Why cant God just communicate with us directly?

[LilyM]

you saying the prophets, the apostles and mama mary all went insane?

Even with these there were intermediate steps - eg angels conveying messages, God appearing through the less intimidating veil of His humanity and so on.

So the question is - you seem to believe that direct communication is possible, why do you think you and each of us has not been directly communicated with already?

And those same words - that same communication - that was given to the Apostles was given to you, recorded in Scripture?

Why do you have no problem believing that, say, the Gettysburg Address was exactly as the history books record it, and do not refuse to believe because Lincoln is not in front of you in person to repeat and verify it, and not the words of Christ - God - as recorded in Scripture?

 

[sophion]

Even with these there were intermediate steps - eg angels conveying messages, God appearing through the less intimidating veil of His humanity and so on.

thats good enough. at least its a supernatural source. not some hear-say from fellow flawed human beings.

So the question is - you seem to believe that direct communication is possible, why do you think you and each of us has not been directly communicated with already?

because i have not experience any supernatural phenomena, nor do i see any evidences of it anywhere. faith healings, milk drinking statues,…debunked frauds.

 

[LilyM]

thats good enough. at least its a supernatural source. not some hear-say from fellow flawed human beings.

because i have not experience any supernatural phenomena, nor do i see any evidences of it anywhere. faith healings, milk drinking statues,…debunked frauds.

Reread my post. Lincoln and his biographers are fellow flawed human beings, yet you have no problem believing that they could and did accurately record sayings and doings. Why is it a problem in this case?

 

[StevenFrancis]

Why cant God just communicate with us directly?

He does. This is the whole story of salvation, the Church etc. The Word of God is Jesus Christ. God communicates with us by becoming man, taking on the sin of the world, dying in self sacrifice, then leaving us the Holy Spirit led Church which speaks to us and allows us to commune with Heaven until He comes again, and we who have followed will be in with God in direct communication for eternity.

Many simply don’t want to listen to His Church. That’s on us. Not God.

 

[JimG]

you saying the prophets, the apostles and mama mary all went insane?

Direct communication would be from God’s mind to our mind. That would indeed explode our minds unless we had the capability to absorb it. That capability in limited form is called within Catholicism “sanctifying grace.” It’s what makes it possible for us to live in heaven without being destroyed. The Apostles interacted with a human being who was a divine person. That’s indirect. God communicated with the apostles, prophets, and others by means of angels, locutions, visions, all intermediate material things.

 

[sophion]

sorry for missing this part:

And those same words - that same communication - that was given to the Apostles was given to you, recorded in Scripture?

Why do you have no problem believing that, say, the Gettysburg Address was exactly as the history books record it, and do not refuse to believe because Lincoln is not in front of you in person to repeat and verify it, and not the words of Christ - God - as recorded in Scripture?

1. because there is nothing fantastic involved in that story. for example, when someone says “i saw a car” you usually believe it right? because its realistic and likely. but when someone says “I saw aliens” do you believe it right away? you usually ignore it. but when he says “i saw aliens and they said give me all your money or the world will be destroyed!”. what do you do?
2. An actual copy of the original document is presented. Where are the original writings of paul? what you have is copy of a copy of a copy of a copy. in short “pass the message”. proven unreliable.

and more…but that should be enough for now.

 

[pig]

What difference would it make to you if He communicated directly with you, really?

 

[Peter_Plato]

What difference would it make to you if He communicated directly with you, really?

• “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’

“‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they [Sophion?] will not be convinced** even if someone rises from the dead**.’” *(Luke 16:27-29)

Which Jesus did, but apparently that is not enough to convince some. Always an excuse for non-belief.

 

[pig]

• “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’

“‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they [Sophion?] will not be convinced** even if someone rises from the dead***.’” (Luke 16:27-29)

Which Jesus did, but apparently that is not enough to convince some. Always an excuse for non-belief.

Yes, and the corollary is that once they have seen and rejected where is there left one could go to try and convince them. Where there is life there is hope. Time and life’s circumstance can help draw a person.

 

[fred_conty]

God can do anything, right? It wont matter if there are 7 quadrillion people.

At least communicating with God directly would ensure us that he exists, and that we will know which religion is the right one.

Thank you for defining the method and way.
You want a bush from which he talks to you as he did to Moses.

But really, how would you know that it was truely his voice?
Maybe it was all riged just as some say Fatima was riged.

What do you think?

 

[Gorgias]

That disbelief only lasted for a second.

I would argue that his disbelief ended right around the time that the muteness kicked in…

His reaction was understandable.

Really? You’re standing in the temple, offering sacrifice to God, and suddenly, an archangel appears to you? Remember, we’re not talking about a cute little angel like contemporary depictions would like to present – a cute little baby cherub, flitting about. We’re talking a full-on archangel! And you’re telling me that, faced with that appearance before you, you’re gonna say, “nah… I don’t believe you – God isn’t giving me that message!” …???

Of course the first time you hear God there would be some doubt. But eventually you will believe as did Zachary.

That wasn’t Mary’s reaction, though. Or Abraham’s. Or Moses. Etc, etc, etc…

 

[Peter_Plato]

An interesting take on this question.

youtube.com/watch?v=5typvN1XdBE&sns=em

 

[InJesusItrust]

He can and does. These are called locutions.

We don’t know why He does not do it to everyone, perhaps humility might be a factor. For example, great scholars usually don’t get to experience apparitions but peasants do. When He was born He chose shepherds to adore him and not temple priests and powerful people. He will not bow to anyone, one must bow to Him.

I can assure I felt His presence when I decided I did not care for 100% rational proof but NEEDED to experience Him before I could believe. A skeptic might cry “Delusion!” but I just don’t care anymore. I found what I sought. If it was a delusion I found true peace by becoming insane.

 

[Peter_Plato]

He can and does. These are called locutions.

We don’t know why He does not do it to everyone, perhaps humility might be a factor. For example, great scholars usually don’t get to experience apparitions but peasants do. When He was born He chose shepherds to adore him and not temple priests and powerful people. He will not bow to anyone, one must bow to Him.

I can assure I felt His presence when I decided I did not care for 100% rational proof but NEEDED to experience Him before I could believe. A skeptic might cry “Delusion!” but I just don’t care anymore. I found what I sought. If it was a delusion I found true peace by becoming insane.

Or, perhaps, finally sane? :ehh:

 

[InJesusItrust]

What is brought to mind me is that bright people “too smart” for religion like Nietzsche seem to suffer more than the “deluded simpletons” who have faith. It is almost like natures way of telling us that there is a God. We can’t find true and lasting happiness unless we are deluded, by the atheist perspective.

 

[sophion]

Thank you for defining the method and way.
You want a bush from which he talks to you as he did to Moses.

But really, how would you know that it was truely his voice?
Maybe it was all riged just as some say Fatima was riged.

What do you think?

already answered that. please back read.

 

[sophion]

Really? You’re standing in the temple, offering sacrifice to God, and suddenly, an archangel appears to you? Remember, we’re not talking about a cute little angel like contemporary depictions would like to present – a cute little baby cherub, flitting about. We’re talking a full-on archangel! And you’re telling me that, faced with that appearance before you, you’re gonna say, “nah… I don’t believe you – God isn’t giving me that message!” …???

That wasn’t Mary’s reaction, though. Or Abraham’s. Or Moses. Etc, etc, etc…

Luke 1
34 And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man?

like i said, doubt is a natural reaction. its understandable.

 

[JM3]

Luke 1
34 And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man?

like i said, doubt is a natural reaction. its understandable.

Luke 1:18 And Zachary said to the angel: Whereby shall I know this?

This is doubt.

Mary’s response is not doubt.

 

[sophion]

Luke 1:18 And Zachary said to the angel: Whereby shall I know this?

This is doubt.

Mary’s response is not doubt.

they were both asking how things could happen. its double standards that you see one as doubt and not the other.

 

[JM3]

they were both asking how things could happen. its double standards that you see one as doubt and not the other.

Asking how something will happen is not doubting that it can, or will, happen.

Zachary’s response was different,

Luke 1:20 And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be able to speak until the day wherein these things shall come to pass, because thou hast not believed my words, which shall be fulfilled in their time.