Would/Should God communicate directly to everyone in the world?

[Trailblazer]

I think the science of psychology will eventually come around and ironically help us to understand our subjectivity as a higher level of an objective reality.

Speaking of psychology, that is my other hat and one i wore a lot longer than my religion hat. I studied it for many years and I have an MA on Counseling Psychology because I once wanted to be a counselor. The career never panned out for various reasons but I never lost my interest in psychology.

You have a forum? Do tell...

Yes I do and here is a little history. In January 2013 I started posting on Delphi Forums, and those were the first forums I ever posted on. But as a Baha'i I would always get moderated or banned from Christian forums and I wanted to freely post to Christians so I started my own forum five years ago. I soon opened it up to people of any beliefs or no beliefs, everyone who wanted to talk about spiritual or religious topics. It was pretty active for maybe a year or so but then I ran off to a predominately atheist forum so I did not have time to maintain my forum and it pretty much died, but I have a lot of subjects still posted there.

Then about maybe a year ago, some atheist friends of mine did not like the way they were treated by the staff of on the other Delphi Forums we were posting on so they all decided to come to my forum, because I do not have strict rules. Anyhow, by then we were all good friends. Now most of them are not posting anywhere anymore, except one, but they might be back.

So right now there are not many people on my forum, just a few regulars. It is usually just me and one of my friends who says God probably exists, just not the Bible God, another more confirmed atheist, and one fundamentalist Christian (Trinitarian) who has been on my forum from the beginning. We are good friends despite our endless debates about Baha'i vs. Christianity. In fact, I learned most of what I know about Christianity from debating with him.

We could sure use another Christian on my forum right now (hint, hint), and a liberal Christian would be very helpful, so the nonbelievers could see that not all Christians are fundamentalist. You see they are all ex-Christians and they had a bad experiences with Christianity when they were younger.

In spite of the fact that we all disagree, we all seem to get along, and that has always been my goal, Unity in Diversity.

Here is the link to my forum: The Spiritual Horizon

 

[syo]

If God exists and God is omnipotent, hypothetically speaking God could communicate directly to everyone rather than communicating through Messengers/Prophets. By everyone I mean every one of the 7.53 billion people in the world.

1. Do you think God (if God exists) would communicate directly to everyone?

• If you think that God would do this, please explain why you think so.
• If you think that God would not do this, please explain why you think so.

2. Do you think it is *reasonable* to expect God (if God exists) to communicate directly to everyone?

• If you think that is a reasonable expectation, please explain why you think so.
• If you think it is an unreasonable expectation, please explain why you think so.

3. Do you think that *rational people* would expect God to communicate directly to everyone?

• If you think rational people would expect God to do that, please explain why you think so.
• If you think rational people would not expect God to do that, please explain why you think so.

If the Christian God is real and he communicates, we are all doomed. if he communicates,we will be forced to obey him.

 

[Bob the Unbeliever]

I am not exactly sure what you mean, but....

If you remove self-awareness from the equation, you should agree.

The fact that you are aware that there is one overall reality greater than ourselves -which we could all agree upon -which should be referenced if we are to get things "correct" -means that the "one true God" has communicated it to you..... SELF-AWARE OR NOT.


"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?
~ Epicurius (341-270 BC)"

Becuase his intent is to call you a god!
"YOU MUST MASTER IT".

"I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High."

He did not intend to make blissful humans -but masters of reality prepared to inherit the entire creation -without concern that it would be like..... this. So he allowed.... this.

Nope.

 

[Shad]

Maybe you misunderstood what I meant. I meant that some atheists want God to communicate to them directly so they won’t have to *do anything* but listen to God talk to them and then they will know God exists and what message He has for them. They do not want to have to look for the Messenger of God or look at what He wrote.

So wait. You think it is an error to seek first hand information from the person in question over hearsay from an unvalidated source without input from the primary person at all? Just hope you pick the right religion out of how many? Study each one in depth lest they miss something or dismiss a religion out of hand? How to get it right before you die or at least get an A for effort?

 

[Milton Platt]

If God exists and God is omnipotent, hypothetically speaking God could communicate directly to everyone rather than communicating through Messengers/Prophets. By everyone I mean every one of the 7.53 billion people in the world.

1. Do you think God (if God exists) would communicate directly to everyone?

• If you think that God would do this, please explain why you think so.
• If you think that God would not do this, please explain why you think so.

2. Do you think it is *reasonable* to expect God (if God exists) to communicate directly to everyone?

• If you think that is a reasonable expectation, please explain why you think so.
• If you think it is an unreasonable expectation, please explain why you think so.

3. Do you think that *rational people* would expect God to communicate directly to everyone?

• If you think rational people would expect God to do that, please explain why you think so.
• If you think rational people would not expect God to do that, please explain why you think so.

It all depends upon the god and what it wants, I would think.

 

[Bird123]

most of your post.....ok....but not this^

no equations prove God
not even the philosophical ones

Perhaps, the equations you have not Discovered yet is where your proof lives. If you use the base that everything about God must add up, you will not stray on your journey toward the Truth.

 

[Trailblazer]

It all depends upon the god and what it wants, I would think.

That's true, it all depends upon what God wants, not what humans want, because God is the one doing the communicating.

 

[Milton Platt]

That's true, it all depends upon what God wants, not what humans want, because God is the one doing the communicating.

If I ever hear from a god, I will let you know....

 

[Trailblazer]

If the Christian God is real and he communicates, we are all doomed. if he communicates,we will be forced to obey him.

I am not so sure... The Christian God invented by the Church might be very foreboding, but the God of Jesus is a different God.

 

[Trailblazer]

So wait. You think it is an error to seek first hand information from the person in question over hearsay from an unvalidated source without input from the primary person at all?

I do not think it is an error, I think it is insane because nobody ever gets firsthand information from God, except the Messengers of God, since God chooses to give them firsthand information.

Just hope you pick the right religion out of how many? Study each one in depth lest they miss something or dismiss a religion out of hand?

No, I recommend look at the latest religion from God, not all the older ones.

 

[Thief]

I am not so sure... The Christian God invented by the Church might be very foreboding, but the God of Jesus is a different God.

have you seen photos of deep sea creatures?

THAT God has nightmares that LIVE...!!!

 

[MonkeyFire]

Prophets are special creations and can help, and forgive God of transgressions and imperfection in nature like evil and suffering.

 

[Trailblazer]

If I ever hear from a god, I will let you know....

Okay, but meanwhile I wish you would come to my forum and talk some sense into two atheist posters who think God should communicate with everyone in the world directly, just because God is omnipotent, so hypothetically God could do it. The poor God needs excuses for not doing what they expect Him to do..

I hope you do not mind that I quoted you to them, identifying you as the *rational atheist.*
I doubt it will turn the tide but it was worth a try.

 

[Shad]

I do not think it is an error, I think it is insane because nobody ever gets firsthand information from God, except the Messengers of God, since God chooses to give them firsthand information.

This is just dogma and doctrine.

No, I recommend look at the latest religion from God, not all the older ones.

Latest according to whom? Do you see my point yet?

 

[Thief]

I do not think it is an error, I think it is insane because nobody ever gets firsthand information from God, except the Messengers of God, since God chooses to give them firsthand information.

This is just dogma and doctrine.

a prophet speaks of God
it is believed some prophets speak FOR God

but either way.....the info comes down somehow

and God has never spoken?......not to anyone?

 

[Shad]

but either way.....the info comes down somehow

This is where your point breaks down. We have no way to validate any information has come down. We just have people making claims it did typically only about their religion or it being the current version. You are making an assumption that is only short of pointing out which claim is true .

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

If God exists and God is omnipotent, hypothetically speaking God could communicate directly to everyone rather than communicating through Messengers/Prophets. By everyone I mean every one of the 7.53 billion people in the world.

1. Do you think God (if God exists) would communicate directly to everyone?

• If you think that God would do this, please explain why you think so.
• If you think that God would not do this, please explain why you think so.

2. Do you think it is *reasonable* to expect God (if God exists) to communicate directly to everyone?

• If you think that is a reasonable expectation, please explain why you think so.
• If you think it is an unreasonable expectation, please explain why you think so.

3. Do you think that *rational people* would expect God to communicate directly to everyone?

• If you think rational people would expect God to do that, please explain why you think so.
• If you think rational people would not expect God to do that, please explain why you think so.

You ask "if God is omnipotent," but you don't mention "omniscient," for some reason -- though I understand that to be part of the job description.

If God is omniscient, then God knows that communicating to one or a few with the purpose of getting the message to many is fraught with problems, and as all human history has demonstrated clearly (which is why an omniscient being should know it!) gets garbled.

If I want to deliver an important message to an employee of mine, I deliver that message myself, in person -- so that the employee has full access to not only the message itself, from my lips, but also to my body language, tone of voice and all the rest that we humans depend on so completely to truly understand one another.

If God is omnipotent (which is a word implying "infinite") than it is no more difficult to have the same communication to over 7 billion than it is to have it with only one or a few.

And finally, if the message is important -- if it is really something that God wants humanity to know -- then to communicate it in a way already known (and shown) to be error-prone to the point of failing to get the message across, makes the God a very poor communicator.

 

[Thief]

This is where your point breaks down. We have no way to validate any information has come down. We just have people making claims it did typically only about their religion or it being the current version. You are making an assumption that is only short of pointing out which claim is true .

nay

God either spoke.....or He did not

I suspect.....strongly

God speaks to one and allows the info to go from there
on purpose

that leaves YOU to decide what you accept and dismiss

as you have stated.....your point
YOUR point
breaks down

 

[Thief]

If I want to deliver an important message to an employee of mine, I deliver that message myself, in person -- so that the employee has full access to not only the message itself, from my lips, but also to my body language, tone of voice and all the rest that we humans depend on so completely to truly understand one another.

the Borg
of Star Trek fame

 

[Trailblazer]

@ Nimos

Nimos said: Guess that is right, I can even think of a few. To get us started

1. Why would God require to have anything written down, why not simply reveal the truth to everyone, if he is capable of creating everything this should not be all that hard?

Why should God do that just because God is omnipotent thus capable? What is wrong with having stuff written down, if it is clearly written and easy to understand?

Nobody could ever understand God if God spoke to them directly because there is too big of a chasm between God and man, and that is why God uses Messengers who act as intermediaries; since they have a divine mind and they are also human they can bridge the gap.

Even if we could understand God directly, God revealing the truth to everyone would not accomplish God’s objectives. God wants us to search for the truth, and if we find it we can choose to accept or reject God’s teachings and laws because we have free will.

Nimos said: 2. Why not make it so everyone is born with the correct teachings of God, he could "write" it on our heart. That would reduce the amount of confusing quite a bit I think. Remember

Jeremiah 31:33
33 Rather, this is the covenant that I'll make with the house of Israel after those days," declares the LORD. "I'll put my Law within them and will write it on their hearts. I'll be their God and they will be my people.

God wants us to work for what we get and study what He reveals, not just have it given to us for free.

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

Moreover, we are all capable of understanding God’s teachings because we all have a rational mind.

“It follows, therefore, that every man hath been, and will continue to be, able of himself to appreciate the Beauty of God, the Glorified. Had he not been endowed with such a capacity, how could he be called to account for his failure?”
Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 143

Nimos said: So guess one could wonder if God can write the laws or put them within them, why not the teachings as well?

Imo, what Jer 31:33 means is that the Law will be given in scripture and God will help them understand the law and instill it into their hearts. Then God will be their God and they will be God’s people. God can do the same thing with the teachings, help us understand and instill them into our hearts.

Nimos said: 3. Probably the most logic to me, is that God is man made and therefore never did it. But guess that is not going to be an accepted possibility, right?

It is acceptable because it is one of the three logical possibilities, which are as follows:

1. God exists and communicates through Messengers who reveal scriptures, or
2. God exists and does not communicate to humans, or
3. God does not exist