Religious war

[bel210]

With all of the religious wars over time that have caused such death and suffering, why doesn't God just eliminate all other religions to make us all harmonious?

 

[kevlite2020]

With all of the religious wars over time that have caused such death and suffering, why doesn't God just eliminate all other religions to make us all harmonious?

Because it would eliminate our power to choose who or what we want to worship. If He destroys religion and makes Himself known to everyone, nobody would believe, they would just know. The gift of free will is something God values very highly for us, and there's even a verse or two that says the Angels wish they could have free will like us. It's a very important issue to Him, and one which I am very thankful for. I love that we can make our own decisions and choose what we want to believe and worship! It's sad all the religious wars and intolerance and stuff, but that's the fault of us humans, not God.

 

[bel210]

Because it would eliminate our power to choose who or what we want to worship. If He destroys religion and makes Himself known to everyone, nobody would believe, they would just know.

You mean like we know dinosaurs existed? What is the point in him creating wishy washy beliefs in God that can't be proved?

 

[bluelime2]

The point is that if people want to find God he's there, and always has been. However if they want to reject him and start their own religions and invent their own Gods (or even versions of him) they can do that too.

 

[kevlite2020]

You mean like we know dinosaurs existed? What is the point in him creating wishy washy beliefs in God that can't be proved?

You are making the assumption that He created all these belief systems. What God created was a need in us to worship and be filled by Him. Since we made the choice to reject Him and fall into sin, we try to fill that need by worshipping other things and trying to fill ourselves with other things. I am sure God is more saddened by this than I can imagine, but He loves us so much that He gives us that right to reject Him and live however we want to on this earth. He has made Himself completely available to all of us, but it's up to us to follow Him or to reject Him and create different religions and idols and gods to try to fill the void that we made when we turned from Him.

 

[freeport]

With all of the religious wars over time that have caused such death and suffering, why doesn't God just eliminate all other religions to make us all harmonious?

Because it is not time yet, Scripture speaks of a time when people no longer will teach each other to "know the Lord", "for all will know the Lord"... and when 'the whole earth will be covered with the knowledge of God as the waters cover the seas'.


Until that time creation is "subjected to futility".

 

[EGoldstein]

God revealing himself to everyone would not have any effect on anyone's freewill. He would not make anyone worship him, just let them know he was there. I for one would rather burn in fire for eternity than to give even one moments praise to just a Hitlerian monster as the god of Abraham. There are plenty of people who honestly do not believe in what you think is 'right' but want to know and "follow god", who have looked and do not see any reason to believe in your god, but who will burn in hell for eternity because they made a mistake. How is this just or right, couldn't god give everyone a fair chance and let them know that he was real (as christians believe in him). Just as sincerely as you believe your bible to be the word of god and the Quran to be the work of 'mere men', half way across the world there are plenty of people who believe the opposite just as sincerely. Its very curious that a person's religion relies most heavily on the accident of where they happened to have been born. This point is articulated very well by Dr. Richard Dawkins in this youtube video: youtube.com/watch?v=6mmskXXetcg

 

[ozvxscevx]

“Why doesn’t God just…” is probably the most asked question of anyone who believes in God, but I’m not sure it’s one we can answer. There’s a ton of stuff about God that we just don’t know. And I think sometimes we just have to be as content as we can be in that, and trust that He knows what He’s doing (since none of us know what we’re doing).

 

[EGoldstein]

“Why doesn’t God just…” is probably the most asked question of anyone who believes in God, but I’m not sure it’s one we can answer.

]

But why shouldn't we be able to, if faith is such a virtue why did god bother to give us the ability to think logically. To quote Dawkins

"Faith is the great cop-out, the great excuse to evade the need to think and evaluate evidence. Faith is belief in spite of, even perhaps because of, the lack of evidence."

God, with his infinite wisdom and knowledge of past, present, and future would have known long before you or I or anyone ever took a breath that there would be many humans who would honestly not believe in him. He would know many of us would end up burning for eternity (even though he doesn't want anyone to) for an honest 'mistake', and yet he allowed us to exist all the same; this is beyond cruel. If there is a god that has eternal punishment for all who do not follow and believe in him then he/she/it owes it us to at least let his existence known beyond a doubt. And this does not conflict with freewill, it is giving everyone equal opprotunity to believe, regardless of where or when we happen to have been born. Belief is not a choice, worship and praise is.

 

[salida]

bel210-

The time isn't yet. Now, there are those that are still coming to God and being saved. God in his sovern knowledge will one day set up his kingdom on earth and there will be harmony. This will occur after christs second coming- only the Father which is in heaven knows this time and hour in detail. I don't want to get caught up in bible prophecy here-but the world events are sure coming together at an amazing rate.

Acts 17:26-27- states that each person on this earth is born in a certain place and time period so that they may know God. Thus, their chances of knowing God will be the highest. (This is Gods mercy). Romans 1:20- states that because of Gods creation that mankind is without excuse.

Also, I'm a christian for spiritual reasons first and intellectual reasons second. We do have overwhelming circumstantial evidence of bible. In fact, its the most historically accurate history book. Dinosaurs did exist- this is a fact. But I don't need any hard evidence to be a christian-its a spiritual journey.

 

[EGoldstein]

Acts 17:26-27- states that each person on this earth is born in a certain place and time period so that they may know God. Thus, their chances of knowing God will be the highest. (This is Gods mercy). Romans 1:20- states that because of Gods creation that mankind is without excuse.

So you are telling me a child born in North America in the year 1000 CE had as much chance as knowing the christian god as a child born in Italy at the same time? This is absurd. The universe does not attest to there being a god, the universe looks exactly as you would expect it to look if there wasn't a god. Why does the fossil record support every prediction made by evolution? Why are there not human fossils mixed in with dinosaur fossils as we should see if creation occurred? Is god trying to trick us? Why would he allow there to be mountains of physical, tangible evidence to exist that directly contradicts what we should see if his word were correct? I literally laughed out loud when I read "the bible is the most historically accurate history book". Before a 'history book' can be considered accurate it should at least avoid contradicting itself countless times.

 

[ozvxscevx]

I think the step of knowing when you can’t know something is a step towards progress more than a constant, breathless chase for proof of the transcendant.

 

[EGoldstein]

I think the step of knowing when you can’t know something is a step towards progress

This is incomprehensible to me. How is it that belief without any evidence to support the belief is seen as a virtue? It is basically saying naivety is a virtue, that gullibility a virtue.

 

[donb1959]

God didn't create religion, man did. Religion is a dangerous thing.

 

[EGoldstein]

God didn't create anything, he is the creation of man.

 

[Van]

Hi EGoldstein, your “struggle” appears to be with what the Bible says God did.

So you ask, why did God do this and not that. For example, why did God reveal Himself through the Old Testament, limiting His revelation to “His chosen people.” I do not believe the Bible answers that question. But, when Christ died, the divide between “His Chosen People” and all others was torn down, so God’s written revelation is for all people everywhere. Next, why did God choose to spread His revelation via the testimony of believers, rather than inspire folks in every community on the planet? I do not believe the Bible answers that question. But, when Christ died, He commanded His believers to spread the word to every community on the planet.

But this plan, you seem to say, is very unfair because what about all those people who never even had a chance to accept Jesus, they all will burn in Hell for eternity. This view seems unsound to me. Assume in the afterlife, God provides perfect justice, no more and no less. Folks are punished for there misdeeds, the more misdeeds, the more punishment. But when justice is satisfied, they are destroyed, and so their existence ends. Now with this alternate view of “Hell” then all those folks who never had a chance to receive mercy, did get justice and so God’s plan for spreading the gospel is not “unfair” to anyone. Now you might say it is unfair for me to get justice and you to get mercy. But to expect more than justice is simply the sin of coveting what others received. As they say on the golf course, play your own ball.

I watched the video and do not understand why you posted it, for he evaded the question, with a set piece answer.

 

[rcscwc]

With all of the religious wars over time that have caused such death and suffering, why doesn't God just eliminate all other religions to make us all harmonious?

All other religions except xianity?

More xian blood has been shed by xians than by non xians.

 

[rcscwc]

God didn't create religion, man did. Religion is a dangerous thing.

God Loves. He really isn't all that concerned with hair,clothes, or nose rings

Does he? Then why :fear is the key...?

Why does he want one to be stoned to death for gathering a few piddling sticks.

Why was he intent on killing some one for nor circumcising his son?

PS: My 14 month old g'lovey gathers some sticks and "brooms" the pavement. She does any day. Do I stone her to death?

 

[heron]

With all of the religious wars over time that have caused such death and suffering, why doesn't God just eliminate all other religions to make us all harmonious

Look at the behavior of people in a large organization. They don't necessarily get along better just because they're under one umbrella. In fact, I think they fight more often, because they are all clamoring for recognition and stature.

Religious wars are horrid, and usually have little to do with the faith they lay claim to. Wars are about power over other people. Religions are usually about giving up power in order to help other people.

We must guard ourselves if we start to see the war rise up in or among us.

That is not to say a country should not defend its territory. Or one country should not help a neighboring country free themselves from oppression.

 

[plmarquette]

free will
man has dominion over the earth....for better or worse

and the ones who make a difference....don't get involved in wars, politics, or causes...