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God's mercy?


Mnemonix

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If God's mercy was truly unlimited, no one would go to Hell.

I don't understand how a loving, merciful, all-forgiving God would cause someone to suffer in unimaginable pain for all eternity. This isn't love or mercy, and seemingly not unlimited love and mercy.

I, as a limited human, wouldn't want even my worst enemy to suffer for all eternity. I can't comprehend that. So why would a God of unlimited love and mercy want that? That's just an example.

God is almighty, so I'm sure He can be creative and think of an alternative. Just for example, if someone was evil, God could change that person.

I don't mean any offense to God, or anyone. This is just my personal opinion, and of course tons of people out there want to stone me to death for saying this.

To me, something unlimited has to be far greater than even the largest number possible, able to be comprehended by humans. And that's how much love, mercy and forgiveness God should have.

So come to me with some love, if you want to correct me on anything.

Peace and love.

*Sigh*

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If God's mercy was truly unlimited, no one would go to Hell.

I don't understand how a loving, merciful, all-forgiving God would cause someone to suffer in unimaginable pain for all eternity. This isn't love or mercy, and seemingly not unlimited love and mercy.

I, as a limited human, wouldn't want even my worst enemy to suffer for all eternity. I can't comprehend that. So why would a God of unlimited love and mercy want that? That's just an example.

God is almighty, so I'm sure He can be creative and think of an alternative. Just for example, if someone was evil, God could change that person.

I don't mean any offense to God, or anyone. This is just my personal opinion, and of course tons of people out there want to stone me to death for saying this.

To me, something unlimited has to be far greater than even the largest number possible, able to be comprehended by humans. And that's how much love, mercy and forgiveness God should have.

So come to me with some love, if you want to correct me on anything.

Peace and love.

*Sigh*

Simple solution: God has NONE of those attributes.

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Simple solution: God has NONE of those attributes.

I've been told He does.

I suppose that's one of the simple solutions.

Which is the correct one is the issue.

I'd agree with you if your statement was true.

However, if God DID HAVE those attributes, you'd have to say that He wouldn't want any of his sentient creations to suffer for all eternity in Hell? Isn't that only common sense?

Edited by Mnemonix
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I didn't think God had mercy. I refer you to the genocide he unleashed upon earth killing all living things save two of each species for no real reason.

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I didn't think God had mercy. I refer you to the genocide he unleashed upon earth killing all living things save two of each species for no real reason.

I wonder about that sometimes.

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Omnibenevolence is ment to be one of god's characteristics. But then so is omniscience, omnipresence and omnipotency.

But if that was true no evil would ever, ever be able to happen, because god would have a handle on it. The Devil wouldn't exist and therefore Hell would not be nescesarry and neither would forgiveness, for there would be nothing to forgive

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If God's mercy was truly unlimited, no one would go to Hell.

I don't understand how a loving, merciful, all-forgiving God would cause someone to suffer in unimaginable pain for all eternity. This isn't love or mercy, and seemingly not unlimited love and mercy.

I, as a limited human, wouldn't want even my worst enemy to suffer for all eternity. I can't comprehend that. So why would a God of unlimited love and mercy want that? That's just an example.

God is almighty, so I'm sure He can be creative and think of an alternative. Just for example, if someone was evil, God could change that person.

I don't mean any offense to God, or anyone. This is just my personal opinion, and of course tons of people out there want to stone me to death for saying this.

To me, something unlimited has to be far greater than even the largest number possible, able to be comprehended by humans. And that's how much love, mercy and forgiveness God should have.

So come to me with some love, if you want to correct me on anything.

Peace and love.

*Sigh*

Freewill springs to mind.....

Maybe God give's everyone chance's to redeem themselve's but it is down to each individual's choice's whether they receive mercy or not go to hell

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Freewill springs to mind.....

Maybe God give's everyone chance's to redeem themselve's but it is down to each individual's choice's whether they receive mercy or not go to hell

Depends on how one is supposed to redeem oneself.

Omnibenevolence is ment to be one of god's characteristics. But then so is omniscience, omnipresence and omnipotency.

But if that was true no evil would ever, ever be able to happen, because god would have a handle on it. The Devil wouldn't exist and therefore Hell would not be nescesarry and neither would forgiveness, for there would be nothing to forgive

I've been thinking about that.

Edited by Mnemonix
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I wonder about that sometimes.

You will never get a real answer to what you are asking... it is in the nature of ALL Religions to ensure that what you want is actually unobtainable, therefore making you a slave to a Doctrine in the "hope" that you will finally be the one granted access to continually worship a person that YOU believe exists, for all eternity. Of course, it is also the very nature of ALL religions, to ensure that you always feel inadequate to the task, to look to "Spiritual Leaders" (earthly) who can also , never meet the target, but to whom you will give undivided loyalty to follow their own perverse agendas,To be honest, none of this is not very appealing to me, I am what I am, try to do the best that I can on this earth, whilst making sure that my family is not suckered into greedy, evil, Sects...

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If I'm not mistaken, more than half the world's population will be going to Hell according to Christianity and Islam, not to mention all the people who have lived before.

It's a sad thought to me.

Edited by Mnemonix
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I didn't think God had mercy. I refer you to the genocide he unleashed upon earth killing all living things save two of each species for no real reason.

One way to look at this (which I've found is extremely distasteful to some Christians for some reason) is that the Genesis God is "early" God. To put it simply, God's not a very good god at that early point in the story. He overreacts. He punishes indiscriminately and incorrectly. He micromanages everything and gets crazy p***ed at the stupid humans when things don't go as planned.

The God in the later part of the Bible is more like an adult. He's less in-your-face, has lower expectations of the stupid humans, and lets things play out however they play out. He doesn't dish out immediate punishment and has become more of an observer and critic of humanity than an active participant. It's seems to me like he sent Jesus to take over this miserable job and wash his hands of these pathetic people he created. God got sick of judging every human during every moment of their lives so it was just easier to do that after they die.

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One way to look at this (which I've found is extremely distasteful to some Christians for some reason) is that the Genesis God is "early" God. To put it simply, God's not a very good god at that early point in the story. He overreacts. He punishes indiscriminately and incorrectly. He micromanages everything and gets crazy p***ed at the stupid humans when things don't go as planned.

The God in the later part of the Bible is more like an adult. He's less in-your-face, has lower expectations of the stupid humans, and lets things play out however they play out. He doesn't dish out immediate punishment and has become more of an observer and critic of humanity than an active participant. It's seems to me like he sent Jesus to take over this miserable job and wash his hands of these pathetic people he created. God got sick of judging every human during every moment of their lives so it was just easier to do that after they die.

That's one way, but that would mean God is not omniscient.

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Freewill springs to mind.....

Maybe God give's everyone chance's to redeem themselve's but it is down to each individual's choice's whether they receive mercy or not go to hell

Just what the heck do you mean by "Gods Mercy"?? This Biblical manifestation is a Tyrant that would be sent to the Gallows during the Nurenberg trials. Tell me, why in this age doesn't God have a Twitter or Facebook account (omnipotent, omniprescent)??? If he/she is so wonderful then why not contact people directly outside of Bizarre Catholic traditions (Lourdes etc).

God is a creation of your own minds, fuelled by Middle Ages repression and greed, the Papacy is so corrupt as to deny belief, Islam is based on a Mohammed that was a simple Paedophile (images of Mohammed were permitted until recently by the way), and, of course, the Jews are the chosen people so nobody else has a look in for eternity...

Hell never existed, just the rubbish dump outside of Jerusalem (Gehella)

ps Hands up anyone who can tell me what happened to all of the Gospels rejected at Nycaea (by the roman emperor Constantine) when the current version of the Bible was agreed (hint: The Gospel according to Mary was rejected)

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You will never get a real answer to what you are asking... it is in the nature of ALL Religions to ensure that what you want is actually unobtainable, therefore making you a slave to a Doctrine in the "hope" that you will finally be the one granted access to continually worship a person that YOU believe exists, for all eternity.

Judaism does not promise anything for eternity, only a happy and long life. If your life sucks that means God is punishing you, or possibly (as in the case Job) testing your faith for which you will be rewarded for but only in your lifetime.

Christianity was a more marketable religion. Suffering (which was hard to avoid at the time) became a good thing which would be rewarded posthumously.

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Well, as an atheist I don't believe in any god or what not but to somewhat answer the question, no one has the capacity to be 'all loving', I even doubt a god would have the capacity to.

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Judaism does not promise anything for eternity, only a happy and long life. If your life sucks that means God is punishing you, or possibly (as in the case Job) testing your faith for which you will be rewarded for but only in your lifetime.

Christianity was a more marketable religion. Suffering (which was hard to avoid at the time) became a good thing which would be rewarded posthumously.

So what the heck happens to Jews when they shuffle off this mortal coil?? Is that it? No 47 virgins? Nada?

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One way to look at this (which I've found is extremely distasteful to some Christians for some reason) is that the Genesis God is "early" God. To put it simply, God's not a very good god at that early point in the story. He overreacts. He punishes indiscriminately and incorrectly. He micromanages everything and gets crazy p***ed at the stupid humans when things don't go as planned.

The God in the later part of the Bible is more like an adult. He's less in-your-face, has lower expectations of the stupid humans, and lets things play out however they play out. He doesn't dish out immediate punishment and has become more of an observer and critic of humanity than an active participant. It's seems to me like he sent Jesus to take over this miserable job and wash his hands of these pathetic people he created. God got sick of judging every human during every moment of their lives so it was just easier to do that after they die.

Or as Rciky Gervais said, Old Testiment God is like 50s dad, New testiment is more modern dad...
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That's one way, but that would mean God is not omniscient.

Of course God isn't. This is very evident in the Old Testament. For example stupid Aaron and a bunch of stupid people built a golden calf and worshiped it while Moses was out on business with God on Mount Sinai. God didn't mention anything about a golden calf during this time. It wasn't until Moses got back that he saw it.

As usual Aaron who had coordinated the whole thing got away without a scratch, yet thousands of others were executed over it. And for kicks God threw a plague on the whole lot of them.

See, not exactly a good god at that point in the story! :cry:

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How do we know for sure anyone has ever went to hell?

We won't, but for the sake of argument, the religious texts tell us people will go to Hell.

Of course God isn't. This is very evident in the Old Testament. For example stupid Aaron and a bunch of stupid people built a golden calf and worshiped it while Moses was out on business with God on Mount Sinai. God didn't mention anything about a golden calf during this time. It wasn't until Moses got back that he saw it.

As usual Aaron who had coordinated the whole thing got away without a scratch, yet thousands of others were executed over it. And for kicks God threw a plague on the whole lot of them.

See, not exactly a good god at that point in the story! :cry:

I get confused over matters like that.

Edited by Mnemonix
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So what the heck happens to Jews when they shuffle off this mortal coil?? Is that it? No 47 virgins? Nada?

You mean when they die? I think they pretty much die and that's it. If you weren't promised an afterlife then it's not something you would expect. Judaism is more about how to receive God's blessings during your life. An afterlife doesn't serve any purpose if you lived a long and happy life with your family and friends. Some would say it's selfish to expect some kind of payoff at the end.

Christianity has done a great job of promoting the afterlife as the main (if not the only) purpose of living. The fear of death combined with the occasional misery of living (especially two thousand years ago) is a powerful force and that's one reason why it's been a popular religion. Some Christians assume all religions have something similar but they're wrong.

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Just what the heck do you mean by "Gods Mercy"?? This Biblical manifestation is a Tyrant that would be sent to the Gallows during the Nurenberg trials. Tell me, why in this age doesn't God have a Twitter or Facebook account (omnipotent, omniprescent)??? If he/she is so wonderful then why not contact people directly outside of Bizarre Catholic traditions (Lourdes etc).

God is a creation of your own minds, fuelled by Middle Ages repression and greed, the Papacy is so corrupt as to deny belief, Islam is based on a Mohammed that was a simple Paedophile (images of Mohammed were permitted until recently by the way), and, of course, the Jews are the chosen people so nobody else has a look in for eternity...

Hell never existed, just the rubbish dump outside of Jerusalem (Gehella)

ps Hands up anyone who can tell me what happened to all of the Gospels rejected at Nycaea (by the roman emperor Constantine) when the current version of the Bible was agreed (hint: The Gospel according to Mary was rejected)

Was not mercy used in the OP ? was my reply to the OP ? I think You will find that both answer's are yes

Just because You do not like the answer I gave, it does not mean it is wrong

F,Y,I, - it is Nuremberg trials, not Nurenberg trials

Who is to say whether or not God want's a facebook or twitter account ?

How do You know he has not contacted people outside of the Catholic tradition ?

As for that matter who said I was a Catholic ? because I did not, do not presume I am Catholic as I am not

I do not believe in ANY religion, I have my own belief's

Councils of Nicaea did change the Bible and leave out certain Gospel's, not just the Gospel according to Mary but other Gospel's too

Which is one of the many reason's why I do not follow or believe in the Catholic Church

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To the op, I see that you are having trouble understanding how God can allow suffering and yet still be good. God is merciful and God is love, perfect love and perfect mercy. However God is also a God of Justice and he must punish sin, hell is a place that was created as the final home of the devil and his demons and humanity was never intended to be there. But because of the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ all who repent of their sins and accept him can be saved and brought to heaven to be with God forever. Many people on here will disagree but that is the truth.

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