Stem, perhaps the reply of mine sounded a bit too grumpy. I did think that comparing paint drying and Shakespeare was worth a tiny chuckle.dastardly stem wrote: ↑Wed Jun 15, 2022 2:41 pmHey Huckelberry...I'll be honest. I can't tell what we're saying anymore. You took issue with me saying something about God demands people worship him. I get the wording sounds problematic if we are to think God is good, but I can't figure out why its problematic other than people want to assume he's good. I can't see why believers worship God other than to please him. If they refuse to worship him (granted, as we said, worship can mean many things) does that not please him? Who knows? I guess. I might just keep thinking God demands worship, and hope to find a better way to express that concern of mine.huckelberry wrote: ↑Wed Jun 15, 2022 4:43 am
Stem, there is perhaps a layer of your question which is not just silly as it appears to be on the surface. I did already propose a simple answer. By their nature mammals are more interesting than virus because the harmony of their potential is greater.
perhaps I could wonder what sort of damage god would have to have undergone to find paint drying as interesting as a play by Shakespeare?
I am willing to pause a bit to search in my mind for some place your question might make sense. Are you concerned about the role competition has in the scheme of things?
perhaps I should have copied your questions to be able to keep a bit closer on track.
You asked :"If there is a God I would hope to see him care about something other than himself. That'd be nice to know. I also do not see why god would care about people more than say viruses, as I mentioned earlier. Its all his creation, according to many--even if Hart sees calling god a creator a big ol mistake. To Hart a Creator is not God. God, on his view, doesn't have creations for us to respect. For those who think God's a creator, is it worshipful for us to respect his creations like COVID 19? Or ALS? or sticker bushes? If we disrespect those how do we satisfy God's demand to respect him?
As per what God demands...I don't know. Its the way it comes off to me--God demands people worship him, according to religion as I've heard it. I still don't know how else to frame it. Why would it be reasonable and appropriate to worship him? Does he want or not want people to worship him? I honestly still can't tell how you view it. "
/////I will try to state how I view it.
If a person believes that God is creator, that he gives us the gift of life then unless one is in a state of hating life a certain gratitude is natural. If a person believes that connection to God is possible in terms of inspiration and guidance then I desire to listen would be natural. I think these are basic to what worship is or should be. People who worship believe there is a gift from God that they receive in worship. Because people believe that the gifts from God continue the purpose contained in our existing it would be natural for God to wish us to worship.
I had previously stated worship included respect for what God has created and you pointed out that such respect should fit the kind of respect God would have. You then asked how we would know Gods form of respect. He created small pox or covid and could well have respect for them. I observed that the kind of respect may fit the nature of the things in question. (which is more interesting paint drying or Shakespeare?)
I could extend this thought a bit. We of course do not see inside Gods caring so have no direct knowledge. I think the closest we could come is by being what we can truly be. That of course is a journey with incomplete answeres. I think the mode of consideration could work for great people and ordinary people .It could work for both mice and men. I would expect God would have respect for mice in accordance to their nature and potential. The same could be true of Small Pox even if part of its potential is to be eradicated by humans.