Why does God care about some mammal species floating around in the middle of nowhere?

[lostwanderingsoul]

Humans were made with the poteneial to become God's children. No other species has that potential. The problem is that man has to prove he is worthy to be God's child. Many have not made the cut.

 

[sojourner]

Or so you say

"Understanding" is different from "claiming." It's a distinction worth noting.

Because if I think it's also possible that life wasn't specially created and that humans aren't as special as we'd like to think

Your understanding doesn't bear any more weight than my understanding. I have no desire to expend energy on "proof" for that which has no need of being proven.

Which is what?

If one "proves" or even "disproves" God, what does that particularly gain one? Nothing! It's an empty exercise, devoid of anything productive. The business of theological speculation and spiritual formation isn't concerned with proof. It's concern is enriching our lives through helping us make meaning of ourselves and our world.

 

[sojourner]

Humans were made with the poteneial to become God's children. No other species has that potential. The problem is that man has to prove he is worthy to be God's child. Many have not made the cut.

"Proving our worth?" That runs afoul of the doctrine of grace. We don't have to "prove" anything to God or anyone else. Through the Incarnation, all humanity is reconciled to the Divine, in the Christian understanding.

 

[Jos]

"Understanding" is different from "claiming." It's a distinction worth noting.

How do you know what you claim is true?

Your understanding doesn't bear any more weight than my understanding. I have no desire to expend energy on "proof" for that which has no need of being proven.

I never said that I understood what I said to be the truth, I did say however that it was possibly true.

If one "proves" or even "disproves" God, what does that particularly gain one? Nothing! It's an empty exercise, devoid of anything productive. The business of theological speculation and spiritual formation isn't concerned with proof. It's concern is enriching our lives through helping us make meaning of ourselves and our world.

If it's not concerned with proof or knowing whether any of what is claimed is true then why bother believing it if it very well could be false?

 

[sojourner]

How do you know what you claim is true?

I know what’s true for me, and I choose to express that truth through the metaphor of the theological language of Christianity.

I never said that I understood what I said to be the truth, I did say however that it was possibly true.

Fair enough.

If it's not concerned with proof or knowing whether any of what is claimed is true then why bother believing it if it very well could be false?

Because religious metaphors can’t be false if they’re useful.

 

[nPeace]

Why? Can anyone explain?

Why do you care if someone is drowning, or choking on a bone? Oh. Evolution. No. The first humans had God's attributes running through their DNA. It's God's nature... according to the living word of God - the Bible (Genesis 1:26; Acts 17:26; Galatians 5:22; 1 John 4:8; Hebrews 4:12)

 

[Jos]

I know what’s true for me, and I choose to express that truth through the metaphor of the theological language of Christianity

But you don't actually know if it's true?

Because religious metaphors can’t be false if they’re useful.

So Hindu or Scientology metaphors are also true since they're useful right?

 

[Jos]

Why do you care if someone is drowning, or choking on a bone? Oh. Evolution. No. The first humans had God's attributes running through their DNA. It's God's nature... according to the living word of God - the Bible (Genesis 1:26; Acts 17:26; Galatians 5:22; Hebrews 4:12)

Ok since you guys like quoting scripture so much how do you know that scripture is actually trustworthy revelation from above?

 

[nPeace]

Exactly! I don't get why more believers are skeptical of a person they've never met (although some will claim to have met God) or those who claim to be messengers of God. You would never trust a stranger so why trust this being you've never met? I don't understand that.

If you saw evidence that you could trust a total stranger to cook for you, you would have a measure of faith and confidence that they won't poison you.
People trust nurses and doctors, when they go to the hospital. Why?
They see evidence they can trust them.

Similarly, those who investigated, have seen evidence that the can trust the creator.
Also, they don't agree that God is a stranger to them. Acts 17:26, 27; Psalm 10:4

 

[nPeace]

Ok since you guys like quoting scripture so much how do you know that scripture is actually trustworthy revelation from above?

How do you know your wife is trustworthy? Same principle. Psalm 10:4

 

[Jos]

If you saw evidence that you could trust a total stranger to cook for you, you would have a measure of faith and confidence that they won't poison you.
People trust nurses and doctors, when they go to the hospital. Why?
They see evidence they can trust them.

Similarly, those who investigated, have seen evidence that the can trust the creator.
Also, they don't agree that God is a stranger to them. Acts 17:26, 27; Psalm 10:4

Yeah you would have confidence based on evidence but I don't see reasons to believe that if a creator exists that they would be trustworthy due to a multitude of reasons, if you want me to list them. You seem like a nice guy, don't you ever worry that you're being conned or you've been mistaken in what you place your trust in?

 

[whirlingmerc]

Why? Can anyone explain?

Man was made in the image of God to reflect on God and reflect his glory

That reflected glory was tarnished but is redeemed in Christ

 

[Valjean]

Why? Can anyone explain?

I question your premises, Jos. God? God's care? How did you come up with them?

Some mammal species? Which would those be?

God made them in His own image.

This isn't supported, either, nor would this be reason to conclude that God cared about them.

 

[nPeace]

Yeah you would have confidence based on evidence but I don't see to believe that if a creator exists that they would be trustworthy due to a multitude of reasons, if you want me to list them. You seem like a nice guy, don't you ever worry that you're being conned or you've been mistaken in what you place your trust in?

I think I already know what's on your list.
No. I don't worry that I am being conned, I worry that unbelievers have been conned. 2 Corinthians 4:4
I could list the reasons why I am sure I haven't been conned, but you have. We could compare lists if you like.
I'll give you a hint how I know.
You want to take the train to the Carolina State - Well not right now, because Dorian is there (hope persons have taken safety measures). How do you know which train to take?
To me, it's as simple as that. You just don't go jump on any train, do you? Everything has markers. Everything.
The thing is, can we identify the markings, or have we been duped into seeing our own preferred markers.
For example, some have jumped on the evolution train, claiming that the markings are there, and they will reach their destination.
I'm on another train - the one marked Christianity as described in the Bible.
Let's see which train takes us to the destination we are happy with, at the end of the day.

 

[sojourner]

So Hindu or Scientology metaphors are also true since they're useful right?

Inasmuch as they don’t exploit people.

 

[sojourner]

But you don't actually know if it's true?

I don’t know what is true? The metaphor? What?

 

[Valjean]

Because God is love; We are created out of God's essence out of an expression of that love.

To judge by our long history of violence, exploitation, and xenophobia, I find this hard to believe.

 

[sojourner]

To judge by our long history of violence, exploitation, and xenophobia, I find this hard to believe.

Why? We have free will and we have become infected by sin. But that doesn’t discount our true nature.

 

[nPeace]

To judge by our long history of violence, exploitation, and xenophobia, I find this hard to believe.

That's a good point.
I usually don't say we, because I think that's inaccurate. Adam and Eve were created in God's image, but they also passed on to us, some other traits other than the ones God gave them. So these are what are dominant at present.
We curb them by doing as stated at Ephesians 4:20-24

 

[Jos]

I question your premises, Jos. God? God's care? How did you come up with them?

Yeah I know I'm assuming facts not in evidence but it's just humoring the theist's position to ponder a hypothetical.

Some mammal species? Which would those be?

Lol, you know who.