Morality in Bible stories that you don't understand

[Politesse]

If he designed the parameters and programming of the "free will device", how free is it? Does God not know how many, roughly speaking, will choose to love Him (enough to not get their skin ripped off by his demonic allies, that is?)

When I start a new Simcity, I have a pretty good idea of how long the game will last before my grateful simulated citizens will "volunteer" to "gift" me with a mansion in appreciation for my service, ditto the nice civic statue of my visage eventually erected in a public park somewhere in town (I like to use it to improve land values in some of the slummier areas). They are programmed to do so whenever certain parameters are met, just as a human brain is programmed to respond relatively predictably to external stimuli like social feedback, visible symbols of apprvoal, and experiences of trauma.

 

[DBT]

Either way, we are told that God is responible for everything that happens in the world, which means not only natural disasters, but evil.

I've heard Christians saying that God wanted people to have free will (the ability to choose evil) rather than them all loving and worshipping him like robots.

Full of holes. An extremely poor defense, if only because we are told that God is responsible for the state of the world, the existence of the wicked, etc....

 

[ideologyhunter]

And looking for consistency in the Bible's teaching on free will is a fool's errand. According to Romans 9, esp. verses 16-18, there is no free will. God apparently creates some people to make them heretics and to destroy them...as a display of his might. Calvinism took hold on the strength of these and related Bible passages.

 

[Learner]

If he designed the parameters and programming of the "free will device", how free is it? Does God not know how many, roughly speaking, will choose to love Him (enough to not get their skin ripped off by his demonic allies, that is?)

Since God is omniscient, He would know and vision all the various destination outcomes and 'path journeys' you walk on. Visioning the alternatives of you.. in every scenario. It's up to the individuals to make their way... having the freedom & the conscience to chose their paths from the various 'destination outcomes' and turning one of the paths into the solid reality.

When I start a new Simcity, I have a pretty good idea of how long the game will last before my grateful simulated citizens will "volunteer" to "gift" me with a mansion in appreciation for my service, ditto the nice civic statue of my visage eventually erected in a public park somewhere in town (I like to use it to improve land values in some of the slummier areas). They are programmed to do so whenever certain parameters are met, just as a human brain is programmed to respond relatively predictably to external stimuli like social feedback, visible symbols of apprvoal, and experiences of trauma.

I can't help think that with ideas like this, I am reminded of the 'Stepford wives'.

 

[Politesse]

Since God is omniscient, He would know and vision all the various destination outcomes and 'path journeys' you walk on. Visioning the alternatives of you.. in every scenario. It's up to the individuals to make their way... having the freedom & the conscience to chose their paths from the various 'destination outcomes' and turning one of the paths into the solid reality.

That's the exact same thing as not knowing.

I, too, know that the weather will either be fair or rainy or foggy tomorrow. I know all of these potential outcomes most clearly. What I don't know is which will be true. And that is what we mean when we say "I don't know what the weather will be like tomorrow". Not that we cannot imagine possible futures, but that we do not know which is most likely.

If your theology of free will is correct, then the claim of divine omniscience cannot be.

 

[Learner]

Either way, we are told that God is responible for everything that happens in the world, which means not only natural disasters, but evil.

I've heard Christians saying that God wanted people to have free will (the ability to choose evil) rather than them all loving and worshipping him like robots.

I think they say this because of the idea of repentance. Conscience... How much is in a person, reveals how much good or bad exists for each person.

 

[Thomas II]

101 of the craziest, strangest, most ridiculous Bible absurdities​

https://lifelessons.co/spirituality/bible/

The Skeptic's Annotated Bible

https://skepticsannotatedbible.com/index.php

 

[DBT]

If he designed the parameters and programming of the "free will device", how free is it? Does God not know how many, roughly speaking, will choose to love Him (enough to not get their skin ripped off by his demonic allies, that is?)

Since God is omniscient, He would know and vision all the various destination outcomes and 'path journeys' you walk on. Visioning the alternatives of you.. in every scenario. It's up to the individuals to make their way... having the freedom & the conscience to chose their paths from the various 'destination outcomes' and turning one of the paths into the solid reality.

When I start a new Simcity, I have a pretty good idea of how long the game will last before my grateful simulated citizens will "volunteer" to "gift" me with a mansion in appreciation for my service, ditto the nice civic statue of my visage eventually erected in a public park somewhere in town (I like to use it to improve land values in some of the slummier areas). They are programmed to do so whenever certain parameters are met, just as a human brain is programmed to respond relatively predictably to external stimuli like social feedback, visible symbols of apprvoal, and experiences of trauma.

I can't help think that with ideas like this, I am reminded of the 'Stepford wives'.

Knowing the outcome permits no deviation on the path to that outcome.

 

[Learner]

Since God is omniscient, He would know and vision all the various destination outcomes and 'path journeys' you walk on. Visioning the alternatives of you.. in every scenario. It's up to the individuals to make their way... having the freedom & the conscience to chose their paths from the various 'destination outcomes' and turning one of the paths into the solid reality.

That's the exact same thing as not knowing.

I, too, know that the weather will either be fair or rainy or foggy tomorrow. I know all of these potential outcomes most clearly. What I don't know is which will be true. And that is what we mean when we say "I don't know what the weather will be like tomorrow". Not that we cannot imagine possible futures, but that we do not know which is most likely.

For an omniscient God, who can see all the various outcomes, purposely intended his creation to walk their path, is not an issue. Letting things occur as it is since the statements of scriptural laws were declared to mankind, leaving as a guide till judgement day. Even if God decides to only know when He opens the books, reading each name at the end. This doesn't at all suggest God wouldn't have the ability to know all things.

If your theology of free will is correct, then the claim of divine omniscience cannot be.

That notion idea is not an issue, merely 'the difficulty of human comprehension'. An omniscient God should be able to do things, way beyond fathomable.

The powers of an omniscient God shouldn't really be logical to humans.

 

[steve_bank]

Yahweh tortured Job on a bet ad destroyed surface life with a flood because he was displeased with the humans he created.

Sounds kike Yahweh is a sadistic and cruel s bastard.

Learner is posting his rationalization. All the suffering in the world past and present is all part of the plan.

One of those logical conundrums. If god is all knowing how can he,she, or it not know what any human is going to do.

I may have the wrong sect, I think Calvinism says those who are saved are predetermined.

 

[Learner]

Yahweh tortured Job on a bet ad destroyed surface life with a flood because he was displeased with the humans he created.

Gospel according to Steve.

Sounds kike Yahweh is a sadistic and cruel s bastard.

Sounds like my response in the above applies here too.

Learner is posting his rationalization. All the suffering in the world past and present is all part of the plan.

Jesus taught how people should get on with each other; love your neighbours, love your enemies etc.. Would be a different world if only people followed it. You do know according to the scriptures that this world is not Gods? Explains the past and present.

2 Corinthians 4:4

4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

John 14:30

“Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe the Gospel.”

One of those logical conundrums. If god is all knowing how can he,she, or it not know what any human is going to do.

That's because this conundrum is a god shaped in the 'image of the atheist'.

I may have the wrong sect, I think Calvinism says those who are saved are predetermined.

Ok.

 

[DBT]

Isn't the God of this world supposed to be Yahweh?

 

[DBT]

''Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done...'' Isaiah 46:10


''Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.'' Romans 13:1

 

[steve_bank]

John 14:30

“Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe the Gospel.”

'There is a sucker born every minute' Attributed to PT Barnum.

'Never give a sucker an even break,' WC Fields.

'Don't take any wooden nickels.'

'Actions speak louder than words.'

'An ounce of prevention s worth a pound of cure.'

'Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy,wealthy, and wise.' Ben Franklin.
'A penny saved is a penny earned.'
'Fish and visitors stink in three days.'

'Give a Chr9stian an inch and they will take a yard.' Steve Bank.

 

[Thomas II]

John 14:30

“Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe the Gospel.”

'There is a sucker born every minute' Attributed to PT Barnum.

'Never give a sucker an even break,' WC Fields.

'Don't take any wooden nickels.'

'Actions speak louder than words.'

'An ounce of prevention s worth a pound of cure.'

'Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy,wealthy, and wise.' Ben Franklin.
'A penny saved is a penny earned.'
'Fish and visitors stink in three days.'

'Give a Chr9stian an inch and they will take a yard.' Steve Bank.

 

[Thomas II]

 

[Thomas II]

 

[Thomas II]

 

[Thomas II]

 

[Thomas II]