What is the purpose?

Sorry, HB, I never read the Bible or study anything about it. I'll just be quiet now.

 

:huh: touchy today Vito

 

This is why you can't argue with a religious person. All they got for a link is the Bible which was written by humans SAYING it's the word of some god. I get my ass supposedly owned for shit like that in NOTD.

 

Your sarcasm is noted, Vito. By your own admission I know you have studied the Bible, which is why I can't for the life of me understand how you could draw that conclusion and make those kinds of statements based on your own research.

I do apologize if I'm being short with you. All the drama on the board the last couple of days has me a little grumpy.

 

but that brings us back to why did he make us? for the sole purpose of loving him?

 

Because he could

 

No, for the sole purpose of having a 2-way loving relationship with us. It's not about an ego boost. The closest parallel we have is the ideal parent/child relationship and motivators. An adult wants to have children to love, and yes, be loved by; to share a life experience with; to help them grow and be and do. I don't fully grasp it yet, not being a parent. But as far as I can tell, the illustration works pretty well.

 

No apology necessary. I'm a bit grumpy, also.

The line "If you read the OT..." struck a nerve big time. I apologize for getting pissy with a lack of smilies.

As I've stated many times before, I come from a different place when viewing the OT & NT. I'm not looking for confirmations of what I hope God is. I just view how He was portrayed.

The OT God is very similar to many of the panthiest gods of that era and earlier. Kind and giving but for the most par petty, vengeful, jealous and violent. Wiping out entire cities and the depopulating the entire world because He wasn't being obeyed or adored to His standard. This isn't a loving father. This is an abusive tyrannical despot ruling more from fear than love.

The biggest message of the NT and Jesus was the change in the relationship between God & man. This is the "saving grace" of the Christian religion.

 

I'm sorry that struck a nerve. I honestly meant for that comment to be directed at people in general, not you specifically, because I know you've said you've researched the Bible. I know a lot of people who haven't, and they share that view. Heck, I had that view before I read it all the way through and did some peripheral research. I didn't really see the loving nature of God until I looked at the OT as a whole, in context.

I understand that. And I've looked at it from the same perspective. I've formed my perception of God from the research I've done, not the other way around. I approached it as neutrally as I could -- not looking to prove His existence, not looking to disprove it, just seeing what there was to see.

If the Biblical accounts of the God-sanctioned destruction (or destruction by His own hand) of various cities and the global flood are leading you to draw that conclusion, I'd be more than willing to go deeper into each one of those occurrances with you to show you a different picture. If you're willing to do so. I agree that on the surface they are terrifying -- even loathsome. But there's more there than meets the eye initially.

I completely agree that Jesus changed the relationship between God and man. That was His main purpose here. What's remarkable though, is that Jesus, when taken in full context, reflects the same character as God portrayed in the OT.

 

Don't forget man's fear of dieing. "Knowing" there is an afterlife makes people feel much better about their mortality.