Who is God the Father? Zeus, Jupiter, Thor, the great “I AM”, or the man in the moon

I must be particularly tired today, my brain function is less.

Thou shall not kill. One of the Ten Commandments, written according to the story by the god on the mountain. I believe this is the Old Testament god. I don’t know why this is a subject for this thread. But here’s my issue, it’s vague. Thou shall not kill-what? Other people? Animals? Plants? I don’t know, he didn’t say. Some killings are humane-says the person who doesn’t want to linger in a vegetative state.

Another command went something like thou shall have no other gods before me. Seems like an acknowledgement that there were other gods and he wanted to be the main god of the time. We pretty much have free will due the laws of god and man. We choose what we will do with that free will.

As to why humanity acts less than human, the influence of evil in the world.
 

Aneeda72 said:
I don’t know why this is a subject for this thread. But here’s my issue, it’s vague. Thou shall not kill-what?
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Keesha said:
Isn’t free will the very reason humanity does less than humane things like killing?
Even bad choices is still our choice of practising free will.
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Free will to make good vs evil choices...and that's called sin which is the very reason why humanity needs a Savior. And needing to be saved from sin was Christ's very purpose. His death and resurrection was taking our punishment so that we can also have life after death. And that's what the belief in Christianity is about in a nutshell.

Why is this the subject of this thread? Because the thread title asks "Who is God the father". Christ is the son of God. God is the Father.
 
But then you have to define sin. To define sin, you have to judge. It is clear, in scripture, “judge not, less you be judged.” This scripture stuck to me more than any other from my childhood readings. It caused me problems. I didn’t want to be judged by anyone. When someone would tell me how nice I looked today, I wondered, how did I look yesterday?

Lol, IMO we don’t need to be saved from sin. If we ask forgiveness, it is given. We need to be saved from judgement. I find it impossible not to judge, although I try hard not to; so I end up in an endless cycle of judgement and forgiveness. One of the many reasons I am not active in my church of choice. It just gets to be overwhelming.
 

Aneeda72 said:
To define sin, you have to judge. It is clear, in scripture, “judge not, less you be judged.” This scripture stuck to me more than any other from my childhood readings. It caused me problems. I didn’t want to be judged by anyone. When someone would tell me how nice I looked today, I wondered, how did I look yesterday?

Lol, IMO we don’t need to be saved from sin. If we ask forgiveness, it is given. We need to be saved from judgement. I find it impossible not to judge, although I try hard not to; so I end up in an endless cycle of judgement and forgiveness. One of the many reasons I am not active in my church of choice. It just gets to be overwhelming.
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The scripture, "judge not lest you be judged" is talking about judging whether someone is a true believer or not. Only God knows who is truly a believer and who is not. However, God does say, "By their fruits you will know them". The word "fruits" refers to the results of your belief...the things you do to please God.

"we don't need to be saved from sin" is, yes, your opinion. But it's not God's opinion. He forgives believers when they ask for forgiveness and repent only when they believe in the suffering his son Jesus Christ did to take the place of our punishment for our sins.
 
chic said:
his thread seems to be subverted from what/who is God to analysis of the Bible which not everyone accepts as factual.
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The thread is titled, "Who is God The Father?" Then it lists choices for you.The only God the Father I know is the Father of the "Son of God" who is Jesus Christ in the Bible. If you have a different God the Father to discuss then we are all ears. I've just been answering members questions as best as I know how. Also, no one has to accept everything anyone believes is "factual". No?
 
AZJim said:
I simply accept that Jesus christ is God, Lord almighty.
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Keesha said:
Perhaps I’m daft here but I was under the impression that Jesus was the ‘son’ of God.
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You're definitely not daft lol. The "Holy Trinity" is a concept that is hard to understand. It's hard for many to get their head wrapped around it.

It's God in three forms...each form serving a different purpose but is all God.
Three in One. Like an egg (yolk, white, shell =1 egg/each with a separate purpose)

1. God the Father - Creator of the Universe

2. God the Son - Jesus Christ (the Messiah and Savior of man's sin)

3. God the Holy Spirit - our Helper
 
Lara said:
You're definitely not daft lol. The "Holy Trinity" is a concept that is hard to understand. It's hard for many to get their head wrapped around it.

It's God in three forms...each form serving a different purpose but is all God.
Three in One. Like an egg (yolk, white, shell =1 egg/each with a separate purpose)

1. God the Father - Creator of the Universe

2. God the Son - Jesus Christ (the Messiah and Savior of man's sin)

3. God the Holy Spirit - our Helper
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Thank you. :sunshine:
A three in one :laugh:
 
I believe I stated that I believe the Bible contains stories not carved in stone fact. Many people believe the Bible word for word, many don’t. Of course, many people who are not Christians are not even aware of the Bible. They have a different god. Having said that, chic, I note your concern. But I view it differently.

In order to know who someone is, anyone including various gods, you know them by their words and deeds. Even if those words are written by a historian. Writers of the Bible, a book, were historians. The Bible can be considered many things including a historical novel-full of rich and wonderful stories. I want to better understand aspects of those stories, as do others.

Our discussion doesn’t even come close to an analysis of the Bible as a factual “holy book”, IMO. I appreciate Lara’s clarification more than she knows. Plus, it makes sense. Again, I read the Bible as a child, lol, a southern Baptist child. As a child, I believed it. As a child, it kept me alive. I am no longer a child. As to the rest, Lara and I have our own personal beliefs. I respect what she says.

The Romans crucified lots of people. Therefore, IMO, the crucifixion cannot be the suffering. It wasn’t special. It didn’t separate JC from the masses. JC had to die to ascend, to become a god. Was the dying about him or us? I am not sure. Then he had to return.

To me, the return is the sacrifice. To me, the return was for us. Should there be a heaven, should I get into heaven, it would be a sacrifice to leave. Would I leave? Yes, but I wouldn’t be happy to do so. But if my child required it of me, I would leave willingly, as would many. But, I wouldn’t be happy.

Still I appreciate everyone’s opinions. Feel free, chic and everyone, to add your opinions.
 
It's a good thread you've posted Aneeda because there are lots of thought-provoking diverse questions and everyone is being respectful. It's deep which is a diversion from the lighter threads...a nice balance for our forum. And thank you for taking the time to read my posts. I've appreciated your's as well.

Regarding the way Jesus suffered and died just exactly like the criminals on either side of Him suffered and died, is because Jesus had to take on the identity of humanity in order to suffer humanity's punishment for their sins. What set Him apart from the criminals is that He died, was buried, and then rose again on the 3rd day. Alive. He then ascended to heaven because his purpose was done here on earth. The many prophesies of the Messiah coming (from the Old Testament) had all been fulfilled flawlessly...a real miracle. His life on earth was the beginning of the New Testament.
 
That’s what I said to her also.
The thread offers thought provoking topics that get people thinking and talking. The responses with interestingly diverse and people were respectfully civil.

You can’t really expect better.
Its s great thread.
 
Aneeda72 said:
I might be daft for starting this post, lol.
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Not at all. You have raised some very interesting and important ideas.
I don't have answers, just my own thoughts, some picked up from more learned sources and some from my own life's experiences.

I am particularly intrigued your thoughts on resurrection. It displays an unusual level of empathy.

To me, the return is the sacrifice. To me, the return was for us. Should there be a heaven, should I get into heaven, it would be a sacrifice to leave. Would I leave? Yes, but I wouldn’t be happy to do so. But if my child required it of me, I would leave willingly, as would many. But, I wouldn’t be happy.
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Lara said:
You're definitely not daft lol. The "Holy Trinity" is a concept that is hard to understand. It's hard for many to get their head wrapped around it.

It's God in three forms...each form serving a different purpose but is all God.
Three in One. Like an egg (yolk, white, shell =1 egg/each with a separate purpose)

1. God the Father - Creator of the Universe

2. God the Son - Jesus Christ (the Messiah and Savior of man's sin)

3. God the Holy Spirit - our Helper
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And would this be what is considered the father , the son and the Holy Ghost cause I hear that a lot?
 
Another thing that puzzles me is that if life is eternal that would make our universe infinite. Infinite meaning there is no beginning and no end. Doesn’t this leave the Big Bang Theory as the beginning not fit into that externity thing.

The oposing viewpoint would be if our universe is infinite then that means infinite possibilities. Not accepting that there is a beginning in an infinite world isn’t accepting infinite possibilities so once again they cancell each other out.
Of course I complicate things is an understatement. :laugh:
 
I wouldn't worry about any of that Keesha.
If your goal is to find some guidance on how to live a good life, then you need to be looking elsewhere.

I quite enjoy thinking about various models of the universe, or multiverse, and the possibilities and implications of more dimensions that mathematics suggests are part of the space time continuum but I find such intellectual pursuits useless on the level of interpersonal relationships and obligations.

Some time ago I decided to concentrate on the answer to the question asked of Jesus by a young man. The question was "Who is my neighbour", and Jesus responded by telling the parable of the Good Samaritan. The meaning and relevance we extract from such an answer will be different according to what concept of God each of us has, including non acceptance of God.

If we believe that God is a creator god and that we are all children of God, then by extension every human being is not only our neighbour. He or she is also brother or sister. Digesting that idea takes some time and even more time to absorb it into our moral framework. It certainly makes a mockery of the concept of race. That is where I stand at the moment. I wasn't always here but I am growing wiser the longer I concentrate on this one lesson.

Of course, other people can come to the same conclusion from totally different spiritual or philosophical pathways, but that is my journey.

Digressing a bit - I sometimes wonder whether God has properties like the wormhole entities in Deep Space 9. They were not bound by the constraints of time and space. They were non linear, non corporeal beings who could reach across time and space to interact with humanity. Science Fiction, of course, but an interesting concept. Perhaps that is what life after death is like - non corporeal and non linear with respect to time. I think I would like that but I don't spend much time with such thoughts. My neighbours need me.
 
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It’s very late here for me so I’m only running on a few cylinders but I would like to comment in more detail to this thread and respond to more posts later.

There is more that I do connect with than I don’t. I definitely believe we have guidance from a higher power that’s in us and everything else in our world and universe but I do believe our universe is infinite so has no beginning or ending.

Another belief I have is that we get reincarnated and I know that doesn’t fit in with Christianity. I’ve had experiences that point in that direction.

Like chic I see divinity in Nature, do believe in something greater than ourselves but can’t make heads or tails from studying the bible and I’ve tried many times.

Warrigal. I really like how you state that this is your journey. For myself , (your personal ) journey and (your personal) truth are synonymous.
Chat more later.
Need sleep bad. :sleep:
 
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Something we have to bear in mind, is that a lot of what we are taught as children comes from the established church. The church leaders decided what we should believe in, so much of it is selected. There are other books beside the Bible, which include teaching which is not included in the New Testament. It was kept as simple as possible so that common, uneducated folk would accept it. Jesus spent a lot of time in Egypt and Persia, learning a lot of mystical stuff which is not included in Christianity.
 
Thanks Keesha and Lara.

Rosemarie, I agree. As far as I know, the Catholic Church still does not encourage its members to read the Bible. But the southern Baptist sect I grew up in did. It was mandatory. There were tests. You were put downstairs in a small basement room, alone, and tested on your knowledge of last weeks lessons. They took God seriously.

The revivals my grandmother took me to were joyous occasions. Those people, known as Bible thumpers, were filled with the spirit of their God. During the services, they held their well read bibles in one hand and repeatedly emphasized the preachers words by hitting their bibles with the fist of the other hand. There were come to Jesus moments, healings, and repenting.

The variety of ways to worship the god of your choice is amazing.
 
Digressing a bit - I sometimes wonder whether God has properties like the wormhole entities in Deep Space 9. They were not bound by the constraints of time and space. They were non linear, non corporeal beings who could reach across time and space to interact with humanity. Science Fiction, of course, but an interesting concept. Perhaps that is what life after death is like - nor corporeal and non linear with respect to time.
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I don't think you're digressing at all with that thought, Warrigal; it sums things up beautifully. If there is such an entity as "God," he/she/it would be better defined as an entity beyond time and space, rather than as a "heavenly father," which just turns him/her/it into a powerful human being. Using the human pronoun "He" humanizes God. Using "It" does not. But for those stuck in the terminology of the Bible, this sounds shocking.

For those familiar with Beethoven's magnificent 9th Symphony, where the words of Schiller's Ode to Joy are sung, there is one line that always resonated with me: Uber Sternen muss Er Wohnen. (Above the stars he must live.) Above the stars?! What does that mean? The more you think about it, the more profound it gets.
 
Me neither. I thought defining God as beyond time and space was brilliantly stated.
For myself, God is beyond time & space. I even go as far as to say God created everything included the good, the bad and the ugly. I view humanity as the ones who created evil. We designated a label for things we perceived as bad because we didn’t like the way they felt or didn’t understand them so perceived them to be evil and still do to this day. The yin and the yang. In other religions they are to be accepted the same.

I cant wrap my head around the belief that God believes homosexuals are the making of the devil. In fact I don’t believe anybody is born evil. It is just mans way of disregarding things it doesn’t accept and labelling them. If this GOD is so magnificent then this can’t possibly be true.
 
If you want to live a good life, don't involve yourself with bad influences. We're highly trainable animals. We can train ourselves to be destructive or productive. We can give in to base desires and make them all we are, or we can see what this Homo sapiens can do. Our minds have moved past the basics. We're not stuck with bathroom humor. We can determine what is keeping us from living in a utopia and attempt to correct the problems at their roots. Our species loves detective work, so I'm sure we can figure out how to make Earth a paradise, if we really want to.
 

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