Philosophy Now Forum

According to what seems to be the standard view, God is the creator of all that is and made us all mortal and miserable.

So the Devil tempts people with nice things to side with him, and God punishes people for not believing in him.

Who is "good" and who is "evil"? There's something fundamentally messed up with this world. Or maybe it's just human theology that's messed up? Or maybe both are messed up? \_('_')_/

"There's something fundamentally messed up with this world"

Precisely! So, why would you get in the middle of this cosmic metaphysical battle between the two knuckleheads god and satan?

Scared of burnin' in hell, are ya? Okay, consider this. We got A or B. A) shirley that bit about eternal hell was some kind of metaphor and not literally true because a benevolent god wouldn't do that. And if i gotta explain this to you, then you're already bananas, and it duddint matter what you believe. B) the bit about eternal hell is literally true and who would want to worship a god like that.

Think about it. You died, and you're hanging out in heaven with god and his crew. You guys are sitting around talking, and the thought crosses your mind; if I'd have not done the absurd thing and believed wholeheartedly in Christianity this guy (god) talking right now like everything is cool would have sent me to hell for eternity.

You're telling me you'd be good with being around a power/being/whatever that would have done that?

promethean75 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 17, 2025 11:55 pm "There's something fundamentally messed up with this world"

Precisely! So, why would you get in the middle of this cosmic metaphysical battle between the two knuckleheads god and satan?

Scared of burnin' in hell, are ya? Okay, consider this. We got A or B. A) shirley that bit about eternal hell was some kind of metaphor and not literally true because a benevolent god wouldn't do that. And if i gotta explain this to you, then you're already bananas, and it duddint matter what you believe. B) the bit about eternal hell is literally true and who would want to worship a god like that.

Think about it. You died, and you're hanging out in heaven with god and his crew. You guys are sitting around talking, and the thought crosses your mind; if I'd have not done the absurd thing and believed wholeheartedly in Christianity this guy (god) talking right now like everything is cool would have sent me to hell for eternity.

You're telling me you'd be good with being around a power/being/whatever that would have done that?

Growing up in a society that has Christianity at its roots, it's difficult for me to shake the recurring themes of the Bible. I see them everywhere in various forms, in media, entertainment, books, everywhere. But it really is an absurd theology. Perhaps I should become a Buddhist. At least the Buddha seems to acknowledge that this world is a senseless shit show. The thought of reincarnation is like a supreme punishment.

If our human being leaders can work out the current insanity in the world without divine intervention, then I will be ecstatic. God has prolonged this shit show long enough without stepping in. And if he/she/it did step in, it would just invigorate every God botherer on the planet to spend the rest of their lives beating up on "heathens" and "unbelievers". So let's see it human leaders, let's see some progress toward peace!!

Q: What did the headline say to periods?
A: You complete me.

"I don't think. This world is a good place. Anyway ..."

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Tue Jun 17, 2025 11:03 pm According to what seems to be the standard view, God is the creator of all that is and made us all mortal and miserable.

What is the 'standard' word, here, in relation to, exactly?

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Tue Jun 17, 2025 11:03 pm So the Devil tempts people with nice things to side with him, and God punishes people for not believing in him.

The 'devil' word is just referring to 'those thoughts', which are not good or bad, telling "yourselves" to believe Falsehoods. Those thoughts', which do not align with Truth, or God, is just what the 'devil' word is in relation to. Obviously it is Wrong or False 'thoughts', which deceive, or tempt, you human beings.

When has God, Itself, every punished a person, let alone believing people for not believing in 'It'. (Again, God is not, and could not be, a "him". How many times does this have to be expressed before it is accepted?)

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Tue Jun 17, 2025 11:03 pm Who is "good" and who is "evil"?

Thoughts, which align with what is 'good' or 'Right', in Life, is who and what is 'good'. Thoughts, which align with what is 'bad' or 'Wrong', in Life, is who and what is 'bad', or 'evil'.

Or, in other words, 'those thoughts' that do not align with what is Right, in Life, are what is 'evil', or what the 'devil' word has always been in reference to. Whereas, the knowing of the difference between what is Right, from what is Wrong, in Life, is just what the God word has been referring to.

Once more, God knows, whereas you human beings think, instead.

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Tue Jun 17, 2025 11:03 pm There's something fundamentally messed up with this world.

Is that 'this world' you adult human beings have created, for "yourselves", or, 'this world', which was created, physically, through evolution?

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Tue Jun 17, 2025 11:03 pm Or maybe it's just human theology that's messed up?

Obviously, 'the way' you human beings interpret things, like theories and/or theologies, can be, and is Truly 'messed up', some times.

But, what the actual irrefutable True story is, in relation to God, and/or the Universe, is very simple and easy to understand, and know, and is not 'messed up' at all.

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Tue Jun 17, 2025 11:03 pm Or maybe both are messed up? \_('_')_/

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Wed Jun 18, 2025 12:02 am

promethean75 wrote: ↑Tue Jun 17, 2025 11:55 pm "There's something fundamentally messed up with this world"

Precisely! So, why would you get in the middle of this cosmic metaphysical battle between the two knuckleheads god and satan?

Scared of burnin' in hell, are ya? Okay, consider this. We got A or B. A) shirley that bit about eternal hell was some kind of metaphor and not literally true because a benevolent god wouldn't do that. And if i gotta explain this to you, then you're already bananas, and it duddint matter what you believe. B) the bit about eternal hell is literally true and who would want to worship a god like that.

Think about it. You died, and you're hanging out in heaven with god and his crew. You guys are sitting around talking, and the thought crosses your mind; if I'd have not done the absurd thing and believed wholeheartedly in Christianity this guy (god) talking right now like everything is cool would have sent me to hell for eternity.

You're telling me you'd be good with being around a power/being/whatever that would have done that?

Growing up in a society that has Christianity at its roots, it's difficult for me to shake the recurring themes of the Bible.

What you call 'the recurring themes of the bible' are, again, just misinterpretations.

And, 'the misinterpretations', which you have and express will not change as long as people like you and "promethean75" keep repeating the exact same misinterpretations, 'as above here', which the following generations will 'pick up on', and 'pass on', as well.

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Tue Jun 17, 2025 11:03 pm I see them everywhere in various forms, in media, entertainment, books, everywhere.

Exactly, the recurring misinterpretations just keep on being re-repeated.

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Tue Jun 17, 2025 11:03 pm But it really is an absurd theology.

Once again, it is your misinterpretation/s, which is what is Truly absurd.

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Tue Jun 17, 2025 11:03 pm Perhaps I should become a Buddhist.

'you' can not become 'a label' for a 'non thing'.

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Tue Jun 17, 2025 11:03 pm At least the Buddha seems to acknowledge that this world is a senseless shit show. The thought of reincarnation is like a supreme punishment.

There are so many False, Wrong, Inaccurate, and Incorrect interpretations, here, where does One begin?

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Thu Jun 19, 2025 4:05 am If our human being leaders can work out the current insanity in the world without divine intervention, then I will be ecstatic.

And, besides you adult human beings, who else are the actual so-called "leaders", here?

Imagine feeling so worthless and/or useless you, as an adult human being, designate a so-called "leader", to 'lead you'?

And then, imagine whinging and/or whining about 'where' 'you' have been 'led in to', both 'those' who gave 'leadership to', exactly?

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Thu Jun 19, 2025 4:05 am God has prolonged this shit show long enough without stepping in.

'you' not looking, and not seeing, and, not listening, and not hearing, is not God prolonging any thing. 'That' is just 'you' not accepting and not taking any responsibility at all.

Gary Childress wrote: ↑Thu Jun 19, 2025 4:05 am And if he/she/it did step in, it would just invigorate every God botherer on the planet to spend the rest of their lives beating up on "heathens" and "unbelievers". So let's see it human leaders, let's see some progress toward peace!!

Once again, more absolute misinterpretations leading one completely astray.

Is it not blatantly obvious that when can not make 'an interpretation' logically follow, then 'that interpretation' is just 'a misinterpretation', which is best left neglected and just forgotten?

"ReRe: I Don't Think This World Is A Good Place Anyway"

Maybe a trip to Akron will change that Don't Think.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Sq-g-UXuMk

This world is good compared to what? Considering that good is a relative (not absolute) term.

LuckyR wrote: ↑Fri Jun 20, 2025 5:51 am This world is good compared to what? Considering that good is a relative (not absolute) term.

Gary probably means, he doesn't think this world is a good place anyway, compared to that world.

That world is the one in his head.

You see, Gary may not know it, but he is an ideologue.

As such, the world must conform to his notions, not vice versa.
(This is the choiceless effect of ... "made in the image of", that doesn't require consent of the one made in the image of.)

Nothing to be ashamed of. Idealists make the noise. Just look at Greta T, that little Swedish gnome. That's all she's got, the notions in her noggin that likely her clever daddy is capitalizing.

the world is what you make it...

-Imp

The world and all our reality is demonstrably and logically the best it can possibly be.

Let me speak to the lie of Gnostic Christians hating matter.
I wrote this to refute the false notion that Gnostic Christians do not like matter and reality that the inquisitors propagated to justify their many murders of my religion’s originators.
The Gnostic Christian reality.
Gnostic Christian Jesus said, "Those who seek should not stop seeking until they find. When they find, they will be disturbed. When they are disturbed, they will marvel, and will reign over all.
[And after they have reigned they will rest.]"

"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."

As you can see from that quote, if we see God's kingdom all around us and inside of us, we cannot think that the world is anything but evolving perfection. Most just don't see it and live in poverty. Let me try to make you see the world the way I do.

Here is a mind exercise. Tell me what you see when you look around. The best that can possibly be, given our past history, or an ugly and imperfect world?

Candide.
"It is demonstrable that things cannot be otherwise than as they are; for as all things have been created for some end, they must necessarily be created for the best end.”

That means that we live in the best of all possible worlds, because it is the only possible world, given all the conditions at hand and the history that got us here. That is an irrefutable statement given entropy and the anthropic principle.