Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Mu · 04-27-2002, 02:04 AM

Hello everyone !

I'm a newbie here. Very articulate and intelligent bunch you are, you are.

I have a question for the regular post theists hereabouts. Many posts mention God's plan, or the trade-offs and compromises he had to make in his grand endeavour.

Forgive me, I haven't attended church since I was knee high to a grasshopper, but is this design still as ineffable and unknowable as ever ? Or has some light been shed on the old mystery ? What, exactly, do theists (who have had centuries of great minds to mull it over) think the point of it is ?

Or is this a sinful question ?

ManM · 04-27-2002, 10:48 AM

"God became man so that men might become God." -St. Athanasius

Straight Hate · 04-27-2002, 03:09 PM

This kind of relates to a thought I've been musing over lately: projection. We've assigned human qualities to the universe for our own comfort (to know there is some "purpose"), but in my view, we seem to have failed in projecting God's motivation. Creating a black and white reward system for a bunch of ignorant creatures seems like such a waste for all that unlimited power. Oh well, it has created an epic neither Star Wars nor Dune can usurp.

Abacus · 04-27-2002, 03:56 PM

It seems to me that as long as God's plan (or for that matter, God himself) remains ineffable and unknowable, each theist can claim it is whatever they want it to be. Why else would we have so many darn religions?

BLoggins02 · 04-28-2002, 07:52 AM

Mu: Unask the question

(welcome to the board!)

[ April 28, 2002: Message edited by: BLoggins02 ]</p>

Pomp · 04-28-2002, 04:47 PM

BLoggins02,

Mu: Unask the question

Haha...I was thinking the same thing!

Regarding the OP, I've always found that the only interpretation of God's great "plan" that makes any sense is that he's authoring a vast Universal epic, and has to allow pain, suffering, etc. because he's using them as literary devices.

case · 04-28-2002, 07:11 PM

Mu:

Ok...God was down in the ratings. He needed a show to hook viewers. Something catchy. Something no one had ever seen before. So he made earth! Millions of species interacting, fighting, having sex, drama, action, romance. Ratings went through the roof.

I wonder when our show will get cancled...

Samhain · 04-29-2002, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by case:
<strong>Mu:

Ok...God was down in the ratings. He needed a show to hook viewers. Something catchy. Something no one had ever seen before. So he made earth! Millions of species interacting, fighting, having sex, drama, action, romance. Ratings went through the roof.

I wonder when our show will get cancled...</strong>

What, like the Truman Show?

beachbum · 04-29-2002, 07:18 AM

Mu

Yes. This is a sinful question and you will probably be sent straight to hell for even thinking it.

God told me so.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Mu · 05-02-2002, 02:42 PM

Thought so.

04-27-2002, 02:04 AM	#1
Mu Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: UK Posts: 31	What was/is God trying to achieve ? Hello everyone ! I'm a newbie here. Very articulate and intelligent bunch you are, you are. I have a question for the regular post theists hereabouts. Many posts mention God's plan, or the trade-offs and compromises he had to make in his grand endeavour. Forgive me, I haven't attended church since I was knee high to a grasshopper, but is this design still as ineffable and unknowable as ever ? Or has some light been shed on the old mystery ? What, exactly, do theists (who have had centuries of great minds to mull it over) think the point of it is ? Or is this a sinful question ? <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

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04-27-2002, 10:48 AM	#2
ManM Veteran Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: NW Florida, USA Posts: 1,279	"God became man so that men might become God." -St. Athanasius

04-27-2002, 03:09 PM	#3
Straight Hate Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Winnipeg, Canada Posts: 4,171	This kind of relates to a thought I've been musing over lately: projection. We've assigned human qualities to the universe for our own comfort (to know there is some "purpose"), but in my view, we seem to have failed in projecting God's motivation. Creating a black and white reward system for a bunch of ignorant creatures seems like such a waste for all that unlimited power. Oh well, it has created an epic neither Star Wars nor Dune can usurp.

04-27-2002, 03:56 PM	#4
Abacus Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: South Dakota Posts: 2,214	It seems to me that as long as God's plan (or for that matter, God himself) remains ineffable and unknowable, each theist can claim it is whatever they want it to be. Why else would we have so many darn religions?

04-28-2002, 07:52 AM	#5
BLoggins02 Regular Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: College Station, TX Posts: 254	Mu: Unask the question (welcome to the board!) [ April 28, 2002: Message edited by: BLoggins02 ]</p>

04-28-2002, 04:47 PM	#6
Pomp Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Indianapolis area Posts: 3,468	BLoggins02, Mu: Unask the question Haha...I was thinking the same thing! Regarding the OP, I've always found that the only interpretation of God's great "plan" that makes any sense is that he's authoring a vast Universal epic, and has to allow pain, suffering, etc. because he's using them as literary devices.

04-28-2002, 07:11 PM	#7
case Regular Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Missouri Posts: 420	Mu: Ok...God was down in the ratings. He needed a show to hook viewers. Something catchy. Something no one had ever seen before. So he made earth! Millions of species interacting, fighting, having sex, drama, action, romance. Ratings went through the roof. I wonder when our show will get cancled...

04-29-2002, 07:18 AM	#9
beachbum Beloved Deceased Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cocoa Beach, FL Posts: 864	Mu Yes. This is a sinful question and you will probably be sent straight to hell for even thinking it. God told me so. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

05-02-2002, 02:42 PM	#10
Mu Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: UK Posts: 31	Thought so.

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