General Discussion

chrisa

(4,524 posts)

67. Because people have the ability to just make more stuff up to fit their narrative.

Thu Jan 8, 2015, 11:05 AM

Jan 2015

1: God is omnipotent, but it's our job to punish blasphemers!

2: Why? Couldn't God just do that if it's omnipotent?

1: Well, God leaves that up to us because he decided to give humans free will.

2: That makes no sense. Are you saying that God gave humans free will, but he orders them around hoping that they'll listen? Why would he do that? Why not just remove humans' ability to blaspheme if it's something God doesn't want.

1: God is testing us...

2: Um... God is omnipotent. Wouldn't God already know what I'm going to do before I do it? Why would God need to test us when it already knows what's going to happen?

1: Because God decided to give humans free will!

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If there are, indeed, gods that are omnipotent, [View all] MineralMan Jan 2015 OP

Vengeance is mine, saith The Lord. eom rogerashton Jan 2015 #1

And at least one God discribed that way also speaks of the free will of mankind. jwirr Jan 2015 #54

You speak for me, MineralMan. 3catwoman3 Jan 2015 #2

Yup. MineralMan Jan 2015 #5

Well, you miss the easy answer which is humans are the gods' agents on earth. KittyWampus Jan 2015 #3

That's silly. MineralMan Jan 2015 #4

It doesn't make sense to you because you have no spiritual feelings Fumesucker Jan 2015 #23

"Spritual feelings"? phil89 Jan 2015 #42

I have read a lot of MM's posts and am familiar with his philosophy, one we largely share Fumesucker Jan 2015 #50

Well, I don't believe that "spirits" exist either. MineralMan Jan 2015 #48

I don't have those feelings either Fumesucker Jan 2015 #49

A lot of people think a lot of things. MineralMan Jan 2015 #51

Beliefs to a big extent determine behavior Fumesucker Jan 2015 #52

Religious beliefs are as complicated as the religions that engender them. MineralMan Jan 2015 #53

who cares if you think it's silly. It's an alternative you didn't mention in the OP. KittyWampus Jan 2015 #55

Probably nobody. I'm not required to mention any particular alternatives MineralMan Jan 2015 #56

Except you begin your OP with a question and I provided the most simplistic answer KittyWampus Jan 2015 #60

Many simplistic things are silly. MineralMan Jan 2015 #61

Not an easy phil89 Jan 2015 #44

Which means, of course, that the proposed god isn't omnipotent Orrex Jan 2015 #66

There could be an omnipotent god, but logically, there can't be multiple omnipotent godS DisgustipatedinCA Jan 2015 #6

Of course there can be multiple omnipotent deities. MineralMan Jan 2015 #8

I'm letting it go, becuase it's off-topic, but we do have different definitions of omnipotence. nt DisgustipatedinCA Jan 2015 #9

Perhaps. But if all those deities get along, MineralMan Jan 2015 #12

the olde gods required sacrifices to appease their anger Baclava Jan 2015 #7

Ba'al, Schma'al. MineralMan Jan 2015 #10

You're on the list buddy Baclava Jan 2015 #19

I'm cowering under my bed, now. MineralMan Jan 2015 #20

showing some humility finally, well, that might keep you safe for awhile if you avert your eyes Baclava Jan 2015 #34

deities are just figments of human imagination" people see what they want to see belzabubba333 Jan 2015 #11

Or what they imagine they see... MineralMan Jan 2015 #13

A quote from Epicurus: panader0 Jan 2015 #14

A clever lad, that Epicurus. MineralMan Jan 2015 #16

VERY good, elleng Jan 2015 #32

oh good a person trying to define god belzabubba333 Jan 2015 #37

what is any evil but a misjudgment. Or a missing the mark. KittyWampus Jan 2015 #57

great post! Scout Jan 2015 #89

Blasphemy is a victimless crime. eom MohRokTah Jan 2015 #15

Indeed. MineralMan Jan 2015 #17

Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn MohRokTah Jan 2015 #18

I hope he gets indigestion, then. MineralMan Jan 2015 #22

There is one great benefit to being a follower of Cthulhu MohRokTah Jan 2015 #24

I confess ignorance. 3catwoman3 Jan 2015 #31

"In his house at R'lyeh, dead Cthulhu waits dreaming" MohRokTah Jan 2015 #35

Rather like learning to speak... 3catwoman3 Jan 2015 #39

I've always been more of a Sci-Fi and Fantasy Fic fan. MohRokTah Jan 2015 #41

agree with you. 100% demigoddess Jan 2015 #21

An omnipotent god would know what you were going to pray... MohRokTah Jan 2015 #26

Maybe God is not totally omnipotent treestar Jan 2015 #63

Occam's Razor would suggest a different tack. MohRokTah Jan 2015 #64

There is some evidence treestar Jan 2015 #74

That is not evidence. eom MohRokTah Jan 2015 #77

You think that is evidence of a god? cleanhippie Jan 2015 #90

Religion isn't based on evidence treestar Jan 2015 #93

Your words: "There is some evidence" cleanhippie Jan 2015 #98

No. Human nature has no such requirements. MineralMan Jan 2015 #71

You'll never stop people wondering about how we got here treestar Jan 2015 #75

That's never my goal. I think people should wonder about many things. MineralMan Jan 2015 #79

I can live with not having all the answers treestar Jan 2015 #95

Here's GOD RobertEarl Jan 2015 #25

Atheists only believe in one less god than monotheists. eom MohRokTah Jan 2015 #27

K and R. nt cwydro Jan 2015 #28

The whole idea of an "omnipotent" deity unable to protect itself is as absurd as the people who Tierra_y_Libertad Jan 2015 #29

They wouldn't, MM, elleng Jan 2015 #30

If everyone could bring themselves to follow the "Golden Rule"... 3catwoman3 Jan 2015 #36

Absolutely, 3cat. elleng Jan 2015 #38

It is what I taught our sons when they were young boys. 3catwoman3 Jan 2015 #45

Sadly, most modern interpretations of the "Golden Rule"... MohRokTah Jan 2015 #43

'God' is everywhere and part of everything. Avalux Jan 2015 #33

And why continue with this failed experiment? Sweet Freedom Jan 2015 #40

Perhaps all the deities are purely evil and just like R. Daneel Olivaw Jan 2015 #46

If there is a God, atheism must seem to Him as less of an insult than religion. Major Nikon Jan 2015 #47

Not really proof of no god treestar Jan 2015 #58

I never try to prove a negative. MineralMan Jan 2015 #59

It' kind of relative though treestar Jan 2015 #62

Not really. I don't live in 3000 BC. MineralMan Jan 2015 #68

Some people will wonder why we're all here treestar Jan 2015 #76

See, I'm not trying to eradicate religion. MineralMan Jan 2015 #81

It is not simplistic and magical treestar Jan 2015 #94

There's no need for a reason for existence. MineralMan Jan 2015 #96

Virtually all the big religions have defense mechanisms... backscatter712 Jan 2015 #65

Indeed, and that's the cause of much pain and suffering. MineralMan Jan 2015 #69

Because people have the ability to just make more stuff up to fit their narrative. chrisa Jan 2015 #67

Rationalization to maintain beliefs with no evidence. MineralMan Jan 2015 #70

Problem is with people who are gods in their own minds... haele Jan 2015 #72

Um..you would be trying to appeal to intelligence or logic...not "faith" right? nt kelliekat44 Jan 2015 #73

Uh, yes. That's always my emphasis. MineralMan Jan 2015 #82

Power can be used or not used. riqster Jan 2015 #78

OK. I personally don't believe in any "creator." MineralMan Jan 2015 #84

No worries. When discussing unprovable hypotheses, I find it best to be accepting of others' ideas. riqster Jan 2015 #88

You know what's fun, turn CNN on muted and read Christopher Hitchens NightWatcher Jan 2015 #80

Doesn't sound like fun to me. MineralMan Jan 2015 #85

Religion poisons everything. This is yet ANOTHER example NightWatcher Jan 2015 #87

Believers of unproven Deity are not rational persons seveneyes Jan 2015 #83

This thread is not about that, at all, despite the MineralMan Jan 2015 #86

Another alternative... Dale Neiburg Jan 2015 #91

No logic in that at all. What would be the point? MineralMan Jan 2015 #92

Of course it's not evidence *for*. Dale Neiburg Jan 2015 #97

There is no evidence for any sort of deity. MineralMan Jan 2015 #99

This is where the priest says "God works in mysterious ways, Zorra Jan 2015 #100

Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 2015 #101

There aren't WestCoastLib Jan 2015 #102