"A loving God would never have made viable gonads the sole requirement of parenthood."

Hmmm, interesting perspective... kinda.

So if Salmo was 'god' for a day (think Jim Carey's recent movie...), how would you create the human body differently?

Keep in mind that you have to allow for 'free will'.

You don't have any control of Gov't - so making laws won't cut it - and even then you need to think internationally- laws\rules would need to apply world wide.. A huge percetage won't believe you even exist and many who do don't really listen to you anyway...

Keep in mind the history of man (let's just say the last 10,000 years for grins....). At times, people's life expectancy was 30-35yrs of age. Getting married as early teens was \ had to be common practice. If you didn't start a family young, you wouldn't survive...

I'm sure there are many other factors, but i'm curious as to how our bodies could have been designed better to match the demands of human history, cultures, etc.


Something else to ponder - why isn't teen pregnancy and 'welfare queen' syndrome pretty much unique to the the US and really only in the last 30yrs? (not that there haven't always been problems with sex\pregnancy throughout history of mankind - but not nearly as widespread as today in the US and I think some African nations)


Also, consider this from God's perspective (assuming that there is one at this point - just for conversation)...

Let's say God is like a auto manufacturer. He designs the 'perfect car'. It has manufacturers guidlines of operation and is intended for commuting on paved roads - a Honda Accord if you will... So some dude takes this Accord offroading, doesn't read the owners manual, never maintains the car other than give it gas - then acts suprised and complains to his friends when the car breaks down on him... Should we blame God when the result of a person's 'free will' basically ruins what should have been a 'good thing' if it was just used as it was designed?

(I didn't really think that through, so not sure how good of a metaphor it is...)

I don't know what Salmo would do, but I would create one that doesn't wear out, doesn't need replacement, and doesn't need me (God) as a crutch.

"but I would create one that doesn't wear out, doesn't need replacement, and doesn't need me (God) as a crutch."

Well, that is exactly what he did if you believe what the Bible says about Heaven.

Who needs God as a 'crutch'? Is a child's parent a 'crutch' to him\her? I guess some kids do use their parents in that way (as some use the gov't that way too) - but with God and with a healthy family, the relationship is based on love.

As Tina Turner would say, "What's love got to do with it?"

Unless God suffers from some sort of self esteem issues, why does he create man so that man can shower love and devotion on him?

------------------------------------------------------------

You can do better than that--next time have God manufacturing Harley Davidsons.

"Unless God suffers from some sort of self esteem issues, why does he create man so that man can shower love and devotion on him?"

Why do most (healthy) parents have kids? If love isn't part of it, I can see where a lot of problems are stemming from...
But anyway, do parents have kids so they can force them to love, respect, admire, and just like to be with them? Forcing them to do this would defeat the whole point. But when you show your kids love and they freely give love back - that is a big part of what life is all about and a model of what God wants our relationship with Him to be like... Love has everything to do with it. Unless of course you just enjoy bitterness, lonliness, etc

So we don't have to mow the lawn for the rest of our lives.
G

Not according to what I read here. I "must" obey God's word and accept his son as my personal savior or go to hell.

That isn't love to me. That's a demand.

Your just an infidel Aunty, a heathen, and soon, an enemy of the state.


KK

If obeying God's Word was a 'requirement', nobody would pass the mustard... (or whatever that expression should be...)

It actually works like this...

You see yourself for what you are - a non-perfect human being. Someone who makes mistakes, does selfish things from time to time, etc etc. Even if you are practically a 'saint', you realize you could never truely be 'perfect'.

You then see God for what He is. Perfect in everyway.

No matter how hard you try, you can never be 'perfect enough' to earn your way to be with Him.

If you take a gallon of pure water and add the smallest drop of contaminated water to it, you no longer have pure water. Or if you have something that is perfectly light, and add a tiny bit of darkeness, that light is no longer perfect. The point is, our imperfection and God's perfection are simply incompatible.

God solved that problem through Jesus Christ. A perfect sacrifice. He sits at the right hand of God (so to speak) and when God judges our imperfect selves, Jesus steps in for us and says "he is one of mine, I paid the price for his sins".

If you accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, you have the 'way' to bridge that gap between the perfect God and the imperfect person.

It is a natural following of making this free choice to accept Him as your Saviour, that you show your love and appreciation for what He did for you (being crucified on the cross as the ultimate and perfect act of self sacrifice) by trying to follow His teachings...

I'm sure you are pounding your head against a wall about now or maybe just laughing or even a little freaked out

But I just wanted to clarify what you said a little (or maybe just confuse you more...).

And there in lies the problem. Please explain WHY he can't just give unconditional love to that which he himself created. He can't BE perfect without that unconditional love! There are too many "conditions" to your religion, and I believe they are man made, not God's requirements.

That's why your Cristianity does not work for me. I don't believe God requires that which you believe at all.

The inventor of the Harley-Davidson motorcycle, Arthur Davidson,
died and went to heaven. At the gates, St. Peter told Arthur, "Since
you've been such a good man and your motorcycles have changed
the world, your reward is, you can hang out with anyone you want in
Heaven."
Arthur thought about it for a minute and then said, "I want to hang out
with God

St. Peter took Arthur to the Throne Room, and introduced him to God.
God recognized Arthur and commented, "Okay, so you were the one who
invented motorcycles, eh?!"
Arthur said, "Yeah, that's me..."
God commented: "Well, what's the big deal in inventing something that's
pretty unstable, makes noise and pollution, and can't run without a
road?!"
Arthur was apparently embarrassed, but finally spoke, "Excuse me, but
aren't you the inventor of woman???"
God said, "Ah, yes."
"Well," said Arthur, "professional to professional, you have some major
design flaws in your invention:
(1). There's too much inconsistency in the front-end protrusion
(2). It chatters constantly at high speeds
(3). Most of the rear ends are too soft and wobble
(4). The intake is placed way too close to the exhaust
(5). And the maintenance costs are outrageous!!"
"Hmmmm, you may have some good points there," replied God, "hold on."
God went to his Celestial super-computer, typed in a few words and
waited
for the results. The computer printed out a slip of paper and God read
it.
"Well, it may be true that my invention is flawed," God said to Arthur,
but
according to these numbers, more men are riding my invention than
yours".

But it actually is unconditional love. Just not unconditional justice at judement time. There must be justice and accountability for all sin to bring that which is not perfect in unison with that which is. He fixed that problem by offering up His son to take the full measure of the required judgement for those who simply accept this offer of salvation\grace.

As a Christian, I still sin. I am not perfect. But when I sit before God and am held accountable for my sins, Jesus will be my advocate. It's free and unconditional. But there will be justice and accountabilty in the end...

You turned the Key Auntym. Most of the religions dogma is just that, dogma. The fraternal orgnizations that call themselve the manifestation of God on earth are full of themselves. I personally believe that none of the creations of man, religions in this case, is the work of God. God is out there in the forest, on the mountain top, at sea, and in your heart and head. The rest of it is froth. That is not to deny the obvious rules a society must live by to survive.

You turned the Key Auntym. Most of the religious dogma is just that, dogma. The fraternal orgnizations that call themselve the manifestation of God on earth are full of themselves. I personally believe that none of the creations of man, religions in this case, is the work of God. God is out there in the forest, on the mountain top, at sea, and in your heart and head. The rest of it is froth. That is not to deny the obvious rules a society must live by to survive.

You turned the Key Auntym. Most of the religious dogma is just that, dogma. The fraternal orgnizations that call themselve the manifestation of God on earth are full of themselves. I personally believe that none of the creations of man, religions in this case, is the work of God. God is out there in the forest, on the mountain top, at sea, and in your heart and head. The rest of it is froth. That is not to deny the obvious rules a society must live by to survive.

The perfect God is also the perfect environmentalist. Look at all the cool stuff he made!

God took care of the 'doing' part via Jesus. We just have to recognize it.

Why did he bother sending Jesus? Unconditional love. Nobody 'deserved' it based on their own 'doing'...

Christians follow the teaching of Jesus. Some get a little side tracked and mislead in areas... But all we need to do is look to the Bible. The NT was written by the direct apostles of Jesus. Our current Bible translations are pretty darned close to the original texts\letters....

------------------------------------------------------------
John 3:16, John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

http://www.gotquestions.org/John-3-16.html

God does love everyone--Man and woman (Adam and Eve) were created and had 'heaven on earth' in the Garden of Eden~and had all their needs met with no pain or suffering of any kind for them or their offspring for all eternity and all God asked of them is that they not eat from the Tree of Knowledge --Then Satan, in the form of a snake convinces Eve that God has lied to her and her partner Adam concerning the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. It convinces her to eat the fruit of the tree so that they will become as gods.

They were then cast out of the Garden of Eden after she ate from the tree (this is where we get the phrase 'she ate me out of house and home.'

Perhaps he didn't. Perhaps some people took a good and decent man and turned him into the Son of God. Maybe the idea to control simple people led others to expand upon the idea.