God--all good, and unknowable?

Strangely enough, I'm actually posting a topic here for once

I've been thinking the last few days.

Now, let us presume to examine God (y'know which one...) on two tangents: Can He be all-good, and unknowable?

Now, first, if God is all-good, He is the embodiment of good. If we cannot know him, it is the same as saying man cannot know what is truely good.

If God would expect us to be good, and we cannot actually fully know what goodness is, then why would he demand that we not sin? It seems he would have given us an impossible task, in this case.

If God is all-good and man can know Him, then why do so many of His actions seem to be evil?

If God is knowable, and not all-good, why would any person who wishes to be moral follow his laws?

Final analysis: I still think it's all just a bunch of gobbledegook.

Anyone see where my reasoning is wrong?

[---Beany---]

I say if you don't see how God is completely good and perfect in every way then you don't understand God.

Unfortunately, Beany, I was speaking of God in a specific context. I could speak very abstractly and metaphysically about the concept, but, I wasn't.

[The Crusader]

quote:Originally posted by ashesofzen:

Now, first, if God is all-good, He is the embodiment of good. If we cannot know him, it is the same as saying man cannot know what is truely good.

If God would expect us to be good, and we cannot actually fully know what goodness is, then why would he demand that we not sin? It seems he would have given us an impossible task, in this case.

We know the 'goodness' the bible preachers. Its not impossible to abide by its definitions of goodness...

quote:Originally posted by ashesofzen:

If God is all-good and man can know Him, then why do so many of His actions seem to be evil?

I'm sorry but this is where that whole argument If God is 'good' and He exists, why does he let bad things happen? comes up. Everything that happens on this planet is down to us. Maybe half of one percent of incidents are defined as phenomena if conventional science can not explain certain events.

We have complete and utter control over the world and ourselves. God does not intervene in our affairs such as war, belief, power etc. Imagine how ridiculous and oppressive it would be if He did. Where would His divine judgement stop? Should He personally intervene in a petty sibling dispute? Bad things happen because of human beings.



[This message has been edited by The Crusader (edited 04-16-2004).]