Hi all,
It occurred to me that when everything is going badly in life that 'believing (against the evidence) that God is good' is a very good psychological protection mechanism from despair and nihilism.
Without believing in a good God, there is really no reason to believe that life should not be the way it is.
Does anyone want to give some reasons for or against this?
is 'believing (against the evidence) that God is good' is a very good psychological protection mechanism from despair?
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is 'believing (against the evidence) that God is good' is a very good psychological protection mechanism from despair?
Post #1Proverbs 18:17 The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.
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"Why is everyone so quick to reason God might be petty. Now that is creating God in our own image ."
Member Notes: viewtopic.php?t=33826
"Why is everyone so quick to reason God might be petty. Now that is creating God in our own image ."
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Re: is 'believing (against the evidence) that God is good' is a very good psychological protection mechanism from despai
Post #71[Replying to TRANSPONDER in post #7]A
The god of the NT may have talked nicer but consider this: The god of the OT gave us Hades, the abode of the dead. But Jesus gave us eternal suffering in The Lake of Fire. Not a very nice thing to do.
The god of the NT may have talked nicer but consider this: The god of the OT gave us Hades, the abode of the dead. But Jesus gave us eternal suffering in The Lake of Fire. Not a very nice thing to do.
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Re: is 'believing (against the evidence) that God is good' is a very good psychological protection mechanism from despai
Post #72But what does "eternal suffering" mean, if those who are in hell (Gehenna) are destroyed as the Bible tells?amortalman wrote: ↑Tue Jun 14, 2022 7:45 pm [Replying to TRANSPONDER in post #7]A
The god of the NT may have talked nicer but consider this: The god of the OT gave us Hades, the abode of the dead. But Jesus gave us eternal suffering in The Lake of Fire. Not a very nice thing to do.
"And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. "
Matt. 10:28
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Re: is 'believing (against the evidence) that God is good' is a very good psychological protection mechanism from despai
Post #73I see your Bible quote that says one thing, and raise you 2 others that say something else (I know, shocking to have contradiction)1213 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 15, 2022 3:41 pmBut what does "eternal suffering" mean, if those who are in hell (Gehenna) are destroyed as the Bible tells?amortalman wrote: ↑Tue Jun 14, 2022 7:45 pm [Replying to TRANSPONDER in post #7]A
The god of the NT may have talked nicer but consider this: The god of the OT gave us Hades, the abode of the dead. But Jesus gave us eternal suffering in The Lake of Fire. Not a very nice thing to do.
"And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. "
Matt. 10:28
Bolding mine
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?s ... ersion=NIV
Daniel 12:2
And to make it more ironic, here's are friend 'Matthew' a little while later:Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?s ... ersion=NIV
Matthew 18:8
Isn't it fun how we can support opposite ideas with the Bible? I call it "Choose your own theology, there's plenty to go around".If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire.
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Re: is 'believing (against the evidence) that God is good' is a very good psychological protection mechanism from despai
Post #74Yes, they say something else, but nothing that is in contradiction with Matt. 10:28. "Eternal fire" or "everlasting contempt" can mean that one is utterly destroyed.benchwarmer wrote: ↑Wed Jun 15, 2022 5:33 pmI see your Bible quote that says one thing, and raise you 2 others that say something else (I know, shocking to have contradiction)1213 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 15, 2022 3:41 pmBut what does "eternal suffering" mean, if those who are in hell (Gehenna) are destroyed as the Bible tells?amortalman wrote: ↑Tue Jun 14, 2022 7:45 pm [Replying to TRANSPONDER in post #7]A
The god of the NT may have talked nicer but consider this: The god of the OT gave us Hades, the abode of the dead. But Jesus gave us eternal suffering in The Lake of Fire. Not a very nice thing to do.
"And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. "
Matt. 10:28
Bolding mine
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?s ... ersion=NIV
Daniel 12:2And to make it more ironic, here's are friend 'Matthew' a little while later:Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?s ... ersion=NIV
Matthew 18:8Isn't it fun how we can support opposite ideas with the Bible? I call it "Choose your own theology, there's plenty to go around".If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire.
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Re: is 'believing (against the evidence) that God is good' is a very good psychological protection mechanism from despai
Post #75Can "eternal life" also mean alive for just a little while?
My pronouns are he, him, and his.