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Is the possibility of a God not a scary thought...?
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[Deleted User] wrote: »Just to save people some time, some quick research told me that this user believes in chemtrails, that climate change is an "agenda", that that the God particle has something to do with God, that COVID was invented in a lab, that Trump has handled COVID better than Europe and, eh, whatever this nonsense is.
Who knows what else I could find after another five minutes. Probably not worth talking any sense to this user and better to focus on OP's questions instead.
Wow, that is a whole pile of crazy right there.0 -
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[Deleted User] wrote: »Just to save people some time, some quick research told me that this user believes in chemtrails, that climate change is an "agenda", that that the God particle has something to do with God, that COVID was invented in a lab, that Trump has handled COVID better than Europe and, eh, whatever this nonsense is.
Who knows what else I could find after another five minutes. Probably not worth talking any sense to this user and better to focus on OP's questions instead.
This goes alot deeper than you think. You were born into this world, most likely went through a structured education system based on note taking with no exposure to how the world is run, exposed to a mass produced media every day that's controlled by a few, watched countless films and programs that mocked God's existence and listened to countless songs that has distorted the truth.
Your so deep in this world that the possibility you have been programmed since birth to turn from God is a whole pile of crazy to you.
Do I believe climate change has an agenda to take wealth from the bottom to the top, yes. Do I believe those controlling the world are trying to make us sick, yes. Do I believe HCQ is effective against Covid and the mass produced media discredited it, yes. Is this world controlled by a few that worship Lucifer, most definitely. To you this is nonsense, but again this goes much deeper than you think.0 -
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Sandor Clegane wrote: »After listening to some prominent atheists and doing some research the idea that there maybe a god is just as scary as the thought of simply nothing.
An all powerful god decides to create the world and humans and then fills the world with such pain and misery and then expects us to worship him constantly, why? It then tries to fill us with fear of his wrath if we disobey in anyway.
What kind of a god is it to do that? a very scary one in my honest opinion, I mean if I created life the last thing I would want to do is bestow untold misery on it and then demand it grovels to me, that's insane.
How do people reconcile the fact they are worshiping a god that does and behaves this way? We condemn dictators and evil despots for doing this kind of thing but God gets a free pass, why? is it not just as wrong? are people only believing and following out of fear?
Also how many religions and gods are there in the world? we only believe in what we believe because of geography...they can't all be true, if we were born in a different era or a different part of the world our beliefs would be totally different, yet Catholics and Christians don't bat an eye in not believing in any other religion or God..
Iv'e been struggling with this lately, id always considered myself a lapsed catholic, I don't attend church but I believed there maybe something, but now the thought of something is just as scary, if not scarier than simply ceasing to exist.
Hi Sandor Clegane,
I think your picture of God is out of sync. The early believers called the preaching about God 'euangelion' - the Good News. How does that square up to what you described?
You have painted an image of a tyrant who demands utter submission while causing untold misery. You are right - if this god existed, the world would be an insane and scary place.
I am a Christian, a practicing Catholic. What you described is not the God whom I know.
Did you ever consider that you were created by God to spend eternity with Him, in safety and bliss?
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)
Did you ever consider that God came and died for you on the cross, to save you from the consequences of your sins?
"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10)
"[Mary] will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for He will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)
Did you ever consider that God loves you?
"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!" (1 John 3:1)
God loves humanity and is very much on our side. He wants to save us from ourselves - that is why He gave us the Commandments. Let's have a quick look:
- Thou shall not steal - ensures justice, protection for the weakest;
- Thou shall not commit adultery - protects children and spouses from a broken family and the terrible hurt this brings;
- Keep holy the Sabbath day - ensures we get proper rest, are not exploited by callous employers etc.
The problem of suffering which you mention is a real one. Suffering is undoubtedly part of our lived experience and always will be. Moreover, God allows suffering (notice that He is not the one proverbially smiting people from a cloud). I doubt I would be able to do the problem justice in one post. A few things to remember though:
1) Much of our suffering is self inflicted;
2) We learn from our suffering, sometimes it is the only way we will learn; and
3) Something went wrong at the beginning of man's existence. The Bible shrouds it in mystery (The Garden of Eden narrative), but something is undoubtedly not as it should be. For example, why do we have such powerful inclinations to do evil? Whatever happened, we are still living with the consequences of that event, consequences which translate into major suffering.
Peter Kreeft has a good article on the issue, I hope he will make a lot more sense than I do:
https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/the-problem-of-suffering-reconsidered
As to the myriad of religions, I think that humanity has a desperate need to reconnect with its Creator. If people cannot know and worship Him in truth, as He is, they will seek out a relationship with Him any way they can. This means writing their own back story, prescribing their own rituals etc.
But let's look at the Christian position. Many people think that sure, a Jesus lived 2,000 years ago (there is much extra-biblical evidence for His existence, such as the Letter of Pliny to the Roman Emperor and the writings of Tacitus on the Lives of the Caesars), but that He was just a good man, helping out etc. The problem is that Jesus does not leave this option open for us. He openly claimed to be the Son of God, to be divine. Therefore, He was a) bad, leading people astray for personal gain b)mad, leading people astray because He lost his mind or c) God, as in He was who He said He was. Considering what He taught (love, forgiveness, sacrifice, salvation, friendship with God), if you are unwilling to call Him crazy or evil, than could He possibly be....God?
As to the position of Catholicism, consider this authentic account of Christian worship from 155 A.D. You will find that it mirrors the modern Catholic Mass. 2,000 years on, same teaching, same worship.
To sum up, do not give up on a relationship with God, who is a loving, caring and merciful God. It is the greatest adventure you could possibly embark on. You will do things you have never dreamed of doing.
Sure, looking back on our life, the evil we have done might fill us with dread, but the truth is that every saint has a past and every sinner has a future. At life's end, we will all be judged (because God is also a just God), but the good news is that our sins can be forgiven in the sacrament of Confession. The slate can be made clean.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9)
[Jesus to disciples]"If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” (John 20:23)
I would advise you to pray to God, in your own words. Get yourself a copy of the New Testament and the Catechism, study them, get to know God and cease your fear and trembling.
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Kyree Icy Reforestation wrote: »Hi Sandor Clegane,
I think your picture of God is out of sync. The early believers called the preaching about God 'euangelion' - the Good News. How does that square up to what you described?
You have painted an image of a tyrant who demands utter submission while causing untold misery. You are right - if this god existed, the world would be an insane and scary place.
I am a Christian, a practicing Catholic. What you described is not the God whom I know.
Did you ever consider that you were created by God to spend eternity with Him, in safety and bliss?
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)
Did you ever consider that God came and died for you on the cross, to save you from the consequences of your sins?
"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10)
"[Mary] will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for He will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)
Did you ever consider that God loves you?
"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!" (1 John 3:1)
God loves humanity and is very much on our side. He wants to save us from ourselves - that is why He gave us the Commandments. Let's have a quick look:
- Thou shall not steal - ensures justice, protection for the weakest;
- Thou shall not commit adultery - protects children and spouses from a broken family and the terrible hurt this brings;
- Keep holy the Sabbath day - ensures we get proper rest, are not exploited by callous employers etc.
The problem of suffering which you mention is a real one. Suffering is undoubtedly part of our lived experience and always will be. Moreover, God allows suffering (notice that He is not the one proverbially smiting people from a cloud). I doubt I would be able to do the problem justice in one post. A few things to remember though:
1) Much of our suffering is self inflicted;
2) We learn from our suffering, sometimes it is the only way we will learn; and
3) Something went wrong at the beginning of man's existence. The Bible shrouds it in mystery (The Garden of Eden narrative), but something is undoubtedly not as it should be. For example, why do we have such powerful inclinations to do evil? Whatever happened, we are still living with the consequences of that event, consequences which translate into major suffering.
Peter Kreeft has a good article on the issue, I hope he will make a lot more sense than I do:
https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/the-problem-of-suffering-reconsidered
As to the myriad of religions, I think that humanity has a desperate need to reconnect with its Creator. If people cannot know and worship Him in truth, as He is, they will seek out a relationship with Him any way they can. This means writing their own back story, prescribing their own rituals etc.
But let's look at the Christian position. Many people think that sure, a Jesus lived 2,000 years ago (there is much extra-biblical evidence for His existence, such as the Letter of Pliny to the Roman Emperor and the writings of Tacitus on the Lives of the Caesars), but that He was just a good man, helping out etc. The problem is that Jesus does not leave this option open for us. He openly claimed to be the Son of God, to be divine. Therefore, He was a) bad, leading people astray for personal gain b)mad, leading people astray because He lost his mind or c) God, as in He was who He said He was. Considering what He taught (love, forgiveness, sacrifice, salvation, friendship with God), if you are unwilling to call Him crazy or evil, than could He possibly be....God?
As to the position of Catholicism, consider this authentic account of Christian worship from 155 A.D. You will find that it mirrors the modern Catholic Mass. 2,000 years on, same teaching, same worship.
To sum up, do not give up on a relationship with God, who is a loving, caring and merciful God. It is the greatest adventure you could possibly embark on. You will do things you have never dreamed of doing.
Sure, looking back on our life, the evil we have done might fill us with dread, but the truth is that every saint has a past and every sinner has a future. At life's end, we will all be judged (because God is also a just God), but the good news is that our sins can be forgiven in the sacrament of Confession. The slate can be made clean.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9)
[Jesus to disciples]"If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” (John 20:23)
I would advise you to pray to God, in your own words. Get yourself a copy of the New Testament and the Catechism, study them, get to know God and cease your fear and trembling.
Tie that in with a God that apparently created childhood cancer for some sadistic reason.0 -
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