Split

[Shoes]

Drifting Away Wrote:- How could an infinitely perfect creator God end up leaving us with a system that confuses so many of us so badly?

I have asked myself this question a thousand times

- If he created my mind and logical/reasoning abilities, surely he can understand why so much conflicting evidence confuses me, right?

ditto

- After showing off with amazing feats of strength for thousands of years in the Old Testament, why wouldn't God just show up one time now that we can all document it, prove himself, and end the speculation?

The 'all you need is faith' argument seems to fall flat. if 'all the world couldn't contain the books written about what he did' why not throw us a few bones?

I usually end up back at this conclusion: My hope is that there ends up being a universalist, loving creator that will ultimately draw all people to himself for some sort of Rob Bell-like eternity that's enjoyable but not a hostage situation for all of us. However, if the Bible is accurate and the Old Testament God actually exists...and that's a true representation of his attitude and feeling toward evil men - we are all doomed. Including all the fundies. Because NOBODY has a very good chance of getting it right enough to satisfy that God.

what you wrote in bold is one my 4 conclusions.
1) We are all fucked when we die b/c god is angry at us all
2) We are all 'making it' when we die b/c god loved us all
3) There is nothing after when we die
4) There is something else

[Drifting Away]

(05-03-2013 07:36 AM)Shoes Wrote:  what you wrote in bold is one my 4 conclusions.
1) We are all fucked when we die b/c god is angry at us all
2) We are all 'making it' when we die b/c god loved us all
3) There is nothing after when we die
4) There is something else

Your #4 is the scary one...but only when I consider it a possible mix of numbers 1 and 2. But again - if god is truly angry enough at sinners to burn some of them forever and ever...we pretty much end up back at #1, ALL of them.

Reminds me of an interesting video, have you seen this one?

http://youtu.be/E15IC3YKv8g

[Shoes]

i'll check the vid out.

#4 makes me think of scientology. ha maybe we get zapped up to some robot/ alien being that harvests us to use our psychic energy

[Drifting Away]

(05-03-2013 10:44 AM)Shoes Wrote:  i'll check the vid out.

#4 makes me think of scientology. ha maybe we get zapped up to some robot/ alien being that harvests us to use our psychic energy

it's been awhile since I first saw that video...watching it back today, it's not as compelling as I remembered it being. (kinda more harshly demented of a "god figure" than was needed, I think) Seems like he should have spent more time developing the love and caring relationship in the beginning. But anyway, interesting to think about.

[dthatcher]

I also have less to talk about here on SFL, and quite frankly, everywhere, since I deconverted. My travels through and out of IFB and fundamentalism resulted in a keen interest in doctrine, church history, and the psychology of belief. At this point I have disconnected myself from all of that. I have spoken before on this board about being in a no-man's land. I used to bring up church/theological topics all the time. It was my thing that I engaged people in. Now I am a bit of a dud unless we are talking about computers and IT. I am having to find myself outside of church and I am realizing I have no secular life to speak of outside of my profession.
I have found it useful to intentionally "unconcern myself" with such matters as an aid to my deconversion. As a matter of fact I got rid of nearly all of my theological books at a garage sale yesterday. I only kept books regarding KJVOism (because I consider myself somewhat of an expert on the issue), books on cultish behavior in churches (because the psychology of religion still fascinates me), and my single-column NRSV bible (because it is the most perfect Bible I have ever owned).

I am mentally much healthier away from religion. A big part of it has to do with locus of control. Despite some arguments to the contrary (see Richard Beck's blog Experimental Theology) I do not see how those serving a Biblical God can end up with anything but an external locus of control. An external locus of control is extremely unhealthy as psychology has proven. The soveriegn God who demands control in His follower's lives also very naturally and very logically leads to a very broad dependence on prayer as a means of connecting with God as the determiner and controller. This holds true whether you are Calvinist/Reformed (in which case it is very obvious) or not (in which case self ambition is selfish rebellion or at least neglect of God's authority in one's life).
The inefficacy of prayer was one of the main reasons I walked away but the benefits of an internal locus of control were unexpected. I am not only free but I feel more optimistic about my life that I ever have before.
RE: Emily King... so you are scared of non-existence? Non-existence is a blissful thought to me. I don't want to rule and reign. When my life is done let me rest the ultimate rest of mind and body. Burn me and scatter me to the winds and sea so no power can bring me back again.
So no, I am not sure I have any secret longing for Christianity to be true... I do not want an external locus of control, and I do not want any form of existence after death.