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Originally posted by Thundar
Having browsed thru some of the older threads within this forum, it seems that many questions have come about regarding what is not possible for God to do.

Whenever someone brings up such a scenario, I'm always reminded of this particular verse.

Luke 18:27
And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

I know many of you are not Christians, but I just wanted to point out that this above verse is generally the one that comes to mind when debating issues relating to God's capabilities.

I do not believe in a limited or flawed God, I believe in one that is full of infinite possibilities, all of which are filled with loving intentions. His loving nature is defined by the bible as being patient, kind, longsuffering, humble forgiving, and merciful.

My beliefs are not exclusively based on my faith of what's written in the bible, they are also based on the way in which the world works around me, and the actions of God that I've witnessed within my own life, as well as within the lives of others.

So for those of you who believe and have faith in limited or flawed God, whether that God represents yourself("yourself" meaning you control everything about your life) or a God of a spiritual religion, please explain to everyone what motivates you to believe in such a God?

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Originally posted by lord xyz
A flawed God is more plausible though.

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Originally posted by Shakyamunison
I think you have misunderstood why people point out the idea of a limited or flawed god. Christian mythology has a fundamental flaw. Simply put, a god that needs followers is not an omnipotent god. The fact that we are needed by god, or even loved by god, shows that god (the Christian god) is not complete.

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Originally posted by Thundar
Well I don't really believe God needs us per say, and I'm sure many like yourself would debate whether or not we truly need him. All personal biases aside for the moment, if you had proof that such a loving God exists, wouldn't you want to have a truly loving relationship with him?

Not "love" defined in the way that the world describes it, but an unconditional love that never changes - always endures, and will always be there for you. Wouldn't it be a wonderful experience to be able to express that same type of unconditional love back to a God who loved you this way?

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Originally posted by Shakyamunison
Unless you believe in a perfect god.

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Originally posted by lord xyz
No.

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Originally posted by Shakyamunison
If such a god existed, I would already be loved by that god. Love reaches out and does not require anything in return.

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Originally posted by Thundar
And I'm sure we're all loved by such a God unconditionally. But wouldn't you truly desire to have a loving relationship with someone whose love was perfect? One that isn't comprised of the unconditional love he gives to you, but is also comprised of the unconditional love you give to him?(I'm using the terms "him" and "he" figuratively of course, as God is neither male of female).

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Originally posted by Shakyamunison
What you are asking me to do is contemplate a loving relationship with Superman.

I am alive. That is proof of my relationship with God, however, I am not separate from God, and God is not separate from me.

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Originally posted by Thundar
No, I'm actually asking you to contemplate thinking about love as something that exists apart from yourself, and to think about it as something that is freely given to you. I think that if one wants to call themselves loving and demonstrate love in any relationship, then they will attempt to freely give the love they've received back to the one who has given it to them.

I believe that when you don't reciprocate unconditional love back to the person who has given this type of love to you -- then at some point, you have forcefully made a choice to separate yourself from having a loving relationship with this person.

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Originally posted by Shakyamunison
Generally I agree with you, however, I don't believe in a "Love" that is separate from me.

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Originally posted by Thundar
Then we don't believe in the same type of love. And well...we don't agree. Moving on, what motivates you to want to be a "God." And what types of responsabilities do you think come along with being "God"?

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Originally posted by Shakyamunison
I don't want to be a god. Is that what you hear when I say "I am not separate from God"?

Your finger is not separate from your hand. If it is separate, it no longer lives. The only way I can be separate from God is by not existing.

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Originally posted by Thundar
It seems to me though that you believe that your finger can never be separated from you. Logically of course, it most certainly can.

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Originally posted by Shakyamunison
However, it never has to repent for it's sins and be baptised before it can join my body.

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Originally posted by Thundar
Depends on how you look at it. If you make the analogy of sin being like an infection, then yes..you would have to cleanse the infection out of your finger before it spreads to the rest of your body. If you couldn't do this, then the only other alternative you would have is to get rid of the finger.

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Originally posted by lord xyz
A flawed God is more plausible though.