The Problem of a Missing Motive

[ScottA]

Uhmm, ok. You make it sound like we are the watchers of this unreal movie. Christian theology, however, makes it sound like we are real actors in this unreal movie.

Everyone gets a part. It's interactive.

 

[quatona]

Everyone gets a part. It's interactive.

Now, is everyone who gets a part in this unreal interactive play real, or is every partaker unreal?

 

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

To freely express himself.

Why should such a need exist for an omniscient entity?

 

[ScottA]

Now, is everyone who gets a part in this unreal interactive play real, or is every partaker unreal?

To quote the sciptures: "There is only One begotten." ...Meaning, the story is about the life and times of the Son of Man (Jesus)...and those "in" Him (those of His spiritual lineage). As the story goes, all those "in" Christ are born first of the lineage of Adam, in whom all die, as he died, as the result of original sin (against God). Then, those who looked for the coming of Christ (Israel) and those who believe He has come, are joined with Him and raised up to actual reality.

 

[Tree of Life]

But why would an entity that is already the alpha and omega, omnipresent, and infinitely perfect beyond imagining, express itself in any way other than just existing?

Because it delighted him to do so.

 

[Tree of Life]

Why should such a need exist for an omniscient entity?

No need. It delighted God to freely (in other words, not because of need) do so.

 

[juvenissun]

This thread addresses the widely spread Christian God concept and theology that the afterlife is purely spiritual.

That is academically dishonest. Because it is NOT purely spiritual.
How would you feel about a topic which tried only about that food is poisonous?

 

[jayem]

No need. It delighted God to freely (in other words, not because of need) do so.

So you saying that it gave God pleasure to create the universe. Which raises the question of why a perfect being would seek pleasure.

And the second question is why a perfect God would delight in a creating such a flawed and imperfect world. Where morally innocent children, animals, and others suffer in natural disasters, wars, and other catastrophic events.

 

[Tree of Life]

So you saying that it gave God pleasure to create the universe. Which raises the question of why a perfect being would seek pleasure.

Since when does "perfect" mean that you don't do anything?

 

[Tinker Grey]

When has a perfect being ever done anything?

 

[Chriliman]

Why would a non-material/non-physical (entirely "spiritual") being create a material/physical world when the actual goal (that which it is all about) is again a "spiritual" state of affairs?

Good question! A simple answer is that God creates in order to prove His love to His creation.

A more complex answer is that it's not a sin to suffer, so it could be understood that God experiences the most suffering of all in order to create everything perfectly for all and when we understand the extent to which God suffered so that we can have everlasting life, we begin to understand His agape love for creating us to live forever. When we experience everlasting life(and yes it will be physical life), we're experiencing God at rest when creation is 100% complete, this won't happen until all the dead are raised on the last day and every tongue confesses Jesus Christ as Lord.

Revelation 21:3-4
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Romans 14:11
"It is written: "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.'"

If it's true that an almighty God has created this universe, then it's clear at least from our perspective that He's not done refining it to that which pleases Him most.

 

[quatona]

That is academically dishonest. Because it is NOT purely spiritual.
How would you feel about a topic which tried only about that food is poisonous?

It´s noted that you don´t believe in a purely spiritual afterlife. You are not expected to help me make sense of a position you don´t hold.

 

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

No need. It delighted God to freely (in other words, not because of need) do so.

But an omniscient entity would already know and experience (and have known and experienced) every detail of that delight (and all other delights), fully and completely, without needing to act to realise any of them; there would be no point.

 

[juvenissun]

It´s noted that you don´t believe in a purely spiritual afterlife. You are not expected to help me make sense of a position you don´t hold.

If you believe something wrong, do I have to believe the same "in order to help you"?
I am helping you by pointing out you are wrong.

Afterlife is NOT pure spiritual. Just like this life is not pure spiritual.

 

[quatona]

If you believe something wrong, do I have to believe the same "in order to help you"?

Look man, I don´t believe there´s an afterlife, to begin with.

I am helping you by pointing out you are wrong.

Thanks a million for giving your opinion. It´s noted and understood that you don´t hold the notion that the afterlife is purely spiritual (the notion I address in the OP). Therefore my question isn´t for you.

 

[quatona]

If you believe something wrong, do I have to believe the same "in order to help you"?
I am helping you by pointing out you are wrong.

Afterlife is NOT pure spiritual. Just like this life is not pure spiritual.

Here:
http://www.christianforums.com/threads/the-physical-afterlife.7942875/
For you!

 

[juvenissun]

Look man, I don´t believe there´s an afterlife, to begin with.

Thanks a million for giving your opinion. It´s noted and understood that you don´t hold the notion that the afterlife is purely spiritual (the notion I address in the OP). Therefore my question isn´t for you.

So, you want to find something wrong with having afterlife to embarrass Christians. Right?
If I simply follow the set up in you OP, then I will be embarrassed. Right?

 

[quatona]

So, you want to find something wrong with having afterlife to embarrass Christians. Right?

No.

If I simply follow the set up in you OP,

Why would you follow it? You said it´s not what you believe.

then I will be embarrassed. Right?

I don´t know by what you feel embarrassed. Do you think it is embarrassing to believe in a purely spiritual afterlife?

 

[juvenissun]

No.

Why would you follow it? You said it´s not what you believe.

I don´t know by what you feel embarrassed. Do you think it is embarrassing to believe in a purely spiritual afterlife?

OK. Put aside mistakes in your OP, let me just follow your point:

God is spiritual.
God creates a physical world for human to live and to believe in Him.
But the afterlife of human is pure spiritual.
Question: Why would God want to create the physical world?

Is that your point?
If it is, then it is quite easy to answer. You use logic to make a spiritual question. Nevertheless, it indeed can easily be answered by logic only.

 

[quatona]

OK. Put aside mistakes in your OP, let me just follow your point:

God is spiritual.
God creates a physical world for human to live and to believe in Him.
But the afterlife of human is pure spiritual.
Question: Why would God want to create the physical world?

Is that your point?

No, it´s my question. You paraphrased it quite nicely - except for the second sentence which wasn´t part of my question.

If it is, then it is quite easy to answer. You use logic to make a spiritual question. Nevertheless, it indeed can easily be answered by logic only.

Feel free to give your answer.