art@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Arthur L Miller) (01/27/91)
In article <Jan.25.23.30.08.1991.1249@athos.rutgers.edu> lindborg@cs.washington.edu (Jeff Lindborg) writes: > > My question is, what was God's motivation in creating the human race in >the first place? He had to of known what would happen (since He is "all >knowing"). Was he bored and needed the entertainment of a race of pets that >He could manipulate and torture in any way He sees fit? It would appear that >this is the case. On the contrary, it hardly seems to be that way at all. Why did God create us? So He could love us and we could love him. Does that seem selfish of Him? Not really: Why do parents have children? Why do people get married? Because they look forward to a blissful existence of love, where nothing goes wrong and there are never any tears? No, the reason is that we were made to love and be loved. And God is the same way; in my opinion, that's what was meant when it said He created us in His image. Think about it: is there any "rational" reason for love? It takes sacrifice, effort, and sometimes pain, but we do it anyway... You see, He wanted us to love him because He knew how great our lives would be if we all did. *But* he had to give us the CHOICE. Without it being our choice, it wouldn't be love. And, unfortunately, sin entered the world because men thought they could have it better their own way. And now, sin has permeated every aspect of our personalities to the point where greed, selfishness, envy, indiscipline, and pride are accepted norms, and we think that such traits are "just the way we are." God has been more than fair. He has provided the means to salvation for anyone who wants it. You can turn your back on him all your life, but once you truly decide to change and live your life for Him, He'll immediately forgive you and *forget* everything you've done in the past. See if you can find that generous a deal from anyone else... > It is just this kind of dogmatic belief and fundamental fear of death and >the unkown that has made Christianity such a historicaly cruel religion and, >in my eyes, entirely moraly corrupt. I guess I fail to see the connection you made, but anyway... Yes, a lot of cruel things have been done in the guise of "Christianity." Does that mean that they are right? I think not. Does it mean that the original cause is faulted? No. If your calculus prof explains a theorem wrong, does that mean that the original theorem is incorrect? Hey, even the Ku Klux Klan claims "Christian" principles for what it does. Jesus himself said that many people will claim to follow him yet have no idea what it really means to be a disciple of Christ. If you really want to know what Christianity is all about, go buy a Bible and read the things Jesus said. If you *don't* want to know what Christianity is all about, I guess I'm wasting my time... Arthur Miller Northwestern University Class of 1991 art@casbah.acns.nwu.edu