romansh

Aside from our interpretations of religious texts is there any "sensible" evidence that god has asked us to do anything?

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There is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened. ........... Douglas Adams

greywolf90

i think this brings up one of my irritations with most religious individuals. it's when people claim to know what god wants, what god would do, what god likes/dislikes, what kind of personality god has, etc. and coincidentally, god's oppinion always seemed to match their own. if they were against abortion then god was against abortion. if they thought gays were abominations then god thought gays were abominations. this bothered me even when i was still a christian. i guess i've always felt that it was impossible to truely know god's will.

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"for there is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so."- Hamlet

Geshtinnanna

Ha, thanks. Yeah, I got busy with work and my mom and stuff.

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Danlo

If you challenged the 'religious individual' then you would probably find that they would respond by saying, "It's not God's opinion that matches mine; it's my opinion that matches God"

And you would say, "But how do you know it's God's opinion?"

And they would say, "Because it says so in the Bible."

And here is where I come up against one of my biggest problems, and that is taking the Bible as being God's word.

But back on the 'God's opinion' train of thought....I agree with what you say above. I've always thought it to be quite preposterous that humans try and imbibe God with human emotions, attitudes and 'opinions'. Surely if there was a God and he was powerful enough to create the universe and do so many other miraculaous things then how dare we assume that his/her thought processes would be in any way similar to that of a human being?!!

AB517

I was thinking about this.

He asks us to sacrifice our children in many ways. Every time a coreman runs out into enemy fire to help a fallen soldier, every time a firemen runs into the flames, every policeman that that confronts a criminal.

There are many other everyday experiences that we sacrifice ourselves and our children. The worker who grinds out a living for his family. Every nurse that aids the sick. Every lawyer (and I believe they are becoming fewer) that stands up for true justice. Every person that says to themselves “no; it is not just business, it is the right thing to do.”

Every parent that teaches there children to stand up against the wrongs of this world sacrifice their children. Just look at the vulgarity and wrongs we allow in the name of free speech. Every time a person says “NO; this is enough” is sacrificed.

Every parent that lives in the bible belt of the USA and teaches a child to say “NO, that’s not what Jesus meant” sacrifices their child in the name/sake of God.

Astreja

I might be willing to sacrifice material things (in extreme cases, most or all of what I possess) to save a life or lives.

But I'm not willing to sacrifice a life, especially a life other than my own. (I'd be willing to risk my own life to help others, but if the outcome was known to be certain death for me I really don't know what I would do.)

AB517

Ok, I see. Fair enough. I do not agree at all but I understand.

Death, for me, is part of life. When death is certain the decisions become easy. It is when it is not clear that separates the men from the boys. I have changed my opinion on this lately too, when a person runs away I do not judge them as cowards, they did what they had too. I will stand alone. Yes, I have, and paid dearly. The pain is still with me after so many years, but it is worth it.

Ice_Monkey

(Abraham failed the test. In spades.)

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God created humans to act as if they possessed human nature, and by god, he's not going to let us get away with it!

a slave of Allah

It depends on the person, if the person loves God more, then he would kill his son if and only if God The Lord orderd him.

For God, every thing will be, even if He order me to kill myself.

It is God who gave him son, so it is the favour of God.

If God had willed, the person would not have a son.

If someone gave you a car for one year, he has the right to take it back and you have to thank him (if you are just and appreciative), but if you are bad and ungrateful, then we expect you to be against God The Beneficent.

We love God more than every thing.

All the favours are from God, every thing good is from Him.

Abraham was a good and grateful person, so he loved God more than every thing.

Abraham and his son PBUT, God will admit them into the highest rank in Paradise, they will abid therein forever.

99. And he said (after his rescue from the fire): "Verily, I am going to my Lord. He will guide me!"

100. "My Lord! Grant me (offspring) from the righteous."

101. So We gave him the glad tidings of a forbearing boy.

102. And, when he (his son) was old enough to walk with him, he said: "O my son! I have seen in a dream that I am slaughtering you (offer you in sacrifice to Allâh), so look what you think!" He said: "O my father! Do that which you are commanded, Inshâ' Allâh (if Allâh will), you shall find me of As-Sâbirin (the patient ones, etc.)."

103. Then, when they had both submitted themselves (to the Will of Allâh), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead (or on the side of his forehead for slaughtering);

104. And We called out to him: "O Abraham!

105. You have fulfilled the dream (vision)!" Verily! Thus do We reward the Muhsinûn (good-doers - see V.2:112).

106. Verily, that indeed was a manifest trial

107. And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice (i.e. ßÈÔ - a ram);

108. And We left for him (a goodly remembrance) among generations (to come) in later times.

109. Salâmun (peace) be upon Ibrâhim (Abraham)!"

110. Thus indeed do We reward the Muhsinûn (good-doers - see V.2:112).

111. Verily, he was one of Our believing slaves.

112. And We gave him the glad tidings of Ishâque (Isaac) a Prophet from the righteous.

a slave of Allah

Prophet Mohammad PBUH said:
Don't live in the world "IF", because satan work there effectively.

live in the real world.