Why did God create man?

[greylorn]

Speaking of old blather…

By the way, the Roman judicial system predates Christianity.

How about this new idea for the creation of women? To soften the hearts of men?

Perhaps that was the original plan. When God came into the Garden of Eden to tell Adam about His great new idea for a companion, Adam replied that he was quite happy playing with all the lions and gorillas, and riding the elephants and zebras that God had provided.

Adam listened up when God told him about His idea for a companion that would bring untold comfort, joy, happiness and support into Adam’s life. But it was Adam’s nature to ask what these benefits would cost him.

God said, "Not much. A few bones and muscles here and there, a quarter of your liver and a third of your brain, plus about half your heart. The sacrifice is small but your delight will be worth the cost. Whereupon Adam thought about it for a few minutes and replied, “What can I get, for, let’s say, one rib?”

 

[fhansen]

Thank you for the non-sequitur. Are you the guy who writes the Budweiser commercials?

It can only be a non sequitur for one who doesn’t know the beginning from the end but for God, who we believe has given us an idea of His purposes, we believe He intended to bring a greater good out of His “disappointment” all along.

 

[grannymh]

Perhaps that was the original plan. When God came into the Garden of Eden to tell Adam about His great new idea for a companion, Adam replied that he was quite happy playing with all the lions and gorillas, and riding the elephants and zebras that God had provided.

Adam listened up when God told him about His idea for a companion that would bring untold comfort, joy, happiness and support into Adam’s life. But it was Adam’s nature to ask what these benefits would cost him.

God said, "Not much. A few bones and muscles here and there, a quarter of your liver and a third of your brain, plus about half your heart. The sacrifice is small but your delight will be worth the cost. Whereupon Adam thought about it for a few minutes and replied, “What can I get, for, let’s say, one rib?”

That is delightful.

 

[greylorn]

Suffering creates meaning. What good would the world be if there was nothing but happiness? It would be as shallow as a drug trip.

Why not apply that concept to various concepts of an afterlife? Think about it, and let us know what you come up with. And no fair cribbing ideas from Captain Stormfield.

 

[tonyrey]

Why not apply that concept to various concepts of an afterlife? Think about it, and let us know what you come up with. And no fair cribbing ideas from Captain Stormfield.

There is sadness in heaven but it is within the context of joy and fulfilment… which is rather different from the cynic’s concept of life as happiness within the context of doom and gloom… In Hobbes’s words “nasty, brutish and short”…

 

[joylazarus]

Why do you want to have children even though you know that parenting is not an easy job and children could turn against you when the get into adulthood, and they can fall into evils? It is that simple!

When God created man He gave man the freedom of will… He respects His children… He wants His children to respect Him as well.

This earthly living is just like an entrance examination… You can live the way you want… But, this living would decide if you qualify for the final destination “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” 1 Cor 2:9.

 

[MindOverMatter]

God created humanity so that they could share in the glory of love, which is the glory of being, the ultimate being. Being is at its greatest when it is being in the nature of love.

Thats it. Its got nothing to do with some kind of supreme equation, or some supreme galactic curiosity. Its all about love.

Nothing more, and nothing less.

 

[greylorn]

Why do you want to have children even though you know that parenting is not an easy job and children could turn against you when the get into adulthood, and they can fall into evils? It is that simple!

When God created man He gave man the freedom of will… He respects His children… He wants His children to respect Him as well.

This earthly living is just like an entrance examination… You can live the way you want… But, this living would decide if you qualify for the final destination “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” 1 Cor 2:9.

Your analogy does not apply to the question. Humans beget their offspring. They do not create them.

Informal observations of human choices regarding what kind of children they will beget indicate that parents want strong, healthy, good looking, and intelligent kids. (You’ll note that there are no sperm banks specializing in morons.)

Since God has the option to create humans of any mental level, why has He made comparatively few intelligent people?

 

[greylorn]

There is sadness in heaven but it is within the context of joy and fulfilment… which is rather different from the cynic’s concept of life as happiness within the context of doom and gloom… In Hobbes’s words “nasty, brutish and short”…

This is as good a place as any to point out that the Bible says very little about the nature of heaven, not nearly as much as you’ve just written, I think. Some objective scholars regard the various religious concepts of heaven as entirely invented by man.

 

[tonyrey]

This is as good a place as any to point out that the Bible says very little about the nature of heaven, not nearly as much as you’ve just written, I think. Some objective scholars regard the various religious concepts of heaven as entirely invented by man.

There are many truths that are not contained in the Bible.
The fact that **some **objective scholars believe heaven is simply a human concept does not invalidate what I have written. Quantity should not be a problem for you but a bonus. The more I write the more you can refute - with reasons of course!

 

[MindOverMatter]

This is as good a place as any to point out that the Bible says very little about the nature of heaven, not nearly as much as you’ve just written, I think. Some objective scholars regard the various religious concepts of heaven as entirely invented by man.

The nature of heaven is eternal joy in the presence of perfection/good/holiness/God. This much has been explicitly expressed in the bible.

 

[ZAKI]

Your analogy does not apply to the question. Humans beget their offspring. They do not create them.

Informal observations of human choices regarding what kind of children they will beget indicate that parents want strong, healthy, good looking, and intelligent kids. (You’ll note that there are no sperm banks specializing in morons.)

Since God has the option to create humans of any mental level, why has He made comparatively few intelligent people?

well people are good at different things, they might not be a genius in maths but can be a really good actor. Some people are both as well.
Just a question. If we were all perfect and our life was perfect, then what is so great about going to heaven? Isn’t suffering here to test us, to punish us OR to show us that this life is not your perfect life-there is a better life after this?

wasalam

 

[grannymh]

Your analogy does not apply to the question. Humans beget their offspring. They do not create them.

Informal observations of human choices regarding what kind of children they will beget indicate that parents want strong, healthy, good looking, and intelligent kids. (You’ll note that there are no sperm banks specializing in morons.)

Since God has the option to create humans of any mental level, why has He made comparatively few intelligent people?

Hi greylorn,

This may be a first. You have answered your own question: “Since God has the option to create humans of any mental level, why has He made comparatively few intelligent people?” The answer is in your opening paragraph: “Humans beget their offspring. They do not create them.” Apparently, that is the option (chosen by God if you want to say that) which is reality.

Blessings,
granny

All human beings are worthy of profound respect.

 

[grannymh]

well people are good at different things, they might not be a genius in maths but can be a really good actor. Some people are both as well.
Just a question. If we were all perfect and our life was perfect, then what is so great about going to heaven? Isn’t suffering here to test us, to punish us OR to show us that this life is not your perfect life-there is a better life after this?

wasalam

Interesting. Perfect is a judgment call. What is one man’s treasure is another man’s trash.

Blessings,
granny

All human life is sacred.

 

[ZAKI]

Interesting. Perfect is a judgment call. What is one man’s treasure is another man’s trash.

Blessings,
granny

All human life is sacred.

thanks. We also have to realise that this life (on Earth) means very little to God. Not because he hates us but because he loves us. This life equates to very little compared to the afterlife. And that is understandable. We live for 60-80 years now and then we live for an eternity. Surely a life of pain and suffering in life which reaps joys in the eternal hereafter is better for us than enjoying ourselves now and then feeling the flames for the rest of…forever!

wasalam

 

[grannymh]

thanks. We also have to realise that this life (on Earth) means very little to God. Not because he hates us but because he loves us. This life equates to very little compared to the afterlife. And that is understandable. We live for 60-80 years now and then we live for an eternity. Surely a life of pain and suffering in life which reaps joys in the eternal hereafter is better for us than enjoying ourselves now and then feeling the flames for the rest of…forever!

wasalam

Just thinking about your sentence “Not because he hates us but because he loves us.” Obviously, God loves us enough to spend eternity with us. And the length of earthly life is a like a drop in the ocean. But, I am also thinking about God spending His life with us on earth as a prelude. Nothing would prevent Him from being with us since His spirit transcends our nature.

Your reference to pain and suffering in life which reaps joys tickled my brain so that I remembered one of my favorite books and found it. I should reread it again. It is Hinds’ Feet On High Places by Hannah Hurnard. (ISBN 0-8423-1429-6) It is the allegory/journey of Much-Afraid through difficult places with her two companions Sorrow and Suffering.

Blessings,
granny

All human life is sacred.

 

[greylorn]

The nature of heaven is eternal joy in the presence of perfection/good/holiness/God. This much has been explicitly expressed in the bible.

Do you happen to know the pertinent passages? Thank you.

 

[greylorn]

Hi greylorn,

This may be a first. You have answered your own question: “Since God has the option to create humans of any mental level, why has He made comparatively few intelligent people?” The answer is in your opening paragraph: “Humans beget their offspring. They do not create them.” Apparently, that is the option (chosen by God if you want to say that) which is reality.

Blessings,
granny

Once upon a time I asked a priest what to believe about evolution and was told it was okay to believe that the body has evolved and developed naturally, but that I must believe that God created the soul. Has the Church changed its position? Is the Creator understood by the Church of today simply a God who stands back and does nothing?

If so, why all this talk of a personal God who listens to prayers, etc?

 

[greylorn]

thanks. We also have to realise that this life (on Earth) means very little to God. Not because he hates us but because he loves us. This life equates to very little compared to the afterlife. And that is understandable. We live for 60-80 years now and then we live for an eternity. Surely a life of pain and suffering in life which reaps joys in the eternal hereafter is better for us than enjoying ourselves now and then feeling the flames for the rest of…forever!

wasalam

Please explain why you imagine that an entity with infinite intelligence would want the company of entities like ourselves, whose limited minds are to God’s mind like the mind of a cockroach is to ourselves, except even less interesting…

 

[tonyrey]

Please explain why you imagine that an entity with infinite intelligence would want the company of entities like ourselves, whose limited minds are to God’s mind like the mind of a cockroach is to ourselves, except even less interesting…

Why would Gpd create things in which He is not interested in the slightest?