How Does One Seek God?

[humblehumility]

Ok, your title is "how to seek G-d?" One thing we can determine so far, is that the way is NOT by focusing on atheists debate Christians, esp since this will usually revolve around the Cr / Ev debate! Look at the story of Peter walking on water. How can you apply it to your current situation?

Have you actually watched theist vs atheist debates? I've watched at least 50, and evolution is usually never the focus.

Says who?

Uhh, the Bible? The only way to heaven is through Jesus, it's very clear.

Does any one of us have COMPLETE Truth? I say no.

So then the Bible isn't the word of God then, unless you're admitting to God intentionally not giving you the complete truth, and confusing everybody by creating a bunch of monotheistic religions all saying different things.

Far more than just the biggest religions have the vast majority of things in common. Why shouldn't those common elements be correct? Those things that not only differ but outright contradict, generally will have NO BEARING on anything you or I would actually do today or tomorrow. (Outside of worship rituals)

Have you studied other religions? They aren't even close to being similar in any way except for the fact that they have one God.

The answer to this dilemma lies in refining your definition of "truth." Does it mean literal, historically factual? Read my tagline for as thorough an address of that as is necessary.

As in there's no proof any of the things mentioned in the Bible actually happened. There's no proof that Jesus even existed aside from text.

How many Scripture do you need, for me to prove that your concept here is false? Omni-benevolence is a term I never encountered outside of CF. G-d is Love, yes, but He is also Holy, and is a Judge.

First off - your point is moot. Even if God doesn't know what will happen in the future, he knows what has happened in the past and what is happening now, and he does nothing to intervene. This is direct proof that he's either not there, or not loving. He has no parental qualities to him, yet is called our heavenly father.

Secondly, many top theologians support that the Christian God is omniscient.

 

[humblehumility]

All of history is man's story of trying to find something apart from God to make them happy --CS Lewis

food for thought

"Ignorance is bliss"

 

[humblehumility]

Firstly, of course the world we live in isn't from God. Humans took care of that by ruining a perfect creation (all covered in Genesis).

Actually, it is from God. God created it, God created us, and God let us ruin his creation. I would have much rather had him intervene and give us a helping hand, we could use it.

Also how are ticks, mosquitos, and earthquakes a product of humans?

The world is exactly how a good parent would leave it - you are free to do as you like, but here are the things you shouldn't do.

Really now? A good parent writes down a few rules on a piece of paper, gives that to their child, and then kicks them out of the door never to see their parent again. "Follow these rules child and you'll be safe. But I'm not going to be there to help you if you need it, and I'm not going to stop you from making bad choices or even killing yourself." Sweet parent.

 

[FaithPrevails]

First off - your point is moot. Even if God doesn't know what will happen in the future, he knows what has happened in the past and what is happening now, and he does nothing to intervene. This is direct proof that he's either not there, or not loving. He has no parental qualities to him, yet is called our heavenly father.

This is not direct proof of any such thing. He is there and He is indeed loving. But, humans have free will and as long as we have free will, He will not prevent us from doing the things we do - even when we suffer consequences for our actions. In fact, suffering natural consequences for our actions is one of the best parenting strategies, IMO. We either learn from our mistakes/sins or we don't. That is on us - not Him.

As for when bad things happen that are out of our control - we can either turn towards God for comfort or we can turn away from Him...blaming Him for what has happened.

He can't force us to seek Him. It has to be our free will to do so.

 

[humblehumility]

This is not direct proof of any such thing. He is there and He is indeed loving. But, humans have free will and as long as we have free will, He will not prevent us from doing the things we do - even when we suffer consequences for our actions. In fact, suffering natural consequences for our actions is one of the best parenting strategies, IMO. We either learn from our mistakes/sins or we don't. That is on us - not Him.

As for when bad things happen that are out of our control - we can either turn towards God for comfort or we can turn away from Him...blaming Him for what has happened.

He can't force us to seek Him. It has to be our free will to do so.

Just because we have free will doesn't mean he had to make ticks and mosquitos that carry disease (which it's evolution that says if there's a capacity for something to exist...it will exist), or create earthquakes that kill our people (his children). If your father bulldozed your house down with you in it, would you turn to him for comfort? I wouldn't. Aside from the fact that God created the Earth to work the way it does, we know from the Bible that God intentionally creates natural disasters to send a message.

A loving God (parents) wouldn't allow pointless reasons to die painfully like that when he could have prevented them from existing in the first place (has nothing to do with free will).

Usually no matter what a child does, their parent won't kill them or condemn them to eternal hell for what they did. Loving parents don't do that.

 

[FaithPrevails]

Just because we have free will doesn't mean he had to make ticks and mosquitos that carry disease (which it's evolution that says if there's a capacity for something to exist...it will exist), or create earthquakes that kill our people (his children). If your father bulldozed your house down with you in it, would you turn to him for comfort? I wouldn't. Aside from the fact that God created the Earth to work the way it does, we know from the Bible that God intentionally creates natural disasters to send a message.

A loving God (parents) wouldn't allow pointless reasons to die painfully like that when he could have prevented them from existing in the first place (has nothing to do with free will).

Usually no matter what a child does, their parent won't kill them or condemn them to eternal hell for what they did. Loving parents don't do that.

It would seem to me that you are not here seeking anything, except a debate. If that is your intention, then you are in the wrong forum.

So, can you please explain what your true intention is? I don't see you asking questions. I see you refuting responses.

 

[bling]

Well since there's no proof that it couldn't happen, I still keep that possibility open.

It did happen at least “once” with earth, the question is could it happen without a god?

The constraints, ratios, and size of what? The universe? We don't fully know or understand those qualities of the universe.

Actually, we do have some good theories with supporting evidence for the size of the universe Mass and how many light years it has grown to. The idea it started from a golf ball size to where it is today also has evidence (the rate of expansion has been shown to be increase as the result of an “dark energy”, so at some earlier time it was smaller).

This is comes from Rich Deen, but is common knowledge:

Fine Tuning of the Physical Constants of the Universe​

Parameter​

Max. Deviation​

Ratio of Electronsrotons
1:1037
Ratio of Electromagnetic Force:Gravity
1:1040
Expansion Rate of Universe
1:1055
Mass of Universe1
1:1059
Cosmological Constant
1:10120
These numbers represent the maximum deviation from the accepted values, that would either prevent the universe from existing now, not having matter, or be unsuitable for any form of life.

This is just 5 and Deen list over 30.
You can read more at : http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/designun.html

Have you done any reading on abiogenesis? That theory offers many plausible scenarios, it's just not fully understood by humans and hasn't been repeated by humans yet. Science is a work in progress, it does not happen overnight and it does not claim to have all the answers.

We've just recently been able to prove that single celled organisms can evolve into multicelled organisms and create it in a test-tube, so you can see that we are still making progress.

“progress”? I’ve read lots of stuff about this and have an advanced degree in Chemistry.

Yes, there is a system for single cell organisms to eventually become multi-cell organisms through evolution, but do you know how long science says that took to happen “naturally”: single cells were around more than 3.6 billion years ago and multi cells started 600,000,000 years ago, so it took 3 billion years for single cells to go to multi cells with the excellent system of evolution. BUT; without any known or even theorized system single cell life started from just chemicals in less than 500,000,000 years.

Science has been working on this for a 100 years and the more they find out the more they realize they do not know.

 

[Hakan101]

A loving God (parents) wouldn't allow pointless reasons to die painfully like that when he could have prevented them from existing in the first place (has nothing to do with free will).

The keyword here is pointless. You assume that if you cannot find a good reason for God's actions, they must be pointless. Which is wrong of course.

We don't know the reasons for why we suffer, but we do know what isn't the reason for why we suffer, and it's not because God doesn't love us. He loved us so much he came down to earth and died for us. He bore all of our sin for us so that we wouldn't have to in the end. That shows that he loves us.

 

[pinkputter]

"Ignorance is bliss"

haha you can say that about what you wish (it's a liberal atheist's favorite dismissal)....but how is that ignorance?

if you want to think that about that then go ahead.. be my guest. If youre looking for something more impressive to be your religion, like rocket science. then good luck finding it. most religions aren't explanations for the natural but for the supernatural

 

[talitha]

~ ignored again. ~

 

[berachah]

Sometimes God chooses to want a particular person to get really desperate and say "God I am going to keep pestering you until you reveal yourself to me."

He knows your character and the fact that you are still "giving God another shot" seems to suggest He is at work in your life......

My friend, push in with all you have got...try some fasting....set aside 3 days, no media, no phones, internet or other. Live off fruit juice and pray earnestly for God to reveal himself....at the very least you will have a better understanding of who God is.

 

[s_s]

Actually, it is from God. God created it, God created us, and God let us ruin his creation. I would have much rather had him intervene and give us a helping hand, we could use it.

Also how are ticks, mosquitos, and earthquakes a product of humans?

You really don't get it.
If God intervened, we wouldn't have free choice. We'd be complaining instead that He was overbearing.


Really now? A good parent writes down a few rules on a piece of paper, gives that to their child, and then kicks them out of the door never to see their parent again. "Follow these rules child and you'll be safe. But I'm not going to be there to help you if you need it, and I'm not going to stop you from making bad choices or even killing yourself." Sweet parent.[/QUOTE]
That doesn't sound like a sweet parent to me, that sounds pretty crap. It's a good thing that God isn't anything like that.
I'd set you straight on it but I really can't be bothered wasting the effort - it's pretty clear your just here to have a go at people. Which is fun for you I'm sure, arguing on the internet is way better than doing something constructive.