ROB
Re: Why did God create us knowing we would sin?
Originally posted by Scarlet315
I'm a believer, don't get me wrong but i just want to know if god is omipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, and all that why would he create us knowing what would transpire? If he knew things would happen before they happen why did he create man only to watch many end up in hell. Another question is if we have free will then why didn't he ask if we wanted to be born in the first place.I don't expect anyone to have answers to any of these...it's just something i've actually been thinking about for a long time now.
The only sensible answer is "God works in mysterious ways"; which is only as sensible as you personally give credit to.
SCA
Re: Re: Why did God create us knowing we would sin?
Originally posted by Regret
I am LDS, here is our perspective.We believe that this life is a preparatory period. We are here to learn to control ourselves in a physical form. The degree to which we learn this is the degree to which we are given additional power and responsibility in Heaven. We believe that learning cannot be forced and that the opportunity to sin is necessary for the learning that is needed. We believe that the fact of sin is the reason for Christ's Atonement. It allows for justice to be satisfied and mercy to be given in regards to our sins. Our sins will also inform us of what we are capable of in eternity. Sometimes the worst punishment for someone is giving them an assignment that they cannot handle.
LDS belief holds that it is extremely difficult to go to an actual hell. The only method of going to hell is to know God and willfully rebel against Him. Everyone goes to heaven, it is just a question of how close to a Christlike life one is willing to live. The closer to that type of life you live, the more power and responsibility you will be given. For some, this might be a hell, in that they would like more power but are unwilling to live the life that would allow such. We do believe that everyone will be content with their place though, so I don't know if there will be personal hells like this or not. But the lowest positions in heaven are compared to this life, so maybe.
LDS beliefs hold that we existed in heaven as spirits prior to this mortal life. We believe we were a part of a council in heaven that discussed this life and that we had the option of not coming here. We believe that Satan and his followers did not want to go through this life as it is, and they became "devils" by standing against it. If a person has existed in this life, we believe they chose to do so.
I enjoyed reading all the comments. Like i said i've been thinking about this stuff for a while. I actually heard this quote before about maybe we already decided in heaven about going through this life. The part about not wanting to partake in this life and becoming "devils" i have a hard time believing
My life isn't perfect but it really could be worse. I'm currently a med student and all that, have my health, all appendages...but i'll be honest if we were told that we would have to live a life, follow rules that if we break we end up in hell, i would have probably, most likely chose no life at all. I don't compare myself to owlman's attitude about ending it all, but i wouldn't want to see anyone, including myself go to hell and this life is at times hard enough on its own.
REG
Re: Re: Re: Why did God create us knowing we would sin?
Originally posted by Scarlet315
I enjoyed reading all the comments. Like i said i've been thinking about this stuff for a while. I actually heard this quote before about maybe we already decided in heaven about going through this life. The part about not wanting to partake in this life and becoming "devils" i have a hard time believingMy life isn't perfect but it really could be worse. I'm currently a med student and all that, have my health, all appendages...but i'll be honest if we were told that we would have to live a life, follow rules that if we break we end up in hell, i would have probably, most likely chose no life at all. I don't compare myself to owlman's attitude about ending it all, but i wouldn't want to see anyone, including myself go to hell and this life is at times hard enough on its own.
I can understand your position. All the same, LDS believe that Man is the immature form of deity. Gaining a physical form and learning the lessons that occur here are necessary for becoming like God. Not wanting to come into this life is like saying, "I don't want the pain that is an education." We can't survive in the US comfortably without, at a minimum, a high school education. The more education we receive the more possibilities are generally opened to us. Also, never obtaining a body would result in an eternity of the exact same thing, with no opportunity to ever improve our situation.