# What About God? Do You Think He is Please With Us? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 16, 2001, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-god-do-you-think-he-is-please-with-us/65614 "2001-05-16T15:34:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wildest\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2001, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-god-do-you-think-he-is-please-with-us/65614/1 "2001-05-16T15:34:18Z")
I mean we all we always question why does God do this or do that. Well what do you say lets flip it around. What do you think He thinks of us(His creation)? Do you think He is pleased with the way we treat each other? Do you think He is happy with the way we fall for so many of the Devil’s tricks and schemes? Do you think He is pleased the way we twist things around in the the Book He gave us to live better lives by? How about the way we try to explain him away with our limited intellect? How about the way we come up with weird religions that let us do what we think is the best instead of the One that was smart enough to create us. What about the way we treated His Son then and now? He sent His Son to bring us back in to Grace with him and some people won’t even believe that he died for their sins so they could have eternal life. Just something to ponder. ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2001, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-god-do-you-think-he-is-please-with-us/65614/2 "2001-05-16T15:46:09Z")
You know, there are a million smartass ways to answer this question. I think I’m going to go with the following, only slightly smartass answer: Your god is perfect and omnipotent, right Bill? That means he has made us exactly the way he wants us to be. So why would he be disappointed with us, since we are precisely what he wanted in the first place? Not that the fundamentalist version of god ever made a lick of sense in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2001, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-god-do-you-think-he-is-please-with-us/65614/3 "2001-05-16T15:50:55Z")
God is pleased with those who love and do not judge. “To judge another is to judge God.” — Marshall Stewart Ball, at age 7 ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2001, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-god-do-you-think-he-is-please-with-us/65614/4 "2001-05-16T16:12:24Z")
> [@](#): > > Do you think He is pleased the way we twist things around in the the Book He gave us to live better lives by? Oh, you mean the Koran? Yes, I’m sure God is displeased by your failure to observe the five pillars of Islam (1-fasting at Ramadan, 2-saying prayers five times a day, 3-making the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once, 4-giving charity to the poor, and 5-making the declaration of faith, “There is no God but God, and Muhummad is his prophet.”) God is especially displeased by your heretical worshipping of the prophet Issa (or “Jesus” as the faithless say) as a god. The Holy Koran says that there is only one God, and Him only shall you worship. ---
**Author:** ![Opus1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/858c86/32.png) [@Opus1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Opus1)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2001, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-god-do-you-think-he-is-please-with-us/65614/5 "2001-05-16T16:15:01Z")
> [@](#): > > What do you think He thinks of us(His creation)? As minty green pointed out, god’s omnipotence implies that he created us exactly as he wants, right down to the molecule. > [@](#): > > Do you think He is pleased with the way we treat each other? Again, the idea of god experiencing “pleasure” or “disgust” at the way humans treat each other (or anything) is a huge anthropopathization. God, in his omniscience, necessarily “feels” the same way about human behavior as we do about the laws of physics. We know that if we drop a ball from a certain height, that it will take a certain amount of time to hit the ground. Ditto for God and human actions. A truly omniscient deity knows how humans will behave as surely as we know how long a dropped ball will take to hit the ground. This complete lack of surprise pretty much negates all possibility of emotion. > [@](#): > > Do you think He is happy with the way we fall for so many of the Devil’s tricks and schemes? Again, yes, everything is exactly as God wants it to be. Or else it wouldn’t be that way! > [@](#): > > Do you think He is pleased the way we twist things around in the the Book He gave us to live better lives by? You mean the Qur’an? > [@](#): > > How about the way we try to explain him away with our limited intellect? No, Jehovah’s not too upset about this. He knows that a lot of people still believe in him. It’s Zeus, Loki, and Osiris who are pissed at our disbelief. > [@](#): > > How about the way we come up with weird religions that let us do what we think is the best instead of the One that was smart enough to create us. I imagine he’s more pissed at people who deny the beauty and depth of his creation, insisting on a 6,000 year old universe and a man with a magic boat when the overwhelming evidence indicates otherwise. Think about it this way: the universe in 15 billion years old. The earth 4.5 billion. Man 4 million. Religion 100,000. Modern religion 6,000. Judaism 3,500. Christianity 2,000. Protestantism 500. If you were God, would you be more upset at someone rejecting something you had worked on for 15 billion years, or some side project which has occupied a mere .0000033% of your divine time? > [@](#): > > What about the way we treated His Son then and now? Which one? Bacchus? Hercules? Balder? > [@](#): > > He sent His Son to bring us back in to Grace with him and some people won’t even believe that he died for their sins so they could have eternal life. Gee, maybe because the evidence is piss poor! > [@](#): > > Just something to ponder. Consider it pondered. ---
**Author:** ![Opus1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/858c86/32.png) [@Opus1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Opus1)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2001, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-god-do-you-think-he-is-please-with-us/65614/6 "2001-05-16T16:17:02Z")
Damn you goboy! Beat me by a minute… ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2001, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-god-do-you-think-he-is-please-with-us/65614/7 "2001-05-16T16:25:38Z")
I’ll be nice Bill. If you are speaking to Christians, who believe in the Bible and the fact that God gave us free will to act as we wish… then I would say, probably not. Not because we’re failing miserably at converting everyone to Christianity (which was our great commandment), but because so many people have taken Christianity and abused its teachings to death, completely ignoring what JESUS HIMSELF said was the most important: Love each other. LOVE EACH OTHER…and once more with feeling: LOVE EACH OTHER. I don’t think God is pleased with Abortion Bombers. I don’t think God is pleased with pro-athletes who only praise God win they win a game. I don’t think God is pleased with people who condemn or judge or harm other people in HIS name. I don’t think God is pleased with people who take “spare the rod and spoil the child” as an excuse to beat the everloving crap out of their kids. When I was little, we were taught that the greatest thing we could hear when we got to heaven would be to hear God say “Well done, good and faithful servant.” I’m often afraid that those words will not be uttered, and so that inspires me to reconsider my words or actions. It’s not out of a fear of God…but a fear that I’m not living the life God wanted. If every Christian did that: worried more about THEIR actions than the actions of OTHERS, which they cannot control… then I think God would be pleased. As for other religions, I can’t speak for them. But I suspect people falter in the Jewish, Moslem and assorted Eastern religions as well. jarbaby ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2001, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-god-do-you-think-he-is-please-with-us/65614/8 "2001-05-16T16:31:49Z")
I just cannot understand why so many people are so eager to put God in a box. “Sure, He’s infinite, but only inasmuch as we can understand and pigeonhole Him.” Lord, forgive them . . . they know not what they do. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2001, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-god-do-you-think-he-is-please-with-us/65614/9 "2001-05-16T16:55:57Z")
Why don’t you ASK God and find out? [channeling mode] Hello God? Hello? ::sound effect of modem screeches:: login:ahunter3 no password required ::create new post:: Manny people have asked me and now I wonder…what do you think of us, generally speaking? ::click post button:: ::refresh for reply:: In general, fascinating and delightful, but you folks are too sheeplike and credulous towards any nitwit that manages to set himself up as source of spiritual wisdom. ::reply to thread:: That makes sense. But what about how we behave, how we treat each other and all that? ::click post button:: ::refresh for reply:: Don’t get me started. You can be loving and kind but too often you tend to be hateful and vindictive. I’ve experienced that first-hand you know. ::reply to thread:: Oh, you mean the, um, events of approx 2000 years ago? ::click post button:: ::refresh for reply:: Precisely my point. I come down for a visit and have an innocent little fling with a cute Jewish chick and you folks are STILL gossipping about it! ---
**Author:** ![KSO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@KSO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KSO)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2001, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-god-do-you-think-he-is-please-with-us/65614/10 "2001-05-16T17:14:30Z")
No, I don’t think God is please with us. But I do believe that all of your base are belong to us. ---
**Author:** ![Wrath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ee7513/32.png) [@Wrath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wrath)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2001, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-god-do-you-think-he-is-please-with-us/65614/11 "2001-05-16T17:14:58Z")
Bill, I think He is quite pleased that you started this thread. Just like He knew you would 😉 ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2001, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-god-do-you-think-he-is-please-with-us/65614/12 "2001-05-16T17:48:00Z")
Huh . . . last time I tried that, **AHunter3** , I ended up with: **_GOD_** has entered chat **andros** : Hey God **_GOD_** : sup? **andros** : nada . . . **_GOD_** : me2 **andros** : so . . . how we doing? **andros** : the human race, I mean? **andros** : are you happy with us? **_GOD_** : ??? **andros** : well, are we doing ok? are you pleased with us? **andros** : hello? **andros** : God, you there? **andros** : God? **_GOD_** : asl? ---
**Author:** ![Wildest\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2001, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-god-do-you-think-he-is-please-with-us/65614/13 "2001-05-16T18:05:39Z")
Thanks for the reply Jarbabyj and definetely thanks for being nice. And it was a very good reply. As far as goboy and opus1, I kinda figured ya’ll would bring up one of those other religions. But the Bible was the book I was talking about. As far as God creating us he also gave us free will so we do have a say in what we do and what we believe or choose not to believe. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2001, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-god-do-you-think-he-is-please-with-us/65614/14 "2001-05-16T18:10:42Z")
Personally, I never question what God does, partly because I’m not at all sure whether God currently does anything that can be detected here on Earth. Setting that aside for the moment, re: a couple of other points in the OP: > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by WildestBill_ > Do you think He is happy with the way we fall for so many of the Devil’s tricks and schemes? Just so we’re on the same page, could you name a few of these “tricks and schemes”? > [@](#): > > Do you think He is pleased the way we twist things around in the the Book He gave us to live better lives by? Are you talking about the “Left Behind” novels? Again, it would be helpful if you could provide one or two examples of this “twisting” of the Biblical message. > [@](#): > > How about the way we come up with weird religions that let us do what we think is the best instead of the One that was smart enough to create us. Sorry to sound like a broken record, but once again, examples, please. Also, I am curious whether you include religions that predate Christianity, or perhaps all non-Christian religions, as part of the “weird” group you refer to. Thanks in advance for your response. ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2001, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-god-do-you-think-he-is-please-with-us/65614/15 "2001-05-16T18:12:44Z")
Free will and an omnipotent/omniscient god are mutually exclusive, Bill. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2001, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-god-do-you-think-he-is-please-with-us/65614/16 "2001-05-16T19:25:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by minty green \* > \*\*Free will and an omnipotent/omniscient god are mutually exclusive, Bill. \*\* Minty, just for fun and because I haven’t had this sort of debate in years, I’m gonna play \ devil’s advocate. Why _couldn’t_ free will and omniscience exist? One’s free will isn’t dependent on someone else’s knowledge. If a Skinnerian behaviorist was able to predict your actions with perfect accuracy, it wouldn’t change the fact that you still made the choices. Unless the omniscient one interfered with my decision making, his omniscience doesn’t limit my freedom to choose. Fenris ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2001, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-god-do-you-think-he-is-please-with-us/65614/17 "2001-05-16T20:01:09Z")
> [@](#): > > Unless the omniscient one interfered with my decision making, his omniscience doesn’t limit my freedom to choose. I knew you were going to say that before you were a gleam in Mama Fenris’ eye. Sorry, but since I know and see all, time is irrelevant. Your future is as transparent to me as your past. I know every step you’ll ever take–because, in a very real sense, it has all already happened. ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2001, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-god-do-you-think-he-is-please-with-us/65614/18 "2001-05-16T20:20:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fenris \* > Why _couldn’t_ free will and omniscience exist? One’s free will isn’t dependent on someone else’s knowledge. If a Skinnerian behaviorist was able to predict your actions with perfect accuracy, it wouldn’t change the fact that you still made the choices. Unless the omniscient one interfered with my decision making, his omniscience doesn’t limit my freedom to choose. Um, yeah, what **minty** said. Doesn’t the fact that something can predict our behavior perfectly imply that our behavior is deterministic, not free? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2001, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-god-do-you-think-he-is-please-with-us/65614/19 "2001-05-16T20:39:48Z")
> [@](#): > > Free will and an omnipotent/omniscient god are mutually exclusive, Bill. This is one of those popular myths along the lines of another that is absurd prima facie, namely, that you cannot prove a negative. (Oh yeah? Prove it!) > [@](#): > > I knew you were going to say that before you were a gleam in Mama Fenris’ eye. Sorry, but since I know and see all, time is irrelevant. Your future is as transparent to me as your past. I know every step you’ll ever take–because, in a very real sense, it has all already happened. This is a bit like Schroedinger’s cat. Yes, from God’s frame of reference, everything has already happened. It’s finished. Over. But also, and equally true, it has not yet even started. The key is in your own statement, “time is irrelevant”. Precisely _because_ it is irrelevant, it does not bear upon your free will. Want to start a thread on this? ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2001, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-god-do-you-think-he-is-please-with-us/65614/20 "2001-05-16T21:27:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by andros \* > \*\* > I knew you were going to say that before you were a gleam in Mama Fenris’ eye. Sorry, but since I know and see all, time is irrelevant. Your future is as transparent to me as your past. I know every step you’ll ever take–because, in a very real sense, it has all already happened. \*\* I was free to make that choice regardless of whether or not someone else knew the outcome. I know that when I get the can-opener out, the cats’ll come a-runnin’. The fact that I _know_ the outcome doesn’t change the fact that the cats made a decision freely. Devil’s advocate Fenris [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-god-do-you-think-he-is-please-with-us/65614.md?page=2)