Hmm. So if I stipulate that you are accurate (I’m willing to do that for this discussion since neither Christians nor Jews can agree even on their own theology, so I might as well just assume the person I’m talking to is a God-Bespoke expert because, well, they all are, amirite?) So if I stipulate that you are accurate then the god does not ask for or want any “worship” or “praise” but people give it as if the god would want such a thing. I tell, I would be so monumentally uncomfortable with all that, that I’d say, “stop it, y’all, you’re debasing yourselves” long before now. But we’re going with your claim that the god doesn’t want it, but does nothing to stop it.
Weird, but I’ll mark that as your position.
Please don't, as that wasn't and isn't my position. In fact, I didn't write any of the things in the paragraph above. Nor did I claim any sort of credentials, for that matter. Go back and re-read my post, if you are interested in my opinion on the question.
What kind of person gives out prizes for faith in their existence? This is the weirdest ever. If you trust me, little girl, I’ll give you some candy!
Who said anything about faith in existence? I assume there were a fair number of people in Jesus' own time who believed that Jesus
existed; it would not make much sense to say that this is the condition, nor is it what any Christian congregation I am familiar with thinks faith in Christ means. I mean, yes, they do think that Jesus and God exist, but that isn't what the Sinner's Prayer or any other formula of salvation stipulate. Faith is a relationship of mutual trust and fidelity, not just a statement of obvious factual truth.
Why, ‘cause you think the bible does not address what it thinks about non-believers? You think there are no statements in the bible about punishments meted out to those who fail to believe by faith without evidence?
I would, in fact, be interested to see any Bible verse that says non-believers are to be punished for failure to worship, as you claim.
So your portrayal of Christian theology, whether or not conservative, is still inaccurate.
LOL, innaccurate to you. Guarandamntee you there are plenty of Christians who think this theology is accurate. And you know it.
I'd rather you demonstrate this instead of just saying it. You're curiously casual about making blanket statements with no supporting evidence, for someone who claims to be offended by faith without evidence. I do not think that you do, in fact, understand conservative Christian philosophy. This isn't a statement of guesswork on my part, I spent quite a lot of my childhood in those circles, and try to stay abreast of recent developments in theology as the world turns.
You’ll say “they aren’t right,” while they say you aren’t right, and then you’ll both smile smugly and pretend the external question never arose and not care about convincing each other because being right only matters when you talk to a non-believer?
Er... Christians don't disagree with each other? On second thought, I'm not sure we're going to get anywhere on the historical question. I mean, where do I need to start, here?
Your god changed his name? I say Jehovah because no one uses a Greek name, and to call one of the gods “god” is confusing, and pointless since he has a name.
He's not "my" God, and you may call him whatever you like, I was just confused by your turn of phrase. It's not important.
The Greek word for God is
Theos, by the way, but in English it is usually styled "God" or "the Christian God" when clarity is needed.
I picked her because she is often jealous of her position and crabby when people don’t pay her enough attention and she was known for harming people that she thought were threatening her status, especially Zeus’ bastard children.
So you cannot, in fact, defend your statement about her, that she demands worship without explanation and punishes those who don't offer it?
Incidentally, Hera's mother was your namesake, Rhea, though as far as anyone knows she was not widely worshiped outside of Crete, where her cult originated.
