Let's think about the following situation in scriptural terms, ie respond to this according to any specified set of religious beliefs.
A deity is in charge of running the universe; this is a hard thing, so he/she/it decides to deal mostly with the really big, fundamentally important technical issues (making sure the Heavens stay Platonically sexy, for instance) and gathers up minions of some kind (angels, say) to interface with the life which He/She/It has created--these minions are charged with ensuring that people don't sin, and that those who do are punished or corrected.
Do the minions necessarily act purely according to the deity's (implicit) wishes? How do they know what the wishes are? Should they act in this way? How might the minions' interests interfere with God's Work?
Discuss.
Originally posted by royalchicken"Do the minions necessarily act purely according to the deity's (implicit) wishes? How do they know what the wishes are? Should they act in this way? How might the minions' interests interfere with God's Work?"
Let's think about the following situation in scriptural terms, ie respond to this according to any specified set of religious beliefs.
A deity is in charge of running the universe; this is a hard thing, so he/she/it decides to deal mostly with the really big, fundamentally important technical issues (making sure the Heavens stay Platonically sexy, f ...[text shortened]... ey act in this way? How might the minions' interests interfere with God's Work?
Discuss.
I think one basic assumption leads to a fairly straightforward analysis.
1. A being is God if and only if that being is omniscient.
From 1, it follows that the minions cannot completely know God's wishes,
and thus it would be impossible for them to follow God's wishes perfectly.
So the answer to the first question is No.
The answer to the second is that God may give them guidelines, but due to 1,
they cannot perfectly know his wishes.
The answer to the third question is that they should act
to the best of their ability to fulfill God's wishes as they
understand them.
The answer to the fourth question completely depends on the integrity
of the minions in their role as servants of God. The higher the integrity,
the less likely they will be to stray from God's wishes and impose thier
own will upon the lowly creatures of the earth.
Originally posted by royalchickenWhy would an omnipotent being need any minions at all? Could he not do all the tasks he assigned to them more easily himself and thus avoid the possibility of miscommunication? I mean, you know what they say, if you want something done right, then do it yourself.
"Do the minions necessarily act purely according to the deity's (implicit) wishes? How do they know what the wishes are? Should they act in this way? How might the minions' interests interfere with God's Work?"
I think one basic assumption leads to a fairly straightforward analysis.
1. A being is God if and only if that being is omniscient. ...[text shortened]... e to stray from God's wishes and impose thier
own will upon the lowly creatures of the earth.
Originally posted by rwingettall god requires of us is to worship him and to do what he requests, as in the exodus from Egypt they, asked god delivered, but it is we who turn away and untill we turn back god lets man do what man wants
Why would an omnipotent being need any minions at all? Could he not do all the tasks he assigned to them more easily himself and thus avoid the possibility of miscommunication? I mean, you know what they say, if you want something done right, then do it yourself.
Originally posted by rwingettAccording to Christians, God doesn't need human helpers. However, the same people say He loves us all, so I suppose all bets are off.
Why would an omnipotent being need any minions at all? Could he not do all the tasks he assigned to them more easily himself and thus avoid the possibility of miscommunication? I mean, you know what they say, if you want something done right, then do it yourself.
Originally posted by Acolyte"According to Christians, God doesn't need human helpers"
According to Christians, God doesn't need human helpers. However, the same people say He loves us all, so I suppose all bets are off.
Oops, where did you get that idea ? Please explain why you assume this.
Originally posted by stokerjust a footnote to my post, the flee from Egypt god was willing to wipe them out as all they did was complain no matter what gods wonders before them. This in my view shows us how we are and one reason why god doesnot intercede our works on earth. Yet we complain we do not see any of gods graces, they did!
all god requires of us is to worship him and to do what he requests, as in the exodus from Egypt they, asked god delivered, but it is we who turn away and untill we turn back god lets man do what man wants
Originally posted by royalchicken
"Do the minions necessarily act purely according to the deity's (implicit) wishes? How do they know what the wishes are? Should they act in this way? How might the minions' interests interfere with God's Work?" [/i]
The only problem is that you're trying to understand God more than he allows you to understand Him.
As the past and future has already been decided, events in our lives have already been played out.
Don't know the answer to the question Chicken, that either means God is logically flawed, or logic is flawed.
I think a recent bit a research at UCL in the UK showed that future events can affect past events. Weird and illogical, but then I don't think we can quite comprehend as much as we'd like to.
cheers
Originally posted by AcolyteGod doesn't need anything. He's Almigthy!
According to Christians, God doesn't need human helpers. However, the same people say He loves us all, so I suppose all bets are off.
"But God demonstrated His love torward US, in that , while we were yet sinners, Christ died FOR US". Romans 5:8
Would you believe in Christ that HE did that for you?
In friendship,
Albert