Which "deity" is offering the best deal?

[-Peacemaker-]

I have to go with Jesus on this one. Part of his package for his followers:

The forgiveness of all one's sins
The chance to know the perfect love of one's creator through an intimate relationship with him
The promise of provision in this life so that one need not worry about what they'll eat or wear.
The promise to spend eternity in paradise.

Here's what I don't want this thread to be about: I don't want it to be about trying to prove which "diety" is real or isn't real. Let's assume for the sake of argument that they're all real and that we're simply shopping for the best of the bunch.

 

[Leyora]

The best deal for what?

Living on Earth, or life after death?

To me, the Christian god sounds like a snake oil salesman or con-artist. For example:

The forgiveness of all one's sins

But God allows sin to exist in the first place.

He reminds me of the person who sells you something that eventually breaks, and then tells you "The only way you can get that fixed if you go through me, and only me."

 

[Rainbow Mage]

Why is it about our being served by the gods? Why is it about what we can get?

 

[Breathe]

A lot of different deities offer similar promises, though.

If we were shopping, I can't imagine picking one deity based on the deal, though, since they're often surprisingly similar in deals. Most offer the love of God and eternity in Paradise, and most offer provisions in this life, and some even offer forgiveness of sins (although it is sometimes in a different way to is used in Christianity).

Regarding having all my sins forgiven easily: I don't know, though, if it sounds too good to be true, it may just well be. That's why we should try to earn the forgiveness of our neighbour whom we have wronged as well, IMHO.

 

[Leyora]

If we were shopping, I can't imagine picking one deity based on the deal, though, since they're often surprisingly similar in deals.

I think the only accurate way, and the way I predict people will respond to this thread, Is not which one is offering the better deal... because like you said, they offer very similar things, but rather I would think it's more akin to who you're more comfortable buying / accepting things from.

A Christian will most like choose their God as that's the "seller" who they most trust and have faith in.

Kind of like how you have a doctor or auto-mechanic that you trust above all else, and have faith they'll get it done.

Though, since most people haven't physically (or whatever term they want to give to finally being face-to-face with their creator) met their "Deity" yet, it's more like getting an offer from someone you know, but have never met yet.

 

[Rainbow Mage]

My gods don't guarantee me an afterlife for devotion, nor do they offer forgiveness for sin. There is no Kemetic idea of sin. If by sin you mean the harm of others, that isn't their place to forgive.

My gods basically are and you either worship them or don't. This will sound strange to you I know, but we're just not that special. They're gods, they don't need us. They don't owe us anything.

If they do help us when we pray its because they are showing kindness, but this is our need for them. They aren't obligated.

 

[Alceste]

I think Buddhism offers the best deal - enlightenment. The absolution deal doesn't pull me in because I don't hate myself, and the immortality thing doesn't pull me in because I don't fear death.

 

[illykitty]

I don't like the idea of all sins being forgiven because someone died. To me it doesn't inspire self improvement or change. If I were to decide on one religion, it would be one that would make me a better person.

 

[Sir Doom]

My god(s) don't give me anything.

 

[Shuddhasattva]

My god(s) don't give me anything.

Well chosen, sir.

 

[kerravon]

Let's assume for the sake of argument that they're all real and that we're simply shopping for the best of the bunch.

My God is a computer programmer, who has all of our brains backed up onto hard disk, and is willing to give us a new computer simulation to go into, which we can even design ourselves. We just have to outline what it is we want. Anything's possible with silicon.

You can't beat that.

Bear in mind that at some point it's pretty pointless and arbitrary, because you could just as well design yourself to be insanely attracted to bananas, and design a planet that is about 95% banana trees.

 

[Shuddhasattva]

My God is a computer programmer, who has all of our brains backed up onto hard disk, and is willing to give us a new computer simulation to go into, which we can even design ourselves. We just have to outline what it is we want. Anything's possible with silicon.

You can't beat that.

Bear in mind that at some point it's pretty pointless and arbitrary, because you could just as well design yourself to be insanely attracted to bananas, and design a planet that is about 95% banana trees.

Whoa, digital metaphysics is profoundly frightening dude.

Think about it. If you can simulate anything, are you really going to simulate a bunch of space and rocks and suffering organisms crawling out of the mud and muck?

We're artefacts in the pornocode, and sooner or later, he's going to debug us, if for no other reason than we're taking up HD room he could be using for more white raisins for Akbar.

:[ The end is nigh.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

My gods promise nothing. They are merely puppets.

 

[kerravon]

Think about it. If you can simulate anything, are you really going to simulate a bunch of space and rocks and suffering organisms crawling out of the mud and muck?

That's the thing that really kills me. I'm not sure I could improve on what we already have, and we may already be living in heaven.

I've been relentlessly pursuing an agenda of spreading liberal democracy worldwide, but I don't really have a plan beyond that. Once that is done I'd have nothing of any interest to actually do and maybe just shoot myself.

 

[Tarheeler]

Well, since I think we are all worshiping the same deity, it's a moot question to me.

But I will say that I didn't convert to Judaism because of the "deal" it offered; I don't believe in hell or the Christian version of heaven. I did it because it provides me with a meaningful connection to God in this life, not for what I might get in the next.

 

[Iti oj]

Ill pick inana

 

[ForeverFaithful]

The best deal for what?

Living on Earth, or life after death?

To me, the Christian god sounds like a snake oil salesman or con-artist. For example:



But God allows sin to exist in the first place.

He reminds me of the person who sells you something that eventually breaks, and then tells you "The only way you can get that fixed if you go through me, and only me."

Sin is a consequence of free will

 

[Gjallarhorn]

Sin is a consequence of free will

Free will is a meaningless concept, but for the sake of argument, free will is a consequence of God.

 

[BruceDLimber]

IOV there is only one God, known by different names in the various languages and cultures.

So there's no question of "which deity offers the best deal" because no multiple deities exist anyway.

Peace,

Bruce

 

[Father Heathen]

The best kind of deity is one who doesn't have a human hand up its posterior, using it as a sock puppet.