In the context, what I meant was that I find it difficult to see how God both claims to love people and threatens the worst possible violence against them
Ah, sorry. I took it mean that you thought there was a logical contradiction in God's character; this I would have to disagree with which was why I was suggesting you were using a false assumption. That it is difficult to understand all of God's character, and how the various aspects of his character result in his various actions, is not something I would dispute. I strongly suspect it is impossible for me to do so fully. Of course this does not mean I do not consider it a worthwhile task to seek greater understanding of such things; to know God better.
how Christians who claim to love God can truly do so when they believe that if they did not, God would do them violence.
This is where motivations come in again. Christians love God in reponse to the love he has shown us.
Sometimes it is. However, what I think the law goes by is intention: if someone intends to kill, it's murder, if someone kills by accident, it's manslaughter.
I was thinking more along the topical news line of self-defence. When there is an intruder in my house whom I try to knock unconcious by whacking him over the head with my handy oriental vase I am told the law will treat me differently to if decided to start bashing random people over the head, trying to render them unconcious, because I don't like them. Both actions are quite deliberate with the same intention, but treated differently due to my motivation.
Or for another topical example: I think many people when assessing armed conflicts would want to have a look at the motivations of the various people involved. (Of course, there is the pacifist position of saying armed conflict is always wrong, so no motivation can ever justify it. Out of interest would you support that position?)
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timeasmymeasure
Re: This year's CICCU Main Event - DIRECTION
Date: 2005-02-06 01:34 pm (UTC)Ah, sorry. I took it mean that you thought there was a logical contradiction in God's character; this I would have to disagree with which was why I was suggesting you were using a false assumption. That it is difficult to understand all of God's character, and how the various aspects of his character result in his various actions, is not something I would dispute. I strongly suspect it is impossible for me to do so fully. Of course this does not mean I do not consider it a worthwhile task to seek greater understanding of such things; to know God better.
how Christians who claim to love God can truly do so when they believe that if they did not, God would do them violence.
This is where motivations come in again. Christians love God in reponse to the love he has shown us.
Sometimes it is. However, what I think the law goes by is intention: if someone intends to kill, it's murder, if someone kills by accident, it's manslaughter.
I was thinking more along the topical news line of self-defence. When there is an intruder in my house whom I try to knock unconcious by whacking him over the head with my handy oriental vase I am told the law will treat me differently to if decided to start bashing random people over the head, trying to render them unconcious, because I don't like them. Both actions are quite deliberate with the same intention, but treated differently due to my motivation.
Or for another topical example: I think many people when assessing armed conflicts would want to have a look at the motivations of the various people involved. (Of course, there is the pacifist position of saying armed conflict is always wrong, so no motivation can ever justify it. Out of interest would you support that position?)