I have listened to a few conversations the last few weeks on the nature of god and the atonement. As I have contemplated this, there is something profound that has occurred to me. If there is a god (and I highly doubt there is) he cannot be as the Christian/Mormon god.
This is why....the christian/mormons teach that god is omnipotent, omniscient. They teach that we are made in his image.They teach that god is perfect, they also teach that we are imperfect and that no unclean thing can enter his presence and therefore Jesus must atone for our sins. Let's consider these concepts.
If we are made in god's image, then how is god perfect, clean, and we are imperfect and unclean? We cannot be in his image if he is perfect and we are imperfect.
If god is all powerful, then why does he need to provide a savior to save us? Why is he not powerful enough to save us himself? Why must someone else save us? If god is all powerful, then why can he not be in our presence? He is not all powerful if he is limited by our weaknesses. If god is all powerful, then he can be in our presence, no matter how unclean we are if he so chose to. If god is limited by not being able to be in our presence, then he is not all powerful. This is a flaw in god. If god is flawed, he is not all powerful nor perfect. God is flawed by his own plan.
If god is omniscient, then he has all knowledge. If he has all knowledge of the beginning of time to the end of time, then he knows what we will do and when we will do it. If god knows this, then why are we here being tested? Do the children in India really need to starve to death? Do women Africa need to be brutally raped before they are murdered in genocidal wars? Do pregnant women really need to die in tsunami's? Is this really a test for us? Is any real knowledge gained for us? Doesn't this make god a sociopath to know what pain and suffering people will go through and to make them suffer it anyway?
No. I cannot believe in a flawed, sociopathic god. You may keep your god.
Showing posts with label omnipotence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label omnipotence. Show all posts
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Monday, July 2, 2012
Omnipotence
I have done a lot a studying on the narcissistic personality. It is fascinating to then compare how a corporation can also take on the characteristics of narcissist, as well. How an organization begins, is how it continues, more often than not.
Psychiatrist Robert D. Anderson wrote a book on Joseph Smith, entitled, 'Inside the Mind of Joseph Smith' In it, he makes the suggestion that Joseph Smith may have had a narcissistic personality disorder.
'Anderson draws upon the body of literature, especially the Book of Mormon, produced by observation, experiment, theory, and psychiatric experience in his attempt to understand the founder of Mormonism. He says that splitting, a fundamental of personality weakness, is a major psychological defense demonstrated by the prophet. Its most obvious manifestations are 1) the division of the world into polar opposites and 2) the lack of integration of the various parts of the patient's psyche. The individual may oscillate between two opposite positions. This behavior can be seen in the polarized opposites of the Nephite and Lamanite people depicted in the Book of Mormon, as well as in Smith's ability to present one face in public (such as denying polygamy) while simultaneously converting associates and new plural wives to the principle in private. The individual may also exhibit psychological reversal of attitudes toward particular persons, by switching instantly from compliments to vilification, or of oscillation in moral positions, yet not be troubled in the contradiction. Examples are the instantaneous conversions of Alma, Jr., Zeezrom and the whole Lamanite population in 30 BCE in the Book of Mormon. Another example was Smith's strong opposition to Masonry as a young man, followed by his later becoming a Mason himself and drawing on Masonic ritual for temple ceremonies.' http://www.humanistsofutah.org/2002/InsideTheMindOfJosephSmith_DiscGrp_9-02.html
The narcissist spends his life desperately trying to return to that "eternal world of omnipotent perfection." He therefore creates an artificial, omnipotent self, whose fantasies compensate for the failures of the real world. In a vicious cycle, he consoles himself for his failures by retreating into his fantasies, which, while providing comfort, assure continued failure by preventing him from finding more effective ways to seek success. This pattern continues as a technique throughout life. If his family responds favorably to this false self, as Smith's family did, it will be enhanced.
http://www.humanistsofutah.org/2002/InsideTheMindOfJosephSmith_DiscGrp_9-02.html
Why, the question then needs to be asked, does a group of people follow a narcissist? To glean radiant value from him. People see the charismatic leader as having power and they project that power onto themselves through association. When that leader also promises great reward through association, (eternal life, becoming a god, etc.) then they are willing to give up their wives (polyandry) their money (tithing and consecration) in order to become omnipotent.
They continue to do so today.
Psychiatrist Robert D. Anderson wrote a book on Joseph Smith, entitled, 'Inside the Mind of Joseph Smith' In it, he makes the suggestion that Joseph Smith may have had a narcissistic personality disorder.
'Anderson draws upon the body of literature, especially the Book of Mormon, produced by observation, experiment, theory, and psychiatric experience in his attempt to understand the founder of Mormonism. He says that splitting, a fundamental of personality weakness, is a major psychological defense demonstrated by the prophet. Its most obvious manifestations are 1) the division of the world into polar opposites and 2) the lack of integration of the various parts of the patient's psyche. The individual may oscillate between two opposite positions. This behavior can be seen in the polarized opposites of the Nephite and Lamanite people depicted in the Book of Mormon, as well as in Smith's ability to present one face in public (such as denying polygamy) while simultaneously converting associates and new plural wives to the principle in private. The individual may also exhibit psychological reversal of attitudes toward particular persons, by switching instantly from compliments to vilification, or of oscillation in moral positions, yet not be troubled in the contradiction. Examples are the instantaneous conversions of Alma, Jr., Zeezrom and the whole Lamanite population in 30 BCE in the Book of Mormon. Another example was Smith's strong opposition to Masonry as a young man, followed by his later becoming a Mason himself and drawing on Masonic ritual for temple ceremonies.' http://www.humanistsofutah.org/2002/InsideTheMindOfJosephSmith_DiscGrp_9-02.html
The narcissist spends his life desperately trying to return to that "eternal world of omnipotent perfection." He therefore creates an artificial, omnipotent self, whose fantasies compensate for the failures of the real world. In a vicious cycle, he consoles himself for his failures by retreating into his fantasies, which, while providing comfort, assure continued failure by preventing him from finding more effective ways to seek success. This pattern continues as a technique throughout life. If his family responds favorably to this false self, as Smith's family did, it will be enhanced.
http://www.humanistsofutah.org/2002/InsideTheMindOfJosephSmith_DiscGrp_9-02.html
Why, the question then needs to be asked, does a group of people follow a narcissist? To glean radiant value from him. People see the charismatic leader as having power and they project that power onto themselves through association. When that leader also promises great reward through association, (eternal life, becoming a god, etc.) then they are willing to give up their wives (polyandry) their money (tithing and consecration) in order to become omnipotent.
They continue to do so today.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
If I Were God
If I were God
If I were God would I...
Make one man suffer for all the wrongs and sins of others?
Create humans in my image then call them unnatural and an enemy to myself?
Create humans in a fallen state when I call them the pinnacle of my creations?
Give them emotions and then say half those emotions are evil?
Give them reason and logic and then tell them to blindly obey?
Kill my creations through floods, earthquakes and tsunami's?
Create disease, birth defects and life long pain and suffering?
Give commandments to only a portion of my people that
are a requirement to return to my presence
thus damming the rest of my creations
to hell for simply being born to the
wrong parents and wrong
country and wrong
century?
If I were God would I...
Make one man suffer for all the wrongs and sins of others?
Create humans in my image then call them unnatural and an enemy to myself?
Create humans in a fallen state when I call them the pinnacle of my creations?
Give them emotions and then say half those emotions are evil?
Give them reason and logic and then tell them to blindly obey?
Kill my creations through floods, earthquakes and tsunami's?
Create disease, birth defects and life long pain and suffering?
Give commandments to only a portion of my people that
are a requirement to return to my presence
thus damming the rest of my creations
to hell for simply being born to the
wrong parents and wrong
country and wrong
century?
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