Was God creating Satan a good idea?

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Greatest I am

Shakyamunison
But God didn't create Satan. Man created Satan through myth.

Greatest I am
Originally posted by Shakyamunison
But God didn't create Satan. Man created Satan through myth.

True to you and I but not to theists.

Regards
DL

Surtur
Well if for a second we pretend these things are real..then I can't see how it could be a good idea to basically create a super villain. But then..just take a look at the person who created Satan and it kind of all makes sense why he'd create an evil being.

Digi
Well first, ensure*. But it really depends on your take on morality and free will. I'm not talking about the "is this real or not?" question. But I'm guessing that most Christian interpretations have God as all-knowing, so He would have known that Satan would rebel. So it's a valid question at that point. Then the next logical step is to dive into the concept of free will. Ignoring again for a second that I think Christian free will is logically impossible, the thinking goes that we need to be able to choose good, and therefore, yes, need to have "not good" as an option.

And since there will be people who DO fail, and are presumably condemned to Hell, and just as presumably, God knew they'd fail and spend eternity in Hell, it raises some rather hairy moral quandaries. One could argue that you can't have true goodness without choosing it, but you'd also have to reconcile that with knowing at an all-knowing (all-loving??) God set up a system knowing he was sending some to eternal punishment.

There are additional nuances, but that's the gist of it as I see it. There isn't a right answer, because this is the sort of question theologians and laypeople have been struggling with literally for millennia. Either it's a perfect God who created an imperfect system, an imperfect God who created an imperfect system, or maybe the system is perfect but beyond our ability to fully grasp. The last is a convenient out for theists who like to invoke mystery to dispel cognitive dissonance, but does nothing to justify any of it.

It's xyz!
Assuming this is all real, why should God adhere to our perceived notions of morality?

Just accept that God, who loves us, does cruel shit for the sake of creation.

But that's assuming this happened, which probably didn't.

Surtur
Originally posted by It's xyz!
Assuming this is all real, why should God adhere to our perceived notions of morality?

This is a loaded question and it depends on exactly what you mean. If you mean the biblical God then I think he should adhere to it because he expects us to adhere to it. I mean if people want to say God is beyond good and evil and all that I get it, but if a being is beyond good and evil then why does it want us to be good?



I think what people can't accept is God does cruel shit just for the sake of doing cruel shit.

I do not believe in God, but I do believe if he exists he doesn't love us. Do you love microbes? Or hate them? I'm guessing you don't really give them any thought at all.

I also believe if the God specifically from the bible is real...I do not think sociopaths can love anything.

It's xyz!
Originally posted by Surtur
This is a loaded question and it depends on exactly what you mean. If you mean the biblical God then I think he should adhere to it because he expects us to adhere to it. I mean if people want to say God is beyond good and evil and all that I get it, but if a being is beyond good and evil then why does it want us to be good?



I think what people can't accept is God does cruel shit just for the sake of doing cruel shit.

I do not believe in God, but I do believe if he exists he doesn't love us. Do you love microbes? Or hate them? I'm guessing you don't really give them any thought at all.

I also believe if the God specifically from the bible is real...I do not think sociopaths can love anything. well, the god from the bible is disgusting. So I doubt he gives a shit about us or any preconceived notion of morality even applies to him. Your analogy of microbes is fitting here because I don't care about microbes, and God doesn't care about me.

Not that I believe in the God of the bible as anything more than bullshit, but I think back to the episode of the Simpsons where Lisa created a civilisation in her tooth. Only when they brought her down did she feel any sense of empathy or acknowledgement. I have no connection with a deity, and I probably never will. If such a thing exists, I hope that deity has more important shit to deal with than me.

Peace Keeper
Originally posted by Shakyamunison
But God didn't create Satan. Man created Satan through myth.
Its funny how someone can be so cock sure of something they have absolutely no way of knowing.

Peace Keeper
But, lets assume its real. God only wants those who choose him and choose to do good. The only way to accomplish this is to give a choice. Those who are given a choice and freely choose good are the ones god wants.

Shakyamunison
Originally posted by Peace Keeper
Its funny how someone can be so cock sure of something they have absolutely no way of knowing.

It's the only logical answer. Otherwise we might as well believe in unicorns.

Peace Keeper
Originally posted by Shakyamunison
It's the only logical answer. Otherwise we might as well believe in unicorns.
No, proclaiming an unprovable theory as absolute fact is the height of a logical fallacy.
It's not only illogical, it's a fallacy that comes directly from the source of all fallacies: hubris.

Its One of many logical fallacies atheists and theists share. The ONLY truly logical position is agnosticism with a slight lean towards creationism.

Peace Keeper
By creationism I don't mean biblical, but simply that something doesn't appear from nothing.

Science says matter can't be destroyed or created, but it also can't have always existed due to entropy. That means all matter that exists must need have came from a place with different laws of physics. A different dimension. The "creator's/God's" dimension.

Peace Keeper
Every religion shares one thing in common, the god/gods/supernatural beings always come from another dimension. The other dimension always, in every religion, always have different laws of physics.
I tend to believe the big bang was simply the transfer of matter from one dimension to the other. Possibly guided and at the behest of a "creator".

Shakyamunison
Originally posted by Peace Keeper
No, proclaiming an unprovable theory as absolute fact is the height of a logical fallacy.

It's not unprovable, and its not a theory. At best it's a hypotheses.

Just look at how Satan has changed over time, and how different cultures see "him". Each generation added to what Satan is.

Originally posted by Peace Keeper
It's not only illogical, it's a fallacy that comes directly from the source of all fallacies: hubris.

You are simply making nonsense.

Originally posted by Peace Keeper
Its One of many logical fallacies atheists and theists share. The ONLY truly logical position is agnosticism with a slight lean towards creationism.

So, are you also agnostic about unicorns? If not then why? No one can prove that unicorns exist or not. Therefore, by your way of thinking, you shouldn't say that unicorn don't exist.

Shakyamunison
Originally posted by Peace Keeper
Every religion shares one thing in common, the god/gods/supernatural beings always come from another dimension. The other dimension always, in every religion, always have different laws of physics.
I tend to believe the big bang was simply the transfer of matter from one dimension to the other. Possibly guided and at the behest of a "creator".

My religion never talks about God.

Tattoos N Scars
Originally posted by Peace Keeper
Every religion shares one thing in common, the god/gods/supernatural beings always come from another dimension. The other dimension always, in every religion, always have different laws of physics.
I tend to believe the big bang was simply the transfer of matter from one dimension to the other. Possibly guided and at the behest of a "creator".

Where did that dimension get its matter? Are you saying God created it or just guided it to another dimension(our dimension). A single cause(God) brought matter into existence. It's the only thing that makes logical sense.

Tattoos N Scars
Technically, God didn't create Satan. He created Lucifer and was given free will just as Adam and Eve. Lucifer sinned and became known as Satan. God knew these things would happen, but He didn't want robots serving Him. God wants His crearion to choose to obey Him. However, God already had a fix to the problem before sin entered the universe. He chose to robe himself in flesh and die as a man on the Cross to redeem His creation. The point is that God used the introduction of sin to the universe as a means to eventually redeem it through the Blood of Christ.

I know most of you will not accept this explanation, but it answered in the Bible.

Lord Lucien
Originally posted by Tattoos N Scars
Where did that dimension get its matter? Are you saying God created it or just guided it to another dimension(our dimension). A single cause(God) brought matter into existence. It's the only thing that makes logical sense. Until you start asking where that God(s) came from and what made it/them. Then you get an infinite regression and the whole thing becomes boring.


Originally posted by Tattoos N Scars
God knew these things would happen, but He didn't want robots serving Him. I really hope this line makes its way into future editions of the bible.

Greatest I am
Originally posted by Surtur
Well if for a second we pretend these things are real..then I can't see how it could be a good idea to basically create a super villain. But then..just take a look at the person who created Satan and it kind of all makes sense why he'd create an evil being.

Yes. One to his own heart.

Regards
DL

Greatest I am

Greatest I am
Originally posted by Peace Keeper
No, proclaiming an unprovable theory as absolute fact is the height of a logical fallacy.
It's not only illogical, it's a fallacy that comes directly from the source of all fallacies: hubris.

Its One of many logical fallacies atheists and theists share. The ONLY truly logical position is agnosticism with a slight lean towards creationism.

You mean a slight lean to fantasy and the supernatural.

Right?

Regards
DL

Greatest I am
Originally posted by Tattoos N Scars
Technically, God didn't create Satan. He created Lucifer and was given free will just as Adam and Eve. Lucifer sinned and became known as Satan. God knew these things would happen, but He didn't want robots serving Him. God wants His crearion to choose to obey Him. However, God already had a fix to the problem before sin entered the universe. He chose to robe himself in flesh and die as a man on the Cross to redeem His creation. The point is that God used the introduction of sin to the universe as a means to eventually redeem it through the Blood of Christ.

I know most of you will not accept this explanation, but it answered in the Bible.

You do not seem to recognize how immoral your view of Jesus is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKNup9gEBdg&feature=em-subs_digest-vrecs


"God knew these things would happen, but He didn't want robots serving Him."

What does an all powerful God need with servants?

Where I come from and in my family, the strong work to sustain the weak. The strong do not have the weak serve them.

What is it like in your family and community?

Did your parents, the strong, make you the weak, work to sustain them?

Who has the best policy? Your parents or God?

Regards
DL

Jmanghan
Well, Lucifer just wanted to be his own person, and God was pissed about that, so he banished him.

After being left in his own torment, I guess he just kinda became an *******?

Because I don't originally recall him being a stone cold *******.

God is just a dick though, all the time, wipes out cities, condones rape, and murder, and slavery.

He's an all-around misogynist, as well as a homophobe, and even a racist.

But it also says to throw away the old laws and testament a few times.

Stigma
Originally posted by Tattoos N Scars
Technically, God didn't create Satan. He created Lucifer and was given free will just as Adam and Eve. Lucifer sinned and became known as Satan. God knew these things would happen, but He didn't want robots serving Him. God wants His crearion to choose to obey Him. However, God already had a fix to the problem before sin entered the universe. He chose to robe himself in flesh and die as a man on the Cross to redeem His creation. The point is that God used the introduction of sin to the universe as a means to eventually redeem it through the Blood of Christ.

I know most of you will not accept this explanation, but it answered in the Bible.
thumb up

NewGuy01
Omniscient beings don't have the capacity to make bad decisions. Whatever God got was precisely what he wanted. Theoretically, of course.

Surtur
Originally posted by Tattoos N Scars
God knew these things would happen, but He didn't want robots serving Him.

-Demands you worship him
-Demands you never worship anything else
-Demands you can never say his name in vain like he's Lord frickin Voldemort

Does this sound like someone who wants people with 100% free will serving him?

Stigma
Originally posted by Surtur
-Demands you worship him
-Demands you never worship anything else
-Demands you can never say his name in vain like he's Lord frickin Voldemort

Does this sound like someone who wants people with 100% free will serving him?
1 and 2. Going by the theological 101 the most perfect being is indeed worthy of worship, per definition. No other being is worthy, but the perfect being is. Be mindful that being perfect being includes perfect love, perfect justice etc.

3. Jesus > Voldemort

Free will means you can freely choose not to do that. Which is rather obvious when looking at the number of people who don't.

Surtur
Look at what happened to Job, that isn't perfect love.

There is also a difference between being worthy of worship and demanding it. A true just and loving God would of said "feel free to believe in whatever you want, these things are not wrong".

Also it is free will but it isn't. We are not forced into worship. However it is demanded and we are told breaking the commandments is a sin.

True no strings attached free will..God wouldn't of ever told us who to worship or not worship. It would of never been mentioned at all.

Stigma
Originally posted by Surtur
Look at what happened to Job, that isn't perfect love.

There is also a difference between being worthy of worship and demanding it. A true just and loving God would of said "feel free to believe in whatever you want, these things are not wrong".

Also it is free will but it isn't. We are not forced into worship. However it is demanded and we are told breaking the commandments is a sin.

True no strings attached free will..God wouldn't of ever told us who to worship or not worship. It would of never been mentioned at all.
In short, the mistake people make is that they believe "no strings attached free will" is a thing.

Not really, even in the very real day-to-day life, it is clear there is no freedom without responsibility. Yep, freedom entails responsibility. thumb up *

You are free to put your hand into the fire metaphorically speaking (say break some commandments) but will it be a good thing? Sin is the degradation of good in a human being. You are free to pursue it but in the long run it will degrade you. You are also free to follow God.

Also, I'm sorry but this is what philosophy/theology/logic says. The most perfect being is the one worthy of worship, therefore Him saying "worship me" is perfectly fine and logical.

To make this reply shorter, in a nutshell, God's justice is perfect even though it does not always appear to us so. Given that God is magnitudes greater than any human intellect this is quite logical.


EDIT: * I know you agree on that, a least in principle, given that some groups like 3rd Wave Feminists or BLM have a twisted view of freedom without real responsibility for their actions.

Surtur
Freedom entails responsibility, but only to an extent. I technically have the freedom to murder someone, but it doesn't mean I'd be free of consequences.

However we aren't talking about an act like murder or theft or anything like that, but a belief. We should be free to believe whatever we want and on top of that we should be free to believe whatever we want without being told "worship whoever you want, but btw the only right person to worship is me". IMO a truly perfect being would be so utterly perfect they recognize this and thus refrain from doing it.

Stigma
Originally posted by Surtur
Freedom entails responsibility, but only to an extent. I technically have the freedom to murder someone, but it doesn't mean I'd be free of consequences.
Um? You actually confrm freedom entails consequences everytime. Which is my stance all along.

Originally posted by Surtur
However we aren't talking about an act like murder or theft or anything like that, but a belief. We should be free to believe whatever we want and on top of that we should be free to believe whatever we want without being told "worship whoever you want, but btw the only right person to worship is me".
Not at all.

If the premise thta God exists is true than indeed worshipping whatever ypu want or believing whatever you want is the expresion of freedom without responsibility e.g. moral relativism.

Taking it to the extreme: believing suicide bombings are ok is just a matter of belief. Still, it is evil.

By constrast, believing "love your enemies" is also a matter of belief, but good.

Morover, beliefs always influece actions to a degree.

Originally posted by Surtur

IMO a truly perfect being would be so utterly perfect they recognize this and thus refrain from doing it.
How do you mean?

Being perfect does not equal saying "do whatever you want" as some of the choices will be bad/evil/stupid etc., as per definition.

Surtur
I never said they could be told they could do whatever they wanted. Rather that they were free to worship whoever they wanted.

Greatest I am
Originally posted by Jmanghan
Well, Lucifer just wanted to be his own person, and God was pissed about that, so he banished him.

After being left in his own torment, I guess he just kinda became an *******?

Because I don't originally recall him being a stone cold *******.

God is just a dick though, all the time, wipes out cities, condones rape, and murder, and slavery.

He's an all-around misogynist, as well as a homophobe, and even a racist.

But it also says to throw away the old laws and testament a few times.

While at the same time saying that once God says something, he never retracts it.

Typical biblical contradictions.

Regards
DL

Greatest I am
Originally posted by NewGuy01
Omniscient beings don't have the capacity to make bad decisions. Whatever God got was precisely what he wanted. Theoretically, of course.

Indeed.

And if he did not want us to sin, then he would not have given Satan the power to deceive the whole earth.

Regards
DL

Greatest I am
Originally posted by Stigma
1 and 2. Going by the theological 101 the most perfect being is indeed worthy of worship, per definition. No other being is worthy, but the perfect being is. Be mindful that being perfect being includes perfect love, perfect justice etc.



God's first ruling as judge was to ask for a bribe or sacrifice to change his usual justice, which was like man's, as above so below, of punishing the guilty and not the innocent, to punishing an innocent Jesus instead of the guilty.

How in hell is that perfect justice?

Is punishing the innocent instead of the guilty perfect justice to you.

As Ingersoll said; 'no man would be fit for heaven who would consent that an innocent person should suffer for his sin.'

Regards
DL

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