Evolution of God

[James_Lai]

Hello.
There’s an idea today of a universal and unchangeable God.
Hebrews 13:8
Malachi 3:6

We know this wasn’t always so. YHVH Elohim, Theos, Yeshua haMashiach or Kyrios Iesos Christos, the idea of God has ever been evolving.

There was no God for all the earth. There was my tribe’s God and your tribe’s God. This nation’s God and that nation’s God. It’s often a problem for Bible translators. Do you use the term for a local God? Do you say Allah or Khoda in the Persion Bible? So you want to invoke Islamic or Zoroastrian associations? Do you want to equate the Great Spirit of Manitou with the Christian Theos for the Algonquins?

When Muslims see a cross, it’s repulsive to them as a symbol of a Kafir or unbeliever. (Kafir is a cognate of Hebrew Kippah, covering as Kafir is a coverer or truth).

Or some people have a male and female high deity, and so in their mind the idea of a single male God is inferior and unnatural. Maybe that’s why Catholics venerate Sancta Maria Mater Dei to offset Deus Pater’s definitive masculinity?

There is no and never has been a universally accepted idea of God.

Where does the Christian Theos idea come from? In the Bible, it’s a variable view. Who formed today’s idea of God? Where are its actual roots?

 

[2PhiloVoid]

Hello.
There’s an idea today of a universal and unchangeable God.
Hebrews 13:8
Malachi 3:6

We know this wasn’t always so. YHVH Elohim, Theos, Yeshua haMashiach or Kyrios Iesos Christos, the idea of God has ever been evolving.

There was no God for all the earth. There was my tribe’s God and your tribe’s God. This nation’s God and that nation’s God. It’s often a problem for Bible translators. Do you use the term for a local God? Do you say Allah or Khoda in the Persion Bible? So you want to invoke Islamic or Zoroastrian associations? Do you want to equate the Great Spirit of Manitou with the Christian Theos for the Algonquins?

When Muslims see a cross, it’s repulsive to them as a symbol of a Kafir or unbeliever. (Kafir is a cognate of Hebrew Kippah, covering as Kafir is a coverer or truth).

Or some people have a male and female high deity, and so in their mind an idea of a single male God is inferior and unnatural.

There is no and never has been a universally accepted idea of God.

Where does the Christian God idea come from? In the Bible, it’s a variable view. Who formed today’s idea of God? Where are its actual roots?

No one alive today can provide a definitive answer to these questions. All anyone can do (just short of experiencing an actual manifestation of God to our faces) is to contemplate the 1st century Jewish/Christian concept of "revelation."

Either it will become relevant to us in some meaningful way, or it will remain forever elusive and alien to our personal acceptance.

And that's our existential quandary.

 

[angelsaroundme]

"When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely." - 1 Corinthians 13:11-12

 

[Vesper_Jaye✝️]

It’s roots are in the Bible, and that is enough for most Christians. I have wondered, too, what makes the Christian God any more valid than other gods. I have found that there is historical evidence that lines up with the Bible (they found the Tower of Babel, a friend told me they found the ark (the ark as it is portrayed in the Bible)). There is also a major difference between the God of the Bible and most other gods - Jesus lived and died for us, while in many other religions people lived and died for the gods.
This is the evidence I have so far.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

Hello.
There’s an idea today of a universal and unchangeable God.
Hebrews 13:8
Malachi 3:6

We know this wasn’t always so. YHVH Elohim, Theos, Yeshua haMashiach or Kyrios Iesos Christos, the idea of God has ever been evolving.

There was no God for all the earth. There was my tribe’s God and your tribe’s God. This nation’s God and that nation’s God. It’s often a problem for Bible translators. Do you use the term for a local God? Do you say Allah or Khoda in the Persion Bible? So you want to invoke Islamic or Zoroastrian associations? Do you want to equate the Great Spirit of Manitou with the Christian Theos for the Algonquins?

When Muslims see a cross, it’s repulsive to them as a symbol of a Kafir or unbeliever. (Kafir is a cognate of Hebrew Kippah, covering as Kafir is a coverer or truth).

Or some people have a male and female high deity, and so in their mind an idea of a single male God is inferior and unnatural. Maybe that’s why Catholics venerate Sancta Maria Mater Dei to offset Deus Pater’s definitive masculinity?

There is no and never has been a universally accepted idea of God.

Where does the Christian Theos idea come from? In the Bible, it’s a variable view. Who formed today’s idea of God? Where are its actual roots?

James, in this OP, I think that however accidentally and unintentional it was for you to do so, you've conflated the essence of an Anthropological and more scientific type of perpective on the idea of God (or on religion in general) with a more Ontological set of considerations made to assess the same idea.

I could be wrong, but I think it's best to keep these two perspectives separate and not assume that one necessarily and definitively informs the other in all aspects of any and all inquiry we may have here, especially since Archaeology doesn't really clarify it all for us in comprehensive fashion anyway, nor can it ...

In this, I'm merely making an allusion to, and expressing an affinity for, Barbara J. King's non-theological approach to this topic as found in her book, Evolving God (2007).

 

[SavedByGrace3]

Romans 1
20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

 

[BobRyan]

Hello.
There’s an idea today of a universal and unchangeable God.
Hebrews 13:8
Malachi 3:6

We know this wasn’t always so. YHVH Elohim, Theos, Yeshua haMashiach or Kyrios Iesos Christos, the idea of God has ever been evolving.

There was no God for all the earth. There was my tribe’s God and your tribe’s God. This nation’s God and that nation’s God.

The history of man according to the Bible starts with Adam who has one God according to the book of Genesis.

After the flood the history of man according to the Bible has just one family - Noah's family and Noah's God - the God of the Bible according to the book of Genesis.

So then all the "divisions" come after the time of Noah. But this explains why there are so many different groups having a "flood" story. They all descend from the same family.

 

[BobRyan]

Notice how atheist and Muslim people are both finding the Christian God in these two examples.


This first one is of a chinese communist atheist in China who encounters God and becomes a Christian

Chinese communist atheist direct encounter with Christ -

An amazing testimony by a former Chinese communist who recently converted to Christianity due to a direct encounter with Christ... truly an amazing testimony.
.

Click on the video below to see the second - very powerful testimony of two Muslims who encounter God and become Christian.

Must See Amazing Story! Saved from alternate-lifestyle, drugs, suicide, demon worship, and a strict non-Christian faith.

From: Found Rest

You really need to set aside an hour or so to watch this free online feature length Christian movie

 

[Vesper_Jaye✝️]

The history of man according to the Bible starts with Adam who has one God according to the book of Genesis.

After the flood the history of man according to the Bible has just one family - Noah's family and Noah's God - the God of the Bible according to the book of Genesis.

So then all the "divisions" come after the time of Noah. But this explains why there are so many different groups having a "flood" story. They all descend from the same family.

You explained that really well!

 

[ViaCrucis]

Where does the Christian Theos idea come from? In the Bible, it’s a variable view. Who formed today’s idea of God? Where are its actual roots?

Jesus. It comes from Jesus, the Word made flesh.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Maria Billingsley]

Hello.
There’s an idea today of a universal and unchangeable God.
Hebrews 13:8
Malachi 3:6

We know this wasn’t always so. YHVH Elohim, Theos, Yeshua haMashiach or Kyrios Iesos Christos, the idea of God has ever been evolving.

There was no God for all the earth. There was my tribe’s God and your tribe’s God. This nation’s God and that nation’s God. It’s often a problem for Bible translators. Do you use the term for a local God? Do you say Allah or Khoda in the Persion Bible? So you want to invoke Islamic or Zoroastrian associations? Do you want to equate the Great Spirit of Manitou with the Christian Theos for the Algonquins?

When Muslims see a cross, it’s repulsive to them as a symbol of a Kafir or unbeliever. (Kafir is a cognate of Hebrew Kippah, covering as Kafir is a coverer or truth).

Or some people have a male and female high deity, and so in their mind an idea of a single male God is inferior and unnatural. Maybe that’s why Catholics venerate Sancta Maria Mater Dei to offset Deus Pater’s definitive masculinity?

There is no and never has been a universally accepted idea of God.

Where does the Christian Theos idea come from? In the Bible, it’s a variable view. Who formed today’s idea of God? Where are its actual roots?

Though many gods have appeared in the minds of men only one has made Himself known from day one. His root is through Jesus Christ of Nazareth as all was made through Him.
If you want to test this simply compare the God of Isreal with all other gods. You will quickly notice the difference.
Blessings

 

[Clare73]

Hello.
There’s an idea today of a universal and unchangeable God.
Hebrews 13:8
Malachi 3:6

We know this wasn’t always so. YHVH Elohim, Theos, Yeshua haMashiach or Kyrios Iesos Christos, the idea of God has ever been evolving.

There was no God for all the earth. There was my tribe’s God and your tribe’s God. This nation’s God and that nation’s God. It’s often a problem for Bible translators. Do you use the term for a local God? Do you say Allah or Khoda in the Persion Bible? So you want to invoke Islamic or Zoroastrian associations? Do you want to equate the Great Spirit of Manitou with the Christian Theos for the Algonquins?

When Muslims see a cross, it’s repulsive to them as a symbol of a Kafir or unbeliever. (Kafir is a cognate of Hebrew Kippah, covering as Kafir is a coverer or truth).

Or some people have a male and female high deity, and so in their mind an idea of a single male God is inferior and unnatural. Maybe that’s why Catholics venerate Sancta Maria Mater Dei to offset Deus Pater’s definitive masculinity?

There is no and never has been a universally accepted idea of God.

Where does the Christian Theos idea come from? In the Bible, it’s a variable view. Who formed today’s idea of God? Where are its actual roots?

It all started with Adam, came to an abrupt end with Noah, started over again and picked up speed with Abraham.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

Hello.
There’s an idea today of a universal and unchangeable God.
Hebrews 13:8
Malachi 3:6

We know this wasn’t always so. YHVH Elohim, Theos, Yeshua haMashiach or Kyrios Iesos Christos, the idea of God has ever been evolving.

There was no God for all the earth. There was my tribe’s God and your tribe’s God. This nation’s God and that nation’s God. It’s often a problem for Bible translators. Do you use the term for a local God? Do you say Allah or Khoda in the Persion Bible? So you want to invoke Islamic or Zoroastrian associations? Do you want to equate the Great Spirit of Manitou with the Christian Theos for the Algonquins?

When Muslims see a cross, it’s repulsive to them as a symbol of a Kafir or unbeliever. (Kafir is a cognate of Hebrew Kippah, covering as Kafir is a coverer or truth).

Or some people have a male and female high deity, and so in their mind an idea of a single male God is inferior and unnatural. Maybe that’s why Catholics venerate Sancta Maria Mater Dei to offset Deus Pater’s definitive masculinity?

There is no and never has been a universally accepted idea of God.

Where does the Christian Theos idea come from? In the Bible, it’s a variable view. Who formed today’s idea of God? Where are its actual roots?

The central kernel of Christianity involves a loving God whose primary mission is to search for unloved, lonely, discouraged men and women who have been thrown under the bus by society, ravaged by drink and drugs, separate from their families, and at the point where they have despaired of life. With all the ideas, theological or secular, about God, this important point about Him is either missed, ignored or rejected.

 

[James_Lai]

The central kernel of Christianity involves a loving God whose primary mission is to search for unloved, lonely, discouraged men and women who have been thrown under the bus by society, ravaged by drink and drugs, separate from their families, and at the point where they have despaired of life. With all the ideas, theological or secular, about God, this important point about Him is either missed, ignored or rejected.

Compassion, support, healing. Very nice

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

Compassion, support, healing. Very nice

Isn't that what Christianity really is? If you know who Jesus really is, wouldn't you receive Him as your Saviour and commit your life to Him? How long are you going to be outside looking in?

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

hat does not refute Christianity itself. But the stories of Genesis are best treated as morality tales and not history.

Just a question in relation to your last sentence. Why, in your opinion, did Jesus Christ suffer and die on the Cross of Calvary?

 

[Clare73]

The central kernel of Christianity involves a loving God whose primary mission is to search for unloved, lonely, discouraged men and women who have been thrown under the bus by society, ravaged by drink and drugs, separate from their families, and at the point where they have despaired of life. With all the ideas, theological or secular, about God, this important point about Him is either missed, ignored or rejected.

Many who are saved do not fit into that category, starting with Paul.

God is not a respecter of persons, of any kind.

 

[Clare73]

And that is just verbage that Christians use to defend their beliefs. You may believe you know Jesus on a personal level, but when tested that claim does not appear to be true. If that were the case we should see agreement by all Christians on what it means to be a Christian.

Who made you the Lawgiver?
Do you have any proof for your claim?
Physician, heal thyself.

And yet we see some beliefs that are very different from others. When you say that you have a personal relationship I see that you have confirmation bias.

Do you have any proof for your claim?
That's what I thought.
Physician, heal thyself.

Because I have proof otherwise.
Do I have the same relationship with my husband as I do with my children?
Do I have the same relationship with my friends as I do my husband?
Who says you can measure one relationship with Jesus by another?

I sometimes ask Christians how they would properly test their beliefs and none of them seem to be able to do so. To properly test an idea one must have a test that could conceivably be able to show that one is wrong.

"Properly" test. . .ew-w-w. . .and who made that rule?
So do you have any proof for that claim?
Thought so. . .
Physician, heal thyself.

I have proof for mine. . .relationships aren't "ideas."

Finding things that agree with one's faith is easy for believers of any religion. It is the tests that could show them to be wrong that all religions, not just Christianity, tend to avoid.

And these "tests" would be?
And again, do you have any proof for that claim?
I'm not surprised. . .
Physician, heal thyself.

Empty talk. . .from inflated opining.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

Many who are saved do not fit into that category, starting with Paul.

God is not a respecter of persons, of any kind.

Jesus has come to seek and save that which is lost. It all depends on your definition of "lost". Paul says in Thessalonians that pagans have no hope. What this means that those who are outside of Christ are basically pagan, and because they have no future hope after this life, they are the people most miserable, regardless of whether they are aware of it or not. We see the difference between how people view themselves and the reality of what they really are in how Jesus, in the book of Revelation, described the Laodiceans in Revelation 3:17-18: "You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked." This shows that the reality of those who are outside of Christ and who are lost is that they are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked, and these are the ones whom Jesus came to seek and save.

It also says that Jesus did not come to save the righteous, but sinners. In other words, He did not come to save those who in their arrogance think they don't need saving. He has come to save those who know they are wretched and pitiful sinners who need saving.

 

[Clare73]

Jesus has come to seek and save that which is lost.
It all depends on your definition of "lost".

And I was responding to yours:

"primary mission is to search for unloved, lonely, discouraged men and women who have been thrown under the bus by society, ravaged by drink and drugs, separate from their families, and at the point where they have despaired of life."

To which my response remains the same.

Paul says in Thessalonians that pagans have no hope. What this means that those who are outside of Christ are basically pagan, and because they have no future hope after this life, they are the people most miserable, regardless of whether they are aware of it or not. We see the difference between how people view themselves and the reality of what they really are in how Jesus, in the book of Revelation, described the Laodiceans in

Revelation 3:17-18: "You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked."

This shows that the reality of those who are outside of Christ and who are lost is that they are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked, and these are the ones whom Jesus came to seek and save.
It also says that Jesus did not come to save the righteous, but sinners. In other words, He did not come to save those who in their arrogance think they don't need saving. He has come to save those who know they are wretched and pitiful sinners who need saving.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

How would you know that without experiencing it? I could make the same sort of claim about Christians.

It is better to realize that one's life is what one makes it.

I guess that at the age of 74 I am actually approaching the last years of my life, and I am not miserable about it, and I have absolutely no fear of falling off the twig at any time.

 

[Clare73]

.

 

[Clare73]

I guess that at the age of 74 I am actually approaching the last years of my life, and I am not miserable about it, and I have absolutely no fear of falling off the twig at any time.

You've got a good 20 years to go!

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

And I was responding to yours:

"primary mission is to search for unloved, lonely, discouraged men and women who have been thrown under the bus by society, ravaged by drink and drugs, separate from their families, and at the point where they have despaired of life."

To which my response remains the same.

I am influenced by real and genuine soul-winners who go out into the worst areas of their cities, mix with the lowliest people, dressing the same way as them, and suffering the same discomforts in order to reach them for Christ. A missionary I know who went to Haiti, lived in a tin shack along with those he came to reach for Christ and showed that he was not superior to them, but had a message that would give them a whole new outlook on life. I don't know about you, but when i read and hear of such people, it makes me feel ashamed of my comfortable middle-class life where I go to church every Sunday, and have the odd conversation with the neighbors but never really put myself out to go and seek out the lost in order to present Christ to them. When we all line up at the judgment, I wouldn't want to appear before Christ after people who have done much more than I have to seek and save the lost for Christ.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

You've got a good 20 years to go!

That's optimistic! Although being in a ga ga state at 94 in a rest home with a 24 hour memory is not a lifestyle I would want to look forward to. I do what I can for the Lord as if I am going to live another 20 years, but am prepared to be absent from the body and present with the Lord at a moment's notice.