What does God want

[dfnj]

Most people think God wants people to achieve salvation according to the Bible is our most important purpose with respect to God. I do not think this is the case. If God were interested in salvation, or having a factory for producing saved souls then things would be different.

It seems there is no amount of evil God will not tolerate in order to preserve our free-will. Based on my experiences, it seems to me God is completely indifferent about the sins of man.

And what difference does it make to an omnipotent God. God needs absolutely nothing from us. It's not like God is going to die if not enough souls make it into Heaven. After a few billion souls get into Heaven or Hell, what difference does it make if a billion more go either way? I don't think it matters.

So what DOES matter to God? I think the way the Universe exists is for God's entertainment. The Universe is a reality TV show for God. What God wants, in my opinion, is unimaginable possibilities. God wants culture and great works of art and theater.

If you look at the way quantum mechanics works, and how laws of nature always turn out to be much stranger than anything we could have ever imagined, it seems the Universe is organized and designed to create possibilities. Everything is energy cascading into rogue waves converging to points of creativity never thought of before or realized before in reality.

I think what God wants is possibility in reality. Anything that creates culture and interest is good. Anything that destroys culture and creativity is evil. At least that's the moral compass I am going to go with.

 

[`mud]

That's a very large bush you run about !
Given that `God` exists at all, where in the hell is `He` ?

 

[PureX]

Most people think God wants people to achieve salvation according to the Bible is our most important purpose with respect to God. I do not think this is the case. If God were interested in salvation, or having a factory for producing saved souls then things would be different.

It seems there is no amount of evil God will not tolerate in order to preserve our free-will. Based on my experiences, it seems to me God is completely indifferent about the sins of man.

And what difference does it make to an omnipotent God. God needs absolutely nothing from us. It's not like God is going to die if not enough souls make it into Heaven. After a few billion souls get into Heaven or Hell, what difference does it make if a billion more go either way? I don't think it matters.

So what DOES matter to God? I think the way the Universe exists is for God's entertainment. The Universe is a reality TV show for God. What God wants, in my opinion, is unimaginable possibilities. God wants culture and great works of art and theater.

If you look at the way quantum mechanics works, and how laws of nature always turn out to be much stranger than anything we could have ever imagined, it seems the Universe is organized and designed to create possibilities. Everything is energy cascading into rogue waves converging to points of creativity never thought of before or realized before in reality.

I think what God wants is possibility in reality. Anything that creates culture and interest is good. Anything that destroys culture and creativity is evil. At least that's the moral compass I am going to go with.

I see little value in asking this question in the way you're asking it. That is to blindly speculate regarding what a God that we can't even know exists, or what such divine existence might look like, would "want", or want from us. There are a whole string of unresolvable questions involved in asking the question in this way. Such that the 'answers' we come up with would be of very little value, if any, to anyone.

So I would propose that we ask the question in a somewhat different way. That is, to ask ourselves what we would hope God wants from us, if there is a God and it wants anything from us at all. That way, the result of the speculation would be to identify something important about and within ourselves, that we could strive for whether God actually exists or wants it or not.

For example, I might determine that if God exists, and wants anything from us, I would hope that God would want us to love being part of It's creative existential expression of being. And that this God would want us to do so by loving ourselves and each other, for what we are, and even for what we are not. And by loving the amazing place where we have been allowed to develop and evolve, by respecting and protecting it, rather than exploiting and abusing it. And I could live in accordance with this hope whether God actually exists or not, and whether God wants what I'd hoped God wants, or not. So that the question would have some value to me/us even if we don't have any objective answers for it.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Most people think God wants people to achieve salvation according to the Bible is our most important purpose with respect to God. I do not think this is the case. If God were interested in salvation, or having a factory for producing saved souls then things would be different.

It seems there is no amount of evil God will not tolerate in order to preserve our free-will. Based on my experiences, it seems to me God is completely indifferent about the sins of man.

And what difference does it make to an omnipotent God. God needs absolutely nothing from us. It's not like God is going to die if not enough souls make it into Heaven. After a few billion souls get into Heaven or Hell, what difference does it make if a billion more go either way? I don't think it matters.

So what DOES matter to God? I think the way the Universe exists is for God's entertainment. The Universe is a reality TV show for God. What God wants, in my opinion, is unimaginable possibilities. God wants culture and great works of art and theater.

If you look at the way quantum mechanics works, and how laws of nature always turn out to be much stranger than anything we could have ever imagined, it seems the Universe is organized and designed to create possibilities. Everything is energy cascading into rogue waves converging to points of creativity never thought of before or realized before in reality.

I think what God wants is possibility in reality. Anything that creates culture and interest is good. Anything that destroys culture and creativity is evil. At least that's the moral compass I am going to go with.

I dont know what a god wants but I do find it fascinating that you talk (like christians) as if god is a real person and you're talking about. Does god really do these things, how do you know gods motives? Is it you that knows or are you making a personification of god in order to talk abou him as though he is a real person?

*Having a Spock moment now*

 

[Woberts]

I would wager that he wants a cold beer and a day off.

 

[shunyadragon]

Most people think God wants people to achieve salvation according to the Bible is our most important purpose with respect to God. I do not think this is the case. If God were interested in salvation, or having a factory for producing saved souls then things would be different.

It seems there is no amount of evil God will not tolerate in order to preserve our free-will. Based on my experiences, it seems to me God is completely indifferent about the sins of man.

And what difference does it make to an omnipotent God. God needs absolutely nothing from us. It's not like God is going to die if not enough souls make it into Heaven. After a few billion souls get into Heaven or Hell, what difference does it make if a billion more go either way? I don't think it matters.

So what DOES matter to God? I think the way the Universe exists is for God's entertainment. The Universe is a reality TV show for God. What God wants, in my opinion, is unimaginable possibilities. God wants culture and great works of art and theater.

If you look at the way quantum mechanics works, and how laws of nature always turn out to be much stranger than anything we could have ever imagined, it seems the Universe is organized and designed to create possibilities. Everything is energy cascading into rogue waves converging to points of creativity never thought of before or realized before in reality.

I think what God wants is possibility in reality. Anything that creates culture and interest is good. Anything that destroys culture and creativity is evil. At least that's the moral compass I am going to go with.

This is an anthropomorphic view of God wanting(?), which would be antithetical to the nature of an omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscience God. God does not want(?). Our physical existence and humanity simply exists as a reflection of God's Creation.

 

[stvdv]

Most people think God wants people to achieve salvation according to the Bible is our most important purpose with respect to God. I do not think this is the case. If God were interested in salvation, or having a factory for producing saved souls then things would be different.

It seems there is no amount of evil God will not tolerate in order to preserve our free-will. Based on my experiences, it seems to me God is completely indifferent about the sins of man.

And what difference does it make to an omnipotent God. God needs absolutely nothing from us. It's not like God is going to die if not enough souls make it into Heaven. After a few billion souls get into Heaven or Hell, what difference does it make if a billion more go either way? I don't think it matters.

So what DOES matter to God? I think the way the Universe exists is for God's entertainment. The Universe is a reality TV show for God. What God wants, in my opinion, is unimaginable possibilities. God wants culture and great works of art and theater.

If you look at the way quantum mechanics works, and how laws of nature always turn out to be much stranger than anything we could have ever imagined, it seems the Universe is organized and designed to create possibilities. Everything is energy cascading into rogue waves converging to points of creativity never thought of before or realized before in reality.

I think what God wants is possibility in reality. Anything that creates culture and interest is good. Anything that destroys culture and creativity is evil. At least that's the moral compass I am going to go with.

Well said !!!

 

[stvdv]

That's a very large bush you run about !
Given that `God` exists at all, where in the hell is `He` ?

Too much focus on "hell", you won't find God there IMHO

 

[WalterTrull]

Does a tree "want" to sprout leaves? I guess it depends on your viewpoint

 

[`mud]

I thought about that...but...there's no where's else to look.
`He's` not in the Cosmos, as it is endless, and not on Earth,
I know, I know...`He's` everywhere, yah...I know...but...

 

[Twilight Hue]

People just make up things. This has more to do with what each individual wants than the projection of who or what they think is out there wanting something.

 

[Mock Turtle]

What does God want of all the other life here on Earth? That might also be a pertinent question. Or does God just accept they will do their own thing regardless - even the more intelligent species rather close to humans in many ways.

 

[Windwalker]

Does a tree "want" to sprout leaves? I guess it depends on your viewpoint

That's a good analogy. In a way yes, but is that like what we think of when we imagine "wanting" from the human perspective where you have some object of desire to get for yourself? People think of God as a man. That's the problem.

 

[`mud]

From the Stuff of the Earth, into the bark of the tree.
Leaves from out the bark of trees wanting to be born.
And then to grow and die, and to become Stuff again.
The only reason for the `wanting`, is in the causing.

hey Walt,
And that's a really good thought.

 

[syo]

Matthew 25:35-40 New International Version (NIV)
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

The only creativity that matters. Anything else is evil, imo.

 

[dfnj]

This is an anthropomorphic view of God wanting(?), which would be antithetical to the nature of an omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscience God. God does not want(?). Our physical existence and humanity simply exists as a reflection of God's Creation.

I was simply ascertaining what God wants based no the way we experience reality.

 

[dfnj]

That's a very large bush you run about !
Given that `God` exists at all, where in the hell is `He` ?

God is everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Most theists believe all of existence is evidence for the existence of God.

 

[dfnj]

I see little value in asking this question in the way you're asking it. That is to blindly speculate regarding what a God that we can't even know exists, or what such divine existence might look like, would "want", or want from us. There are a whole string of unresolvable questions involved in asking the question in this way. Such that the 'answers' we come up with would be of very little value, if any, to anyone.

So I would propose that we ask the question in a somewhat different way. That is, to ask ourselves what we would hope God wants from us, if there is a God and it wants anything from us at all. That way, the result of the speculation would be to identify something important about and within ourselves, that we could strive for whether God actually exists or wants it or not.

For example, I might determine that if God exists, and wants anything from us, I would hope that God would want us to love being part of It's creative existential expression of being. And that this God would want us to do so by loving ourselves and each other, for what we are, and even for what we are not. And by loving the amazing place where we have been allowed to develop and evolve, by respecting and protecting it, rather than exploiting and abusing it. And I could live in accordance with this hope whether God actually exists or not, and whether God wants what I'd hoped God wants, or not. So that the question would have some value to me/us even if we don't have any objective answers for it.

I disagree with your opinion there is very little value in trying to answer the question. I am speculating we can figure out what God wants based on the nature of our experience.

What God wants from us is what I am speculating about.

I am assuming God exists as a premise to my speculations.

 

[dfnj]

I dont know what a god wants but I do find it fascinating that you talk (like christians) as if god is a real person and you're talking about. Does god really do these things, how do you know gods motives? Is it you that knows or are you making a personification of god in order to talk abou him as though he is a real person?

*Having a Spock moment now*

I did not say God did anything. I was speculating what is the purpose of existence based on how we experience it.

 

[dfnj]

I would wager that he wants a cold beer and a day off.

Experiencing the pleasures of having a cold beer and a day off would be the kind of culture and quality of experiences I am speculating is our purpose for existence.