# What WILL God Do? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 26, 2006, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-god-do/346195 "2006-02-26T17:57:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-god-do/346195/1 "2006-02-26T17:57:34Z")
…when men start usurping god-like powers? For example, suppose scientists find a way to synthesize living organisms…and find a way to extend human lifespans indefinitely? Suppose further, that hunger, disease, poverty are banished from human existance…what then? God seems to be taking human progress in stride-we haven’t had real prophets since about 200 BC. Jesus gave his message about 2000 years ago…and there hasn’t been much in the way of direct revelation since then. So what’s your take on this? Will the almighty complement his children, or shower us with thunderbolts for our impertinence? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-god-do/346195/2 "2006-02-26T18:04:07Z")
Probably just continue not existing. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-god-do/346195/3 "2006-02-26T18:06:14Z")
I think He will pack up and find another line of work. 🙂 -XT ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-god-do/346195/4 "2006-02-26T18:09:00Z")
I reject practically every one of your premises. You’ve not defined God, and thus have equivocated between Godly and god-like. You’ve presumed that indefinite lifespan is a when rather than an if. You’ve declared that it is god-like to banish hunger, poverty, etc., despite that Jesus said the poor will be with us always. You’ve made assertions about real prophets without specifying whether real ones are the ones we put sugar on. Besides, science has the ability to feed every person in the world but hasn’t, so clearly what scientists know how to do has very little bearing on the Godliness of man. It is already known what God does for individuals who are like him. The question with respect to mankind as a whole makes no sense. God does not invite societies to be with Him, but individuals. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-god-do/346195/5 "2006-02-26T18:13:02Z")
What did He do when man was impertinent enough to grow crops and tend livestock, instead of hunting and gathering food where He had placed it? How about building structures instead of using natural God-built shelters, and saving lives via medicine? Maybe he’s saving up His anger from all the way back then! We are **FUCKED**. And that’s this Sunday’s sermon from Reverend Tim. Be generous at the collection plate, and don’t forget to tip your waitress. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-god-do/346195/6 "2006-02-26T20:29:30Z")
[QUOTE=ralph124c] Jesus gave his message about 2000 years ago..and there hasn’t been much in the way of direct revelation since then. [/QUOTE] I think followers of the prophet Mohammad would disagree with you there. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-god-do/346195/7 "2006-02-26T20:39:41Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] You’ve made assertions about real prophets without specifying whether real ones are the ones we put sugar on. [/QUOTE] Prophet-a-roles? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-god-do/346195/8 "2006-02-26T20:40:25Z")
Unless we actually start creating universes (not to mention cultivate omnipotence and omniscience) I don’t think we’re much of a competition. The OP has an overinflated view of humanity’s achievements. We haven’t even left our solar system yet! ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2006, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-god-do/346195/9 "2006-02-26T21:45:42Z")
[QUOTE=Alessan] The OP has an overinflated view of humanity’s achievements. We haven’t even left our solar system yet! [/QUOTE] Well…no human has left yet but Voyager I has left the solar system. But I am just being a nitpicky pain and agree with you. I think we have a LONG way to go before we advanced enough that God might feel we are able to intrude on his (or her if you prefer) domain. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-god-do/346195/10 "2006-02-27T01:00:44Z")
[QUOTE=Barbarian] I think followers of the prophet Mohammad would disagree with you there. [/QUOTE] Not to mention followers of Joseph Smith and people who study a Course in Miricles, to name a couple of more,…although there are others. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-god-do/346195/11 "2006-02-27T01:53:26Z")
Abandon this experiment and go make another universe? After all, it’s only a weeks work. I believe it was David Hume in his discussion of the “pocketwatch on the beach” argument who suggested that this world might be just a half-assed (I don’t think Hume put it quite that way) practice session of an apprentice God. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-god-do/346195/12 "2006-02-27T04:03:14Z")
> [@](#): > > I think He will pack up and find another line of work. Maybe He’ll go to back to school and get his degree. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-god-do/346195/13 "2006-02-27T04:20:43Z")
Well, we have built buildings much taller than the Tower of Babel, and he hasn’t done squat. Either he doesn’t exist, he’s on vacation, or he’s in a coma in a hospital in New Jersey. ---
**Author:** ![MissMossie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@MissMossie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissMossie)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-god-do/346195/14 "2006-02-27T04:24:33Z")
This made me think of a joke I recently heard that goes along with the point that, I believe, **Alessan** was making. > [@](#): > > God and a scientist were talking one day about humanity’s scientific accomplishments. The scientist says to God, “Science has finally elevated human’s to your level, God. We too can now breathe life into dirt.” God responds, “Yeah, but where are you going to get the dirt?” I’m going to wander back to MPSIMS now…I feel a bit overwhelmed in GD. -Mosquito ---
**Author:** ![ayalabmaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@ayalabmaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ayalabmaj)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-god-do/346195/15 "2006-02-27T05:22:51Z")
[QUOTE=Alessan] The OP has an overinflated view of humanity’s achievements. We haven’t even left our solar system yet! [/QUOTE] Huh, God needs to catch up with _us_. That underachiever hasn’t even left the realm of the fictitious yet. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2006, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-god-do/346195/16 "2006-02-27T06:19:11Z")
**ralph** , we aren’t threatening God’s territory yet. If you are a believer, then think of whatever we learn that is true and workable as a “gift.” ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-god-do/346195/17 "2006-02-28T10:44:44Z")
[QUOTE=jjimm] Prophet-a-roles? [/QUOTE] :smack: :smite: ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-god-do/346195/18 "2006-02-28T11:54:05Z")
Have some alternatives: - Ra, the Sun God, is resting (please leave a message after the tone) - after men explore the Universe(s), they realise God doesn’t exist - religious fundamentalists, having forbidden the teaching of evolution, forbid the use of science - aliens reveal God was just a joke that got out of hand ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-god-do/346195/19 "2006-02-28T21:29:10Z")
Or still others: - Christ, the Son of God, returns (please form two lines) - after men realize they can’t explore squat more than a lightyear away, they give up - ignorant scientists, having lost all concern over ethics, forbid the worship of God - aliens reveal God has given them substantially the same revelation He has given us ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2006, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-god-do/346195/20 "2006-02-28T22:00:02Z")
He will fall to his death somewhere in the Atlantic. A disgraced oil tanker captain will be drafted to tow the Corpus Dei to the Artic where his body will be frozen until sold to the American Babtist Confederation where it will be the center peice of Celestial City, an theme park. At least according to James Morrow, that is. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-god-do/346195.md?page=2)