Religion
If I learned anything from what has happened to me so far is the fact that the way I deal with trauma is through humor. That's how I do it. Basically, that's my coping mechanism.
Some people use religion as their coping mechanism. And that's also important. I think religion is vital. I have a lot of friends that function because of their faith. But without sense of humor, religion... can get crazy. Religion need humor or people go nuts. And that's what happened to the Taliban. That's what the Al Qaeda is all about. These are people with no sense of humor. That's the bottomline. You can't argue with the fact that they have a religion and they have a faith. And they certainly believe in a certain ideal. Maybe completely nuts but they believe in it.
You know that a people don't have a sense of humor when somebody can actually stand up in a room and go, "You know, if you commit suicide... for Allah... when you die, you'll immediately be met in heaven by 70 virgins." And then nobody in the room just goes, "AHAHAHAHA! Shit! That's a great joke!"
Jesus too
He had no sense of humor. Go check the Bible... the guy never smiles or laughs.
The God of the Old Testament
Is worse! He's always angry. I don't want to piss him off. He might smoke me just for kicks...
hahaha
shite i dont get it
Anger
Isn't anger one of the 7 sins? If we have an angry God, then we have a sinning God. But since God does not sin, there shouldn't be an angry God. But there is an angry God. Then maybe he's not God. So there's no God.
Oh my!
You're going to hell for that remark!
There is a reason why the God portrayed in the Old Testament was an angry God. Something like a raging alcoholic. I'd write about that sometime. Maybe even later ;)
Oh come on!
Just because it doesn't say He smiled doesn't mean He never. The writer just didn't see the point of mentioning it. He's a warm compassionate man who died to save you from your sins. I don't see how any of that could've been funny or humorous. Do I daresay He must've smiled when He saw the little children and said "Unless you can be like these little children, you can not enter the kingdom of God."
Oh lighten up for God's sake
I was just kidding.
Are you trying to prove that humor and religion can't mix?
I'm not trying to prove anything
I just believe that although humor is good, it's a good idea to keep things in perspective.
Right
If you keep religion in perspective, you'll probably see that it's kinda funny :-P
Actually...
The God portrayed in the New Testament is more of a loving God. Someone who was said to have sacrificed His son to save us from all of our sins. Compared to the God in the Old Testament, which was portrayed as someone who would smoke you if you did something wrong. He was even so insecure that He asked someone to sacrifice his son for Him...
It's not surprising
that God mellowed down between the testaments. People say that having children can do that to you.
Hahaha!
I remember another guy (I'd rather not say his name), that should have children so he'll mellow down a bit ;)
Hmm...
I think he has already mellowed down quite a bit because you are like a son to him, hehehe.
Oh...
Shut up!
...
Abraham wouldn't have been as great a man as he was had he not been tested the way he was. Great people overcome great obstacles. Story of our history, now why couldn't that be the more appropriate reason huh?
I don't see why you should believe that though seeing as it not convenient for you to do so.
C'mon!
Ok so it worked out fine for him, but would a just and loving God do that? Really? He would? Remember Job? (But it's Old Testament again so I don't think it would count)
Since Job had absolute faith in Him, God singled him out and decided to test his faith. Sure Job was an upright man. But God, who back then had time for these things, decided to see just how faithful he was by taking away everything the guy had. Then when Job had nothing left, God gave him boils and still Job kept his faith. Call me silly, but I think you like to get out of a system what you put into it.
You gotta question a God like that, don't you? Heh!
Good example
I'd like to see philos respond to that one, bwehehe >:) Too bad he's in Singapore. Oh well. When he comes back, we can have a big religious debate on chickenmafia.com. Fun fun fun.
Nope
I'm not philos' spokesman.
I won't question God for whatever He had done. You see, we only viewed one aspect of this testing. Yup, Job kept on his faith even though He's difficulty tested. But, what if God didn't test him? With all of Job's riches and possessions, would you think Job will still be a man of faith in the end? I don't think so. He might conclude that He don't need God after all! What God did is that despite he was a self-sufficient man, he still need His grace.
In the end, which do you think is better? =)
Dude!
So are you saying the only way to prove faith is for you to be tested? If God didn't test him, he'll say, "Ah fuck faith! I'm gonna do whatever I want!" And then he'll screw a monkey? C'mon!
Ok, so testing someone may be good. It's the sure way to see loyalty. But to that extent? It's just silly. The way I see it, and I'm not an expert in these things, God may just be powertrippin'.
I've said this once and I'd say it again. If God always tests the righteous to see if they're really faithful, isn't it a sign of insecurity? If everyday you asked your girlfriend or boyfriend, "Do you really love me? Prove it!" There'd be a time that either the person would leave you or slap you in the face and then leave you.
Faith by definition is belief without proof. If God asks us to believe in Him, why can't He believe in us without setting up trials?
Another thing
Let's grant that Job's faith did have the need to be tested. But is the method of testing reasonable?
Have you read the Book of Job? Job's test consisted of, among other things, the DEATH of all his wives and children! What did the children do to deserve death just so that their father's faith can be tested? How can you say that God is good when he kills off a bunch of helpless people just to test the faith of one?
Dude!
He wiped out most of the people in the time of Noah... It's not surprising for Him to kill Job's wives and children.
I know, I know... I'm gonna go to hell when I die...
Ok...
"He wiped out most of the people in the time of Noah..."
- Yes, but what's the reason why He wiped the people of the earth aside from Noah and his family?
"I know, I know... I'm gonna go to hell when I die..."
- I'm sorry if you viewed life like this, but you still have a chance. =)
Hahaha!
You know the reason? Because He hasn't taken anger management classes then. When the New Testament came, he decided to forgive people instead of crushing them ;)
You don't get sarcasm too well do you?
Give him a break...
he's a Lasallite >:)
Oh....
Sorry dude! Not that I'm sorry you went there. But I'm sorry for the "you don't get sarcasm..." shit.
I'm really getting into trouble... Heh!
ok...
"But is the method of testing reasonable?"
- How would you say something done or not done is reasonable? It is based on what standards?
"the DEATH of all his wives and children! What did the children do to deserve death just so that their father's faith can be tested?"
- We ALL deserve to die, not only Job's wives and children because of our sin. Thus it is deserving because his wives, etc. do not have faith in God. But Jesus Christ is the gift (that's another story).
"How can you say that God is good when he kills off a bunch of helpless people just to test the faith of one?"
- God is good. But God is also just. God revealed to Israel a multitude of times already, but they refused Him.
=)
Who wouldn't?
God created us originally to have fellowship with Him and share His glory. But what have we done? We rebelled against Him.
If you created something that goes out of plan because of the wrongdoing of your creation, would you not get angry?
Whoa!
Slow down a minute! You're saying that God's creation didn't work exactly according to his plan? He made a mistake? But isn't he supposed to be perfect?
Did he know ahead of time that something was going to go horribly wrong? If he did, why didn't he correct the flaw? Did he leave the flaw in so that he can fix it at a later time with a sacrifice-my-son drama and expect us to be grateful for it?
I'm not trying to start a flamewar. I'm just trying to point out some of the logical flaws in Christian beliefs.
Peace, hehe.
Peace rin! =)
"You're saying that God's creation didn't work exactly according to his plan? He made a mistake? But isn't he supposed to be perfect?"
- He has given us free will right? His creation is perfect, as He said it is good. He didn't make a mistake, we did.
"Did he know ahead of time that something was going to go horribly wrong? If he did, why didn't he correct the flaw? Did he leave the flaw in so that he can fix it at a later time with a sacrifice-my-son drama and expect us to be grateful for it?"
- God is omniscient. God cannot deny Himself. He is both the God of love and justice. God is just that EVERY sin has to be punished by death. But at the same time, God loves us so much that He sent His Son to die as a ransom for us.
"I'm not trying to start a flamewar. I'm just trying to point out some of the logical flaws in Christian beliefs."
- I understand. I don't want to prove anything. I'm just clarifying on some common misunderstanding. Please don't see me as know-it-all. =)
hey there mator
GO CHICKEN!!! ye so ur views r gd but, wot wood ur views b on the mafia? we need it for a school project plz help!!! byeeeee
Yeah, right...
And how do you prove all that shit you're saying? Are there any data that support your idea that God is this and God is that and God exists at all? And don't push that "I just know" bullshit, "just knowing" is not a proof. Or rather, just go to http://skeptico.blogs.com and clean your head a bit instead of drowning your intelligence in that nonsense called religion.
Tyranids may look unpleasant, but believe me, you don't want to let them out of your sight | http://carnifex.blog.com
They don't need proof, you infidel
They have faith!
Hahaha!
God created us in His image. We rebelled because we are never satisfied. Therefore God is also not satisfied with His creations. That's why there's evolution. Hahaha!
That's why the God of the Old Testament was an angry God. To set people straight!
Ok...
"That's why the God of the Old Testament was an angry God. To set people straight!"
- many people perceive God as 2 Gods (one of OT, and one of NT). But in reality, He is one. It is the devil that's deceiving us to view that way. Perhaps, you viewed God as angry because of the story of Israelites. But perhaps it is also worthwhile to know His love to other people like Daniel, Abraham, Elijah, etc. God is displeased when people sins. Israelites sinned a number of times, thus He punished them justly. But at the same time, He loved them (eg. His deliverance from Egypt, Abraham's blessing, supernatural protection of Israelites from its enemies, etc.
Hope this clears up dude! =)
You know what?
I'm not really trying to clear up things nor explain things. I think you're taking this too seriously. But hey, if what's at stake is eternal bliss or eternal damnation, I'd probably take it seriously too.
But I'm just human. You're divine! Heh!
Clarification
hehe... interesting debate. I'm not here to flame, just clarifying. =)
Faith is not proven, it is established. Why do you want to prove your faith to somebody else?
"The way I see it, and I'm not an expert in these things, God may just be powertrippin'."
- well, if that's how you see it, I can't blame you. I'm not God, and I can't fathom His wisdom.
"If God always tests the righteous to see if they're really faithful, isn't it a sign of insecurity?"
- I have to disagree. We people sometimes view faith as something established in a snap of a finger. I don't think so. Faith is tested to prove genuiness.
"If everyday you asked your girlfriend or boyfriend, "Do you really love me? Prove it!" There'd be a time that either the person would leave you or slap you in the face and then leave you."
- I agree. But comparing the test of God w/ the bf-gf issue is different. You see, there's some flaw in the BF. The lady don't have to literally prove to him that she loved him. Perhaps the guy is blind and deaf that's why he didn't feel the love of the GF. Besides, if God tested Job EVERYDAY, I wouldn't know the outcome. God's plan for Job's life is perfect. Job has the free will whether to reject God or not after those trials.
"Faith by definition is belief without proof."
- without proof? Yes, faith is difficult to establish empirically. But it is also true that it is impossible to please God without faith.
"If God asks us to believe in Him, why can't He believe in us without setting up trials?"
- because we have free will.
Jesus Christ,
this is turning into quite a discussion, haha. Maybe you can start a topic in the forums and we'll debate about it till kingdom come :-D It will be fun.
Ah yes,
I'm not also God and I can only express what my fingers want to type. It's beyond my capacity to comprehend.
It's not that you establish your faith just like that. Maybe it's just paranoia that makes us perceive things that happen as tests. But that statement borders on the line of thinking that there is no God. Faith really is a lifelong process. Either you lose it or it gets stronger. What I don't get is that why test the righteous ones? Well, actually, I don't get a lot of things so this ain't a rare thinking. Maybe God works in the "Quality, not quantity" philosophy.
God wanted to see if Job will reject Him? How... weird. Well, "quality versus quantity!"
Yes, faith in God is belief without proof. I believe that. I have faith in that. But I can't prove it. So there, hahahaha!
Free will! But I distinctly remember one Theology teacher of mine say that we have a distorted perception of free will. Free will is not doing what you want to do. Free will is doing what God wants you to do. Or something along those lines...
I like this blog
From humor to religion to a joke about 70 virgins to theology. This is what comments are supposed to be. But I think we're losing sight of humor...
I really think those Islamic extremists have lost sight of humor. And I don't blame them. They haven't heard a "knock knock" joke in their lifetime. That's the price you pay for living in tents. But I blame them for not inventing the "Flap flap" joke.
Hehe
Yes, perhaps I contributed to the seriousness of this forum. Nevertheless, I hope all of us learn something. I'm just saying what I know, nothing else.
Cheers! =)
Nah!
It's ok dude! Healthy debate is welcome. Flame wars are encouraged! :)
Feel free to write anything. And if someone pisses you off, piss them off too... Oh... you might not be that kind of person. Just use your catholic ninja style writing to kick their ass, hehehe!
This is officially
A dead blog...
Don't worry
If Philos is back, this might rise up again. ;-)
Hmmm...
Might take more than 3 days, hahaha!
Guess who's back?
I'd like to say that for one thing the Bible is a recovered collection of experiences documented by the followers of God. While it may contain discrepancies, it is not unexpected given the number of translations it has underwent. It may all be there, it might not. The chapters may be complete, it may not. Despite all these, I would still count myself fortunate at having the opportunity of its guidance. We are given examples of people who had strong faith, lost faith, recovered faith and had their faith tested.
And as with anything, it's a matter of perception.
Job may have been tested, but it wasn't a matter of God inflicting pain on him, but rather God allowing Satan to do what he can to turn Job. Did God promise to intercede all the time? But all those times, God was with him, and that kept his strenght up. His laments made him understand God more. If God had known Job wouldn't be able to take it, I sincerely doubt if Job would have been subjected to such test. The example may be a little extreme for us modern folks, but we are culturally biased. I do not claim to understand, but there might be a cultural concept we're missing here. And it is entirely possible that symbols have been used here.
As with the adage "whatever doesn't break you makes u more stronger" goes, it did make him stronger. This is how we grow, how our muscles gain strenght, by use... by overloading its capacity to a certain degree. If you've never walked before because the falls hurt too much (and Im sure you'd agree that it might hurt a lot to a child who's never experience hurt before) you're bones won't be strong enough to stand you up. As with anything else that grows, all these tests helps us.
Oh and by the way
God's description as being an angry God and being a jealous God is a mere vocabulary issue. How can one express what one does not feel personally? People who wrote this, translated this, are merely trying to express their observations in the nearest term possible, which is quite far still. It has served its purpose nonetheless, we understand that God wishes us to recognize Him and only Him - which is just fair since He is the only one. He wants this because He wants to be able to guide you, and He can't do that if you're looking at the wrong direction for advice all the time. If you're going to kill yourself with your stupidity, why not let God do it to prevent you from causing harm to other people?
And about omniscience? That's a concept I don't believe I can understand with the limits set upon my poor brain. I can only imagine what all knowing means - but I can bet the planes of our perception is not enough to comprehend the complexity of being omniscient... which is why we always find things to declare inconsistent.
This should've been a blog
But I'd just put it here...
There’s a reason that was written in the Bible. Because the Bible was written thousands and thousands and thousands of years ago. When we were savages at best. About 10 hairs away from being a baboon for fucks sake! People then were out of control and the elders of the village got together and came up with an idea of a God. And not the Christian God which is a loving God, a sweet God actually. But they came up with a God that was like, “I can see everything you do, and I’m gonna kick your fucking ass!†Not really a happy God but kinda like a God that seems to be a raging alcoholic in some ways.
GOD: You wanna fight asshole!?!?
And that’s what they had to come up with. They had to come up with this mythical figure that is present and that could keep the people in line. Because the people were crazy. They’d do anything. So they say, “That’s the way God is. God is everywhere. And He sees everything you do. And if you fuck up, He knows it and He will smoke you...†And that kinda sent the message across.
Yup
"And about omniscience? That's a concept I don't believe I can understand with the limits set upon my poor brain. I can only imagine what all knowing means - but I can bet the planes of our perception is not enough to comprehend the complexity of being omniscient... which is why we always find things to declare inconsistent."
- I have to agree here. Men normally say things as illogical or erroneous on certain things we simply couldn't comprehend (defensive mechanism?). Well, sad to say, the term "logic" was conceptualized by humans only. Of course, there are certain things we, imperfect humans, cannot understand compared to the infinite wisdom of a perfect God. He already knew the very end even at the very beginning because He is eternal--no time bounds--only we humans are bound by time. It is said, "The foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom...." (1 Corinthians 1:25). =)
I'm not surprised
You guys agreed on that...
God's foolishness is wiser than man's wisdom... God might've been drunk when he created man...
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