Bobzammel

I've always found this Christian doctrine kind of strange. Christians claim that their primary relationship is with God and all other relationships are completely secondary or just branches of love for God(Meaning if God said to kill the other person, they probably would).
There are of course, problems with this. First, God obviously does not talk at all to his believers-except a few who claim that he does in some form, like the old Testament prophets or what not. These people usually post the web with "divine" prophecies which fail even more often than the regular prophecies. Plus the no-talking from the other side makes the relationship rather one-sided, like an imaginery friend. Plus this viewpoint of "God being the sole object of affection" tends to foster a rather inhumane attitude in many Christians. Interestingly, the "first commandment" instantly terminates the second. If you love God with every fiber of your being, is there any at all left for your neibhor?
God never communicates his exact will. How is the believer suppossed to know what God's will is? Since God does not talk, they rely mainly on "their" conscience and "their" interpetation of the scriptures--in other words, what they view as the "will" of God. This has led, of course, to almost nothing but trouble.
Many people think they feel "the spirit" but this could be influenced by anything. Plus this has led to the pentecostals with their trances and magic tricks. If a person feels they are "walking in the spirit" what is to be said that they're not walking according to their own conception of the spirit?
Perhaps most importantly, with Christian theology telling us that "Satan" and his demons are deceiving people, how does the Christian know that their relationship/spiritual contact is not with Satan?
Anyway, summing up: Since God is silent, there is really no true 'relationship' going on, and the Christian is left up to their own devices to fufill their own version of God's will. God is like an imaginery friend, or an unsupportive husband or father, leaving the "bridegroom" or "The Children" with little support, and letting a rapist or bully running around to do with them as he wishes.

kkholiday

As far as the contradiction you posed here goes, I believe most Christians feel that each person was "made in God's image" is a "Temple of God" etc. etc. Anyway, the doctrine as I was taugh goes something like you should respect others, because beyond being part of God's creation, God is actually a part of their souls.

At least that's my take on it.

Holiday

I think there is also a similar Muslim sentiment (namasta namascar (sp???)) which roughly means "I bow before the divine in you."

Note: I may have butchered that; take no offense.

wildernesse

This would be more accurate with "since" replaced with "if". Anyway, are you suggesting that mute people are unable to enter into relationships?

Are you certain that God does not talk to his followers? Any of them? How do you know?

You are making a lot of claims here, how do you know that they are true for every instance and individual?

Personally, I can't love God and neglect/harm other people. When you love somebody, do you destroy/harm their beloved possessions/creatures/friends? I wouldn't trash my husband's computer or hurt his cat for all the world--not only do I like those things/beings, I like/love them more because they are his and he enjoys them. When I think about them, I think about him and his happiness. Now, his dirty socks that he leaves all around the house I don't really like--but because they are his, I make sure that they're taken care of also because my baby needs clean socks!


--tibac

Opera Nut

Excellent post, Bobzammel. I have often used part of your argument, that God is totally silent and has not answered my prayers or talked to me or given me any evidence that he/she/it exists.

Also the bit about Jesus being responsible for breaking up families. It's the Christian thing to do, to leave your family and follow him, since you love him the most, according to Matthew 10:34 et seq.