# Are you sure you know who God is? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 13, 2013, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422 "2013-07-13T20:24:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/181 "2013-07-19T21:49:05Z")
> [@hotflungwok](#): > > . . . And I totally love myself. Twice just last night. You, I like! (Twice? Ah, to be young again!) ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/182 "2013-07-19T21:57:28Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > I think it comes down to a few possibilities: > -1) God exists but does not intervene in the world. Hence human suffering, injustice, etc. > -2) God exists and he takes limited intervention in the world (hence miracles, etc.) > -3) God exists and he intervenes in the world. > -4) God exists but he allows human will to run the world (hence dictators, world wars, etc.) > -5) God does not exist. > Whatever you believe, it must be one of these. Sorry to disappoint you but none of those are my beliefs. ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/183 "2013-07-19T21:59:20Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > **lekatt** and reality have parted ways. That his theology is also personally insulting only makes it uglier. > > “God answers all prayers,” only when you interpret “dead silence” as “he answered but you didn’t listen.” By that logic, I’m a millionaire because there’s a winning lottery ticket out there that could have been mine if I’d bought it. You misinterpret everything on purpose. When you get serious good things will happen. Or maybe being serious is unknown to you. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/184 "2013-07-19T22:56:24Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > Sorry to disappoint you but none of those are my beliefs. Well, to be fair to you, those are the only _logical_ possibilities. ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/185 "2013-07-20T00:29:02Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Well, to be fair to you, those are the only _logical_ possibilities. No they are not. I have said over and over again. My belief is unconditional love and my God is unconditional love. They most powerful thing in the world is unconditional love. Do it and you will understand. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/186 "2013-07-20T01:11:07Z")
**ENOUGH!** No more off-topic comments about near death experiences and No more tongue-in-cheek suggestions that another poster should go out and experience death. Stick to the topic–as mushy as it is–and leave the side topics out of it. [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/187 "2013-07-20T01:14:16Z")
[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:110, topic:663422”] How many Christian churches do you know of that do not teach that Wiccans and other Pagans are evil and bound for hell? How many Islamic temples teach that Jews are good people? [/QUOTE] First Congregational Church in Memphis, for one. And then… Um, I’ll get back to you. Do Unitarians count? ---
**Author:** ![Renee\_RL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7c8e57/32.png) [@Renee\_RL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee_RL)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/188 "2013-07-20T05:32:36Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > You blame God for all those things? They were done by man not God. Those who do them will be corrected. If you can stop something like this then do so and quit blaming God for man’s actions. I love it…god gets all the credit but none of the blame. Are you blaming the tsunamis and famines and earthquakes that kill millions on man? But yet if one survives s/he credits the invisible man in the sky ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/189 "2013-07-20T11:24:52Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > Not at all. I don’t have any special or secret knowledge. It is only a matter of being aware of what is happening around you in this world. God does speak to you in the same way as I hear Him. It is just a thought, but there is so much negativity here I doubt one can hear anything for it. So god’s transmitter is so weak it can’t cut through my bad mood? ---
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/190 "2013-07-20T15:57:49Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > God has given you free will and with it comes responsibility for you actions. > > God does answer prayer but sometimes it is a no. You may be asking for something you can fix yourself. There is an old saying: “God helps those that help themselves.” > You are here to learn to love. When you do all your questions will be answered. In the sense you answered this, one could pray to a carrot, if what they wanted happened, they could say;" carrot heard my prayer", if not they could say;" carrot said no". Hardly a good answer for a Being who is supposed to be a good father who knows all things ahead of time. A good parent doesn’t make it’s child beg for necessities nor give any thing that would bring them harm, no matter how much they begged. a human parent doesn’t have that knowledge they can only guess. ---
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/191 "2013-07-20T16:03:13Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > No they are not. I have said over and over again. My belief is unconditional love and my God is unconditional love. They most powerful thing in the world is unconditional love. Do it and you will understand. That is your belief and it works for you, for some it doesn’t, both have the right to their own thoughts and beliefs. It proves nothing about a god. Some see truth as the most powerful thing and without truth there would not be love, for there are many interpretations of what Love is. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/192 "2013-07-20T16:34:45Z")
> [@monavis](#): > > In the sense you answered this, one could pray to a carrot, if what they wanted happened, they could say;" carrot heard my prayer", if not they could say;" carrot said no". Hardly a good answer for a Being who is supposed to be a good father who knows all things ahead of time. A good parent doesn’t make it’s child beg for necessities nor give any thing that would bring them harm, no matter how much they begged. a human parent doesn’t have that knowledge they can only guess. I, for one, welcome our new Carrot overlords - shredded be thy name. ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/193 "2013-07-20T17:58:22Z")
> [@monavis](#): > > That is your belief and it works for you, for some it doesn’t, both have the right to their own thoughts and beliefs. It proves nothing about a god. Some see truth as the most powerful thing and without truth there would not be love, for there are many interpretations of what Love is. Without love there could be no truth. It does work for everyone who chooses love. It won’t work for those who don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/194 "2013-07-20T18:10:14Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > Without love there could be no truth. > It does work for everyone who chooses love. > It won’t work for those who don’t. Tommy Syndrome. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/195 "2013-07-20T18:26:20Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > Without love there could be no truth. A silly statement, the two have nothing to do with one another. If anything love tends to be associated with lies and self delusion, not truth. ---
**Author:** ![Okieshowedem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/okieshowedem/32/7278_2.png) [@Okieshowedem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okieshowedem)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/196 "2013-07-21T04:02:49Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > God would have better grammar. It’s “Whom”, not “Who”. Come on man READ BETWEEN the lines. Okie ---
**Author:** ![Okieshowedem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/okieshowedem/32/7278_2.png) [@Okieshowedem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okieshowedem)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/197 "2013-07-21T04:11:19Z")
To God goes all the blame, lets see we live in a world that prayer is offered to God a gazillion time a day. We are about to have nuclear war so ain’t God good? When will the lying preacher boy wake up and smell the roses? Okie ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/198 "2013-07-21T05:56:06Z")
> [@Okieshowedem](#): > > To God goes all the blame, lets see we live in a world that prayer is offered to God a gazillion time a day. We are about to have nuclear war so ain’t God good? When will the lying preacher boy wake up and smell the roses? > > Okie That is news to me, Are you from Oklahoma signing Okie ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/199 "2013-07-21T12:03:15Z")
> [@](#): > > **Gary “Wombat” Robson** : > How many Christian churches do you know of that do not teach that Wiccans and other Pagans are evil and bound for hell? How many Islamic temples teach that Jews are good people? At each church I have attended regularly, there has been no teaching about Wiccans and Pagans. (That’s three different denominations.) I have been taught in all three that I’m in no position to judge someone else’s redemptive status or personhood. These churches _practice_ love doing such things as raising money for the Food Harvest Bank, sending warm clothing to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, and comforting those who are in pain. I couldn’t begin to list them all. BTW, one of the denominations speaks of “Father-Mother God.” I think I saw every reference here referring to God as “him.” I don’t think that “Father-Mother God” is that much more accurate, but it was a nice change. Most atheists I’ve known have taken a “live and let live” attitude. It’s rare that I see Christians here bad-mouthing atheists either. I do see a lot of criticism from atheists who post here who find that the best attack is ridicule or absolutely false claims about most Christians. On the other hand, some of the atheists here are very fair in their comments. As for the question about God “letting” a little girl drown: Death is often ugly, sad, and frightening from this side. sometimes. Maybe in the long run, it’s a good thing. (I’m not saying that that is God’s reasoning.) I would not be alive if several people had not died: My maternal great-grand mother’s first husband, my paternal grandfather’s first wife, my paternal grandmother’s first husband, and my grandfather’s first wife. All of these deaths caused a lot of pain and grief. There’s no way that my life could make up for that kind of pain. But I do some good in the world and my death shall come too. I don’t see that as a bad thing. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/200 "2013-07-21T13:56:14Z")
> [@Okieshowedem](#): > > To God goes all the blame, lets see we live in a world that prayer is offered to God a gazillion time a day. We are about to have nuclear war so ain’t God good? When will the lying preacher boy wake up and smell the roses? > > Okie What the hell are you on about? :smack: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422.md?page=11)