If God is omnipotent, why can't He smite the devil?

[Jeszaramuhamadarthamusrex]

Evil as in what is considered by the Bible. The evil that all humans partake in by Satan's influence. We all are born imperfect. If I was created imperfect why should that be held against me or any of us? Besides, there are other religions before Christianity preaching the same monotheism. Have any of you heard of Zoroastrianism? It was a religion over 2,000 years before Christ. It's prophet was Zarathustra(Zoroaster), who preached of a single good God named Ahura Mazda, and man must choose the path of good or evil, Heaven and Hell, Satan, a savior born of a virgin, and the inevitable end of the world/judgement day. All these beliefs originated by the indo-aryans living in ancient Iran(Mesopotamia). This was also the religion of Cyrus II who was in the Holy Bible (Isaiha 45:01). The Jews living in under Cyrus' II rule were originally polytheists, but became influenced by the Zoroastrian faith. I have read many books and texts to back this information up. Zoroastrianism was established well before any of the books of the Bible were written, and had the basic belief system as Christianity. Besides, did anybody know about Christ or Judgement Day 600 B.C.?

 

[Jeszaramuhamadarthamusrex]

What about the other religion's prophets? Weren't they inspired by God? Well, let me put it this way, what is it about Chritianity that personally attracted you? Why is it more authoritive over anything else?

 

[Bob Moore]

What about the other religion's prophets? Weren't they inspired by God? Well, let me put it this way, what is it about Chritianity that personally attracted you? Why is it more authoritive over anything else?

There is nothing about it that attracted me. I wasn't looking for Him, but...

"...the Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost."

...He was looking for me.

 

[Mustaphile]

Evil as in what is considered by the Bible. The evil that all humans partake in by Satan's influence. We all are born imperfect. If I was created imperfect why should that be held against me or any of us? Besides, there are other religions before Christianity preaching the same monotheism. Have any of you heard of Zoroastrianism? It was a religion over 2,000 years before Christ. It's prophet was Zarathustra(Zoroaster), who preached of a single good God named Ahura Mazda, and man must choose the path of good or evil, Heaven and Hell, Satan, a savior born of a virgin, and the inevitable end of the world/judgement day. All these beliefs originated by the indo-aryans living in ancient Iran(Mesopotamia). This was also the religion of Cyrus II who was in the Holy Bible (Isaiha 45:01). The Jews living in under Cyrus' II rule were originally polytheists, but became influenced by the Zoroastrian faith. I have read many books and texts to back this information up. Zoroastrianism was established well before any of the books of the Bible were written, and had the basic belief system as Christianity. Besides, did anybody know about Christ or Judgement Day 600 B.C.?

Doesn't this indicate that a concept of God was inherently understood by many?

Some reasons why I follow Christianity?

Because of the teachings of Jesus and the way they speak to my heart about the human condition.

Because of the Jews being chosen by God and the history of the struggles and hardships they have endured by being a people set apart.

Because of the continued prominence of Middle Eastern affairs, and the profound impact they have on the rest of the world.

Because of Biblical prophecy, and my perception of it's accuracy in detailing the course of human history.

Because human history shows many recurring themes about philosophical struggles that lead me to want to discriminate what side of the philosophical fence I want to sit on.

Because of the inherent injustices of the world, which are a product of man and his flawed nature.

Because of the way we continually progress along self destructive courses and despite the cries of many to stop and turn the other way, we continue move along the same path.

Because of the way that Christians have always played a part in helping to deal with the suffering and pain we all experience in life.

Because of the peace it gives me in my soul, when I am working in God's will.

Because of the joy I have in fellowship with other christians.

Because of the answers it gives me and they way it sets you apart from the world and enables you to see life from a clear perspective. No more being tossed to and fro by the machinations of man. You can stand like a rock and watch the whole world in turmoil around you.

No one reason in isolation is sufficient for me to have faith. It's these things when examined in their entirety and many more that I could write that lead me to place my faith in Christianity. Without a doubt though the strongest reasons are the actual words that Jesus spoke. He communicated them is such a way that they contain and explain eternal principles that have practical implications in everyday life. His words were truth and a very convincing truth. Other beliefs that I have examined do not have the same truths nor the same practicality. It's taken me a long time to come to a point of faith. I've been up and down and roundabout, but whenever I have fallen into following philosophies that are counter to christian philosophies I have always been turned around full circle to come back to Christ. It's not possible for me to avoid the truth of Christ anymore. Now it's just a case of coming to understand it more completely.

 

[TheOriginalWhitehorse]

Dear [Personwithaverylongname]:

Please alow me to respectfully ask: what is your authority on what is good and evil? Do you feel Christianity is mythology because it's uncomfortable, or because you feel God has let you down? If you're saying the Bible's "conception of evil" is subject to judgment, as to whether it is right or wrong, by what higher authority are you scrutinizing it?

 

[Jeszaramuhamadarthamusrex]

Where do I begin? Mmm, I am not by any means uncomfortable with Christianity. I used to support it. It all began when I tried to support Christianity, this was when I started to see the fallacies. Scientifically there is no support, because you can't put the Bible with science, they don't go together. Nothing in the Bible can be scientifically proven, nothing I have ever heard of. Genisis is very vague, it's order isn't sound, such as morning and night created at day one, but no sun and moon until the fourth day. The Earth was created as the center of the universe, and all the other galaxies mean nothing, not to mention the other 90% being made of dark matter. What would be the use for all of the other stars and planets? Also, we are but one type of animal out of millions. You're saying all animals don't matter except for mankind. What about animals? They have a will too, they do naughty things, they are sinners as much as us. Animals are smarter than they are given credit for. Gorillas can learn and use human language in a meaningful way, their i.q.'s are around 70-95, as with the normal human's 100. The way you look at life can change everything. Life was not made for mankind! Man made up religion. If one religion is fake, the odds are against them all. It is mythology because it was created by man, it is a story to comfort man into believing he has a purpose in life, to tell him he will live beyond the physical world, to tell him how to live life. There is no one way to live. There is nothing divine about morality, because deals with mankind alone. Religion is part of culture, culture is part of man, man is part of nature, nature is everything. :o

 

[Jeszaramuhamadarthamusrex]

Look at it this way. Everyone who is a Christian knows the true meaning of life? Thats a great deal of people, and the Bible is the same as it always was over a thousand years ago, so people knew then too. We already know everything there is to know, or at least the most important? Think about all the people who go through life without reading, educating, enriching themselves about science, history, philosophy and art. People who go with the flow and never question what they do or think. They know everything they need to know.

 

[Bob Moore]

Where do I begin? Mmm, I am not by any means uncomfortable with Christianity. I used to support it. It all began when I tried to support Christianity, this was when I started to see the fallacies. Scientifically there is no support, because you can't put the Bible with science, they don't go together. Nothing in the Bible can be scientifically proven, nothing I have ever heard of. Genisis is very vague, it's order isn't sound, such as morning and night created at day one, but no sun and moon until the fourth day. The Earth was created as the center of the universe, and all the other galaxies mean nothing, not to mention the other 90% being made of dark matter. What would be the use for all of the other stars and planets? Also, we are but one type of animal out of millions. You're saying all animals don't matter except for mankind. What about animals? They have a will too, they do naughty things, they are sinners as much as us. Animals are smarter than they are given credit for. Gorillas can learn and use human language in a meaningful way, their i.q.'s are around 70-95, as with the normal human's 100. The way you look at life can change everything. Life was not made for mankind! Man made up religion. If one religion is fake, the odds are against them all. It is mythology because it was created by man, it is a story to comfort man into believing he has a purpose in life, to tell him he will live beyond the physical world, to tell him how to live life. There is no one way to live. There is nothing divine about morality, because deals with mankind alone. Religion is part of culture, culture is part of man, man is part of nature, nature is everything. :o

I think your problem is that you had only (brief) intellectual assent, you never had agreement or trust. In other words, you saw something you thought you might like, but were persuaded by the wisdom of the world that there was nothing to it. Christianity is a three part affair. You must have the knowledge
of what it actually is (not what you think it might be), then you must agree with it's truth claims, and you must rest in them. I would not be surprised if you were involved with a secular, or even an apostate, church since there are far more of them than there are Biblical churches. But you failed to find substance there, didn't you?

QUESTION: Since you apparently have no religion except naturalism why do you display the symbol of the (nondenominational) cross? Isn't that false advertising?

 

[Outspoken]

What about the other religion's prophets? Weren't they inspired by God? Well, let me put it this way, what is it about Chritianity that personally attracted you? Why is it more authoritive over anything else?

God changed me. that's all it took. Oh, and it was very against wishes but I soon found it was for the better and the correct thing to do. As for why is it more authoritaive, that's another thread. The differences between Christianity and other religions are not vast, but vastly important.

 

[Blissman]

This is very interesting. First, the bible was not written by God. Man had scribed it. If there are any errors in the scriptures, is that of the scribes, and of the translators. Originally, The Word was spoken from one man to another. There are errors of translation in the Bible (from the Hebrew to the King James version). Up the street is a neighbor who is a scholar of Middle Eastern languages. His neighbor is a professor of languages. Jessie can read the Christian Bible, the Koran, or the Torah, in their original texts. He can speak Hebrew, Aserian, Italian, Russian, French, German, Arabic, and Aramaic. His neighbor can read them in Greek, Latvian, Latin, Russian, German, Polish, Ukrainian...

Jessie had spotted that where it says...

Luke 18
24Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."



Mark 10
24The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is[1] to enter the kingdom of God! 25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."


Matthew 19
24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

...the word "Camel" is incorrect. It was a rope. Some people have argued that it meant the small hole in the side of a building that was just large enough to allow a beast to enter, but not large enough for a man.

 

[Bob Moore]

The word in Matthew 19:24, Luke 18:25, and Mark 10:25 is καμηλον, from καμηλος, (kam'-ay-los), from which we get the English 'camel'. In any event it is a Hebraism signifying great difficulty, and was a common form of speech. It still is in some middle eastern countries.

 

[TheOriginalWhitehorse]

Where do I begin? Mmm, I am not by any means uncomfortable with Christianity. I used to support it. It all began when I tried to support Christianity, this was when I started to see the fallacies. Scientifically there is no support, because you can't put the Bible with science, they don't go together. Nothing in the Bible can be scientifically proven, nothing I have ever heard of. Genisis is very vague, it's order isn't sound, such as morning and night created at day one, but no sun and moon until the fourth day. The Earth was created as the center of the universe, and all the other galaxies mean nothing, not to mention the other 90% being made of dark matter. What would be the use for all of the other stars and planets? Also, we are but one type of animal out of millions. You're saying all animals don't matter except for mankind. What about animals? They have a will too, they do naughty things, they are sinners as much as us. Animals are smarter than they are given credit for. Gorillas can learn and use human language in a meaningful way, their i.q.'s are around 70-95, as with the normal human's 100. The way you look at life can change everything. Life was not made for mankind! Man made up religion. If one religion is fake, the odds are against them all. It is mythology because it was created by man, it is a story to comfort man into believing he has a purpose in life, to tell him he will live beyond the physical world, to tell him how to live life. There is no one way to live. There is nothing divine about morality, because deals with mankind alone. Religion is part of culture, culture is part of man, man is part of nature, nature is everything. :o

Well, this supposes a lot of things you'd need to substantiate.

1. You'd need to substantiate that there is nothing in existence beyond what you can see.
2. You'd need to prove you have the correct perceptions on everything, and that these alleged fallacies in scripture have been interpreted correctly and proven to be false. If you want to put a few up here, we'd be pleased to sort through them with you.
3. You're assuming religion comes out of man. This presupposes there is no God, which I'd be very reluctant to do, given that none of us have had any say in our own existence.
4. In a subsequent post you stated we know everything there is to know. Do you really believe this? I'd encourage you to look more carefully at scripture and Christianity, because the truth doesn't disappear if we fail to believe it.

I invite you to consider this:

One of the first lessons we learn after birth, and which a normal person will understand by the second year of life and in most cases earlier, is Object Permanence. This means that we know that a ball which is hidden from view is still in existence. If you look with physical eyes and reasoning for a spiritual God with spiritual reasoning, how can you find Him?

Blessings,
Whitehorse

 

[Blissman]

Well, this supposes a lot of things you'd need to substantiate.

1. You'd need to substantiate that there is nothing in existence beyond what you can see.
2. You'd need to prove you have the correct perceptions on everything, and that these alleged fallacies in scripture have been interpreted correctly and proven to be false. If you want to put a few up here, we'd be pleased to sort through them with you.
3. You're assuming religion comes out of man. This presupposes there is no God, which I'd be very reluctant to do, given that none of us have had any say in our own existence.
4. In a subsequent post you stated we know everything there is to know. Do you really believe this? I'd encourage you to look more carefully at scripture and Christianity, because the truth doesn't disappear if we fail to believe it.

I invite you to consider this:

One of the first lessons we learn after birth, and which a normal person will understand by the second year of life and in most cases earlier, is Object Permanence. This means that we know that a ball which is hidden from view is still in existence. If you look with physical eyes and reasoning for a spiritual God with spiritual reasoning, how can you find Him?

Blessings,
Whitehorse

Hello, Whitehorse. Actually religion DOES come from Man, inasmuch as we believe in that which cannot be (literally) seen. Believing that there is a ball that is hidden assumes that you have a concept of having seen objects. The concept of 'God' requires acceptance of a never seen, nor while alive, (unless something else happens) some 'thing' which cannot be seen.

 

[Outspoken]

This is very interesting. First, the bible was not written by God. Man had scribed it. If there are any errors in the scriptures, is that of the scribes, and of the translators. Originally, The Word was spoken from one man to another. There are errors of translation in the Bible (from the Hebrew to the King James version).

No, the bible was divinely inspired. No error effects christian docterine. The errors you are talking about a copiest errors that do exist, but that doesn't make any difference in docterine thus is not applicable.

 

[TheOriginalWhitehorse]

Hello, Whitehorse. Actually religion DOES come from Man, inasmuch as we believe in that which cannot be (literally) seen. Believing that there is a ball that is hidden assumes that you have a concept of having seen objects. The concept of 'God' requires acceptance of a never seen, nor while alive, (unless something else happens) some 'thing' which cannot be seen.

True religion is not based on things seen. But I will certainly agree that false religion is man-made, and I agree with your assessment that this is based on man's addiction to the seen world through spiritual blindness. Also man's desire to be his own authority, which is a spirit like the one revealed in the Bible. Like father, like son, whoever that father may be.

But this is not the way of Christianity. As it is written:

Colossians 3

3:1If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

3:2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Likewise:

Hebrews 11

11:1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

11:2For by it the elders obtained a good report.

11:3Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

 

[TheOriginalWhitehorse]

PS-Good to see you back again.