Does God demand equality?

[Gnostic Christian Bishop]

I think that God demands justice, above all.

Perhaps but does that justice include equality of women and gays to you?

Regards
DL

 

[LilAnn]

I think that God demands justice, above all.

I have to respectfully disagree. I have always believed the bible version of him is actually pretty unjust. He plays favorites, all the time. He doesn't care how horrible someone is. They will still be better off than good people. Just look at the Bushes, Clintons, Rush Limbaugh, and Trump. As far as the afterlife, there are some pretty unfair reasons for people to have to burn in hell. I know a guy who has given up his extra bed in a hotel room so a homeless person could get out of the Louisiana summer heat for a day. Thats just the sort of thing he does, every time he's in a position to help. He also lost 5 children that he isn't even allowed to call or see, his dad passed away, his best friend's heart gave out on him, and the dog he had forever died... all within 5 years.

 

[Gnostic Christian Bishop]

Our friend forgets that justice says that punishment is given to change attitudes and thus behavior and the end purpose is to return the offender to society.

He thinks God torturing and burning people without ever stopping, regardless as to if there is a change of attitude or not is justice.

IOW. Purposeless torture is justice.

He shows how his morality has been corrupted by his religion.

That aside.

Regards
DL

 

[LilAnn]

I'm not just saying this to sound "cool" or anything...but... for a long time, I believed hell was made up. My parents used it to make sure I never questioned god or the bible, and to teach me to not steal, lie, cheat, murder, eat too much, keep my bedroom messy, etc Oddly enough, the one aspect of Christianity that they didn't shove down my throat about asking for forgiveness, and God saying, "its all good".

The church does the same thing with their followers.

Also, I want to ask you a question about Gnostic Christianity. With the I/He beliefs, what about the afterlife?

 

[Gnostic Christian Bishop]

I'm not just saying this to sound "cool" or anything...but... for a long time, I believed hell was made up. My parents used it to make sure I never questioned god or the bible, and to teach me to not steal, lie, cheat, murder, eat too much, keep my bedroom messy, etc Oddly enough, the one aspect of Christianity that they didn't shove down my throat about asking for forgiveness, and God saying, "its all good".

The church does the same thing with their followers.

Also, I want to ask you a question about Gnostic Christianity. With the I/He beliefs, what about the afterlife?

Gnostic Christians are not into belief in the supernatural and that is where the afterlife lives.

We can never know what, if anything, happens there. Heaven would be a hope. Not a belief. Have you noted that nowhere in scriptures is the loss of eternal live in Eden ever bemoaned? I would say that no one has ever really believed in such a place.

Gnostic Christian Jesus mat have had it all down the right and complete way.

Jesus said, "If those who attract you say, 'See, the Kingdom is in the sky,' then the birds of the sky will precede you.

If they say to you, 'It is under the earth,' then the fish of the sea will precede you.

Rather, the Kingdom of God is inside of you, and it is outside of you.

[Those who] become acquainted with [themselves] will find it; [and when you] become acquainted with yourselves, [you will understand that] it is you who are the sons of the living Father.

But if you will not know yourselves, you dwell in poverty and it is you who are that poverty."

Most Gnostic Christians will know that heaven and hell are right here and now and what each of us sees will be different.

It happens that I see an afterlife in the cosmic consciousness but I have no proof to show. All I have is an anecdotal rendering and that is not real proof for others even as it is all the proof I need.

Regards
DL

 

[LilAnn]

Gnostic Christians are not into belief in the supernatural and that is where the afterlife lives.

We can never know what, if anything, happens there. Heaven would be a hope. Not a belief. Have you noted that nowhere in scriptures is the loss of eternal live in Eden ever bemoaned? I would say that no one has ever really believed in such a place.

Gnostic Christian Jesus mat have had it all down the right and complete way.

Jesus said, "If those who attract you say, 'See, the Kingdom is in the sky,' then the birds of the sky will precede you.

If they say to you, 'It is under the earth,' then the fish of the sea will precede you.

Rather, the Kingdom of God is inside of you, and it is outside of you.

[Those who] become acquainted with [themselves] will find it; [and when you] become acquainted with yourselves, [you will understand that] it is you who are the sons of the living Father.

But if you will not know yourselves, you dwell in poverty and it is you who are that poverty."

Most Gnostic Christians will know that heaven and hell are right here and now and what each of us sees will be different.

It happens that I see an afterlife in the cosmic consciousness but I have no proof to show. All I have is an anecdotal rendering and that is not real proof for others even as it is all the proof I need.

Regards
DL

One of my many downfalls is my inability to think in these terms. I want there to be a heaven. I would love for reincarnation to be the truth. But I can't reconcile these concepts with real science enough to be able to really buy into any of them.

I am incapable of faith... Any kind of faith, blind or otherwise. I also don't need proof. But I do have to understand, beginning to end, how something works before I'll fully believe it's possible. Even if I don't understand all the little details. If I want to believe in a heaven or hell, I have to be able to explain how its possible...even if it only makes sense to me.

I've always been so envious of people who could have faith. I suppose a lot of things would make more sense and I would feel a lot more optimistic if I could do it, too.

 

[Gnostic Christian Bishop]

One of my many downfalls is my inability to think in these terms. I want there to be a heaven. I would love for reincarnation to be the truth. But I can't reconcile these concepts with real science enough to be able to really buy into any of them.

I am incapable of faith... Any kind of faith, blind or otherwise. I also don't need proof. But I do have to understand, beginning to end, how something works before I'll fully believe it's possible. Even if I don't understand all the little details. If I want to believe in a heaven or hell, I have to be able to explain how its possible...even if it only makes sense to me.

I've always been so envious of people who could have faith. I suppose a lot of things would make more sense and I would feel a lot more optimistic if I could do it, too.

Faith is overrated and can cause as much damage to a mind as any other delusion.

There are many studies that show how many are hurt by their faith belief in hell. Here is one of the newer ones.

Regards
DL

 

[AbeLincoln]

Does God demand equality?

My Gnostic Christian God demands equality of all peoples as a part of our Universalists beliefs.

Most religions also preach some form of equality yet also preach homophobia and misogyny. Why are most believers denying equality to the vast majority of those not in their particular religion as well as to many within their own circles?

It seems that Gods do demand equality. Love thy neighbor as yourself, or some other reciprocity rule, are in every major religious tradition. It seems that the religious believe in equality just as little as they believe in their Gods who demand it. What happened to fearing God and doing as he commands?

I cannot see the world solving its problems, be they religious or political, while the vast majority, the religious, deny equality to the other majority who are not of their particular religion. That religious hatred against gays, women and those in other religions must stop. Religious hate of others puts more hate than good into our societies and prevents rapprochement.

We, as individuals, are quite good and altruistic. This is quite apparent if one looks at the statistics of our progress as a people in other moral areas. It is our religions and other social institutions and governments that are evil, not the people, as many governing hierarchies have institutionalized misogyny in their written policies.

Our last great challenge against justice, our hate directed against gays and women must be set aside if the harder challenges we face, if there are any, are to be defeated.

That hate is holding back our rise in being civilized people. I urge all men to look at their mothers, daughters and wives, and wonder why they do not see them as equal or demand that their religious laws make them so.

I urge all women to ask the men in their lives why exactly they continue to promote the hate and inequality of gays and women through their support of homophobic and misogynous policies.

Does your God demand equality and why are you, --- you meaning all religious people, --- not granting it?

Regards
DL

It's obvious, and a no-brainer that a man and a woman should be identified as biologically male and female, respectively. Other than that, demands of transgenders and homosexuals for gender-equality is a misnomer use of the term. There's nothing religious about appropriately identifying a male as "he"and "man", and a female as "she"and "woman".

Leave God out of this progressive noise of equality-demanding-and-protesting. God never made a mistake in HIS original male-and-female creation of man and woman. He doesn't and will never, therefore, demand equality FOR humans who are having identity crisis. If any man or woman is experiencing mental problems about the truth of his of her identiy, then, go see a medical professional for help. Because if they go to God, they must accept the truth of what HE has to say about His love and His careful original creation of him as man, and her as beautiful woman.

All that being said, God has remained full of love to every one-- males and females.

 

[Gnostic Christian Bishop]

It's obvious, and a no-brainer that a man and a woman should be identified as biologically male and female, respectively. Other than that, demands of transgenders and homosexuals for gender-equality is a misnomer use of the term. There's nothing religious about appropriately identifying a male as "he"and "man", and a female as "she"and "woman".

Leave God out of this progressive noise of equality-demanding-and-protesting. God never made a mistake in HIS original male-and-female creation of man and woman. He doesn't and will never, therefore, demand equality FOR humans who are having identity crisis. If any man or woman is experiencing mental problems about the truth of his of her identiy, then, go see a medical professional for help. Because if they go to God, they must accept the truth of what HE has to say about His love and His careful original creation of him as man, and her as beautiful woman.

All that being said, God has remained full of love to every one-- males and females.

Unknowable, unfathomable and mysterious.

How do you know as a fact that God has remained full of love to every one-- males and females?

Scriptures also speak of natural eunuchs. What does that do to your views?

Further, listen to what this speakers says of Jesus and his, eh, her, gender.

I am not a Christian but she is and she is correct.

Regards
DL

 

[nailah783]

I don't like the idea of fighting over religious beliefs and I don't feel like going to war because we disagree in the name of God is what God wants for his people. I do feel like we should be equal because we are all God's children even if we have different beliefs about how to live our lives. I believe in acceptance, understanding, and love. I know that there are a lot of people that share my faith that preach homophobia and hate toward different beliefs, but that is not how I was brought up. Jesus did not force his views on others. He told them what his views were, and those who took it and applied it, he was good with and those who did not, that was on them. So why would I, then, try to force my views on others. Live your life, and I'm going to live mine, and we can be equals while doing it.

 

[Gnostic Christian Bishop]

I don't like the idea of fighting over religious beliefs and I don't feel like going to war because we disagree in the name of God is what God wants for his people. I do feel like we should be equal because we are all God's children even if we have different beliefs about how to live our lives. I believe in acceptance, understanding, and love. I know that there are a lot of people that share my faith that preach homophobia and hate toward different beliefs, but that is not how I was brought up. Jesus did not force his views on others. He told them what his views were, and those who took it and applied it, he was good with and those who did not, that was on them. So why would I, then, try to force my views on others. Live your life, and I'm going to live mine, and we can be equals while doing it.

You are like many who have had to adjust their thinking away from their church.

You are a Christian in exile. Or that is what Bishop Spong would call you. You might like his theology.

Regards
DL

 

[nailah783]

You are like many who have had to adjust their thinking away from their church.

You are a Christian in exile. Or that is what Bishop Spong would call you. You might like his theology.

Regards
DL

Yes, I do agree with a lot of his points. Thank you for sharing that with me because I had not seen this before. I don't know if I would call myself a Christian in exile because I am still a member of the church and I have not left the body of Christ, but I do see your point.

 

[AbeLincoln]

Unknowable, unfathomable and mysterious.

Not true. You have been quoting mere men and a homosexual woman, who blatantly believe her distorted and disrespectful approach to the Almighty God's true identity.

The old sage, Jeremiah (not very popular in his day), relays to thinking humankind:

"... but he who boasts, boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises loving kindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,..."

So, study more on your own. Ask God, Himself, about what you've been trying to ask us in this thread. Ask Him about what you want to know and understand about Him and about His love for you and all humanity. He will answer you the truth.

Peace.

 

[AbeLincoln]

I don't like the idea of fighting over religious beliefs and I don't feel like going to war because we disagree in the name of God is what God wants for his people. I do feel like we should be equal because we are all God's children even if we have different beliefs about how to live our lives. I believe in acceptance, understanding, and love. I know that there are a lot of people that share my faith that preach homophobia and hate toward different beliefs, but that is not how I was brought up. Jesus did not force his views on others. He told them what his views were, and those who took it and applied it, he was good with and those who did not, that was on them. So why would I, then, try to force my views on others. Live your life, and I'm going to live mine, and we can be equals while doing it.

I share your faith in the Almighty Creator, King of the universe. Do not let anyone intimidate you into fear about the truth you believe deep in your heart and soul. Hold on to that!
Blessings to you, @nailah783 !

 

[AbeLincoln]

I'm honored to have been given the privilege of reading the Introduction of your book, @kowalskil I shall read further and deeper into your diary. I've been reading Menachem Begin's White Nights. He grew up in Poland, where he was educated. He was arrested and became a prisoner of Russia in 1940 under the Stalin regime. White Nights is one of the most powerful and humorous pieces of prison literature ever written. I think your book would resemble Begin's literature of his life's story.

Scanning through the Table of Contents of your book, I believe I will learn so much from your life and those people who have contributed to your beliefs and values in life. Jumping to Chapter 15, you have confirmed my suspicions about Stalin and the Bolsheviks' ethnicity! Jewish prophets whom Yahweh sent for her (Jerusalem) were killed by their own Jewish people. But there will be perfect unity among the Jews one day, I believe.

I will read your book with great care and respect, Sir. Thank you.