What do you think God's reasons are for hiding himself?

[URAVIP2ME]

What is not refreshing about those things is that there are absolutely no guarantees. As a form of evidence I would offer all of the predictions about the end of the world that have come and gone, or all of the times people were so sure that all of these sorts of prophecies would be brought to culmination during their life-times... but, of course, they died. The pattern of non-completion (or else "completion" only by means of amazing stretches of the imagination) of these kinds of wild prophecies is so ridiculously compelling that it is a bafflement why anyone would keep rehashing these things with even an ounce of confidence. And yet here you are...

The ' so sure ' thinking does Not make the Bible as wrong, but just made the calculations or guesses as wrong.
I find at Proverbs 4:18 that spiritual light (biblical education) would grow lighter and brighter with the passing of time.
Daniel 12:4,9 points to the time when people would go ' to and fro ' criss crossing through the pages of Scripture and find answers. One BIG clue today is connected to the vast international proclaiming about God's kingdom government of Daniel 2:44. That spiritual work is being done on such a large global scale as Matthew 24:14; Acts 1:8 says that people even in remote areas of Earth can now have Scripture in their own mother tongue or native language as never before in history. So, that coupled also with words such as found at Luke 21:11 mentioning the type of earthquakes we have today as ' great ' earthquakes shows we are nearing the soon coming ' time of separation ' to take place on Earth as described in the illustration found at Matthew 25:31-33,37.

 

[Sunstone]

If you'd created humanity, you'd run and hide too.

 

[Stevicus]

If you'd created humanity, you'd run and hide too.

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

The ' so sure ' thinking does Not make the Bible as wrong, but just made the calculations or guesses as wrong.
I find at Proverbs 4:18 that spiritual light (biblical education) would grow lighter and brighter with the passing of time.
Daniel 12:4,9 points to the time when people would go ' to and fro ' criss crossing through the pages of Scripture and find answers. One BIG clue today is connected to the vast international proclaiming about God's kingdom government of Daniel 2:44. That spiritual work is being done on such a large global scale as Matthew 24:14; Acts 1:8 says that people even in remote areas of Earth can now have Scripture in their own mother tongue or native language as never before in history. So, that coupled also with words such as found at Luke 21:11 mentioning the type of earthquakes we have today as ' great ' earthquakes shows we are nearing the soon coming ' time of separation ' to take place on Earth as described in the illustration found at Matthew 25:31-33,37.

It is incredibly likely that people will still be pointing at those passages and making claims just as empty as yours - with just as much fervor and confidence - in the year 2500... the year 3000... the year 5000. People have been doing it for hundreds of years already. Why not thousands? You're in keeping with an already historic tradition.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

It is incredibly likely that people will still be pointing at those passages and making claims just as empty as yours - with just as much fervor and confidence - in the year 2500... the year 3000... the year 5000. People have been doing it for hundreds of years already. Why not thousands? You're in keeping with an already historic tradition.

I find because Jesus emphasized the time frame at Matthew 24:32-34 in the MAJOR fulfillment about these last days of badness on Earth happening within that generation's time frame is Not an empty claim and that would Not include many more years. I hear on the news, Not empty claims, but now reporters saying ' as never before in recorded history ' in connections to world conditions today. When before in history have people in earth's remote areas been able to have Scripture in their own mother tongue or native languages. Modern technology has made possible rapid Bible translation possible so people everywhere can have Scripture. No other book has been translated into so many languages as now.
Also, as to 'why not thousands' is also because of the recorded words found at 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3.
When ' they ' (powers that be) are saying, " Peace and Security " ( even Pres. Trump this afternoon used those words in his today's speech ) those words will prove to be the precursor to the coming great tribulation of Revelation 7:14 before Jesus, as Prince of Peace, ushers in global Peace on Earth among people of goodwill.
So, we are nearing the ' final phase ' of Matthew 24:14; Acts 1:18 in international preaching scope, and we are nearing hearing the ' final signal ' of 1 Thess. before the political surprisingly turns on the religious.

 

[Milton Platt]

For so many people, it just seems like God isn't there. What do you think God's reasons are for hiding himself and demanding that people have faith, rather than just give everybody proof, and speak so that the ears can hear?

Nobody knows exactly, but you might have some helpful insights from your opinion about the matter.

I think it all comes down to the scripture, "without faith it is impossible to please God"... If we had proof and could hear him clearly, that would deprive us of the ability to have faith... And without it we can't please God.

Then the question is, why is it so important to have faith?

I guess I have to accept that that's just the way God is... Even if it does drive me nuts

Have you ever received a clear message from God?

The invisible and the non-existent look a great deal alike......

 

[syo]

For so many people, it just seems like God isn't there. What do you think God's reasons are for hiding himself and demanding that people have faith, rather than just give everybody proof, and speak so that the ears can hear?

god isn't hiding. he sent jesus, isn't that enough?

 

[JerryG]

It has always been my hope to be like everyone else. But I suffer the affliction of having had a lifetime of spiritual encounters. So I was given a job to do. There have been many religious prophets in the history of man. That is not my job. I am a scientific prophet of God. Since 1981 I have attempted to understand what I have been told. My latest book "Cosmic Reincarnation and the Dual Light-Speed Universe" explains God and the Universe to mankind.
You ask why God is quiet. It seems to me that the certainty of God negates free will. This would help to turn man into a robotic creature. Long ago God created Adam and Eve in God's spiritual energy. They were robots. So God brought the image of man into the physical world. The Darwinian evolutionary process was guided by the spiritual energy to create evolved and independent man. Only a few men have ever had direct communication with God. This enables people to believe or disbelieve. It gives man human freedom. In the end of the process a spiritual Adam and Eve will be produced composed of the souls of billions of billions of individuals. together with the evolved angels of God, the free and independent entities will love God.

 

[ThePainefulTruth]

It has always been my hope to be like everyone else. But I suffer the affliction of having had a lifetime of spiritual encounters. So I was given a job to do. There have been many religious prophets in the history of man. That is not my job. I am a scientific prophet of God. Since 1981 I have attempted to understand what I have been told. My latest book "Cosmic Reincarnation and the Dual Light-Speed Universe" explains God and the Universe to mankind.
You ask why God is quiet. It seems to me that the certainty of God negates free will. This would help to turn man into a robotic creature. Long ago God created Adam and Eve in God's spiritual energy. They were robots. So God brought the image of man into the physical world. The Darwinian evolutionary process was guided by the spiritual energy to create evolved and independent man. Only a few men have ever had direct communication with God. This enables people to believe or disbelieve. It gives man human freedom. In the end of the process a spiritual Adam and Eve will be produced composed of the souls of billions of billions of individuals. together with the evolved angels of God, the free and independent entities will love God.

That "the certainty of God negates free will", applies to us all, no exceptions. And any supernatural exceptions to this natural, rational stage would enable that certainty. It took me 20 years after becoming a deist to finally, as traumatically as I'd accepted that deism, accept that fact.

 

[ThePainefulTruth]

The invisible and the non-existent look a great deal alike......

Same thing with atheism and deism. From this life in this natural universe, the only difference is hope.

 

[Woberts]

Consider the following:

 

[Samantha Rinne]

For so many people, it just seems like God isn't there. What do you think God's reasons are for hiding himself and demanding that people have faith, rather than just give everybody proof, and speak so that the ears can hear?

Nobody knows exactly, but you might have some helpful insights from your opinion about the matter.

Have you ever received a clear message from God?

Color blindness - Wikipedia

Consider the implications of color blindness, with regard to faith.

Those with faith are able to see God's hand in events. Those without, believe God is hidden.

Yes, it's simple as that.

 

[Milton Platt]

Same thing with atheism and deism. From this life in this natural universe, the only difference is hope.

what good is hope that is not grounded in reality?

 

[Cary Cook]

For so many people, it just seems like God isn't there. What do you think God's reasons are for hiding himself and demanding that people have faith, rather than just give everybody proof, and speak so that the ears can hear?

Nobody knows exactly, but you might have some helpful insights from your opinion about the matter.

I think it all comes down to the scripture, "without faith it is impossible to please God"... If we had proof and could hear him clearly, that would deprive us of the ability to have faith... And without it we can't please God.

Then the question is, why is it so important to have faith?

I guess I have to accept that that's just the way God is... Even if it does drive me nuts

Have you ever received a clear message from God?

This entire problem is caused by the belief that the God to whom we are accountable inspired scripture as an authoritative statement of his will.

 

[ThePainefulTruth]

This entire problem is caused by the belief that the God to whom we are accountable inspired scripture as an authoritative statement of his will.

Or...people just made it all up.

 

[Samantha Rinne]

Or...people just made it all up.

More or less what the person said. God, and there is a God, would not necessarily operate in the way people define him, and may not even care about followers.

Suppose you were God, and had a completely different reason for creating the universe than people thought (e.g. boredom). You might not want your creations to see you because it would mean them fawning all over you, asking you to grant wishes.

Or God might be a massive voyeur. Having humans get naked all of the time, so you could look at them.

 

[Cary Cook]

Or...people just made it all up.

I agree. I was answering from within PopeADope's theistic worldview.
Of course the problem would also be eliminated by assuming that people just made theism up.

 

[Cary Cook]

More or less what the person said. God, and there is a God, would not necessarily operate in the way people define him, and may not even care about followers.

Suppose you were God, and had a completely different reason for creating the universe than people thought (e.g. boredom). You might not want your creations to see you because it would mean them fawning all over you, asking you to grant wishes.

Or God might be a massive voyeur. Having humans get naked all of the time, so you could look at them.

I agree with all of these possibilities, and think the best course of action is to bet on the possibility that would result in the best outcome if you bet right.

 

[ThePainefulTruth]

More or less what the person said. God, and there is a God, would not necessarily operate in the way people define him, and may not even care about followers.

1. Declaring that there is a God doesn't make it so.
2. I define God differently than almost everybody else. God = Truth, even if there is no sentient super consciousness. To say otherwise is to make "God" a lie. It's a correct statement even if I have no clue as to what the Truth actually is. My first assumption is that God created the universe to spawn fully self-aware creatures with free will. I could be wrong. But if I am, then there is almost certainly no divine super-sentient God, just the inert Truth.
3. Why would God create us and then not care about us. It's laissez-faire Prime Directive is for our benefit as well as God's.

Suppose you were God, and had a completely different reason for creating the universe than people thought (e.g. boredom). You might not want your creations to see you because it would mean them fawning all over you, asking you to grant wishes.

Billions of us do that anyway. And I expect God would prefer that we didn't have to suffer, but it's unavoidable if we are to be truly tested. And whatever else this is, it is a test, if God exists.

Or God might be a massive voyeur. Having humans get naked all of the time, so you could look at them.

I think you're overlaying God with your own fantasies there. God could make angels/demons for that without all this troublesome free will rigamarole. I won't even go into all the divine masturbatory possibilities.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Same thing with atheism and deism. From this life in this natural universe, the only difference is hope.

... and reason. The main difference between deism and other sorts of theism is that deism denies the existence of anything that could serve as proof of a god, but then asserts a god anyway.