God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them...

I've removed the last few posts, which were nothing more than playground posturing.

I believe the title of this thread is "God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them..."

Would anyone like to get back to that?
 
I said:
I've removed the last few posts, which were nothing more than playground posturing.

I believe the title of this thread is "God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them..."

Would anyone like to get back to that?
Click to expand...

Thanks, much appreciated, but there's a few left that could stand moderation.
 
Or we might try some self moderation and move forward from here. What's behind us is the past. It is done. What is ahead is open.
 
Gordian Knot said:
This statement of the bible has always been an issue for me. Mankind is created in God's image? Seriously? Has anyone looked around this world in recent times, or the past hundred thousand years for that matter?

The creature called man is hardly a shining example of godliness. At least not in the sense of the New Testament God. If how humanity behaves on this world and to this world is a reflection of God; well that is not a God I would want to have angry at me!

This thread is not meant as an attack one anyone's religion or beliefs about God, okay? My question is more about the difference between the concept of humankind created in the image of a just, caring God versus how humankind acts on a day to day basis, which too much of the time is the antithesis of said caring God.

And right up front, I will challenge anyone who will suggest the whole 'man was made with the right to choose' how he/she will act. That is not an answer from my perspective; it is a dodge.

This is why I believe it is a dodge. Given that humans have the right to choose to do good or to do evil, if we are in God's image why does such a large percentage of the population choose the latter. (Or if we were to take the good/bad terms out, most people choose what is in their own best interest, which very often is the same thing).

A race made in the image of a caring, just God would do the right thing over their best interests more often than not. Wouldn't they?

If an alien visitor ever visited our planet and looked at how humankind has acted, taken as a whole; and then was told we were created in the image of our God; I do wonder if that alien would not be terrified of a god who acts even remotely as we do.
Click to expand...


What is Godliness? I wouldn't like to think I was created in the image of the Biblical deity.
 
Gordian Knot said:
And right up front, I will challenge anyone who will suggest the whole 'man was made with the right to choose' how he/she will act. That is not an answer from my perspective; it is a dodge.
Click to expand...

Okay, let's get back on track.

I've posted my thoughts on the actual topic of this thread before, but I wanted to touch on the subject of Free Will.

Now I have a couple of beliefs that not everyone agrees with that influence my idea of Free Will. One is, that we are all born with the word of God already ingrained in our hearts. The other is, because of original sin, that we are also born with the word of Lucifer ingrained in our hearts.

To me, as far as Free Will is concerned, it doesn't mean that we have the complete and final say as to what we will and will not do on earth. I think all that it means is that we are free to follow the word of God or the word of Lucifer. How either is accomplished however is still influenced by the world around us. In other words, sometimes you have to go through hell to get to heaven.
 
Hey Quirky. What is Godliness? The term 'we were created in the image of God' most definitely refers to the Judeo/Christian God. Do with that as you will!

NJ, Free will is one of those cosmic conundrums that, thus far anyway, has no more a solid answer than do most theological questions, even if this question is not theological in nature itself.

It is of interest to me that you have put the concept of free will directly into a theological setting. This statement in particular interests me:

One is, that we are all born with the word of God already ingrained in our hearts. The other is, because of original sin, that we are also born with the word of Lucifer ingrained in our hearts.

I get the first half, being made in God's image and all. The second half seems a bit dodgy though. I'm not sure a causal relationship can be made that original sin puts the word of Lucifer into our hearts.

Or at least I have never heard of anyone making that direct a connection before. Thoughts?
 
Hi GK, good question.

I draw the conclusion that we are born with the words of Lucifer in our hearts from both Hindu and Abrahamic scripture, but in keeping with the theme of the thread, I'll stick with Abrahamic doctrine here.

Satan, aka Lucifer represented by a Serpent in the garden of Eden, prompted Eve to sin. This original sin, or wickedness is born unto all of us. As supported by these and numerous other Biblical passages.

Psalm 51:5 KJV "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me."

Mark 7:21 KJV "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders.....
 
I inadvertently left out the last part of my post:

That's where the 'Free Will' part comes in. Some ask why wouldn't God just make us good like him and why was wickedness even needed? That's a complicated subject at best, but I've always thought that God didn't want us to worship him just because he said so, but rather because we truly believed and accepted him.

I think he knew very well that some would go against him, but because he loves us so much, he allows us to decide for ourselves. Even going so far as to sacrifice his own son so that we may live.
 
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