What God and why?

Everyone has a god, at least, or a God. When it comes to the origins of man, know one knows for certain, and therefore they can only believe. The problem comes when someone thinks they know for certain. They either condemn, ridicule, or even kill in some cases, others who do not share their opinion. As for myself, I do believe in the Christian God and Jesus Christ, but not because I was brought up that way, which IMO is a bit of advantage because I can better articulate why. People of science are quick to dismiss God all together, holding their own knowledge and intellect above the idea. But most will skip right over the telling parts of science because they hold a belief or faith in things that they have no evidence for whatsoever. Most will claim evolution created man. But none stop to solve the problem of the first living cell, or for that matter the first proteins that would be needed to make it happen. Living cells are very complicated machines, that require many separate coordinated parts working in perfect harmony, none of which has any purpose or possibility to exist outside of a cell. The odds of a living cell just forming by itself in a lifeless nature has been estimated at 1:1x10^40,000. Those are nearly incomprehensible small odds. For comparison, the total of subatomic particles in the entire universe has been estimated at 1x10^256. Science and math has produced those numbers, but many who study science ignore them, and they most certainly are not part of any curriculum of education. Another for the 'why' of God is this, can anyone here look at an airliner or supper computer and say, 'what a magnificent accident!' ? Well without God, this universe, sub atomic particles, atomic structure, molecular structure, chemistry, planets, suns, life, and the creations of life are nothing but miraculous, perpetual, accidents. And again, science ignores its own teachings, the second law of thermodynamics says that no closed system decreases in entropy (chaos). Religion? Yeah, I will agree, it is another matter. Men will be influenced by Satan and work for his own personal gain, and when it comes to religion, there can be a lot for individual to gain through the spiritual weakness of others.

originally posted by: Blindmancc
... The search for religious freedom. Martian Luther, Wycliffe and many more began the restoration period. The old ideas of faith in Christ were replaced by the actual teachings of the holy scriptures.

I didn't know Luther was a Martian I do know this about Luther though:

Certainly, the handiest trick of the propagandist is the use of outright lies. Consider, for example, the lies that Martin Luther wrote in 1543 about the Jews in Europe: “They have poisoned wells, made assassinations, kidnaped children . . . They are venomous, bitter, vindictive, tricky serpents, assassins, and children of the devil who sting and work harm.” His exhortation to so-called Christians? “Set fire to their synagogues or schools . . . Their houses [should] also be razed and destroyed.”

A professor of government and social studies who has studied that era says: “Antisemitism has fundamentally nothing to do with the actions of Jews, and therefore fundamentally nothing to do with an antisemite’s knowledge of the real nature of Jews.” He also notes: “The Jews stood for everything that was awry, so that the reflexive reaction to a natural or social ill was to look to its supposed Jewish sources.”

Source: The Manipulation of Information: Awake!—2000

As to the question: 'Which God and why?' There are many reasons why a person could choose one god over another, here are a couple (videos included, not the first line quoted from the article below)...
Use the Word of God—It Is Alive!

If an angel spoke to you, would you listen to what he had to say? Revelation 14:6, 7:

6 And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, and he had everlasting good news to declare to those who dwell on the earth, to every nation and tribe and tongue and people. 7 He was saying in a loud voice: “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of judgment by him has arrived, so worship the One who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and the springs* [Or “fountains.”] of water.”

Since this angel says ‘fear God,’ would it not be important to identify which God he has in mind? The angel gives us a clue when he says that it is ‘the One who made the heaven and the earth.’ Who was that?

Psalm 124:8

8 Our help is in the name of Jehovah,
The Maker of heaven and earth.”

Just in case someone misinterprets the middle part of my comment because it's been done before on ATS regarding the subject below (it's not exactly the part I wanted to emphasize, that part is already emphasized in the last 2 videos above in relation to the "why" question of this thread):
Fear: Insight, Volume 1

The fear of God is healthful; it is an awe and a profound reverence for the Creator and a wholesome dread of displeasing him. This fear of incurring his displeasure is a result of appreciation of his loving-kindness and goodness together with the realization that he is the Supreme Judge and the Almighty, who has the power to inflict punishment or death upon those who disobey him.—See AWE; DREAD.

The proper fear of Jehovah God is essential to those who would serve him. This profound fear of Jehovah is “the beginning of wisdom” (Ps 111:10), “the start of wisdom.” (Pr 9:10) It is not a morbid fear that tears down; “the fear of Jehovah is pure.” (Ps 19:9) This fear is defined thus at Proverbs 8:13: “The fear of Jehovah means the hating of bad.” It will prevent one from following a bad course, for “in the fear of Jehovah one turns away from bad.”—Pr 16:6.

Like Luther's propagandistic lies about Jews and antisemitism. Or some of this behaviour:
The Baptism of Clovis—1,500 Years of Catholicism in France

The Arian Controversy
...
Arius denied that the Son was of the same essence, or substance, as the Father. The Son could not be God or equal to the Father, since he had a beginning. (Colossians 1:15)
...
In 325 C.E., at the Council of Nicea, Arius was exiled and his teachings were condemned.

However, this did not end the controversy. The doctrinal crisis went on for some 60 years, with successive emperors siding with one party or the other. Finally, in 392 C.E., Emperor Theodosius I made orthodox Catholicism with its Trinity doctrine the State religion of the Roman Empire. In the meantime the Goths had been converted to Arianism by Ulfilas, a Germanic bishop. Other Germanic tribes were quick to adopt this form of “Christianity.”

By the time of Clovis, the Catholic Church in Gaul was in crisis. The Arian Visigoths had been trying to suppress Catholicism by refusing to allow bishops who died to be replaced. Furthermore, the church was in the throes of two papal schisms, with priests from opposing factions killing one another in Rome.
...
By choosing Catholicism, Clovis gained favor with the predominantly Catholic Gallo-Roman population and the support of the influential church hierarchy. This gave him a decided advantage over his political rivals. The New Encyclopædia Britannica notes that “his conquest of Gaul became a war of liberation from the yoke of the hated Arian heretics.”
...
Reminiscent of the conduct of Constantine after his so-called conversion to Christianity, Clovis set out to consolidate his rulership by systematically killing off all rivals to the throne. He exterminated “all his relatives to the sixth degree.”

a reply to: Raggedyman

WHICH comment? Because the first post you quoted is not what you are poking at there. You are paraphrasing my comment. Out of c ontext. I made the comment about control of the masses. THAT is the work of man not deity (as far as we know). Montheism was thus an easier tool to control the masses. You had one model to use. Polytheism allowed alternative ideas. Atheism puts the onus on the individual (can't blame the devil, if you don't believe in him)

As for so what. "God is love" is not the same as "God wiped all humanity (except one small family) and most animals out) is it?

Now a question from me. "People like me" choosing Thor. What people like me? Do you understand that I'm not a henotheist, I never have been. I am a polytheist. In that I have many Gods. In my teens I was drawn to MR Thursday. That changed by my early twenties.

originally posted by: Noinden
She's not a deity just for women. Yes she's one of my deities of special importance with Lugh, An Dagda, and Ogma. Then the rest of the Tuatha de Dannan.

I am curious to know where the special importance comes in concerning Brigid.

Has her symbol ever appeared in one of your dreams ?

what happens if its the same god in a different mythology where the weapon type is similar ?
Example :
Thor (hammer of thunderbolts)
Baal (lightning balls)
Zeus (lightning)

a reply to: Raggedyman

the earnest seal upon our hearts keeps us from following any other god.

a reply to: Tristran

The daughter of the Dagda is not someone special to me.... thus far.

The first Tuatha who came to me in a meditation was Lugh. He's why Thor moved out of my consciousness. On a school camp we were walked to isolated locations (relitively speaking) at night. No watch, no flash lights. Told to stay put. Left for a few hours. This was to show some of us what true lightlessness was like at night, many of us were city kids. Myself despite being a city kid, I grew up with an astronomer in the family. I knew what a light polution free night was.

Anyway I meditated (I don't go to sleep easily, never have).

A shining being, with a silver spear appeared... Lugh. He lurked in my dreams for years.

Now Brigid? Not so much. IT could be An Dagda (her daddy) is keeping her away? He's also special to me. More so the older I get.

Ogma is because I work in science.

An Morrigan? Yeah... she made sure I considered her when I was living in Milwaukee, three crows followed me around the neighbourhood one winter, a winter where I was having a hard time at work and with my wife. Both got better when I accepted her in.

originally posted by: ChesterJohn
a reply to: Raggedyman

the earnest seal upon our hearts keeps us from following any other god.

I am not a Calvinist, salvation is given accepted and sometimes people abuse it and lose it.
In latter times some will abandon their faith to lying spirits ...1Timothy 4/1

a reply to: Raggedyman

I am not a Calvinist either. I don't think I said anything that would be accepted as Calvinistic.

What I speak is a preserved Bible doctrine of all truly saved persons having the seal of the Holy Ghost.

2Cor 1:21, 22 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
Eph 1:13, 14 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

See where I got the earnest seal from Bible verses of promise to all true believers.

The meaning is clear, and is not hijacked by any denomination, especially one with a founder as wicked as John Calvin was.

NOw let's look at the perverted bible verse you quoted to the preserved words of God in the AV

In latter times some will abandon their faith to lying spirits ...1Timothy 4/1

1Ti 4:1 ¶ Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

Abandoned and depart are to totally different words and things that are different are not the same. This verse in its context does not mean they would loose their salvation. God is not the God of the dead but of the living.

The verse you quoted left out or you did that the Spirit, that is the Holy Ghost speaketh, which makes this a prophecy. So are you verifying the veracity of this prophecy of being true today?

So let's look at it in its whole context

1Ti 4:1 ¶ Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

The context was in what was being taught not about anyone loosing salvation but that their hearts would be so hard to the plain truth of the word of God they would ignore it for what they had heard from a seducing spirit. That is why we have so many versions people listening to seducing spirits rather than just believing the preserved word of God. This is why you will hear me again and again warn people not to talk to any angle or spirit that may appear to you. The Bible tells us

1Jo 4:1 ¶ Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

God is not working with man in that way right now. It is all by faith through Grace not through angles, spirits or mediums. Paul sums up the context that marrying and eating of all things is sanctified by the word of God (the preserved word not a perverted word)and by prayer.

How many of you pray over what you do and eat?

How many of you try the spirits?

Dividing the word of truth you would understand what it is speaking about and whom.

originally posted by: ParasuvO

originally posted by: Sheye
From my understanding Christians aren't forced to believe in their God. They are free to pursue other religious beliefs and are free to return to their former religion , except maybe within some sects over issues of excommunication... but that is rare.

Christianity is one of the religions that grants total free will along with the grace of forgiveness when that free will is abused.

It truly is one of the most beautiful religions on this planet.

Not true..no free will at all..it is an illusion with many questions...they KNOW they have no free will to choose so they believe in fear god and the devil.

They are likely completely deluded and do not realize what is going to happen...and ALWAYS DOES happen to well meaning people who have given their power to a beast.

They feel SOME power and beauty...which ensures they never take things to higher levels...which indeed disappoints Jesus and the rest of the others who care.

A perusal of The Book of Revelations shows no mercy will be given unto them...unless they get out of the way IMMEDIATELY when told too..

They WILL NOT recognize the savior...because they believe man-made doctrines.

Those who have deceived ALL will be brutally destroyed.....and all ruled by an iron fist.....no more patience.

Huh...so an omnipotent"god" allowed all of this crazyville down here to continue? Very loving of him.
Know what that looks like? He had to prove a point... just like the majority of Christians do.
Uhg.
No wonder people get sick of it (if exposed to it) and look elsewhere.
Seems to me like we are being played by something not good or right.
Though, I still believe there is something good. Just not the OT God.

a reply to: ChesterJohn

That was very lazy of me not to proof text that, my apologies

I wouldn't say Calvin was wicked, misled like so many, it's our nature, our disease probably more accurate

Though it does sound like you have a once saved always saved theology, me, I am not to sure about that

a reply to: Noinden

Show your faith through actions was what my lord said. He is not divided.

So no matter your "faith". Doing good is showing what you believe through action.

But my faith says also: Those who try their best, but fail, yet believe. Will inherit the kingdom. (this is not a quote, rather a summary).

So you can see. There is only good and bad.

Stop drinking the milk, I'm giving you the solid food.

a reply to: Sump3

They had a first hand experience, there is nothing you can say that will change that.

Also, the holier than thou attitude is definitely not endearing.

a reply to: daskakik

I don't know what you're getting at..

originally posted by: Sump3
I don't know what you're getting at..

In this post Noinden tells about one experience.

Implying that what you have is any better than what they personally experienced is being holier-than-thou.

a reply to: Sump3

He is not my lord. HE never has been and he shall never be that.

Also I'm lactose intolerant, I don't drink milk neighbour.

I am steadfast in my polytheism thanks.

a reply to: Sump3

Are you that gormless? You are proselytizing and you were proselytizing. You know nothing of my faith. I know a lot about yours. The judgments you make against my path, is against the teachings of your carpenter Judge not something something something.

originally posted by: Noinden
Told to stay put. Left for a few hours. This was to show some of us what true lightlessness was like at night, many of us were city kids.

A shining being, with a silver spear appeared... Lugh. He lurked in my dreams for years.

Now Brigid? Not so much. IT could be An Dagda (her daddy) is keeping her away? He's also special to me. More so the older I get.

An Morrigan? three crows followed me around the neighbourhood one winter, a winter where I was having a hard time at work and with my wife.

Unsure but it seems that Cu Chulainn is always seen wielding a spear as well.

Morrigan and Lugh (Cu Chulainn ?) might very well be monitoring you to see if you are a fighter (warrior) that they will gladly recruit seeing that there is a spiritual battle going on right now in this world.

Morrigan was probably observing how you would handle a crappy moment in your life where you either fall apart or have the inner strength to live through the miserable event. Take it as a good event as Morrigan is curious enough to see potential in you that she sends out her spies to watch certain people.

Out of curiosity, is there any way of finding out if the location that you were left at, to observe the stars (not), was actually a ley-line junction ?

My mother did this to me when I was only 7. It was just after dusk and she told me to wait in a small field surrounded by gauss bushes. I felt this presence like someone was watching me that gave me a really bad feeling. My mother, after returning 30 minutes later, said 'oh that was probably rabbit hunters watching you'.

Single standing granite monoliths are in the nearby fields that usually stand right on-top of ley-lines.

originally posted by: Noinden
a reply to: Sump3
...The judgments you make against my path, is against the teachings of your carpenter

Judge not something something something.

Let's have a more detailed look at that concept of "judging". Like so many words, a word can have different meanings and usages depending on the context (which you left us in the dark about with "something something something"). A synonym for "judging" is for example "deciding" or as the google dictionary's first definition describes it:

form an opinion or conclusion about.
"scientists were judged according to competence"
synonyms: form the opinion, conclude, decide; consider, believe, think, deem, view;
deduce, gather, infer, gauge, estimate, guess, surmise, conjecture;
regard as, look on as, take to be, rate as, class as;
informal: reckon, figure
"we judged that it was too late to proceed"

Of course this form of judging is done quite commonly and without it we would not be able to consider what is true and what is false, what is good and what is bad, or figure out what to believe is true or false, etc (including what path is right or wrong to follow, figuratively walk along). Besides the point that it would be illogical and unreasonable to interpret Jesus' usage of the verb "judging" as that kind of judging/deciding, there's another major clue that that is not how Jesus was using that verb with that kind of general meaning when he said and elaborated on what kind of judging he was talking about at Luke 6:37:

37 “Moreover, stop judging, and you will by no means be judged; and stop condemning, and you will by no means be condemned. Keep on forgiving,* [Or “releasing.”] and you will be forgiven.* [Or “released.”]

That's a more specific kind of judging (related to the character attribute of being judgemental). This was just after he said: "Continue being merciful, just as your Father is merciful."

“Exercise Justice” in Walking With God

How We Treat Others

12, 13. (a) Why should we not be quick to sit in judgment of others? (b) What is the meaning of Jesus’ counsel to “stop judging” and “stop condemning”? (See also footnote.)

12 We can also exercise justice by treating others the way Jehovah treats us. It is all too easy to sit in judgment of others, criticizing their faults and questioning their motives. But who of us would want Jehovah to scrutinize our motives and shortcomings in a merciless manner? That is not how Jehovah deals with us. The psalmist observed: “If errors were what you watch, O Jah, O Jehovah, who could stand?” (Psalm 130:3) Are we not grateful that our just and merciful God chooses not to dwell on our failings? (Psalm 103:8-10) How, then, should we treat others?

13 If we appreciate the merciful nature of God’s justice, we will not be quick to judge others in matters that really do not concern us or that are of lesser importance. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warned: “Stop judging that you may not be judged.” (Matthew 7:1) According to Luke’s account, Jesus added: “Stop condemning, and you will by no means be condemned.”* (Luke 6:37) Jesus showed his awareness that imperfect humans have a tendency to be judgmental. Any of his listeners who were in the habit of harshly judging others were to stop it.

14. For what reasons must we “stop judging” others?

14 Why must we “stop judging” others? For one thing, our authority is limited. The disciple James reminds us: “One there is that is lawgiver and judge”—Jehovah. So James pointedly asks: “Who are you to be judging your neighbor?” (James 4:12; Romans 14:1-4) In addition, our sinful nature can so easily render our judgments unfair. Many attitudes and motives—including prejudice, injured pride, jealousy, and self-righteousness—can distort the way we see fellow humans. We have further limitations, and reflecting on these should restrain us from being quick to find fault with others. We cannot read hearts; nor can we know all the personal circumstances of others. ...

originally posted by: pthena
a reply to: Raggedyman
Socrates calls it ancient doctrine in his time.

Probably because you can trace it all the way back to Babylon (making Babylon the Great a fitting name for all false religion). From Babylon the myth of the immortal soul spread to Egypt, Persia, Greece and on and on across the globe. Of course Satan was the first to claim that Eve wasn't really going to die. Which is now modified to the body dies, but the real 'you', your soul, doesn't die. Which essentially is the same lie that Satan told Eve. Eve is as dead as the dodo.

God's inspired word is clear on this:

What does the Bible say?

“The soul that sinneth, it shall die.”—Ezekiel 18:4, King James Version.

Regarding the creation of the first human soul, the Bible says: “Jehovah God proceeded to form the man out of dust from the ground and to blow into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man came to be a living soul [Hebrew, neʹphesh].”—Genesis 2:7.

The Hebrew word neʹphesh, translated “soul,” means ‘a creature that breathes.’ When God created the first man, Adam, He did not infuse into him an immortal soul but the life force that is maintained by breathing. Therefore, “soul” in the Biblical sense refers to the entire living being. If separated from the life force originally given by God, the soul dies.—Genesis 3:19; Ezekiel 18:20.

The doctrine of the immortality of the soul raised questions: Where do souls go after death? What happens to the souls of the wicked? When nominal Christians adopted the myth of the immortal soul, this led them to accept another myth—the teaching of hellfire.

Compare these Bible verses: Ecclesiastes 3:19; Matthew 10:28; Acts 3:23

FACT:

At death a person ceases to exist

Source: Myth 1: The Soul Is Immortal

“The problem of immortality, we have seen, engaged the serious attention of the Babylonian theologians. . . . Neither the people nor the leaders of religious thought ever faced the possibility of the total annihilation of what once was called into existence. Death was a passage to another kind of life.”—The Religion of Babylonia and Assyria (Boston, 1898), M. Jastrow, Jr., p. 556.
...
“The concept of immortality is a product of Greek thinking, whereas the hope of a resurrection belongs to Jewish thought. . . . Following Alexander’s conquests Judaism gradually absorbed Greek concepts.”—Dictionnaire Encyclopédique de la Bible (Valence, France; 1935), edited by Alexandre Westphal, Vol. 2, p. 557.

Source: Soul: Reasoning

What the Bible Says About Life and Death

...
There is no disputing that death has “spread to all men,” as the Bible stated. But does some part of us live on after we die? Many would say yes, that a part of us—something called the soul—is immortal. This, however, would amount to saying that God lied to Adam. How so? Because if a part of us moves on to live in some other realm after we die, then death would not be the penalty for sin, as God stated. The Bible says: “It is impossible for God to lie.” (Hebrews 6:18) In reality, it was Satan who lied when he told Eve: “You certainly will not die.”—Genesis 3:4.

That raises the question, If the teaching of the immortality of the soul is based on a lie, then what really happens at death?

THE BIBLE SETS THINGS STRAIGHT

The Genesis account of creation says: “Jehovah God went on to form the man out of dust from the ground and to blow into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living person.” The expression “a living person” is translated from the Hebrew word ne’phesh,* which literally means “a breathing creature.”—Genesis 2:7, footnote.

The Bible thus makes clear that humans are not created as individuals with a soul that is immortal. Rather, each individual is “a living person.” That is why, search as you may, you will not find any Bible text that uses the expression “immortal soul.”

Since the Bible does not say that humans possess what some call an immortal soul, why do so many religions teach the contrary? The answer takes us all the way back to ancient Egypt.

A PAGAN TEACHING FLOURISHES

Herodotus, a Greek historian of the fifth century B.C.E., said that the Egyptians were “the first of mankind who have defended the immortality of the soul.” Another ancient culture, the Babylonians, also toyed with the idea of the immortal soul. By the time Alexander the Great conquered the Middle East in 332 B.C.E., Greek philosophers had popularized the teaching, and it soon spread throughout the Greek Empire.

In the first century C.E., two prominent Jewish sects, the Essenes and the Pharisees, taught that the soul survives the body at death. The Jewish Encyclopedia says: “The belief in the immortality of the soul came to the Jews from contact with Greek thought and chiefly through the philosophy of Plato.” Likewise, first-century Jewish historian Josephus attributed the teaching, not to the Holy Scriptures, but to “the belief of the sons of Greece,” which he viewed as a collection of tales by their mythologists.

As the influence of Greek culture continued to expand, professed Christians adopted this pagan teaching as well. According to historian Jona Lendering, “Plato’s hypothesis that our soul was once in a better place and now lives in a fallen world made it easy to combine platonic philosophy and Christianity.” Thus, the pagan doctrine of the immortal soul was absorbed into the “Christian” church and became a fundamental part of its beliefs.

“THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE”

In the first century, the apostle Paul sounded this warning: “The inspired word clearly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to misleading inspired statements and teachings of demons.” (1 Timothy 4:1) How true those words proved to be! The doctrine of the immortal soul is but one example of “teachings of demons.” It is not supported by the Bible, and it has its roots in ancient pagan religions and philosophies.

Happily for us, Jesus said: “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32) By gaining an accurate knowledge of Bible truth, we are set free from the God-dishonoring teachings and practices promoted by so many of the world’s religions. Moreover, the truth in God’s Word sets us free from the shackles of the traditions and superstitions associated with death.—See the box “Where Are the Dead?”

Our Creator did not intend for humans to live just 70 or 80 years on earth and then move on to spend an eternity in another realm. His original purpose was for his human creation to live forever right here on earth as his obedient children. This grand purpose is an expression of God’s love for humankind, and it will not be thwarted. (Malachi 3:6) Reassuringly, the inspired psalmist declared: “The righteous will possess the earth, and they will live forever on it.”—Psalm 37:29.

a reply to: Noinden

We are free to judge actions and behaviour in general and commend people (once) on what their doing.

I did not judge you. A person.