fundamental suppositions of God that are absurd

[_Sethbag]

The idea that the Creator of the Universe would choose to communicate with his creations in matters of eternal importance to their supposed immortal souls by appearing in secret to one man, and telling this man he had been deputized to represent the Creator on Earth, is absurd.

That the Creator of the Universe would intend for this one man to stand up and proclaim that he now has the Creator's own power to tell the rest of us what we have to do, to include handing over our money, and in Joseph Smith's case our wives and daughters for him to “F”, is even more absurd.

It is all absurd for a host of reasons. One of the primary reasons is that we already know, as intelligent people who have copious historical records and at least a modicum of critical thinking skills, that this "God appeared to me and told me I get to represent him on Earth and tell you all what to do" schtick has been played by obvious conmen and charlatans, pious fanatics, and despots (think: divine right of kings) throughout all of human history, and in pretty much every society. We're talking thousands and thousands of examples, if we could document them all.

The "I'm God's Vice-Regent" spiel is such an obvious, self-centered power play that to any critically-thinking person, the immediate assumption should always be that this is just another example of a guy trying to usurp power for his own elevation and gain.

Nobody who has ever used the "God appointed me to represent himself to you" shtick has ever articulated a clear, unambiguous, reliable method of determining that this claim is the exception to our historical observations about such claims.

And the Creator would know this. It is absurd.

[_Sethbag]

Moroni's Promise is a clear example of begging the question.

In order to know that any answer received by following Moroni's Promise is in fact a trustworthy answer, we must know that Moroni's Promise is in fact a reliable and trustworthy method.

We cannot accept that it is reliable merely because the Book of Mormon says so, because in order to do so we must assume that the Book of Mormon is true.

Hence it is textbook petitio principii.

God would know this, and know that critically-thinking and at least moderately educated people would recognize this. Thus, that he would use this method anyway is an absurd proposition*.

*assuming this is a just and loving god. If he is capricious, then my argument fails, but then, good luck dealing with him through all eternity

[_Sethbag]

The notion of a "divine ledger" that records each violation of something God told us not to do as a "sin", and that any such sins are so important that we must be excluded from ever being in this God's presence again due to them is absurd.

The notion that some "divine Justice" exists which must exact a penalty on us due to each and every sin is absurd.

The idea this "divine Justice" will be satisfied if the penalty is exacted upon someone else, instead of us, is absurd.

I go out and rape and murder someone. I am arrested and hauled into court. The evidence is overwhelming, and I am convicted. During the sentencing phase, someone in the audience stands up and says "don't execute him! I love him so much, execute me instead, and let him live!" So the judge thinks about it, then proclaims "Well, as long as we're killing someone, I'm good with that. Bailiff, take that man away, and let this one go." That is Christianity in a nutshell. Obviously absurd.

[_beastie]

I agree that these suppositions are absurd. They are so absurd that the only way people can accept them is due to the fact that they've been raised in a culture that privileges these absurdities.

[_Maksutov]

Their very absurdity is sometimes cited as evidence for their truth. Credo quia absurdum.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Credo_quia_absurdum

[_SteelHead]

The omnipotent supernatural god is so bad at transmitting his message that only the smallest bit of humanity gets the privilege of hearing it (the true right gospel of god). The just being only appears to the smallest subset of folks who then mangle the message.

Isn't god great? The justice of his plan boggles comprehension. The power of his message, sublime.

This is why I posted yesterday that if the church is true then god is an ass. If this is the best he can do, Joseph Smith and the mess he has made, then Jesus is Loki and god the devil.

[_huckelberry]

Sethbag, those are a good set of criticism to my mind. I am aware that each has been promoted by people. As a believer in God I see these suppositions to be about God not of God.

[_Nightlion]

A friend of God and truth would look deeper than relying upon the light notions of hypocrisy.

[_son of Ishmael]

I go out and rape and murder someone. I am arrested and hauled into court. The evidence is overwhelming, and I am convicted. During the sentencing phase, someone in the audience stands up and says "don't execute him! I love him so much, execute me instead, and let him live!" So the judge thinks about it, then proclaims "Well, as long as we're killing someone, I'm good with that. Bailiff, take that man away, and let this one go." That is Christianity in a nutshell. Obviously absurd.

Yeah, why would somebody (Christ) have to bleed, suffer, and die for our "sins"? Why would a all knowing, all loving god demand blood, pain and death in order to forgive someone? It is just straight up bullshite. The god of the Bible and Book of Mormon is an egotistical, petty, narcissistic, selfish, psychotic dick.

[_DrW]

Their very absurdity is sometimes cited as evidence for their truth. Credo quia absurdum.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Credo_quia_absurdum

Thanks, Maksutov.

Interesting post.