I say this based on his review of Brian Flemming's The God Who Wasn't There. Flemming's movie is largely trash, so I won't dispute most of the review. However, one section caught my eye:
Robert Price... comments, "The hidden assumption is they [i.e., Christians] say that we might be dealing with a God who is an ornery theology professor and one day when you die and go up there, you’re called to the office of the professor, he says, 'Well, I got your test back for you and I'm afraid you got an F. You’re going to hell because your opinions were incorrect.' And that's what they think God is. You don’t have the right answers? You're damned. And so they don't dare think for themselves, because they might make mistakes. . . . That seems to me an obviously silly and childish view of God."Licona goes on to say that Price has got it wrong, and the Christian view is that you chose to go to Hell. But then he asks, "What about those who require evidence but do not think a sufficient amount is there for belief?" and tries to meet the question head-on. However, this question only makes sense if you conceed Price's account of Christian doctrine, and Licona already admitted that if Price is right, Christianity is "silly." Am I missing something here?
I agree with Price that his perception of the Christian view of God is "silly and childish."
7 comments:
Am I missing something here?
not as such, but though a "childish view of god", it's hardly the only one. for one thing, it grossly misses Jesus's point in the Gospels when he talks of "strive to enter through the narrow gate".
Everything I've read of Jesus's own words is that its not what you believe that matters, it's what you do, and the non-believing samaritan has the better chance of entering heaven than the priest or the teacher that believe and talk a good game but do nothing to actually make their world a better place or even bring comfort to one in need.
In short, those that act based on dogma and fear rather than intent and love, simply have missed the entire point.
i'm increasingly wondering if i actually am a "Christian", given that I seem to have read a completely different book (well, by choice I refuse to accept Job or Revelation, and acknowledge genesis as the tribal creation story it is) as either "Christians" or their critics seem to have.
Conservatives have plenty of Bible verses to support their view that beliefs matter. Norman Geisler's list is as follows:
Acts 4:12
Romans 10:9
Romans 10:13-14
John 3:18
John 3:36
John 10:9,11,14
I John 5:10-13
The first and third citations from John are words attributed to Jesus.
Licona's view is certainly that God questions you as to what you believe, and the idea that it is what you do that matters would horrify most evangelical Christians (a Gospel of works!)
Of course, what you do is slip the examiner a note saying that you are a friend of his son and he will fix the exam results for you.
If you have a little child and they misbehave, then you correct them. Every child is going to misbehave.
The good child is the one who wants to do what is right, but they tempted to do what is wrong and they don't hold up. But they're sorry and sincerely want and try to do better.
The bad child is the one that will not accept correction, who sits and pouts or kicks and screams, or holds their breath until they turn blue.
God writes His laws in the conscience of that child. And God also reveals His divine nature and His power through the Universe itself so that the pouty, stubborn, kicking children who refuse to submit and just sit in that chair with their arms crossed will know how badly they are going to lose. The Universe and God's order are much bigger than they are. They can ignore their consciences, but they just became angry little adults.
Please read the comment policy.
A person's conscience is quite strong. Nearly everyone I've met thinks they're a good person. So going against your conscience creates a serious conflict, one where you know you're doing something wrong and yet you continue to believe you're a good person.
People who go against their conscience usually resolve the conflict by inventing excuses and rationalizing their behavior. It's an insidious cause of mental illness and irrationality with an angry agenda to justify whatever they do. They may even resort to bad behavior against those whose voice agrees with their conscience.
God writes his law even in small children.
Anonymous, what proof do you have of your theory?
Anything? Anything at all?
No? I thought it was just your take on the Judeo-Christian myth.
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