why I wouldnt want to do that is, I want to be loyal to Bible God, who doesnt demand worshiping. He expects people to be righteous and those who are, will have eternal life as a gift.

It is interesting that you argue that the bible GOD demands no worship, which appears contrary to biblical writ.

For example;

Philippians 2;
9 Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Definitely shown here to be the medium between the peoples worship and 'God the Father.'