Originally posted by Vitchilo
reply to post by theRhenn
Somehow I dont think we're talking about the same merciful, gracious God of the bible.
Merciful and gracious God? Ever read the Ancient Testament? Yeah.... God is a sick bastard in there.
And about Sodom And Gomorrah... kind of a contradiction that God gave us free will, but then Sodom and Gomorrah citizens used free will to do what
they were doing and God punished them for it.
God : yeah I give you free will but if you don't do what I want, I kill you!
Seems to me God is like a slave owner.edit on 28-1-2012 by Vitchilo because: (no reason given)
Sure I have. It tells alot of his mercies. For instance.. Not wipping israel off the map, not destroying everyone in the flood..
If it was anything like what is happening today, ya know.. He very well was justified.
Evil is still evil. Perhaps you're just percieving it wrong. Why would you let a people run amuck just to kill others through out time? Something
had to be done, just as it'll be done again.
God gave to his chosen people (anyone who loved and worshiped him) and he wipped them because they were wrong.. Each time they did wrong, he wipped
them again. He gave them more responcibilities.
One think I learned in all my life. Anyone of the same can probably attest to this.
I find that when I believe in God by my words/prayers and actions, I am scolded when I do wrong. Little things stand in my way, stuff happens to make
me aware, and all of it always, ALWAYS seems to tie in specificly. I wish I could explain more without filling up 10 pages of txt for 1 example, but
I cant. It's even harder to explain, so I hope this helps even a little to see what I mean.
When I do not believe, and when I cast aside my faith... I expect a harsh beating.. But nothing. Nothing at all. Then my deeds no longer get me
punished or rewarded. I wondered about this.. The only thing I can say or think is.. If you love God and Believe, you will be scolded when you do
wrong and rewarded when you do good. If you do not.. You get nothing, good nor bad. Why? Maybe if you dont believe, God no longer includes you in
"trying to raise you the right way" by little punishments and rewards. I also find, and true to what Ive read in the bible, that when I speak about
my "good deeds", nothing good comes of them. They ALWAYS backfire on me. My wife used to think me crazy, untill I had her go and exchange a
CDdrive that was way too old and out of warrantee.
I bought a new one, swapped the face plates, sent the old one back as damaged and got my money back... I ended up with a brand new CD Drive. My wife
ended up with a brand new ticket and was picked up on a warrant for a speeding ticket she had gotten 5 years prior. This was while comming BACK from
the store where she swapped those drives.. She had nothing to do with it really, but she knew about it and she did it anyways. She was my wife, so
directly it related to me.
Guess how much the ticket and fine was?
249$ The exact same price of the DVD drive.
She never did it again and neither did I.
Now if this was a once in a year occurance, I would say whatever.. hogwash. But it happens way too often. The easiest thing a believer can do to
stop getting punished by his actions is.. Stop believing. I really believe this and I ascribe to NO religion. But I believe what the bible says.
Yeah I believe some crazy stuff by others standards, even by christian standards, but I carry none's flag nor banner save the one that is burried
deep in the back of my heart that was given to me by God. (It's metaphorical but it actually means something to me)
As always, you make a fairly valid point and I cant argue
with that. You gave enough information for your post to give it meaning and substance. Though, I say, I agree with much of what you said, I'm
really not that involved with much of the belief systems of india and the near surrounding areas. Though, It is said that Jesus studied there. To be
honest, I feel it's possible that many of those religions must have some merrit as seemingly all of them come to the same conclusion in the end, one
way or another. Perhaps there is truth in all, but neither one is really the one we should be following. And then.. Perhaps all of them could be
vital to our search. Though, Siva and other gods of india intrigue me, as do all mythologies, just as much as they scare me a little. Ya have to
admit, with all the confusing religions and stances in the world, it's hard to filter though the nonsense. 
