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Would a Real Deity Sit in Judgement?

Sunstone

De Diablo Del Fora
Premium Member
Upon serious reflection, is it rational to suppose that a real deity would judge people and/or the world?


BONUS QUESTION: Why would a judging god not be an insane god?



EDIT: There are some bright people on RF, but are there any bright people who are willing to think?
 
Last edited:

danieldemol

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
Not the issue. The question was -- would it be insane for a deity to judge. We're not talking about humans here.
Are you implying a deity that doesn’t allow free will, or are you implying a deity that created us directly?
If not I can’t see it being insane for a God to judge us on the choices we make. I suspect this is an extension of your “there is no free will” argument.
 

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
Upon serious reflection, is it rational to suppose that a real deity would judge people and/or the world?


BONUS QUESTION: Why would a judging god not be an insane god?



EDIT: There are some bright people on RF, but are there any bright people who are willing to think?

Who can imagine what a real deity would do??? People can give their opinion based on what they think an 'unknowable' god would do in just the same way they judge others now and claim it as their gods will
 

Sunstone

De Diablo Del Fora
Premium Member
Who can imagine what a real deity would do??? People can give their opinion based on what they think an 'unknowable' god would do in just the same way they judge others now and claim it as their gods will

Are you absolutely certain you are not grossly exaggerating the variances between notions of deity? I'm pretty sure, Christine, that you could find commonalities in what people meant by "god" between folks as diverse as the historic Augustine, a San bushman, and a New York cab driver.
 

Sunstone

De Diablo Del Fora
Premium Member
Are you implying a deity that doesn’t allow free will, or are you implying a deity that created us directly?
If not I can’t see it being insane for a God to judge us on the choices we make. I suspect this is an extension of your “there is no free will” argument.

This has nothing to do with free will, so far as I'm concerned. Although you raise an interesting question.
 

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
Are you absolutely certain you are not grossly exaggerating the variances between notions of deity? I'm pretty sure, Christine, that you could find commonalities in what people meant by "god" between folks as diverse as the historic Augustine, a San bushman, and a New York cab driver.

All imagination.
 

SalixIncendium

अग्निविलोवनन्दः
Staff member
Premium Member
Upon serious reflection, is it rational to suppose that a real deity would judge people and/or the world?


BONUS QUESTION: Why would a judging god not be an insane god?



EDIT: There are some bright people on RF, but are there any bright people who are willing to think?

One would have to incorporate human qualities to their view of a deity, specifically ego, in order to suppose that said deity would sit in judgment. One would also have to assume that a deity would have a chair or other apparatus to sit upon.

I won't come right out and say it's irrational to assign human characteristics to (anthropomorphize) a deity, but where does one draw the line? Does one's deity have the inability to manage the ego to the point where they judge others? Does the deity then have the ability to sin (if one believes in such a concept)? If this is the case, what makes the deity any different than a run-of-the-mill human?
 

bobhikes

Nondetermined
Premium Member
Upon serious reflection, is it rational to suppose that a real deity would judge people and/or the world?


BONUS QUESTION: Why would a judging god not be an insane god?



EDIT: There are some bright people on RF, but are there any bright people who are willing to think?

Being that I judge everything I create and usually harshly, I can't imagine a God that wouldn't do the same.
 

Jainarayan

ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय
Staff member
Premium Member
Upon serious reflection, is it rational to suppose that a real deity would judge people and/or the world?


BONUS QUESTION: Why would a judging god not be an insane god?

This assumes a duality. Hinduism is largely non-dual. That is, “God” is not separate from creation (God in parentheses because it’s really Brahman we’re talking about). God is creation and existence.

Hinduism is monistic... only one thing, Brahman, exists from which everyone and everything emanates. One of the Mahāvākyāni (“Great Sayings”) of the Upanishads is aham brahmāsmi, literally, “I am Brahman”. How can God judge or punish Itself? And for what or why?

Our nature, our essence, is non-different from God. Hinduism is largely pantheistic and panentheistic (they’re not mutually exclusive per BG 10.20-42, and other texts from other sects). Not to mention it being mystical*10^100. :D This is why the Judeo-Christian concept of God being a judge in light of Gen. 1:26-27 doesn’t make sense:

“26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: ...

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; ...”


That’s spiritual image, God has no physical form. So if man is created in God’s spiritual image how can Man be less than perfect like God? Unless God is not perfect and sins.

So it’s less a matter of insanity, cruelty, and/or control than it is one of illogic and irrationality that God should be judge, jury and executioner.

So from my POV as a Hindu, God does not and cannot judge. It would be illogical.
 

wizanda

One Accepts All Religious Texts
Premium Member
is it rational to suppose that a real deity would judge people and/or the world?
As an example: we have an online computer game, where there are hackers, who pay very little attention to the rules of the game, and over step the creators wishes...

So if the Source then issues tests to calculate who is going to play the game as it wanted, why shouldn't it remove all those who don't belong in its game?

Plus since it is a computer system, why not calculate all details to an advanced level, testing every criteria on the beings, to see if they will listen...

It has stated this in all religious texts, and people are in denial of it; like children who stamp their feet, put their fingers in their ears, and pretend not to listen...

Thus then do you condemn the children for not understanding or try to educate them; which is where I've been sent many life times to try to see if we can make people listen before the closure date.
Why would a judging god not be an insane god?
It would be insane to make the Source of our reality into an anthropomorphized concept, who then sits deciding things whimsically.

It is logical to have given an exam in the religious texts, laying out why it is going to Judge us, if we don't improve from being down here near Hell.

In my opinion. :innocent:
 

Windwalker

Veteran Member
Premium Member
EDIT: There are some bright people on RF, but are there any bright people who are willing to think?
Only if there are tasty treats being offered, like some pistachio Turkish delights, or butterscotch pudding. Absent that, something aesthetically pleasing will do, like a shrubbery. One that's not too high, and not too low, but just right.
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
My God doesn't judge as Jainarayan explained rather nicely in post 14. I won't reiterate that other than to say understanding monism is key. I believe He/She to be totally real. (And knowable) As for concepts of God who do judge, I don't know if they're real or not. Maybe as an extension of the believer's own reality.
 

savagewind

Veteran Member
Premium Member
Upon serious reflection, is it rational to suppose that a real deity would judge people and/or the world?
No! It is not rational. For God to judge people or this whole world would be as though judging a little child or even a baby. It should never be done.


BONUS QUESTION: Why would a judging god not be an insane god?
In case it was God who made all things even including the law, "you will reap what you sow", then no, not insane. But, to make something and then to judge it not good enough can be considered insane seeing that God would have known it would not be good enough before making it.

<I think.>
 
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