Is God Love?
Christians— at least the kinder, gentler ones—will often say “God is love.” Like a good corporate slogan, this phrase is short and sweet and warms the heart. But as nice as it sounds, it’s untrue.
Here are a few fundamental differences between the bibleGod’s “love” and Real Love:
God places conditions on his favor, demanding submission and obedience; Real Love is unconditional, desiring equality and mutual respect.
God is fearsome, threatening physical abuse in this life and beyond the grave; Real Love is the antithesis of fear, wishing only the very best for another.
God merely promises heaven; Real Love IS heaven, here and now.
Lv 26:14-39, Mk 16:16, 9:47-48
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In 18th century's French materialism respect and stand of the Baron D'hollbach
One of the many MANY problems I have with religion, one certainly is the concept of love. The bible is a good guide on how to create mental illness.
1. Tell people fantastic tales and insist they are true; and if you do not believe you will be left behind/will burn in hell for eternity;
2. Have a violent holy book that confirms and legitimizes patriarch (male) power; at every opportunity, emphasize how unworthy and sinful women are as compared with men;
3. PERVERT LOVE. Combine love with fear. Say that if you don't love this hateful being, you are TOAST. Literally, baby. You gonna BURN. Then make it even sicker by comparing this abusive god to his wife, the church. Now you have all the ingredients for a disaster. People who consciously put aside their intellect in favor of "faith" even when it offends all reason are now prime for anything. But one of the worst things is that now, love means fear and violence. It's all muddled together. You cannot have a healthy society when these concepts are so confused.
A little off topic, but I'm reminded of the republicans when I talk about fundamentalist christianity. As you probably know, someone said (a day or 2 ago) that the republicans need to have an insurgence against the democrats, and that they should study the Taliban to learn how to do that. Nice, huh? The country is falling apart and these apocolyptic crazies are trying to rush the end of the world. They are becoming so irrational and eerily similar to fundie Islamist countries. This is so scary. All I can hope for is that most people see through it. There was a WONDERFUL article in Huffington Post about this today by Frank Schaeffer, son of Francis Schaeffer (who was the father of the marriage between the republicans and the evangelicals in the 1980's). Here's the link if you're interested:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/frank-schaeffer/an-open-letter-to-preside_b_165359.html#postComment
(p.s. I know this is not a political site but these days it's hard to tell the difference between religion and politics)
Yes, the interweaving of violence, fear, guilt and obligation with “love” as the bible does has poisoned so many lives.
And feel free to talk politics all you want. The line is now quite blurry between Republicans and Christianity and sadly the Democrats felt the need to participate in the god talk too this campaign. The combination of religious end-times thinking and politics as well as Muslim fundamentalism are some of our gravest dangers.
And by the way, I am reading Frank’s book right now and love it. Fascinating seeing a family like that from an inside perspective. Will check out his article-thanks
Thanks John. My sister has some of Frank's books - I really want to read Crazy for God. The number of deconversions happening seems to be astronomical; I think the internet has accelerated progress. I found a website chockfull of deconversion stories; then there is the skeptic's annotated bible that actually goes through most of the bible with comments. Many pastors becoming atheists. It's so encouraging to me. Nobody ever got hurt from too much rational thinking!
On another note, John, I gave you a long-winded answer to your question on comment 210 (I think that's the one). I tend to err on the side of wordiness.
Great Huffington Post article. And agree that the internet is hastening the falling away of faith. I think it’s due to the combination of information available (including the origins of religions, science that contradicts biblical “truths”, harm caused by religions—wars, terrorism, exorcism induced deaths, witch burnings, cartoon inspired riots, persecution of homosexuals and on and on—and the opportunity for people to voice their personal stories of disenchantment with religion.
I think the internet will prove to be the
Actually, I would say that "Real Love is patient, kind, does not envy, does not boast, is not proud, is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs, does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth."
Hi Kelsie, That is a very nice definition of love! And one of the few gems of goodness in the bible.
I think you would probably agree that fear, violence, vengeance and torture are certainly not loving things. Yet the God of the bible creates fear, solves problems through violence, is vengeful and tortures people forever and ever. That is why the God of the bible is not love. He is a projection of the fearful, violent, vengeful, misogynistic men of 2-3,000 years ago.
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