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Why Would God Reveal Himself To Only A Select People?

lizzie said:
I personally think that God reveals itself to every single person, in one manner or another. ;)
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I suppose it would help if we are actually looking for God in the first place...
As much as I read of Science, History, and history of science, you would think that I find the God concept completely off the wall, but in fact, the more I learn, or think I learn, the more I want to think that there is at least a superior mind involved...
 
Muddy Creek said:
Especially when those "chosen" in the US and reported God spoke to them get TV shows, Crystal palaces, and bilk hundreds of thousands of dollars from little old ladies.
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People need to be told that they are good, even when they are not....the charlatans make the people feel good about themselves...sort of like homeopathic based religion....I gave the guy on TV some money and he says I am saved!!!! Well, that's the excuse I'm gonna give on judgement day.,...:roll:
 
Geoist said:
For the third time, this is addressed to Judeo-Christians who believe the true God revealed Himself to only a select group of people. I am not denying there are other faiths in the world. :roll:
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Ok. But then you are artificially removing the context. You make it seem like an extraordinary occurrence and hence, it must be something to be critical or skeptical about. If you look at it from a broad perspective, and give the whole thing context, then it doesn't seem out of place and very much in tune with the rest of the religions in the world.

So why are you trying to do this? portray it as something "unique" when it is in fact, a very common thing in the world.
 
Would the intent of this thread again be, for the umpteenth million time, to show others that they are truly stupid for enjoying a faith that the OP simply does not have?

Give us something to replace God besides your endless hatred and rage that others have something you do not. Something that makes people happy for life and thereafter.

What are you offering?

Or was it your intent to simply take that happiness away from others?
 
Paschendale said:
Originally Posted by lizzie

I personally think that God reveals itself to every single person, in one manner or another.
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See, that's kind of insulting. It comes down to an assertion that the rest of us "aren't listening right" or something like that. You're assuming a lot of willful closed-mindedness on a lot of people. However, that theory also has a significant flaw.
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Well, if you take it as an insult, it's because you choose to, as I didn't mean any offense at all. If you will see my sig line, it may help you to understand better what my viewpoint is. I don't view Got as a paternal figure, but as more of a source of energy and inspiration.
 
Ray410 said:
Would the intent of this thread again be, for the umpteenth million time, to show others that they are truly stupid for enjoying a faith that the OP simply does not have?

Give us something to replace God besides your endless hatred and rage that others have something you do not. Something that makes people happy for life and thereafter.

What are you offering?

Or was it your intent to simply take that happiness away from others?
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Some people act as though it is their mission in life to destroy the happiness of others.
I like the dialogue in Second Hand Lions when the kid asks his Uncle if all the stories the other uncle had been telling about their exploits as young men....the Uncle says something like, "a thing doesn't have to be true to be worth believing".....

If it makes people happy, gives them purpose, and isn't harming anyone, leave it alone.
 
UtahBill said:
Some people act as though it is their mission in life to destroy the happiness of others.
I like the dialogue in Second Hand Lions when the kid asks his Uncle if all the stories the other uncle had been telling about their exploits as young men....the Uncle says something like, "a thing doesn't have to be true to be worth believing".....

If it makes people happy, gives them purpose, and isn't harming anyone, leave it alone.
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That movie was awesome. I intend to make sure that my kids will see it, even it may be 10-15 years from now.
 
joko104 said:
You mean President Obama, who claims he "walks with God every day."
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Don't all American Presidents say that at some point? Bush made many statements along these lines too, IIRC. Seems like a cheap PR thing to me.
 
UtahBill said:
Some people act as though it is their mission in life to destroy the happiness of others.
I like the dialogue in Second Hand Lions when the kid asks his Uncle if all the stories the other uncle had been telling about their exploits as young men....the Uncle says something like, "a thing doesn't have to be true to be worth believing".....

If it makes people happy, gives them purpose, and isn't harming anyone, leave it alone.
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Second Hand Lions was a great movie. Everyone over the age of 60 or so should see it at least once.
 
lizzie said:
Well, if you take it as an insult, it's because you choose to, as I didn't mean any offense at all. If you will see my sig line, it may help you to understand better what my viewpoint is. I don't view Got as a paternal figure, but as more of a source of energy and inspiration.
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I implied in another thread a few days ago that I think conscience and reason stem from God too. So in a manner of speaking, God reveals himself to everybody who has conscience and reason. Whenever your conscience tells you something is wrong, you're listening to God already, no matter if you believe in God or not.
 
Dittohead not! said:
Second Hand Lions was a great movie. Everyone over the age of 60 or so should see it at least once.
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I have watched it about 8 times, and it seems that I get something new from it every time. Last thing that hit me between the eyes, when Garth asks Hub what is going on, after the bar fight where he took on the punk teens....Hub says that he is feeling useless. As an old guy, with grandkids ages 5 to 15, I can see the disconnect happening, or at least the transition where the kids and grandkids don't seem to need me.
I had to remind my daughter that I have a lot of free time on my hands and that she needs to let me help them with the little things that she can't find the time for, like taking her car in for repairs. She took the hint. Last time I did that, her car needed tires and a tranny flush, and I paid the bill and told her that she didn't need to reimburse me. The $700 she saved reinforced the idea that I can be of some use to her, even in my old age. Lots of young people don't realize what is going on with their elders in their "golden" years. Sometimes retirement is just plain boring. Even if it is something as simple as calling them and asking advice, or thanking them for past help, we all should do it occasionally. I didn't have good parents, but I had great in-laws, and it was a pleasure to help them in their old age as they did a lot for us when we were just starting out. And if they didn't need any of our help, they could at least enjoy the visits when we brought their grandkids over....
 
lizzie said:
Well, if you take it as an insult, it's because you choose to, as I didn't mean any offense at all. If you will see my sig line, it may help you to understand better what my viewpoint is. I don't view Got as a paternal figure, but as more of a source of energy and inspiration.
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I got that just from you referring to god as an 'it'. It's very non-specific.
 
Geoist said:
From a Judeo-Christian perspective, God revealed himself to the people of the Old Testament and the New Testament (through Jesus). If He wanted to be worshiped and save humanity from its sins, then why did He not reveal Himself to the Americans, Africans, Europeans, or the rest of Asia? Instead of planting one seed, would it not have been more efficient/effective to have planted several seeds instead of relying on a tiny section of the world to spread the faith?
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It would have been much more effective for God to have come down on a white cloud and appeared to and interacted with everyone, throughout history.

I would be more receptive to something more direct like that then just an old book compiled by the Catholic Church in the 4th-5th century and people who had no real contact with anyone from that book just reading it and telling me that it's right.
 
Geoist said:
From a Judeo-Christian perspective, God revealed himself to the people of the Old Testament and the New Testament (through Jesus). If He wanted to be worshiped and save humanity from its sins, then why did He not reveal Himself to the Americans, Africans, Europeans, or the rest of Asia? Instead of planting one seed, would it not have been more efficient/effective to have planted several seeds instead of relying on a tiny section of the world to spread the faith?
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I believe God has revealed Itself to all peoples. It just that people brought up in the "christian" perspective expect this "divine revelation" to be one they understand. Not so. God does reveal himself in mysterious ways".

It is not our place to judge when, if or how It revealed Itself to the various peoples of the earth.
 
Here is a drive by of the Universe. Moving at trillions of times the speed of light. What look like stars are galaxies. After watching this, try to feel that the creator of all this hangs around on this muddy planet begging for compliments and donations.

The arrogance of humans is just astonishing.
A Flight Through the Universe, by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey - YouTube

You'd think by now that we had evolved enough to understand morality, decency and kindness without myths. Instead, we rely on these fabrications to justify our mistreatment of others. Forgiveness for sale.
 
Monserrat said:
It would have been much more effective for God to have come down on a white cloud and appeared to and interacted with everyone, throughout history.

I would be more receptive to something more direct like that then just an old book compiled by the Catholic Church in the 4th-5th century and people who had no real contact with anyone from that book just reading it and telling me that it's right.
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If God were to appear once per week "floating down on a white cloud" and performing miracles..........there would still be those who'd choose alternatives to His "offer" to "put aside worldly things" and to follow him unconditionally. God's weekly "physical" presence and the miracles would become "commonplace" and there'd be those who'd still find reason to complain that God wasn't "doing enough for them" individually. Sadly, I think it's just a symptom of our human sin nature.

I believe (I don't proclaim to KNOW for certain) that God requires Faith from us...........and some degree of sacrifice. I also believe that it is through this "test of Faith", in part, that we become "worthy" of grace. Perhaps this is why He doesn't "appear" to all the world on a daily basis in the "physical sense." It would kind of detract from the whole "Faith aspect" of the plan. :shrug:


I also believe that, for those who truly have faith, and have accepted, there is "real" contact........through the presence of the Holy Spirit........through the inspiration of His Word........through the redemptive quality achieved through Christ's sacrifice........through prayer......and in their changed hearts. :shrug:
 
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joko104 said:
So this is an attack against Christianity, right?

Maybe God doesn't want to save everyone. God may not want those people, just like God supposedly doesn't save animals for immortality either.

Why doesn't the OP invite every person he mets to come live at his house?
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You know joko, your snide comments get really old. If you're not going to contribute then go away.
 
NoC_T said:
Define 'reveal'.
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I suppose I mean somewhat directly (ie communicating with prophets and others like he does in the Biblical stories).
 
Rainman05 said:
So why are you trying to do this? portray it as something "unique" when it is in fact, a very common thing in the world.
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In fact, I do believe he does/did reveal Himself around the world. But most people of the 3 main faiths don't believe this. So I don't know exactly what you're debating me on.
 
One standard answer to the OP is from the Bible's "all know these these truths in their hearts." Setting aside denominational feuding, the point made is that a person does not have to correctly pronounce God's (or Jesus') name to know God and to know the message of Jesus. Some say every person has the same moral conscious - which the person accepts and acts upon - or denies and acts to the contrary. Thus, a person could be a "Christian" yet never have heard of Jesus nor know Jesus' name. I think that is one response often given.

Can you know someone without knowing the person's name?
 
Ray410 said:
Would the intent of this thread again be, for the umpteenth million time, to show others that they are truly stupid for enjoying a faith that the OP simply does not have?
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What a turgid and presumptuous statement. I am a follower of Christ, for your information.


Give us something to replace God besides your endless hatred and rage that others have something you do not.
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Anger? Rage? Where?
 
Geoist said:
I suppose I mean somewhat directly (ie communicating with prophets and others like he does in the Biblical stories).
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Fair enough. I have no satisfactory response to your post, as I'm aware that such grand revelations haven't been necessary for most people to become religious. I can only assume that whatever message God was trying to communicate, He didn't consider that anyone would stumble upon by their own efforts. Or that very few (if any) of his followers were capable of expressing it adequately. In either case, I'm unconvinced. All I have is assumptions, here.
 
UtahBill said:
Some people act as though it is their mission in life to destroy the happiness of others.
I like the dialogue in Second Hand Lions when the kid asks his Uncle if all the stories the other uncle had been telling about their exploits as young men....the Uncle says something like, "a thing doesn't have to be true to be worth believing".....

If it makes people happy, gives them purpose, and isn't harming anyone, leave it alone.
Click to expand...


I have no idea where you get the notion I am trying to question anyone's faith. I am debating theology. Does that somehow make me a buzzkill?
 
Geoist said:
I have no idea where you get the notion I am trying to question anyone's faith. I am debating theology. Does that somehow make me a buzzkill?
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so you take a generic post and think it is directed at you? don't flatter yourself...
 
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