Tony\'s God (Introduction)

by Balance_Maintained , U.S.A., Monday, November 21, 2011, 15:10 (4752 days ago) @ David Turell

I'm on your side. I agree with your statement above. There has to be a God. Look at Psalm 19. But my God is not what you want your God to be. Where you have extended logic is you want a loving caring God who can advise you, love you. I don't know that that God exists. And yes I talk to Him, pray if you insist on that word. But I have no idea that He cares about me specifically. I hope He does. I think He may be watching over me, but despite the fact that I am not sure, I lead a moral life, I try to help others, and never out of fear of punishment.

His personality I infer from the evidence, that he cares I take on faith. I could be mistake, but I don't think I am.

There is no Hell in Judaism. But, intellectually, look at all the religions who threaten punishment if you are not good. Heaven becomes candy for childlike people. It is kindergarten thinking, much asx you have inferred.

The flavor of Christianity I was taught as a child contained no Heaven or Hell, at least not in the way that its taught by Catholicism or other major Christian religions.

One is good for the sake of goodness. One does unto others because that is the right way. Hillel preached that 50 years before Jesus. My ideas are just like M.J. Adler's. He died converted to Catholicism; I'm not sure I can get to that position. His estimate is 50/50 that God cares individually about specific people. (Book: How to think about God.)

Of course you should be good for the sake of goodness. The people that are doing it in hopes of getting a reward at the end are completely missing the point.

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What is the purpose of living? How about, 'to reduce needless suffering. It seems to me to be a worthy purpose.