# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/121 "2013-07-19T11:36:57Z")
> [@Okieshowedem](#): > > [http://www.yahweh.com/htmls/Book-of-Yahweh/BoY.html](http://www.yahweh.com/htmls/Book-of-Yahweh/BoY.html) > > Okie More likely that it was from some human who said it was from Yahweh. Sorry if this is a double post! ---
**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, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/122 "2013-07-19T12:16:27Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Not true, sir. Not true. > > First hand experience here. A plea for help is often simply ignored by an impersonal universe. > > God may have talked to you, but he gave me the cold shoulder. > > I will not call you a liar… But what you say is, in at least one instance, absolutely not true. It is absolutely true. Perhaps you are the one who ignored the answer. ---
**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 19, 2013, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/123 "2013-07-19T12:46:07Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > It is absolutely true. Perhaps you are the one who ignored the answer. Not my fault god is a low talker. ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/124 "2013-07-19T13:45:01Z")
> [@Okieshowedem](#): > > Would like to know if ours reads the same. > thanks > > Okie Don’t really have one… Just remembered something from some old religion class about writing Hebrew in English letters. ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/125 "2013-07-19T13:48:06Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > It is absolutely true. Perhaps you are the one who ignored the answer. It isn’t. Ask any child being molested on a regular basis by a family member. Ask anyone starving to death in the middle of a war zone. Ask anyone slowly dying of a painful disease who isn’t being allowed to die. ---
**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, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/126 "2013-07-19T13:55:50Z")
> [@hotflungwok](#): > > It isn’t. Ask any child being molested on a regular basis by a family member. Ask anyone starving to death in the middle of a war zone. Ask anyone slowly dying of a painful disease who isn’t being allowed to die. 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. ---
**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, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/127 "2013-07-19T14:03:26Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Not my fault god is a low talker. Really? A man was caught in a flash flood and climbed to the roof of his house. A boat came along and offered to take him to safety. He replied “no thanks, God will save me.” Then 30 minutes later a helicopter appeared and tossed him a harness. He said “no thanks, God will save me.” The house turned over and the man drown. When he got to heaven he asked God “why didn’t you save me.” God said “I sent you a boat and a helicopter what more did you want.” Within each problem is the solution. ---
**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, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/128 "2013-07-19T14:16:24Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > Really? > > A man was caught in a flash flood and climbed to the roof of his house. A boat came along and offered to take him to safety. He replied “no thanks, God will save me.” Then 30 minutes later a helicopter appeared and tossed him a harness. He said “no thanks, God will save me.” The house turned over and the man drown. When he got to heaven he asked God “why didn’t you save me.” God said “I sent you a boat and a helicopter what more did you want.” “Why did you send the flash flood, God? If you were trying to teach me a lesson, couldn’t you do it without causing millions in damage, causing injury and death to the townspeople and making an untold number of them homeless?” ---
**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, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/129 "2013-07-19T14:19:45Z")
> [@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. How about blaming God for his own _in_action? If he can’t protect the most innocent when no one else is there to do so, why should _we_ seek guidance from him? ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/130 "2013-07-19T14:19:49Z")
> [@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. Well, first, yes I blame god. He’s responsible for everything, isn’t he? He made the rapist that way. And second, this isn’t about it being god’s fault or not. This is about asking god for help and getting nothing in return. And that’s what’s going on. Your assertion here is you admitting that god doesn’t answer prayers for help. If he did, there would be no reason for man to have do anything in these situations. In the meantime, the child’s prayers go unanswered, just as if nothing was out there listening at all. ---
**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, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/131 "2013-07-19T14:24:30Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > “Why did you send the flash flood, God? If you were trying to teach me a lesson, couldn’t you do it without causing millions in damage, causing injury and death to the townspeople and making an untold number of them homeless?” What makes you think He sent the flash flood? You learn that in Church? ---
**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, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/132 "2013-07-19T14:26:12Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > How about blaming God for his own _in_action? If he can’t protect the most innocent when no one else is there to do so, why should _we_ seek guidance from him? He does hold you safe and secure at all times. Nothing can harm you. You are not your body. ---
**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, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/133 "2013-07-19T14:27:50Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > What makes you think He sent the flash flood? You learn that in Church? I was responding to your much-overtold trite story with an obvious response. ---
**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, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/134 "2013-07-19T14:30:45Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > He does hold you safe and secure at all times. Nothing can harm you. You are not your body. As a former child abuse victim let me tell you that you are treading on _very_ thin ice here. You have neither the knowledge or the right to tell me that I was safe, secure or unharmed. ---
**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, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/135 "2013-07-19T14:31:29Z")
> [@hotflungwok](#): > > Well, first, yes I blame god. He’s responsible for everything, isn’t he? He made the rapist that way. > > And second, this isn’t about it being god’s fault or not. This is about asking god for help and getting nothing in return. And that’s what’s going on. Your assertion here is you admitting that god doesn’t answer prayers for help. If he did, there would be no reason for man to have do anything in these situations. In the meantime, the child’s prayers go unanswered, just as if nothing was out there listening at all. 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. ---
**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, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/136 "2013-07-19T14:34:19Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > As a former child abuse victim let me tell you that you are treading on _very_ thin ice here. You have neither the knowledge or the right to tell me that I was safe, secure or unharmed. I was also. I do have the knowledge to tell you how safe you were. After all you are here today and able to communicate. You are still safe. ---
**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, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/137 "2013-07-19T14:42:17Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > I was also. I do have the knowledge to tell you how safe you were. After all you are here today and able to communicate. You are still safe. Raped and bruised are pretty damn far from “safe”. Being able to communicate now means that I was safe and secure in the past? Go talk to a former P.O.W. about that…but you had better wear your running shoes. ---
**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 19, 2013, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/138 "2013-07-19T15:32:29Z")
> [@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. I see no reason to believe in a god who relies on prophets. “God told me to tell you” is very poor business model. If god wanted me to know the truth you believe, he would give me the same divine revelation you had. He hasn’t, so I see no reason to believe. ---
**Author:** ![hotflungwok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/edb3f5/32.png) [@hotflungwok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotflungwok)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2013, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/139 "2013-07-19T16:01:35Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > God does answer prayer but sometimes it is a no. Exactly as if you were praying to a horseshoe. Why bother praying then? > [@](#): > > You may be asking for something you can fix yourself. There is an old saying: “God helps those that help themselves.” Tell that to the child being molested. If I’m doing it myself, why do I need god? > [@](#): > > You are here to learn to love. When you do all your questions will be answered. You clearly do not know what the word love means. Or answer. ---
**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, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422/140 "2013-07-19T16:07:18Z")
Children can love their parents and still get beaten, raped and killed. What prayer is God answering in those cases? “Oh God, don’t let me get caught!”? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-sure-you-know-who-god-is/663422.md?page=8)