Is religion guilty of moving the goalposts?

[phyllo]

Why do we need Him now?
Isn't secular humanism the solution to our problems?

Do you mean that people are getting worse? Does goodness depend on obeying a deity?

[QMan]

You are not seriously suggesting that God should not have his own ideas about how to treat his own creation and how to introduce himself into human history regardless of your thinking concerning time scales and the mechanics of it? I guess, in that case, the concept of a God is not clear to you and to the religious person you will simply seem uninformed or be bearing some sort of grudge and biased agenda.

A. Yes, the concept of God is not clear to me - that's why I don't believe in him.
B. You really think God waits in the wings, then picks his moment to reveal himself - but that should remain a mystery to us? The word mystery is used by theists to circumvent trick problems of ontology. If it any way questions the authority or existence of God, then it's a mystery. Nice little get out of jail card.

Why should it remain a mystery? If he did exist, does it not make sense he should reveal himself just when faith in him is waning? Or to restore the goodness in humanity? Because we sure as hell need him now.

I won't be holding my breath though.

Alright, let me make it clearer. God does not owe you anything unless he volunteers to do so. He volunteered to help you achieve salvation. As far as his technicalities go you owe him to pay attention and, if you want a better relationship with him to start talking to him (you know what that means I presume). In the meantime, things are obviously unfolding as he sees it is necessary. He does not owe you a schedule, progress reports or explanations. These might become available to you if you decide to start to treat him like a decent ..... (um, human being? No.)

In any case, why would you even deal with any of this if you don't belief God exists? If he exists, you must know, he wins, you loose unless you follow the rules. Are you a golfer? And if you join a club won't you get justifiably kicked out if you don,t follow the rules but start to tear up the greens and demolish the club house furniture?

[thedoc]

Are you a golfer? And if you join a club won't you get justifiably kicked out if you don,t follow the rules but start to tear up the greens and demolish the club house furniture?

I like that, and by that rational most of humanity should be wiped off the planet.

[phyllo]

I like that, and by that rational most of humanity should be wiped off the planet.

God is merciful.

[aiddon]

I like that, and by that rational most of humanity should be wiped off the planet.

God is merciful.

Once again, relying on paradoxical nonsense...play by the rules and ill be saved. Don't play the rules and it's okay anyway because God is merciful. One is reminded of the original question posed about moving goalposts.

[phyllo]

Once again, relying on paradoxical nonsense...play by the rules and ill be saved. Don't play the rules and it's okay anyway because God is merciful. One is reminded of the original question posed about moving goalposts.

You don't have a sense of humor, do you?

[aiddon]

Once again, relying on paradoxical nonsense...play by the rules and ill be saved. Don't play the rules and it's okay anyway because God is merciful. One is reminded of the original question posed about moving goalposts.

You don't have a sense of humor, do you?

I do. It's very advanced in fact. Somehow, I don't think you're trying to be funny though.

[phyllo]

You didn't notice the winky smilie?

BTW, what's a 'very advanced' sense of humor?

[aiddon]

You didn't notice the winky smilie?

BTW, what's a 'very advanced' sense of humor?

Okay, Phyllo, you've disarmed me. I like your style.

A very advanced sense of humour is one that doesn't find humour in idiots or the Big Bang Theory (the show, that is). I think Charles Bukowski is funny. So is Billy Connolly.

[uwot]

Are you a golfer? And if you join a club won't you get justifiably kicked out if you don,t follow the rules but start to tear up the greens and demolish the club house furniture?

I like that, and by that rational most of humanity should be wiped off the planet.

Doesn't work. Apparently god sent a flood to cleanse the Earth of everyone except Noah and his family. Next thing you know, he had to send his son to sort things out. Load of good that did. We really should get a new god, if he can't control Adam and Eve, what chance has he got with 7 billion of us?.

[uwot]

A very advanced sense of humour is one that doesn't find humour in idiots or the Big Bang Theory (the show, that is). I think Charles Bukowski is funny. So is Billy Connolly.

I can't remember the exact words, but Descartes said something like 'Common sense is the most equitably distributed commodity in the world, no man thinks he has less than his fair share.' The same could be said of a sense of humour. That's quite a good joke for someone with a very advanced sense of humour.
It is to your credit that a fortnight or so on the PN forum has failed to convince you that there is humour in idiots.

[thedoc]

BTW, what's a 'very advanced' sense of humor?

One that no-one else gets, sort of like mine.

[QMan]

I like that, and by that rational most of humanity should be wiped off the planet.

God is merciful.

That's of course incorrect. The real reason is that they are simply lousy golfers.

[mickthinks]

Is "moving the goalposts" a sin or crime of some kind in your view, aiddon?

[aiddon]

Is "moving the goalposts" a sin or crime of some kind in your view, aiddon?

Neither. What makes you think I should think it is? Irrelevant, maybe, but that's not a crime or a sin.