If what you said is true and that God is more of an evolved life form that has the ability or technology to create life and did so with us then what makes it our responsibility to blindly follow his/her rules or devote our lives to his/her beliefs. Much like a parent and a child, you raise them with your version or right and wrong and send them out into society to make their own decisions and values and hopefully improve or do better then what you have done in your life.
Originally posted by ThePittman
If what you said is true and that God is more of an evolved life form that has the ability or technology to create life and did so with us then what makes it our responsibility to blindly follow his/her rules or devote our lives to his/her beliefs. Much like a parent and a child, you raise them with your version or right and wrong and send them out into society to make their own decisions and values and hopefully improve or do better then what you have done in your life.
I did not infer that he was not God, and everything people claim God is. I believe that man is literally related to God, and is just in a state of proving his ability to be responsible to be given the responsibility and ability. It is not our "responsibility" to follow him. He gave us our agency, to do as we choose. If we choose incorrectly and don't make ourselves capable of handling the requirements of more responsibility that is our prerogative. University Education, "what makes it our responsibility to blindly follow its rules or devote our time to its beliefs?" Many people go through their education and end up unemployed, is it really a waste of time?
As to parent and child, as man we are still the child. Children aren't let loose until a certain point in maturity, man isn't at that point. Adolescents often have a similar stance as you state, but it would be unwise to allow most adolescents leave and enter society before they come to the age of adulthood.
Originally posted by RegretBut God really doesn’t offer a choice, you either believe in him, follow his rules and laws or you burn in hell. You can make all these other choices but it comes down to the fact that if you do not follow him you will suffer, much like someone holding a gun to you, if you give in you get to live if you fight you will suffer.
I did not infer that he was not God, and everything people claim God is. I believe that man is literally related to God, and is just in a state of proving his ability to be responsible to be given the responsibility and ability. It is not our "responsibility" to follow him. He gave us our agency, to do as we choose. If we choose incorrectly and don't make ourselves capable of handling the requirements of more responsibility that is our prerogative. University Education, "what makes it our responsibility to blindly follow its rules or devote our time to its beliefs?" Many people go through their education and end up unemployed, is it really a waste of time?As to parent and child, as man we are still the child. Children aren't let loose until a certain point in maturity, man isn't at that point. Adolescents often have a similar stance as you state, but it would be unwise to allow most adolescents leave and enter society before they come to the age of adulthood.
In my opinion man will never evolve to a higher state until we all realize that we are responsible for our own actions and we control our destiny and not some “higher” power. Living with the belief that someone else has control allows people to not take responsibility for certain actions and say that it is God’s will, this is how many wars have started all in the name of God’s will and it is not the right of the followers to question this because his is all mighty and how can a lower understand the thinking of God.
Originally posted by ThePittman
But God really doesn’t offer a choice, you either believe in him, follow his rules and laws or you burn in hell. You can make all these other choices but it comes down to the fact that if you do not follow him you will suffer, much like someone holding a gun to you, if you give in you get to live if you fight you will suffer.In my opinion man will never evolve to a higher state until we all realize that we are responsible for our own actions and we control our destiny and not some “higher” power. Living with the belief that someone else has control allows people to not take responsibility for certain actions and say that it is God’s will, this is how many wars have started all in the name of God’s will and it is not the right of the followers to question this because his is all mighty and how can a lower understand the thinking of God.
I don't believe in a "burning hell." In my religion being damned is the inability to progress beyond some point, hell is not being in the presence of God. You have your choice, punishment occurs as a fact of cause and effect.
I believe that we control our destiny entirely. We are entirely responsible for our own actions. Control is an inappropriate term. You are speaking to a specific manner of belief, not to the belief that my religion holds. Various interpretation has done a lot of things, very few of them have been good when the interpreter believed they could not be wrong in their interpretation.
Originally posted by ThePittman
Well that is one of the problem that I have with religions in general is that they are all subject to interruption and people will change them depending on what suits them.
I see what you are saying, but I don't think that is the root problem. Could it be that changing the interpretation is ok, but not admitting to it, that causes all the problems?
Originally posted by ThePittman
Well that is one of the problem that I have with religions in general is that they are all subject to interruption and people will change them depending on what suits them.
We view interpretation as being a poor method for basing religion, but then we believe in current prophets, so we believe we don't have to rely on interpretation. Other religions would disagree with us though.
Originally posted by ShakyamunisonIf you change the interpretation of something that changes the meaning of it as well (to a point) but if you are dealing with the laws of God there shouldn’t be any. Like thou shall not kill, if you say that you think it means you shale not kill at all no matter what and then change it to kill only in the name or God then to kill to save others that is very different from the original.
I see what you are saying, but I don't think that is the root problem. Could it be that changing the interpretation is ok, but not admitting to it, that causes all the problems?
Originally posted by RegretHowever you are interpretation the words of the prophets and the bible, how could you understand what and all knowing, all powerful being is saying. It would be like Einstein trying to explain the laws of physic to me; I have a basic understanding but not even close to his level. The prophets are from my understanding using the inspired word or God so they are still interpretation what God is saying.
We view interpretation as being a poor method for basing religion, but then we believe in current prophets, so we believe we don't have to rely on interpretation. Other religions would disagree with us though.
Originally posted by ThePittman
If you change the interpretation of something that changes the meaning of it as well (to a point) but if you are dealing with the laws of God there shouldn’t be any. Like thou shall not kill, if you say that you think it means you shale not kill at all no matter what and then change it to kill only in the name or God then to kill to save others that is very different from the original.However you are interpretation the words of the prophets and the bible, how could you understand what and all knowing, all powerful being is saying. It would be like Einstein trying to explain the laws of physic to me; I have a basic understanding but not even close to his level. The prophets are from my understanding using the inspired word or God so they are still interpretation what God is saying.
We believe in direct revelation, so God often actually says "Do this", "this means this", etc. The inspiration thing is a cop out for religions that don't believe God speaks to man any longer.
Originally posted by ThePittman
If you change the interpretation of something that changes the meaning of it as well (to a point) but if you are dealing with the laws of God there shouldn’t be any. Like thou shall not kill, if you say that you think it means you shale not kill at all no matter what and then change it to kill only in the name or God then to kill to save others that is very different from the original...
You are assuming there is a word of God. There is no such thing. All books on this planet were written my humans. We make the rules, and we can change them.
Originally posted by Alliance
Well, wouldn't it be much better if your "better personess" was based on something more concrete and realistic?
I was refering to religion, if you believe in something, really doesn't matter whether it's true or not if it makes you a better person. Given my experiences, I hold it as concrete and realistic enough.
Originally posted by Alliance
I know...but I think its better if you become a better person from concrete principles...say civic responsibility...as opposed to becoming a better person because you belive in faeries.
I don't believe in civic responsibility though. I think it is less concrete than religion. Imo, if I were to become destitute, society would not lean down to help me up, it would walk over the top of me. Civic responsibility and nonreligious morals are hoping for something that does not have a concrete impetus for actually existing. I am skeptical of society today being moral if it did not have the rest of society, religious and nonreligious, pushing for morality.
But God really doesn’t offer a choice, you either believe in him, follow his rules and laws or you burn in hell. You can make all these other choices but it comes down to the fact that if you do not follow him you will suffer, much like someone holding a gun to you, if you give in you get to live if you fight you will suffer.
I shall use your parent-child logic. If a child disobeys his parent or doesn't do what his parent says then the child gets punished. Same thing.
Originally posted by ESB -1138
[b]But God really doesn’t offer a choice, you either believe in him, follow his rules and laws or you burn in hell. You can make all these other choices but it comes down to the fact that if you do not follow him you will suffer, much like someone holding a gun to you, if you give in you get to live if you fight you will suffer.I shall use your parent-child logic. If a child disobeys his parent or doesn't do what his parent says then the child gets punished. Same thing. [/B]
However, you don't burn your child is a lake of fire for eternity, or do you?
Originally posted by ThePittman
To a point, this was a very basic reference. If you follow all of your parent’s rules like doing chores, coming home on time and being respectful to your elders is it right that your parents disown you because you don’t follow their faith?