Please explain this further. I am hesitant to start to make points without knowing exactly what you mean.
Christian philosophy
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Well, imagine before existence. There would have been no information set in place, as nothing had been before, so anything could be acheived in any way possible (there would be no laws to make anything impossible.) So then God comes along (some how) and decides to create free will. But, having nothing to prevent him knowing everything, he realises that with free will come rebellion (because that is sort of the idea of free will.) So he creates a small universe, with finite space, only three dimensions and the laws of physics, to test out which, of the infinate possible variations of consiousness would be faithful and which would go bad. The ones that are faithful decide to follow the Lord based on what they know in their ignorant three-dimensional state, and are rewarded with knowledge and freedom when they die. The bad one who refuse to accept God, can be disposed of and not given freedom sufficent for turning against God. Just like natural selection. Only nature is replaced with God...
Interesting theory, but I believe we are not mere test subjects spawned by God so He can seperate the good from bad, but rather lovingly created companions whom God created for love; both from Him and from us.
But there would be no reason for God to require or want love.
Assuming there was nothing before God.
I'm saying God is love, and because of His love, He created us with a free will. I also can't bring myself to believe we are in God's "Natural Selection" process without any scriptural proof.
May I just point out that this is entirely hyperthetical. I am ignoring all pre-existing knowledge of the nature of God, and simply theorising what would happen with a "creator." If any of this is valid, and does not describe God, there must have been something and/or someone (at that stage they would be the same thing) prior to the existence of God.
D_Plew wrote:
Assuming there was nothing before God.
That is a HUGE assumption. I believe God is, was, and will be everlasting for all of eternity.
... sorry, are those two sentances different or correlating statements?
They are different, but are related in thta they both deal with your assumption of nothing before God.
They're funny sentances to put together don't you think?
I'm confused.
Aren't we all.
That is why I can't wait to get to heaven and know/not care about everything!!!
You're not supposed to look forward to getting to heaven. Are you?
Can you imagine working as an Ambassor? For example, suppose you were the New Zealand ambassor to a country that New Zealand is trying to help. But suppose that country suppresses liberties because the government fears losing control. The living conditions of the citizens are terrible compared to the land you belong, New Zealand. (I do imagine New Zealand being a beautiful place with mountains and lush woodlands, and grassy plains-correct me because I do not know-I would love to visit).
Well you are an ambassor.
II Corinthians 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
I am a pilgrim in search of my homeland. I desire to go there. But I have a job to do for my King and will not go home until my King calls me home. I do not belong in this world. I represent my homeland to this world and must proclaim reconcilition to the people of this world.
Hebrews 11:8-10 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Ah.
If someone devotes their whole life to helping others but has decided that they don't beleive in god because they don't see the evidence, do they go to hell?
If someone is mentally ill and doesn't beleive in god, do they go to hell?
If someone is Jewish, do they go to hell?
If someone has never heard of christianity, do they go to hell?
Aren't our decisions determined by our brains, and didn't god give us our brains?
I actually want to know chrisitians think about these questions
shmuby wrote:
If someone devotes their whole life to helping others but has decided that they don't beleive in god because they don't see the evidence, do they go to hell?
If someone is mentally ill and doesn't beleive in god, do they go to hell?
If someone is Jewish, do they go to hell?
If someone has never heard of christianity, do they go to hell?
Aren't our decisions determined by our brains, and didn't god give us our brains?
I actually want to know chrisitians think about these questions
First question. If you don't see the evidence....
God desires faith. He will encourage your efforts to increase your faith and knowledge toward him, but he will not prove Himself to you until you believe. When you seek with your whole heart you will find him.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Hebrews 11:1 ¶ Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Jeremiah 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Would anyone agree with my veiwpoint of creation that when God started off, he had infinate different potential consiousnesses. Some of them he knew would, having free will, turn against him, so decided to create a universe and graduallly put more and more of the possible consiousnesses in, and present them with the option of following him, and showing strengh of character and goodwill, or neglecting his existence and being athiests. This way he could determine who to bin (or condemn to inferno) and who to reward and take into his kingdom.