Is G-d good? - Page 2

[MsBirdie]

I think God is all loving, and things on earth happen because of human independence. We choose to do certain things, and good and bad is based on personal perception. God does not intervene, why?, because we chose independence from God. Yes, God sometimes intervens, but not all the time, and death is not horrible or a be all end all. Jesus/God sacrificed himself for our salvation and that shows the sacrifice and love God has for all of us. I agree with many of the PP, we create our own judgement and in it our own darkness if we turn from God. These are my beliefs, and what keeps me sane in a sometimes cruel and harsh world.

[Kidzaplenty]

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[Faliciagayle]

This is the question that brought me to Wicca.

I believe in nature - it's neither good nor bad, it simply IS. Beauty may come from destruction, everything eventually balances out, we die and become part of the Earth, etc etc. (please don't confuse my thoughts as a guideline towards Wicca and/or Paganism)

I no longer practice Wicca. In this decade of my life I've been moving towards greater Jewish observance, and I still don't jive with the "Gd is good" notion, insofar as we define good. When I think about it, I'm not sure Gd has much to do with why I've moved towards greater observance.

Yesterday a friend asked me if I was a "glass half empty or full" type person and I said "the glass is."
seriously. end of question.

But is nature good? We just rented "The Happening," (nothing much happens in that movie) and I can totally jive with the message of that film, as bleak as it is.

Creation is a violent, destructive process.... often leading to to the creation of beautiful things/places. We can't call it good or bad because those are human definitions, and I do agree with PPers in that Gd sees farther than we do and thus acts accordingly.

I think that Gd doesn't really care what we do or don't do, but I find that mitzvot give *my* life purpose and direction, and help me frame my experiences in a way that makes sense to the human condition.

When I think about the scale of the universe, and our (my) place in it, I just don't understand a Gd who really cares about my issues. Esp when so much happens (and has happened, and will continue to happen) that goes against the nature of a 'good' gd.

[ohmeeohmy]

I don't think God is anything that a human mind can comprehend. It feels "good" and "right" for me to worship Him, but I feel like good and evil, right and wrong are more human constructs to help us catagorize the universe - or even concepts given to us by Him in order for our minds to be able to grasp on to the way of the universe. I believe He is the source of all things - and some of those things are not good based on human understanding.

[smeisnotapirate]

Originally Posted by Faliciagayle

This is the question that brought me to Wicca.

I believe in nature - it's neither good nor bad, it simply IS. Beauty may come from destruction, everything eventually balances out, we die and become part of the Earth, etc etc. (please don't confuse my thoughts as a guideline towards Wicca and/or Paganism)

I no longer practice Wicca. In this decade of my life I've been moving towards greater Jewish observance, and I still don't jive with the "Gd is good" notion, insofar as we define good. When I think about it, I'm not sure Gd has much to do with why I've moved towards greater observance.

Yesterday a friend asked me if I was a "glass half empty or full" type person and I said "the glass is."
seriously. end of question.

But is nature good? We just rented "The Happening," (nothing much happens in that movie) and I can totally jive with the message of that film, as bleak as it is.

Creation is a violent, destructive process.... often leading to to the creation of beautiful things/places. We can't call it good or bad because those are human definitions, and I do agree with PPers in that Gd sees farther than we do and thus acts accordingly.

I think that Gd doesn't really care what we do or don't do, but I find that mitzvot give *my* life purpose and direction, and help me frame my experiences in a way that makes sense to the human condition.

When I think about the scale of the universe, and our (my) place in it, I just don't understand a Gd who really cares about my issues. Esp when so much happens (and has happened, and will continue to happen) that goes against the nature of a 'good' gd.

Falicia, I think we are the same person.

That was spot on.

Or maybe we were twins in a past life. Or something.

[lil_earthmomma]

I believe that God made us with free will so we could make the choice to worship him. Our worship and devotion would mean nothing if they were forced. With that free will comes the consequences of the world. So many people say to me, I couldn't believe in a God that could allow these terrible things to happen in the world. To me, these terrible things are not God, they are our wrong choices manifest. So God isn't good in a touchy feely way. I think that is another reason why Christ is so important to christians, (other than our salvation ) Christ is God in the flesh, and he was good. Just, but kind, compassionate, understanding. Christ is the human aspect of the trinity, our brother.

Someone said something to me that I still ponder often: God sees us for who we were meant to be, Christ sees us for who we are, and the Holy Spirit sees us for who we can be.

Sorry if my babble isn't very coherent!

[StarJune]

Originally Posted by umsami

I definitely think God is good... but I don't necessarily think that means that God will do what we think is right and good.... or do it on our time-table.

:

I agree with this statement. He is "good" but my definition of that does not mean that He conforms to our idea of good. But intrinsically He is.

[Theoretica]

Originally Posted by Faliciagayle

This is the question that brought me to Wicca.

I believe in nature - it's neither good nor bad, it simply IS. Beauty may come from destruction, everything eventually balances out, we die and become part of the Earth, etc etc. (please don't confuse my thoughts as a guideline towards Wicca and/or Paganism)

I no longer practice Wicca. In this decade of my life I've been moving towards greater Jewish observance, and I still don't jive with the "Gd is good" notion, insofar as we define good. When I think about it, I'm not sure Gd has much to do with why I've moved towards greater observance.

Yesterday a friend asked me if I was a "glass half empty or full" type person and I said "the glass is."
seriously. end of question.

But is nature good? We just rented "The Happening," (nothing much happens in that movie) and I can totally jive with the message of that film, as bleak as it is.

Creation is a violent, destructive process.... often leading to to the creation of beautiful things/places. We can't call it good or bad because those are human definitions, and I do agree with PPers in that Gd sees farther than we do and thus acts accordingly.

I think that Gd doesn't really care what we do or don't do, but I find that mitzvot give *my* life purpose and direction, and help me frame my experiences in a way that makes sense to the human condition.

When I think about the scale of the universe, and our (my) place in it, I just don't understand a Gd who really cares about my issues. Esp when so much happens (and has happened, and will continue to happen) that goes against the nature of a 'good' gd.

Wow. I couldn't have possibly said it this well.

Perfectly worded!

[tikva18]

Originally Posted by Faliciagayle

I think that Gd doesn't really care what we do or don't do, but I find that mitzvot give *my* life purpose and direction, and help me frame my experiences in a way that makes sense to the human condition.

When I think about the scale of the universe, and our (my) place in it, I just don't understand a Gd who really cares about my issues. Esp when so much happens (and has happened, and will continue to happen) that goes against the nature of a 'good' gd.

I believe that G-d certainly does care what you do and your issues. I believe that you can ask G-d for anything that you desire, need, want, etc and that He will listen to you. His answer might not be the one you were looking for - as in He might say 'no', but He's there. G-d is our Father and just like a child asks his father for toys or cookies or what-not - and the child's father wants to say yes to him to make him happy; so to G-d is waiting for us to talk to Him and connect with Him and ask Him for things as well. Sometimes a child's father has to reprimand him, so to it is with G-d.
I talk to HaKadosh Baruch Hu on a daily basis and ask Him things - sometimes I cry out "Tatty, please!, I need You to help me" and then say what it is that I need.

Originally Posted by umsami

I definitely think God is good... but I don't necessarily think that means that God will do what we think is right and good.... or do it on our time-table.

In Islam, traditionally God has 99 names... and these are used to help us know God.

http://www.sufism.org/society/asma/

None of those is "the Good"... but there are qualities that are associated with being good... the Most Merciful, the Most Kind, Source of Peace, etc.

Likewise in Judaism there are many names for G-d which mean different things. Yet another similarity between our religions.