# What kind of God would you believe in and follow **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 22, 2013, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643 "2013-03-22T15:12:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![Human\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/301 "2013-03-29T21:48:06Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > Who is the most important Galatians or Jesus. They call it the new testament because it replaces the old. Jesus said: "You have heard it said, but now I tell you… The verse you referenced is from Galatians, it is a letter from Paul to a group of early Christians. If you thought it was from a testament quoting Jesus directly, you were mistaken. Galatians is from the New Testament. > [@lekatt](#): > > Do you believe in “for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.” > > Well if you do you have met the main law of spirituality. > [@lekatt](#): > > But the opposite IMHO only means coming back and not as you said. You should phrase it as “for every action there is an equal reaction”, then. The “opposite” rather contradicts the “like attracts like” idea. > [@Trinopus](#): > > As a (frustrated) fantasy writer, I do it all the time. I’ve constructed numerous (fictional) religions, and, in addition, a couple of significant Christian variants (heresies?) Sort of like what C.S. Lewis did with Aslan or Tolkien with Elbereth. > > It’s FUN! It’s good solid entertainment, and, if you do it honestly, it can actually teach you a lot about life, faith, your fellow man…and yourself. Sure it is, I’ve done enough tabletop roleplaying to know where you’re coming from. Slipping into believing and preaching it is something else, though. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2013, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/302 "2013-03-29T22:25:06Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > The perfect god to me would be one that’s completely hands-off, morally indifferent, and leaves no evidence of its existence. What a coincidence. Just like the one that exists now! Guess that makes us both believers. Who would have thunk. ---
**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:** [March 29, 2013, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/303 "2013-03-29T22:25:57Z")
> [@Human\_Action](#): > > The verse you referenced is from Galatians, it is a letter from Paul to a group of early Christians. If you thought it was from a testament quoting Jesus directly, you were mistaken. > > Galatians is from the New Testament. > > You should phrase it as “for every action there is an equal reaction”, then. The “opposite” rather contradicts the “like attracts like” idea. > > Sure it is, I’ve done enough tabletop roleplaying to know where you’re coming from. Slipping into believing and preaching it is something else, though. Yes, you are correct. Some scholars believe Paul did not write all the letters because of the differences of teaching in them. I tend to agree. The one who wrote the love chapter could not have written some of the negative teachings found in others. During my experience I asked “what about the Bible” and was told all I needed to know could be found in the Love chapter. ---
**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:** [March 30, 2013, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/304 "2013-03-30T01:55:31Z")
Doesn’t matter what your God is like or if you have a God. The real thing is Love. Unconditional love is the answer to a happy successful life. ---
**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:** [March 30, 2013, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/305 "2013-03-30T03:11:14Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > The real thing is Love. > > Unconditional love is the answer to a happy successful life. Nonsense. Unconditional love is foolish to the point of being suicidal. Unconditional anything is foolish. ---
**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:** [March 30, 2013, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/306 "2013-03-30T06:12:40Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Nonsense. Unconditional love is foolish to the point of being suicidal. Unconditional anything is foolish. Not to All-That-Is and me. ---
**Author:** ![Human\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/307 "2013-03-30T13:28:04Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > Yes, you are correct. Some scholars believe Paul did not write all the letters because of the differences of teaching in them. I tend to agree. The one who wrote the love chapter could not have written some of the negative teachings found in others. Why not? The same man (Martin Luther) wrote both these statements about the Jews: > [@](#): > > If we really want to help them, we must be guided in our dealings with them not by papal law but by the law of Christian love. We must receive them cordially, and permit them to trade and work with us, that they may have occasion and opportunity to associate with us, hear our Christian teaching, and witness our Christian life. If some of them should prove stiff-necked, what of it? After all, we ourselves are not all good Christians either. > [@](#): > > First, to set fire to their synagogues or schools and to bury and cover with dirt whatever will not burn, so that no man will ever again see a stone or cinder of them. This is to be done in honor of our Lord and of Christendom, so that God might see that we are Christians, and do not condone or knowingly tolerate such public lying, cursing, and blaspheming of his Son and of his Christians…Second, I advise that their houses also be razed and destroyed. For they pursue in them the same aims as in their synagogues. Instead they might be lodged under a roof or in a barn, like the gypsies. Consistency and religion are seldom on friendly terms. > [@lekatt](#): > > During my experience I asked “what about the Bible” and was told all I needed to know could be found in the Love chapter. Which raises the question of why the rest of the Bible was conveyed to man by God. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/308 "2013-03-30T14:03:56Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Nonsense. Unconditional love is foolish to the point of being suicidal. Unconditional anything is foolish. It depends on how you define it, or see it in application doesn’t it? Unconditional love doesn’t means giving others anything they want. That would be irresponsible love. ---
**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:** [March 30, 2013, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/309 "2013-03-30T15:32:20Z")
> [@Human\_Action](#): > > Why not? The same man (Martin Luther) wrote both these statements about the Jews: > > Consistency and religion are seldom on friendly terms. > > Which raises the question of why the rest of the Bible was conveyed to man by God. The Bible was written and conveyed to man by man. God is love unconditional love all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Human\_Action](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@Human\_Action](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Human_Action)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/310 "2013-03-30T15:36:45Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > It depends on how you define it, or see it in application doesn’t it? > Unconditional love doesn’t means giving others anything they want. That would be irresponsible love. Isn’t responsibility a condition? > [@lekatt](#): > > The Bible was written and conveyed to man by man. God is love unconditional love all the time. Confused here. So, the “love” chapter wasn’t divinely inspired, but happened to get it right, and so is endorsed by God after the fact? ---
**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:** [March 30, 2013, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/311 "2013-03-30T18:17:59Z")
> [@Human\_Action](#): > > Isn’t responsibility a condition? > > Confused here. So, the “love” chapter wasn’t divinely inspired, but happened to get it right, and so is endorsed by God after the fact? If it is unconditional love it is God otherwise not. Jesus taught unconditional love. It is all around you everywhere just waiting to be noticed. Not that difficult. ---
**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:** [March 30, 2013, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/312 "2013-03-30T19:32:04Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > It depends on how you define it, or see it in application doesn’t it? > Unconditional love doesn’t means giving others anything they want. That would be irresponsible love. As said, responsibility is a condition. “Unconditional love” would mean that you still love someone while they carve you up with a knife and eat the pieces as you watch. It’s lunacy, pure and simple. It’s an example of the fondness Christianity and its derivatives have for throwing around infinite qualities without thinking through the logic, like all the “omnis” they attribute to their god. _And_ their ridiculous fetish for “love” like it’s some intrinsic good. ---
**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:** [March 30, 2013, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/313 "2013-03-30T19:46:07Z")
Many have said they want a God that will show Himself, but do nothing to show themselves. God is unconditional love and responds in kind. When we are more concerned with survival than we are with living we miss the point. Unconditional love is giving gas money to a stranger that asks for it. Opening a door and holding it for someone less agile. Taking in a stray dog or cat and seeing it has a good home with you or a friend. Encouraging one who is depressed or down. Give them a hug. Listening to those you don’t agree with calming without judging. Forgiving those who have treated you badly or harmed you. Learning to love those that seem unlovable. Do not resist evil, if someone demands money give it to him without a struggle. If someone needs help give or get help for him. If someone asks you to take them to the store also wait and bring them nome. Anything you do without expecting anything in return is unconditional love. Show unconditional love and you will lose all fear and hear God speak to you. God is a powerful ally who never deserts you. Love is the key to open the door. ---
**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:** [March 30, 2013, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/314 "2013-03-30T19:54:36Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > As said, responsibility is a condition. “Unconditional love” would mean that you still love someone while they carve you up with a knife and eat the pieces as you watch. It’s lunacy, pure and simple. > > It’s an example of the fondness Christianity and its derivatives have for throwing around infinite qualities without thinking through the logic, like all the “omnis” they attribute to their god. _And_ their ridiculous fetish for “love” like it’s some intrinsic good. No matter how macho rough and tough someone is, they will be brought down in a puddle of tears by love’s touch. With love there is no need for protection. ---
**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:** [March 30, 2013, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/315 "2013-03-30T19:59:29Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > No matter how macho rough and tough someone is, they will be brought down in a puddle of tears by love’s touch. With love there is no need for protection. A ridiculous claim, and one that gets plenty of overly optimistic people hurt or killed when they think they can “change” some abuser, psychopath or psychotic. The real world isn’t like that. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2013, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/316 "2013-03-30T20:25:35Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > No matter how macho rough and tough someone is, they will be brought down in a puddle of tears by love’s touch. With love there is no need for protection. _Chicken Soup for the Soul_? Sorry, but that is one of the glurgiest, syrupiest, cheesiest lines I’ve heard on this board. ---
**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:** [March 30, 2013, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/317 "2013-03-30T20:28:55Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > A ridiculous claim, and one that gets plenty of overly optimistic people hurt or killed when they think they can “change” some abuser, psychopath or psychotic. The real world isn’t like that. But I have done that: many times helped people not to commit suicide and feel better about themselves. Once hired a person right out of a mental institution and he change into a great delivery person for my company. Love changes things. I don’t recommend just anyone trying to do that. Certainly not those who are afraid of those people. It is necessary to love first before helping others. I have 12 pages of “thank you” notes on my site. Start small with love and work up, it is very powerful. ---
**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:** [March 30, 2013, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/318 "2013-03-30T20:38:09Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > _Chicken Soup for the Soul_? Sorry, but that is one of the glurgiest, syrupiest, cheesiest lines I’ve heard on this board. These quotes are from one who loves completely. Much more than I. “There are no guarantees. From the viewpoint of fear, none are strong enough. From the viewpoint of love, none are necessary.” ``` "Every moment of your life you are offered the opportunity to choose -- Love or fear, to tread the earth, or to soar the heavens." "Your entire human experience is predicated on your viewpoint. Your viewpoint is predicated on your inner belief system and that is predicated on how much you believe in fear and how much you believe in love." ``` ---
**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:** [March 30, 2013, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/319 "2013-03-30T21:09:16Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > But I have done that: If you had with anyone actually dangerous, you would likely be dead instead of posting here. ---
**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:** [March 30, 2013, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643/320 "2013-03-30T22:37:19Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > If you had with anyone actually dangerous, you would likely be dead instead of posting here. Well one I called the police on another try to hit me but I talked him out of it. I think they were dangerous enough. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-god-would-you-believe-in-and-follow/653643.md?page=17)