Protestantism

» pink101 - God as Being

In response to God as Being posted by BrianTubbs:

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Either God created the human race....OR...the human race created God.
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How do you come up with that conclusion? There must be other ways of looking at God as a being.
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-- posted by pink101

» redback - God as Being

In response to God as Being posted by BrianTubbs n all:

I don't know if you picked it from my post or recall my responses when this topic has been raised before...but I simply don't believe calling the other things "gods" is helpful. It is a lazy label that IMO confuses the issue of any spiritual being called God. And a God for whom we have contrasting expectations depending our faith-base.

I can't honestly say that the ideas humans created God and the Pope creates prayer-answering saints are really on my radar...but as you say AND I sorta** believe...things exist whether I believe them or not. (**When I don't know something at all...I suppose the theorists place that in an either/or...non-belief category)

I don't know if God's spirit enters non-human objects for any ultruistic purpose.

Can it all be boiled down to an analysis of who created the human race and does that only drill down to the Adam & Eve story vs the man-made "rake" by whatever name? The terms 'boiling down' and drilling down' are deliberately limiting to me as is a Bible-defined God. A belief in a transcendant God transcends the Bible's versions as I see it.

But what we believe dictates our actions, our reactions and our inactions. And the Big Fella up there may or may not be seen as having petty jealousies about it all. But seems to me, that's more about our beliefs, not his.

-- posted by redback

» Brian Tubbs - God of Capitalism

In response to Superficial posted by pink101:

If, by that, you mean greed and materialism...then, yes, I agree.

» pink101 - God of Capitalism

In response to God of Capitalism posted by BrianTubbs:

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The God of Capitalism is the God of Mamon--money or wealth.
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The worship of that god is the root of all evil according to the Bible, right?
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-- posted by pink101

» redback - Controversial

In response to Controversial posted by Migisi:

So, I ponder a pursuit of the concept of the 'god' expressed here. I've not passed by expressions such as the god of capitalism in ordinary conversation for as you know, I clearly micx in the wrong circles. Is it common in the USA? And does it suggest a selective tone? Mayn't there also be the god of chastity which overtakes all other reason at least for the impatient partner. Many life decisions are worked around it.

I cut & paste but lost the website. I'm sure these views are familar re God:

To have a god before Jehovah means to give worship, adoration, devotion, trust, or hope to something or someone other than the true God..."

One should not show adoration to both their wife AND God? Crikey...it probably really doesn't mean all that. Is this how the profanity was created: "I hope to God I don't get sacked this week!" coz their pinning all their hopes on the boss instead.

Wasn't it decreed in a time when there was in fact idol worship to the sun, the moon etc etc and it was that very specific type of worship censured? Isn't it even slightly possible its interpretation today is spread pretty thin so as to suit man-made doctrine.

Giving the reverent titles of Lord, God, Creator, Sovereign, Savior, to anyone or anything other than the true God.

That makes sense but crikey...I really can't see the capitalist swine destroying all they see, using those exact terms. The capitalists who devote all their time to collecting obscene wealth then give generously to charities must get confused.

The rake rusts and falls apart over time.

The rusty rake lies discarded and belts one over the head if trodden on incorrectly.

-- posted by redback

» pink101 - Controversial

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I don't know, Red, but I think the idea of god that is expressed in the First Commandment is about what a person puts on the highest pillars in their life and not an actual entity or a being as such.
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So, yes, a God of Chastity would be the very idea that a person would hold chastity in such high esteem that it would outweigh Jehovah--HE MUST be positioned before every thing else--and--in such an obvious fashion that there could never be any question as to where a person's loyalties are placed. I think that is the point of the First Commandment.
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-- posted by pink101

» redback - Controversial

In response to Controversial posted by pink101:

I don't have a problem in the laying down of instructions or guidelines on where one's first allegiance and higher loyalty should be. The highest goals in life vs the lowest, most selfish. Are we team players or club members is the spiritual question maybe we ask themselves...when it comes to devotion or ethics or chastity et al.

I see the "gods" discussed here akin to the shifting sands. We contemporary society? seem to need to start with a label and work backwards rather than start with a deed and see if we recognise its qualities. Then we seem to apply the judgement to all...and argue over whether there are exceptions to the rule.

Maybe the ancients simply had a different set of options rather than a lesser number to us OR they saw things differently. And the first Bible was written for generations yet to be born.

I'm hard pressed to see how any person alive has any show of passing this First Commandment...if I accepted the proposed meaning. My thesaurus lists 40 options to "god" none being discussed here. I have to get past the first (main) 3 detailed dictionary definitions to get to it....and then it gives NO religious link. If it's intended as a categorical denial of the existence of any other God within the ordinary meaning, it fails IMO.

If it really has to rely on Bible-speak, OK...some Swahili is beyond me too.

The sorts of deeds mentioned as "gods" really seem to be covered by other commandments. I relegate expressions like God being a jealous God etc into a grab bag that all tend to detract from the intended message. If the 1st Commandment is Bible-speak, maybe it belongs there too.

All 10 commandments IMO are incidental to the fundamental question.

-- posted by redback

» Brian Tubbs - Line of reasoning

In response to God of Capitalism posted by pink101:

Pink, you and I agree that greed is bad. And we agree that unchecked capitalism (ideally, that "check" should be an individual's conscience) leads to greed, materialism, corruption, and misery (for many). I'm with you - and I've preached sermons along those lines. I truly have.

But what you don't seem to get is that socialism ALSO leads to corruption and misery (in its own way).

There is no perfect system.

» pink101 - Line of reasoning

In response to Line of reasoning posted by BrianTubbs:

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"...socialism ALSO leads to corruption and misery (in its own way)."
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Certainly, I know that. The problem is what goes on back stage, isn't it? That's why it is SOOOOO very important that we hold our public leaders to such critical standards. And, it points out the danger presented by a politician like George W. Bush who wants to keep the back stage activities out of public view all the while he wants to be able to spy on us. Being suspicious of our leaders is the patriotic way for every citizen to behave.
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-- posted by pink101

» pink101 - On The Table

In response to Controversial posted by redback:
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My thesaurus lists 40 options to "god" none being discussed here.
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Which of those options do you consider important enough so that you can put them on the table?
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-- posted by pink101