How do we know God is "Good"?

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Since I believe in God, I don't feel the kids were that badly hurt.

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So in fact you DON'T believe the bible at all.

Right....and liberalism is a plot to destroy America, that started by planting liberal professors in our colleges that brain wash or kids into thinking that God doesn't exist, and they can do what ever they want without any reprecussions in life.No wonder some of you think that teaching your kids to tease is ok.Its all so clear now, yeah....thats the ticket!

You could be mauled, and heal from it.
Tearing limb from limb is much worse IMO.Which one would you choose?

No less than TWO obfuscatory responses, enither of which deal with the point. Plus a touch of moral slander just to make sure the unbeliever is driven off.

You didn't address the main part of my post. Let's see what I said;" Events in the OT are irrelevant to me "I see the bible as the inspired words of God. Events in the OT are likely exaggerated for the campfire. This doesn't mean I'm throwing the OT out - it means that I think Christ was right when he said "I came to fulfill it"./Therefore - events therein - really are irrelevant [to me] - as I follow the "law of the spirit of life" - and believe in Christ - and his words are relevant [to me]....Therefore - atrocities are not my teachings, and are unreliable because of exaggeration. The OT exaggerates but the NT isn't concerned with it. For example - fire-breathing Leviathan. The door swings both ways - if [you] believe God killed these children - then you also believe in fire-breathing Leviathan and talking snakes. We can certainly disagree with them. But if we want the wisdom in the other passages of the book, will we be throwing the baby out with the bath water? Jesus also used parables where killing happened. The naughty slave who was forgave his debt but then didn't forgive the man under him. If I use a story of killing. does that mean I am a killer? Jesus used parables and OT teachings against the Pharisees.Christ often used the OT AGAINST the OT'ers of his day.Besides this, these words; "every thought of their heart was continually wicked" preceded the flood event. You can't "invoke" child death if it doesn't even say children were killed.This message has been edited by mike the wiz, 11-11-2004 08:57 AM

I think Jar's right. But I get the feeling you are one who would like to see us believers removed, angry words and angry comments earlier in this thread. You just seem so angry at us Gilg. Fistly, remember that rule; I don't believe God killed any kid.That means, that I believe God (OT) - didn't kill anyone. Human's done the killing, then justified it by saying "God said do it". THIS is what I believe. Can you just ask next time Gilg? Each person's mind and Theology is complex. I - think the ten commandments themselves show God - and the events afterward, show man's failure.As for Jesus using OT - IMO, he "used" parables against the Pharisees - then used the OT against them. Am I wrong Jar?

Well, I think you and Gilgamesh can work this out. If I were you guys, I'd see if between the two you could arrive at some common understanding about several questions. Beginning with the tale of the bears and kids,

• who were the authors, not by name, but rather what type people were they?
• what were the authors like?
• what was their culture?
• who was the audience for the story?
• was there some message being taught?
• if so, what was the message?
• from what is learned about this tale, can we make any generalizations about other such stories?

Questions are a great way to learn. If two people (or a group of people) can learn to honestly ask questions, to probe beyond the simple rhetoric, it's amazing what results they can achieve.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Actually all that is irrlevant IMO Jar.Especially in the case of the bears, we are looking at a god who is butchering children by direct orders, for showing disrepsect to his prophet.In the case of the infanticide of the Egyptian children, we are looking at a racist hate crime perpertrated directly by gods agents, or personally.The purpose of both of these stories is to demonstrate the power and wrath of the jealous god. Hence why "god-fearing" becomes a christian virtue.Theres no beating about the bush that this is psychological terorrism, and that god is perpetrating despicable crimes AND IS PROUD OF IT. And that the Israelites are proud of him for it, too. The theists just want to be exempted from taking responsibility for worshipping a terrorist god.

Okay.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Yes Mike I did find my sister in Mexico. Prayers do get answered all the time. And they do not get anwered as well. It still does not stop one from praying.

RiVeRrat Then why would it be a deterent? In a world where presumably Adam has never seen a person die what could he possibly relate it to? I am not twisting it. The words stand in the bible written as such.You,however,continue to bring up scenarios that are not related to events in the bible by way of analogy and these do not properly reflect thje entire scheme of things faced.Adam was the first person according to the bible so he has no larger society or experience upon which to weigh things presented to him.

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"Calling Atheism a religion is like calling bald a hair color."
--Don Hirschberg

This is slightly off-topic, but; Did you continue with prayer efforts afterwards? You strike me as an open-minded person who is atleast willing to give it a go. Another person on this forum who tried it was Unseul. I suggest that you ask God if it was him that answered your prayer - and for him to give you a sign if it was him, I think he might do this, because of your discretion.

Is that supposed to make me feel bad?Maybe I know what you are really thinking. The fact that you can reconize that it is obfuscatory, and that you would be driven off, means
That I am right, and you do understand what I am telling you. What do you think, that I am Christ or something?I came from where you are, I know what you need to hear, gimme a break.
God is good, period.

I don't know, put yourself in his position, I'm sure you will get it fine.
Touch, and die, simple.Pretend your Adam for a day, lol

True, a voice of reason, nice.