Not a Sunday School Teacher

[MikeJames]

...........how in the world are we talking about religion here on an incontinent forum? WTF.....
Can we file this under the miscellaneous folder?

This place could use a reprieve from the usual.

An "off topic" sub might be nice though.

[MSUSpartan]

That humans are social animals is not controversial. Concluding your argument in your premise is begging the question.

I'm fairly certain that you're either misunderstand my premise or conclusion.

Your last question is like asking if God could microwave himself a burrito so hot that he himself could not eat it. By definition that wouldn't be God, as God is understood to be ombibenevolent.

So then your implying that it's logically impossible for good to do anything immoral? That's essentially the argument against the burrito paradox, that god is capable of doing all things logically possibly, but not those things fundamentally paradoxical.

However, that doesn't escape this morality issue, unless you admit that morals are independent of God. If God authors the morals, then anything he does is definitionally moral, including requiring theft or murder. If God simply adheres to the morals, then they aren't his morals. It's not a paradox, it's just mutually exclusive. You can't have it both ways, and that creates cognitive dissonance for most theists.

[MSUSpartan]

...........how in the world are we talking about religion here on an incontinent forum? WTF.....
Can we file this under the miscellaneous folder?

This place could use a reprieve from the usual.

An "off topic" sub might be nice though.

I once asked about an off topic board, and was told that's what general is for. From that perspective, this is in the right place.

[eighty5onions]

Back when I was Christian, I was always taught that God is always with you. Nothing happens that isn't part of God's plan. The whole footprints in the sand story, where when you're too weak to walk, Jesus carries you.

If that were true, there is no reason for suffering. You don't need to build character. God is supposed to be there to pick you up when you fall. You aren't supposed to ever have to face things alone, because God is always there. God is portrayed as an eternal parent. One whom is always watching, always looking out for you, and will never be gone one day.

I remember the picture with the footprints. If God were a helicopter mom or dad, the only bad thing to ever happen is you would be embarrassed and resentful that you weren't allowed to figure things out on your own.

If we are made in his image, and we understand and strive for virtues such as humility, forgiveness, and love, we can only assume this is the same approach God has. Maybe some of you have family who you love, but you see them suffer. Your brother has never been one to take advice without offense. The only thing I can do for my brother is literally just watch him screw up his life. If he calls me tonight, I will answer the phone.

Sometimes just being there is the best help. How do we remember god is there with us?

What works for me is to consider the religion as a metaphorical exploration of the struggle of man. Rubbing mud in the blind man's eye possibly refers to the firmament, our ground we stand on, mixed with that which we can't stand on, the water, exposed his eyes to the true nature of life and he was no longer blind. So many metaphors.

Lastly, "I am that I am", which I take to mean God refers to himself in the sense that he is everything (that goes without specifying birds, bees, trees, sun, humanity, and the laws of physics &science). That's where reality comes from. It makes more sense to say reality with all it's interconnected intricacies will take care of the righting of wrongs.

This is all very idealized, but we aren't ever truly alone. We are part of a wonderful collective known as humanity. Not to mention all else of reality.

This perspective developed while I was under a lot of stress. Closely related to my PTSD. It may have only been meant to serve a purpose for what I was going through.

[eighty5onions]

Thanks, everyone, for your input. I appreciate the insight. However, I respectfully disagree with the comment "Life ... has no meaning and morality is nothing but a fool's way of self limitation...." I think life most certainly has meaning when we interact positively with others, and I interpret the remark as to morality to mean that it's okay to be a "dick" in order to make sure that we're not holding ourselves back in any way.

W.

I think we've pretty well established a moral code and largely have religion to thank for this. Is this the era of enlightenment? I think there is a term for this but I've forgotten. Ultimately, if someone chooses to live in a way entirely free from the moral code, it is also their choice. we call them psychopaths, I believe. What a strange world

[Papa]

In response to "Why is this subject on an incontinence board...."
If one thread (of hundreds) somehow offends you there is a very simple solution...stop reading it and stick to the ones YOU approve of, do not try to impose your beliefs on the ones who do enjoy or accept a thread. Papa

[schoppy]

Ok folks, this topic has ran enough.
When im getting complaints and people wishing to be deleted from the site, then enough is enough.

I have no problem with an off topic topic, but I do not want people leaving the site because of it.

Schoppy