insulting religions

[IneedAgoldenNickname]

Hi, I've never posted on this topic before, I tend to hang out in aibu, but don't want to start a bun fight!

So, I am a liberal Christian. I firmly believe that everyone had to right to believe (or not) whatever they want, provided that belief doesn't hurt anyone else.

Earlier today I posted a lighthearted status on Facebook, which had led to me being called mindless, stupid, stuck up, thinking I'm better than everyone else. I've been told God is a c**t (sorry I hate that word so much I won't type it) and that the Bible is only God for loo roll!

I'm just really angry that people think its ok to insult me/my religion like that, when I haven't once preached or insulted others.

Obviously the easy solution would be to delete them off of Facebook, but they are people I get on with other wise.

Don't really know the point of my post, just hoping id feel better writing it down.

Everything would be fine.

A million "who made earth, sea and sky?" made sense to ask when people thought earth was the centre of it all. The answer "an all powerful being with a particular interest in the emotional and moral life of humans" was reasonable.

But now you have to ask (if you think the who made question makes sense) "who made the universe, zillions of stars, galaxies, planets etc,".... The old micro managing father figure answer just does not fit this question.

Cant see why not.

Back in August amillion you explained how you had prayed about some problem you were having with an old wardrobe/cupboard or similar. I would really like to know how you feel this micromanaging god cares enough about you to help you sort furniture problems but simultaneously doesn't care about 1000's of starving babies. Can you see how strange that appears to someone who doesn't believe in a 'busybody' god.

Imagine I meet two people on my way to work on Monday. One is lying on the floor having a heart attack and one is having difficulty opening a packet of crisps. Imagine I ignore the heart attack victim and in favour of helping the other. No explanation is going to be adequate is it.

Cant remember the particular furniture problem, but yes, sounds like something I vaguely remember saying.

This actually ties in with Himalayas post.

We, as humans, limit God.
Because we are limited.
He is not.

He has thousands, millions of angels to help Him.
I am pretty sure, I read in the bible somewhere, that He can make some more.

God is not limited.
We are.

So, the short answer to your question is, he isnt just doing 2 things simultaneouly. He is doing countless.

Okay so imagine I can open crisps and perform CPR at the same time but I choose not to do the CPR. What moral explanation could there be? How would anyone knowing my actions think I was a great person and not very odd?

Yes, those two simultaneous things are a)helping you with your wardrobe and b) letting a baby starve. Wow. What a God.

You need to read the following posts, all on Tues 15 Jan.
my post 09.35am
Snorbs post 10.39am, and the next 6 or 7 posts up to and including Grimma's
my post 17.56pm

It covers some of the points.

This thread, as I said, somewhere after those posts, has helped me colve something I have been puzzling over for about 5 years.

Snorbs basically asked a question that I could only partly answer.

Yes, God controls nature.
Yes, Christians pray, so God knows about things, so He can choose what to do about it.
But the thing, I didnt know for sure was does God know about everything that is happening to non Christians.
And I dont think He does.

Sending this bit first so I dont lose it.

Hosea 8 v4 [part]
They made kings, but not through me; they set up princes. but without my knowledge.

So if god doesn't know what is happening to a non-Christian how will he judge them later on? How do you explain god not helping Christians when he does know about them?

Big problem for non Christians.
If God doesnt know, how can he have the option of doing anything about it?

It isnt a question of God not helping Chrisitians. He does what is for our good, so yes, He does say No, more often than we would like. But most times afterwards, we can soon work out the reason why. Often, we can soon see that His way was better.

The bible says, that when judgement comes, all things will be revealed, nothing that is now covered will remain hidden.

So how will god know what a non-Christian has done at judgement? How will it get revealed? So at what point did god know you existed?

"If God doesn't know?" Surely Christians believe him to be omniscient? No problem for non-Christians as we simply consider him to be fictional. Fictional characters have all kinds of flaws.

This is an oldie but a goodie: Could God create a rock which he is incapable of moving?

So if, say, a Christian woman got stabbed to death it was for someone's good?

See the problem I have is that bad things are happening to Christians and non-Christians. They both get ill and some die and some recover. The thing is amillion there's no discernible difference between the two groups in terms of recovery etc.

Surely the statistics concerning Christians and illness should show an unambiguous and strikingly clear anomaly compared to the cohort.

Morning

Interesting to read yesterdays discussion about pagan beliefs etc, I always find the origins of such fascinating, and think a lot more ties us all together than is often thought.

Don't worry, amillion, a lot of the more scientific stuff is a bit over my head too. DH is more of a scientific bent and he reconciles it all perfectly happily, as do many, many highly learned scientists who also have faith in God. Not that this is saying it's fine to leave it to the heducated ones - just that I can appreciate that some find science to be a sticking point, but many who don't. For me, I read up on it but it blows my mind still, especially on codeine

I have to disagree amillion with you about God not knowing about 'non Christians' - where, out of interest, did you formulate that theory from? I don't think the bible substantiates it at all. I do believe God is omniscient. God 'numbers each hair on your head'. There is no qualifying statement 'if you believe in God.' I'm a little confused by your assertion on this one! :)

Kay, hih etc - yes, the crisp packet vs person having a heart attack. I simply don't experience God as that kind of petty 'happy to move books but won't save starving children.' I think that God does intervene in our lives, yes. I also think that God expects us to do all we can to make sure children are not starving. It's 'christians' who seem to think it's fine to call on God for a nice porsche and yet refrain from doing anything to speak out for the oppressed that worry me, really.

I can see the conversation has moved on somewhat , sorry I didn't get back yesterday.
This judgement malarky is something that I've often had thrown up at me, inasmuch as I'm on a very sticky wicket come judgement day, because having been educated in the faith, and rejected it, there's a special place in hell waiting for me.
So how can this be just? I lead a moral and useful life, but I will still end up in hell just because I've used the brain "God" gave me to work out that I don't believe in him, conversely, Myra Hindley is on course for a nice cloud and a harp, because she apparently repented and turned to God.
And why do christians always talk in riddles? Why can't they just give a straight, colloquial answer instead of reverting back to biblespeke?

I don't believe that a person getting stabbed to death would be orchestrated by God 'for someone's good'.

I do believe God through such horrendous tragedy sometimes communicates his love to people.

I don't believe God 'made' me have degenerative lung disease.

I do think that God helps me to help others through it.

I do my best to give straight answers sunflower.

I'm sorry if that doesn't come across.

As for hell and judgement, while I firmly believe in God's forgiveness I also firmly believe in God's justice. And pure justice takes everything into account, and brings everything to rights. I love this book Love Wins which asks the kind of questions you are asking about hell and judgement and wonders how an all loving God can be reconciled with traditional interpretations of 'hell'.

I have been wondering where all those omni words come from.
Do they come from the bible? And if people think so, then where, so I can read them please.

Madhair, yes, I totally get the 'god expects you to do all you can' line and it is admirable to feel a responsibility to those in need, and it's a need I think most of us feel regardless of beliefs.
But seeing as god is mega powerful do you feel you can honestly say he does all he can?

Christians have varying reasons to explain why a perfect loving god can watch a starving baby and not act. Amillion's explanations are actually quite refreshing to read because they're so novel but they don't make any more or less sense than the more common ones

Quite apart from anything else I have been so much happier since no longer believing in god. I couldn't believe how miserable it was making me, always having to stop and think, "What would god think of this?" I feel like I properly grew up when I left irrational beliefs in supernatural beings behind. Nowadays, I only need to think of how my behaviour impacts on myself and other people, and it's a good yardstick for whether it's appropriate. If you're a grown adult, you should know when something is "wrong" without needing a Bible to tell you.

I do believe God through such horrendous tragedy sometimes communicates his love to people.

How is that in any way a straight answer mad?