Anonymous
Post 01/27/2015 10:01     Subject: Faith
Anonymous wrote:9:12, do you believe he would punish in the afterlife those who don't achieve fellowship with him on earth?

Muslima, if I could know there was a god and that his purpose in creating us was to have someone to worship him, I couldnt worship such a god.


What about if you also knew that eternal punishment awaited you if you refused to worship him? Would you still refuse, or would you try to worship him and hope that his magical powers didn't extend to being able to read your mind and know you weren't sincere and were just trying to get into heaven?
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2015 09:46     Subject: Faith
9:12, do you believe he would punish in the afterlife those who don't achieve fellowship with him on earth?

Muslima, if I could know there was a god and that his purpose in creating us was to have someone to worship him, I couldnt worship such a god.
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2015 09:31     Subject: Faith
Muslima wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Muslima wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Is it something you have or don't have? If it's just something you have, why would God reward that instead of rewarding people who are good to each other?

I find it hard to believe that an infinitely advanced being judged people based on whether or not you happen to believe in him/her/it.


An infinitely advanced being is not exactly a definition of the god of the Bible that so many people believe in in some way. That God emerged thousands of years ago and was written about by pre-scientific people. Modern scholars have tried to bring him into the modern age, but it's hard when you're dealing with an antiquated book or stories and rules


I'm just saying that if there is a god, I can't see him hanging one's afterlife on whether you had faith while alive.


What do you think His purpose is, then?


OP here. Whatever his purpose, it would be terrible and petty if he created us in order to be adored by us.



Why do you say that? If you believe there is a God, then He could very well have created us for any purpose that He chose....


Yes, and it would be petty if a supreme being, capable of creating a world would create people in his image (if you believe that) to adore him.
Muslima
Post 01/27/2015 09:25     Subject: Faith
Anonymous wrote:
Muslima wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Is it something you have or don't have? If it's just something you have, why would God reward that instead of rewarding people who are good to each other?

I find it hard to believe that an infinitely advanced being judged people based on whether or not you happen to believe in him/her/it.


An infinitely advanced being is not exactly a definition of the god of the Bible that so many people believe in in some way. That God emerged thousands of years ago and was written about by pre-scientific people. Modern scholars have tried to bring him into the modern age, but it's hard when you're dealing with an antiquated book or stories and rules


I'm just saying that if there is a god, I can't see him hanging one's afterlife on whether you had faith while alive.


What do you think His purpose is, then?


OP here. Whatever his purpose, it would be terrible and petty if he created us in order to be adored by us.


Why do you say that? If you believe there is a God, then He could very well have created us for any purpose that He chose....
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2015 09:12     Subject: Faith
Anonymous wrote:
Muslima wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Is it something you have or don't have? If it's just something you have, why would God reward that instead of rewarding people who are good to each other?

I find it hard to believe that an infinitely advanced being judged people based on whether or not you happen to believe in him/her/it.


An infinitely advanced being is not exactly a definition of the god of the Bible that so many people believe in in some way. That God emerged thousands of years ago and was written about by pre-scientific people. Modern scholars have tried to bring him into the modern age, but it's hard when you're dealing with an antiquated book or stories and rules


I'm just saying that if there is a god, I can't see him hanging one's afterlife on whether you had faith while alive.


What do you think His purpose is, then?


OP here. Whatever his purpose, it would be terrible and petty if he created us in order to be adored by us.


"Adored" may be the wrong word. He created us to be in fellowship with Him.
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2015 08:57     Subject: Faith
Muslima wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Is it something you have or don't have? If it's just something you have, why would God reward that instead of rewarding people who are good to each other?

I find it hard to believe that an infinitely advanced being judged people based on whether or not you happen to believe in him/her/it.


An infinitely advanced being is not exactly a definition of the god of the Bible that so many people believe in in some way. That God emerged thousands of years ago and was written about by pre-scientific people. Modern scholars have tried to bring him into the modern age, but it's hard when you're dealing with an antiquated book or stories and rules


I'm just saying that if there is a god, I can't see him hanging one's afterlife on whether you had faith while alive.


What do you think His purpose is, then?


OP here. Whatever his purpose, it would be terrible and petty if he created us in order to be adored by us.
Anonymous
Post 01/27/2015 00:03     Subject: Faith
Anonymous wrote:
Muslima wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Is it something you have or don't have? If it's just something you have, why would God reward that instead of rewarding people who are good to each other?

I find it hard to believe that an infinitely advanced being judged people based on whether or not you happen to believe in him/her/it.
An infinitely advanced being is not exactly a definition of the god of the Bible that so many people believe in in some way. That God emerged thousands of years ago and was written about by pre-scientific people. Modern scholars have tried to bring him into the modern age, but it's hard when you're dealing with an antiquated book or stories and rules
I'm just saying that if there is a god, I can't see him hanging one's afterlife on whether you had faith while alive.
What do you think His purpose is, then?

If He is, then He is that He is. Beyond that, what can we mortals understand about the infinite. All we can do is to try to understand the world He gave us; trying to understand Him is folly.


Sez who?
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2015 23:50     Subject: Faith
Muslima wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Is it something you have or don't have? If it's just something you have, why would God reward that instead of rewarding people who are good to each other?

I find it hard to believe that an infinitely advanced being judged people based on whether or not you happen to believe in him/her/it.
An infinitely advanced being is not exactly a definition of the god of the Bible that so many people believe in in some way. That God emerged thousands of years ago and was written about by pre-scientific people. Modern scholars have tried to bring him into the modern age, but it's hard when you're dealing with an antiquated book or stories and rules
I'm just saying that if there is a god, I can't see him hanging one's afterlife on whether you had faith while alive.
What do you think His purpose is, then?

If He is, then He is that He is. Beyond that, what can we mortals understand about the infinite. All we can do is to try to understand the world He gave us; trying to understand Him is folly.
Muslima
Post 01/26/2015 22:14     Subject: Faith
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Is it something you have or don't have? If it's just something you have, why would God reward that instead of rewarding people who are good to each other?

I find it hard to believe that an infinitely advanced being judged people based on whether or not you happen to believe in him/her/it.


An infinitely advanced being is not exactly a definition of the god of the Bible that so many people believe in in some way. That God emerged thousands of years ago and was written about by pre-scientific people. Modern scholars have tried to bring him into the modern age, but it's hard when you're dealing with an antiquated book or stories and rules


I'm just saying that if there is a god, I can't see him hanging one's afterlife on whether you had faith while alive.


What do you think His purpose is, then?
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2015 21:57     Subject: Faith
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Is it something you have or don't have? If it's just something you have, why would God reward that instead of rewarding people who are good to each other?

I find it hard to believe that an infinitely advanced being judged people based on whether or not you happen to believe in him/her/it.


An infinitely advanced being is not exactly a definition of the god of the Bible that so many people believe in in some way. That God emerged thousands of years ago and was written about by pre-scientific people. Modern scholars have tried to bring him into the modern age, but it's hard when you're dealing with an antiquated book or stories and rules


I'm just saying that if there is a god, I can't see him hanging one's afterlife on whether you had faith while alive.
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2015 19:22     Subject: Faith
Anonymous wrote:Is it something you have or don't have? If it's just something you have, why would God reward that instead of rewarding people who are good to each other?

I find it hard to believe that an infinitely advanced being judged people based on whether or not you happen to believe in him/her/it.


An infinitely advanced being is not exactly a definition of the god of the Bible that so many people believe in in some way. That God emerged thousands of years ago and was written about by pre-scientific people. Modern scholars have tried to bring him into the modern age, but it's hard when you're dealing with an antiquated book or stories and rules
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2015 18:58     Subject: Re:Faith
OP, I think faith is a lot like love. In fact, I think God gives us and uses human relationships to teach us about faith in Him. You are around someone for some period of time, you interact with them, you get to know them on a personal basis, you trust them and can rely on them. Then all of a sudden, one day you wake up and realize that what you feel is love.
Muslima
Post 01/26/2015 18:48     Subject: Faith
Anonymous wrote:Is it something you have or don't have? If it's just something you have, why would God reward that instead of rewarding people who are good to each other?

I find it hard to believe that an infinitely advanced being judged people based on whether or not you happen to believe in him/her/it.


In Islam, it is believed that Iman (Faith) goes up and down.Prophet Muhammad (SAW) taught us that Faith is never static, it increases and decreases, or waxes and wanes. It is our responsibility to assess where our faith is, and make it our duty to constantly work towards improving it.
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2015 18:20     Subject: Faith
Anonymous wrote:Is it something you have or don't have? If it's just something you have, why would God reward that instead of rewarding people who are good to each other?

I find it hard to believe that an infinitely advanced being judged people based on whether or not you happen to believe in him/her/it.

I think it's something you have or don't have. But I also think that many who have it and many who don't believe their condition to be the only correct one. I confess that my belief is that nobody can KNOW the answer, but paradoxically, I think I know that to be the case. I also think there is no God, but that's just my opinion.
Anonymous
Post 01/26/2015 17:36     Subject: Faith
Is it something you have or don't have? If it's just something you have, why would God reward that instead of rewarding people who are good to each other?

I find it hard to believe that an infinitely advanced being judged people based on whether or not you happen to believe in him/her/it.