masterpeastheater
Junior Member
I'll start with "the world"
I'll start by asking what you mean?I'll start with "the world"
Google defines cliche as a phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought. Much of what Christians say does tend to fit this definition. In other words, many Christians are just parroting what they are told. So when they talk about "the world" they just think it sounds like something that is evil in a vague sense. The "evil world" is something they seek to escape and want to warn others to flee from to escape God's wrath.I'll start with "the world"
Speaking for myself, it's basically impossible to tell the difference between God saying no to a prayer or my not praying correctly and prayer simply not working. I could use similar logic regarding my having bad luck despite having a rabbit's foot: I didn't use that rabbit's foot correctly!"Prayer works!"
"Sometimes God says "No"."
I was also part of a group that exercises at our senior center, that was asked to pray for a woman who had metastatic cancer a few years ago. The group all prayed, while I kept my cool without pretending to pray. Three weeks later the woman was dead. Oh well. I guess god had other plans for her. What's the point of praying if god is going to do what it wants anyway?
So, if you don't do it correctly, then it's your fault God says no.Speaking for myself, it's basically impossible to tell the difference between God saying no to a prayer or my not praying correctly and prayer simply not working."Prayer works!"
"Sometimes God says "No"."
So, if you don't do it correctly, then it's your fault God says no.
If God won't end abortions for those who pray against it, either God approves of abortion, or not a single REAL Christain has ever prayed for an end.
Nobody has said that to me in years, but when they did in the past, my reply was always....."cool and I will think for you.""I will pray for you."
"God doesn't want anyone to go to hell"
They believe most people are going there eternally but think God is perfectly loving and free will might be involved.
A fading influence. My wife taught metaphor to tenth and eleventh grade English classes. They don't read much of anything anymore, and certainly not Bible stories.The thing is some of those Christian cliches actually are helpful to them. They are part of the western culture. Having the patience of Job or the wisdom of Solomon.
However, I did see my casual nurse friend who lost her fiancé' to COVID, probably due to their refusal to take the vaccine, say on FB. "I was supposed to be married on Nov. 6th, but God had other plans." I guess that gives people like her comfort. If I was a believer, I'd be mad as hell at my god for not telling me to take the vaccine, for making me very sick and for taking my fiancé away.
I think it used to be under the earth but now it might be in another dimension. (like in the Doom games)Where exactly is hell, anyway?"God doesn't want anyone to go to hell"
I don't think many people would prefer to go to hell rather than heaven.... (maybe some metal fans) also a lot of unsaved people (e.g. Moslems, Mormons?) would really really want to go the heaven but many Christians would believe those people have to go to hell....I understand that God is too loving to force anybody into heaven. Does it then follow that forcing somebody into heaven would be hateful?They believe most people are going there eternally but think God is perfectly loving and free will might be involved.
Are you for real? I would say that makes the atheist position the more rational one. Why would a loving god destroy the happiness of two believers who made a mistake by not taking a potentially life saving vaccine? Atheists aren't mad at god because it's impossible to be mad at an entity that doesn't exist. No Christian friend of mine has ever accused me of being mad at god. Sometimes we are frustrated or saddened when we see our Christian friends being taken advantage of by their religion. It's just hard to understand why or how some believers are able to consider that "god had other plans for them", when those plans cause such pain and suffering.However, I did see my casual nurse friend who lost her fiancé' to COVID, probably due to their refusal to take the vaccine, say on FB. "I was supposed to be married on Nov. 6th, but God had other plans." I guess that gives people like her comfort. If I was a believer, I'd be mad as hell at my god for not telling me to take the vaccine, for making me very sick and for taking my fiancé away.
That, of course, would feed into the cliche that athiests are just mad at god.
I think it used to be under the earth but now it might be in another dimension. (like in the Doom games)Where exactly is hell, anyway?
I don't think many people would prefer to go to hell rather than heaven.... (maybe some metal fans)...
...also a lot of unsaved people (e.g. Moslems, Mormons?) would really really want to go the heaven but many Christians would believe those people have to go to hell....
Well there's this AC/DC song - Highway to HellMarilyn Manson, for example?I don't think many people would prefer to go to hell rather than heaven.... (maybe some metal fans)...
I thought a place with no suffering (including boredom) would be preferable to eternal agony.Since different religions have different heavens, I think it's safe to say that each religion's unique version of heaven is more appealing to that religion's members than some other religion's heaven. In fact, another religion's heaven might seem downright hellish to those members. After all, Christians like Baptists no doubt hate the Roman Catholic idea of venerating the Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven while in heaven. They might rather go to hell!...also a lot of unsaved people (e.g. Moslems, Mormons?) would really really want to go the heaven but many Christians would believe those people have to go to hell....
Well the "metaverse" is what Facebook calls VR worlds.... I think if hell exists it would exist in a kind of VR world.....Where exactly is hell, anyway?
I've heard it's in the meta-verse!
Yes. That was pretty much what I meant by my sarcastic post. Plus, Zuckerberg would make a pretty good Satan, but, I digress.Well the "metaverse" is what Facebook calls VR worlds.... I think if hell exists it would exist in a kind of VR world.....Where exactly is hell, anyway?
I've heard it's in the meta-verse!
Well there's this AC/DC song - Highway to Hell
My friends are gonna be there tooI'm on the highway to hellOn the highway to hellHighway to hellI'm on the highway to hell....Hey satanPayin' my duesPlayin' in a rockin' bandHey mummaLook at meI'm on the way to the promised land
I thought a place with no suffering (including boredom) would be preferable to eternal agony.
The saying is "God doesn't want anyone to go to hell"
So they're saying that God really doesn't want to send anyone to hell but he just has to send them there.... he had no choice....
BTW there is also the case of so-called Christians who don't put Jesus first. They like singing hymns, etc, but they aren't properly saved....
Revelation 21:4But wouldn't you suffer from singing off-key hymns to a God you knew was torturing your friends and family?I thought a place with no suffering (including boredom) would be preferable to eternal agony.
At my sisters' church the "prophet" teaches that Christians who have a religious demon are going to hell.... here he said his Christian grandmother went to hell (you can get a taste by watching 2 minutes)Salvation is tricky business. I understand that Jesus will reject even many of those who are convinced they are saved.BTW there is also the case of so-called Christians who don't put Jesus first. They like singing hymns, etc, but they aren't properly saved....
There are so many! Here's some more:I'll start with "the world"
Yes. The version I've heard is something like: "You're too nice to be an atheist."It's been awhile, but if I remember correctly it was something along the lines of "you seem like a really nice person. Are you sure you're an atheist?"
Are you for real? I would say that makes the atheist position the more rational one. Why would a loving god destroy the happiness of two believers who made a mistake by not taking a potentially life saving vaccine? Atheists aren't mad at god because it's impossible to be mad at an entity that doesn't exist. No Christian friend of mine has ever accused me of being mad at god. Sometimes we are frustrated or saddened when we see our Christian friends being taken advantage of by their religion. It's just hard to understand why or how some believers are able to consider that "god had other plans for them", when those plans cause such pain and suffering.However, I did see my casual nurse friend who lost her fiancé' to COVID, probably due to their refusal to take the vaccine, say on FB. "I was supposed to be married on Nov. 6th, but God had other plans." I guess that gives people like her comfort. If I was a believer, I'd be mad as hell at my god for not telling me to take the vaccine, for making me very sick and for taking my fiancé away.
That, of course, would feed into the cliche that athiests are just mad at god.
I do know a man who immediately went from conservative Christian to atheist after his two year old son died quickly from a common infection. The man was rational enough to come to the conclusion that if a god existed, that god would have listened to the his prayers and healed the child. The man realized that his prayers were in vain because there was no all powerful, loving entity there to help him.
Let me end by trying to keep in the spirit of the OP. Believing in an invisible entity that is supposed to be loving, and in control of all things, but then allows very painful, tragic things to happen, is not a rational way to see the world. So, it's easy to understand why an atheist might feel triggered or despondent when a friend or acquaintance says that the horrible tragedy that happened to them was "god's will".
Tell Jesus that. He said to attain eternal life one must obey the commandments and sell everything giving the money to the poor and to follow him.''You only need faith." "You are saved through faith."
I think Paul's faith-based Christianity differs from the works-based Christianity of Jesus because Paul was either ignorant of what Jesus said, Paul disregarded what Jesus said, or the Gospel Jesus was invented after Paul wrote his epistles.No shortage of contradictions.....