http://danielmiessler.com/blog/einstein-on-gods-responsibility grep understanding Tue, 15 May 2012 12:09:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 http://danielmiessler.com/blog/einstein-on-gods-responsibility/comment-page-1#comment-242331 simonsarris Sat, 13 Jun 2009 06:16:06 +0000 http://dmiessler.com/blog/einstein-on-gods-responsibility#comment-242331 <p>"If a group of people all have the same freewill, and some choose to do what they consider "good", and others choose to do what is considered "evil", how does a God that allows freewill intercede?"<br><br>By punishing them for all eternity.<br><br>And that's the problem here. With your free will, the Biblegod isn't a mean-spirited child but is instead more like an abusive boyfriend who declares, "I love you, and if you don't love me back, then I'm going to torture you for all eternity."<br><br>Suddenly this "set of instructions" doesn't seem so kind.</p> “If a group of people all have the same freewill, and some choose to do what they consider “good”, and others choose to do what is considered “evil”, how does a God that allows freewill intercede?”

By punishing them for all eternity.

And that's the problem here. With your free will, the Biblegod isn't a mean-spirited child but is instead more like an abusive boyfriend who declares, “I love you, and if you don't love me back, then I'm going to torture you for all eternity.”

Suddenly this “set of instructions” doesn't seem so kind.

]]> http://danielmiessler.com/blog/einstein-on-gods-responsibility/comment-page-1#comment-242322 Mike Wed, 10 Jun 2009 03:07:43 +0000 http://dmiessler.com/blog/einstein-on-gods-responsibility#comment-242322 <p>I happened to stumble on your pages, as I was looking at some of the nice network studies that you have.<br><br>I think that there is a huge proliferation of this thought process, which in my mind, detracts from the real question.<br><br>You see, God is always thought of as though, if He really exists, He is but a mean spirited child burning insects with a magnifying glass on the playground.<br><br>However, as I read through the old testament, then compare that to the the new testament, I come to the conclusion that the God of the Bible has given freewill to His creation -- and a set of instructions.<br>If you tell me to turn right at an intersection, but I decide that I know better, and turn left instead, and get lost - can I blame you?<br>If you tell me not to stick my hand into the blade area of a saw, but I think to myself "he doesn't really exist - so I think that blade won't hurt me" - can I blame you for the lost fingers?<br>Jesus was asked which commandment was most important - He responded:<br><br> " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." ( Matt 22:37 - 40 )<br><br>If a group of people all have the same freewill, and some choose to do what they consider "good", and others choose to do what is considered "evil", how does a God that allows freewill intercede?<br>The answer that Christians rely on is the promise that God has given us eternal life, and will be back at an undisclosed time to call those who belong to Him.<br>The other answer is that God still does miracles, and does at times get involved and bail us out.<br>My prayer for you, is that you would come to know this God, because John 3:16 is truth that far surpasses anything the world can give.<br>Best regards, Mike</p> I happened to stumble on your pages, as I was looking at some of the nice network studies that you have.

I think that there is a huge proliferation of this thought process, which in my mind, detracts from the real question.

You see, God is always thought of as though, if He really exists, He is but a mean spirited child burning insects with a magnifying glass on the playground.

However, as I read through the old testament, then compare that to the the new testament, I come to the conclusion that the God of the Bible has given freewill to His creation — and a set of instructions.
If you tell me to turn right at an intersection, but I decide that I know better, and turn left instead, and get lost – can I blame you?
If you tell me not to stick my hand into the blade area of a saw, but I think to myself “he doesn't really exist – so I think that blade won't hurt me” – can I blame you for the lost fingers?
Jesus was asked which commandment was most important – He responded:

” 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” ( Matt 22:37 – 40 )

If a group of people all have the same freewill, and some choose to do what they consider “good”, and others choose to do what is considered “evil”, how does a God that allows freewill intercede?
The answer that Christians rely on is the promise that God has given us eternal life, and will be back at an undisclosed time to call those who belong to Him.
The other answer is that God still does miracles, and does at times get involved and bail us out.
My prayer for you, is that you would come to know this God, because John 3:16 is truth that far surpasses anything the world can give.
Best regards, Mike

]]>