Alright, Jehovah Exists - Why Worship Him?

[Purple Knight]

Let's assume the God of the Bible exists. Taking aside that he has named himself God, why is he God?

What makes an entity God?

And if this entity exists, why worship him?

[JehovahsWitness]

In that case you're saying that if there was some great follower of the Devil's, who could help the Devil's cause ... Satan endured some great risk or pain to save him, well, that's just not real love.

Not real love is not love at all. You don't really love your new computer because you did not obtain it without cost, you simply value it for what it can do for you. It is an object to be used and disregarded once it is no longer of use. If you mourn its passing it is really nothing more than the self centered displeasure of the inconvenience of having to get a replacement.

[Purple Knight]

I disagree; he can always be cruel[/color], he just doesn't always have to appear to be cruel. A pedophile can give a child you candy or help it with its homework, but if the act is in preparation for a rape it is cruel, it ks not a good act its a lying, manipulative act.

Taken together, it is. But the pedo knows how to commit a kind act, otherwise he would just start off with rape and wouldn't even know how to give candy.

Child wants candy. I want rape child. Idea: Give candy, then rape.

This can never develop into genuine empathy but the way is there.

In that case you're saying that if there was some great follower of the Devil's, who could help the Devil's cause ... Satan endured some great risk or pain to save him, well, that's just not real love.

Not real love is not love at all. You don't really love your new computer because you did not obtain it without cost, you simply value it for what it can do for you. It is an object to be used and disregarded once it is no longer of use. If you mourn its passing it is really nothing more than the self centered displeasure of the inconvenience of having to get a replacement.

Oddly I am not attached to my computer in this way, and about that you'd be right; I'd upgrade without feeling a thing... but I was attached to my old car, a 1998 Chevy Cavalier. It became unfeasible to keep fixing it and that upset me because I preferred to have that one, rather than another, newer, better one to which I was not attached.

Maybe the Devil wouldn't do this. But maybe he would get attached simply because that's how you get the greatest benefit out of this machine called a person. Maybe the Devil would only pretend to it, but then I have to ask at what level is he pretending as opposed to the level at which the rest of us are pretending.

I remember this post and thought a lot about it. Is love selfless? Would any of us love the people who are nothing but cruel to us, in the same way we do the people who are kind to us? If the nature of the relationship would change at all, I have to conclude that we, also, are just trying to get something out of it. But also that that's fine, because when people love each other, even if both are, at some level, faking it, they both benefit. And when one party becomes abusive, we don't say, stay with him, show your love is unconditional, we say instead, get the heck away from that scuz-bucket.

I'm not going to lie, I love my grandma. I'm a good grandson.

She is old and, like many good grannies in her age bracket at least, believes in Jesus and so forth. She doesn't believe in hell though (or has pondered most any of the dogmas making up Christianity -- hers is an exceedingly simple faith), and in general tries to see the best in people. I am tied by affection to her and know I would hate to lose her.

Anyway, I have had recurring disturbing dreams of her telling me that I am a good for nothing and destined for hell. Even though this is completely out of step with her actual character, in my dream I cannot help but be affected. I feel both chastised and resentful of her for telling me this in my dreams. It got me thinking: would my affection in real life be changed if she all of a sudden had this alteration in her views? Well, to some extent, of course. Whereas before I felt nothing but unconditional love from her, to suppose I would be slammed with "you're going to hell no matter what" is a real hard pill to swallow for anyone.

This really cuts into the quality of love for another, whether that love is selfless or not.

[Willum]

[Replying to JehovahsWitness in post #37]

So funny for several reasons:
This forum doesn't use scripture as a definitive source.
You know scripture does not go into the Hebrew language.

Caught out again, in the name of the lord.

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to JehovahsWitness in post #37]

So funny for several reasons:
This forum doesn't use scripture as a definitive source.
You know scripture does not go into the Hebrew language.

Caught out again, in the name of the lord.

Half of scrupture was written in the Hebrew language and the other half referenced the first on numerous occassions. If we want to understand how the bible writers (in either the Hebrew or Greek language) used words, then a good knowledge how the words were used in vontext of their own scripture is essential. In that we are indeed looking to the etymology of the words.

Did you want a bible reference ?

[JehovahsWitness]

Is love selfless?

Biblically agap (godly) love is. According to the bible, this kind of love is however a fruitage of the spirit and incomprehensible to the infidel.

JW

[Athetotheist]

Is love selfless?

Biblically agap (godly) love is. According to the bible, this kind of love is however a fruitage of the spirit and incomprehensible to the infidel.

JW

So the Bible says that no one who bases their spiritual belief on anything other than the Bible is capable of loving selflessly?

Do you think that's true?

[Willum]

[Replying to JehovahsWitness in post #44]

No, not at all. I know precisely, and if you were to write some weak vacillation, and I quoted a direct source, wed just be compromising you again.

We all know whatever "scriptures" you post will be ambiguous at best.

Just in the future, dont make claims you cant back up.

[JehovahsWitness]

Half of scrupture was written in the Hebrew language and the other half referenced the first on numerous occassions. If we want to understand how the bible writers (in either the Hebrew or Greek language) used words, then a good knowledge how the words were used in context of their own scripture is essential. In that we are indeed looking to the etymology of the words.

Did you want a bible reference ?

[Replying to JehovahsWitness in post #44]

No, not at all.

Fair enough. Then have an excellent weekend,


Goodbye,


JEHOVAH'S WITNESS

[Willum]

[Replying to JehovahsWitness in post #48]

Ah, cherry-picking, in the Bible or in life, a favored way to prove deception is the way of the Lord.

[JoeyKnothead]

How many ways are there to relate to a superior?

A good bunch.

A father is obeyed while we are children, because he is an adult with more experience and knowledge, because he caused us life and supports us financially, and because he is the "strongest" member of a normal family.

Implies libian parents ain't worthy of em no respect.

Beyond that, not all fathers are worthy of respect.

A superior in the chain of command in the army is obeyed as a matter of order and discipline.

Only when issuing legal commands.

Military superiors know matters that others in the chain do not know and in turn carry out orders from superiors to them, for the good of the nation and its interests.

-cough- Flynn -cough-

Similarly, in a workplace, the rules established by the business owners are respected and obeyed. If it is a private business, the owners were the creators, the ones who gave us a job, and we know that if we don't respect them, then they would fire us.

How I know you've never managed folks in the workplace.

In the current environment many employers're reticent to fire folks, for fear of not being able to replace em.

God created us in the first place.

It's easier to make biscuits outta asteroids than to put truth to this'n.

Not only that, he also prepared the earth before creating us so that we did not lack anything that would satisfy our needs.

Or this'n.

He also gave us gifts like colors and flavors ... things that we really didn't even eed to survive as a species.

Or this'n.

He made us in his image by giving us awareness and appreciation for beauty.

4.

He still keeps the human race alive, because despite the disorder that some governments, institutions and prominent people of the world have caused throughout the planet, he continues to maintain the process that he created to sustain life on the planet.

5.

It is He who continues to maintain the stable atmosphere, breathable air, the earth producing food and liquid for us to drink and enjoy life.

6.

It was not men who invented air, food or water ... he was the Creator.

7.

What should we do when we recognize that we were so magnificently created?

Seek help for our faulty thought processeseses.

The first thing that comes to mind is to be grateful and find a good way to prove it.

Cool.

We await your proving your various above referenced claims..

That we might be grateful right along with ya.