P-Thulhu
Junior Member
Of course for the non- believer such things as blasphemy against God means nothing.
True. Though I do show respect for others with whom I interact with. Whether at work or at play.
However, we cannot prove beyond doubt the existence of God and it is something we take (or not) on faith.
(Shakes head) Okay, first off if some one says something is 'Real'/'There' then they should be able to put forward even a good amount of stuff to point said thing out.
If I say "The Moon is real" then... I should be able to give to you enough information that you can then say "Ah, this thing/item/concept(Moon) relates to this/that thing."
Of course, people can make comments about other things which are not as easily, simplistically observable or 'Point too-able'. For those things then, lots of other things are used to show the 'Realness' of said things.
Yet, if God does indeed exist and is creator of all then choosing not to believe does not in itself negate the sin of for example.. Blasphemy.
That sentence doesn't quite work.
Only the unbelievers acknowledgement of it. The possibility remains that one may have to answer for it before God. Then we get into another realm of would God hold someone responsible for such a sin if the person did not or chose not to see it as sin.
Indeed we do. We're also back to trying to work out said 'Nature'/'Temperament' of said deity.
Need is not the same as want is it. I may want chocolate but I do not need it.Worship is “to give honor, homage, reverence, respect, adoration, praise, or glory to a superior being.” God wishes us to worship Him because He and He alone is worthy of it. He is the only being that truly deserves worship. He requests that we acknowledge His greatness, His power, and His glory.
This does not really address the underlying 'Why' of said actions. Also... why should a deity 'need' or 'want' such things as homage, reverence etc? Respect and acknowledgement I understand... but everything else?
God expects us to worship Him as an expression of reverence and thanksgiving to Him. He wants not only for us to love Him.. He wants us to act justly toward each other, to show love and compassion to others. This glorifies God. When we worship with an obedient heart and an open and repentant spirit, God is glorified. It's like if someone does you a great service are you not thankful to that person? Would you wish to honour or acknowledge that service in return?
Again, I can't but help think there's a.. confusion... of examples and ideas.
So.... we've basically got an idea of a deity. Then, there's the follow on notion that we should firstly acknowledge said deity and then we're supposed to continually venerate said deity.
If some one does me a good turn/deed I do thank them and acknowledge the help they have given. Once, that's it. Maybe a nod in passing over time later or a shared reminise of the times that involved the situation.
'Venerating' is not just saying thanks.
For the believer, who sees all we have and all we are and can hope to be comes from our creator we know as God, then we feel justified in honoring God for that. There is no compulsion placed upon us. The rain falls on the unrighteous as it does the righteous. God created us out of love we worship Him out of love. For a believer it's simplest.. Ya.
I do understand this. (Nods)
What you mean by bad things? The parasite for example often has a part to play in the cycle of life. So is it bad? Or do we just consider it so. Floods... Even could be seen to some extent a product of our being, global warming, soil erosion through deforestation it could be said to be a consequence of mankind's greed and our not caring for the world as we were meant to do. There has to be balance, but for evil... is not a creation of God, but it exists in the "absence" of God in the same way that dark exists as the absence of light. Btw.. Did you know a rainbow is a sign of the covenant God made with Noah..from the believers perspective.. In this case ~ christian.
No, I was trying to point out a different idea.
Though, again, this line is moving back towards the 'Nature' of the deity.