Don’t kid yourself, we can all be evil

[BreakfastSurreal]

Well, if one is to take the Christian faith at face value and assume that God did create us in his image, doesn't that preclude us from being completely evil? Wouldn't that, by it's very nature as a statement, say that we have the capacity for extreme good?

God DID create us in his image...and you are right, we do have the capacity for extreme goodness as well, but according to the bible humans were not given sin until adam and eve chose it. Because of their decision we were then given original sin.

 

[Tegan]

God DID create us in his image...and you are right, we do have the capacity for extreme goodness as well, but according to the bible humans were not given sin until adam and eve chose it. Because of their decision we were then given original sin.

Well, given that I don't believe in Adam and Eve as a literal story, that isn't a pill I choose to swallow. I instead believe that the very act of giving us free will caused sin and/or evil to exist. Give any self aware create the ability to choose their own fate, and at least a portion of them are going to choose the wrong road to travel down.

 

[GraceAbounds]

Well, if one is to take the Christian faith at face value and assume that God did create us in his image, doesn't that preclude us from being completely evil? Wouldn't that, by it's very nature as a statement, say that we have the capacity for extreme good?

Yes, that is how I see it as well and that is how I read it in the Bible. I do not believe I would not be a good person without God. There are plenty of 'good' people out there that do not believe in God.

This is kinda off topic, but as a child of God, I have to make sure that the awareness of my capacity to do good does not lead to pride, puffing my own self up, and then me making myself my own God. God doesn't love me because of my good works, he doesn't love me because I am a good person, he loves me because of who He is. And I have to remember to give credit to God because His Word has taught me many things that have expanded upon my capacity to do good.

 

[GraceAbounds]

Well, given that I don't believe in Adam and Eve as a literal story, that isn't a pill I choose to swallow. I instead believe that the very act of giving us free will caused sin and/or evil to exist. Give any self aware create the ability to choose their own fate, and at least a portion of them are going to choose the wrong road to travel down.

Adam and Eve aside, I totally agree.

On another note, I believe that God gave us a choice; He gave us free will knowing we would sin. Why would He do that? Well, what good is it for someone to love you if you have to force them to love you? We, who were created in God's image, want people to love us. Wow, just like God wants us to be in relationship with Him and love Him. He is not asking for anything more than what at the core of our souls we want ourselves.

 

[memento_mori]

as i'm posting in this, i'm posting in the kill the previous poster thread

 

[GraceAbounds]

as i'm posting in this, i'm posting in the kill the previous poster thread

I went and read the 'kill the previous poster' thread.

Good one Mori :24:

 

[All Else Failed]

Excuse me I take offense to you calling my beliefs a "story." I don't sit there and dogg on your opinions...please don't insult mine.

Since when does "story" mean false? There are stories of fact as well. I didn't mean to offend, I just think most of the bible is myth. :shrug:

 

[BreakfastSurreal]

Since when does "story" mean false? There are stories of fact as well. I didn't mean to offend, I just think most of the bible is myth. :shrug:

A story is an account of imaginary or real people or events told for entertainment.
It's the connotation you said it in that irked me. The bible is a sacred religious book to some people and not meant for "entertainment" purposes, but for religious and historical learning purposes. And the fact that you say there are stories of fact as well, and then say that you think the bible is a myth proves that you don't believe it's a story based on fact, so why even say that? I'll drop it, no need to argue I guess.

 

[All Else Failed]

A story is an account of imaginary or real people or events told for entertainment.
It's the connotation you said it in that irked me. The bible is a sacred religious book to some people and not meant for "entertainment" purposes, but for religious and historical learning purposes. And the fact that you say there are stories of fact as well, and then say that you think the bible is a myth proves that you don't believe it's a story based on fact, so why even say that? I'll drop it, no need to argue I guess.

I said MOST of the bible is myth, not all. I think Jesus was real, for instance. They get some dates right in there as too.

 

[icecuban]

I said MOST of the bible is myth, not all. I think Jesus was real, for instance. They get some dates right in there as too.

i think since a lot of it cant be prooven or disprooven, i cant help but say, hey, maybe most of its true, and theres just some myth

 

[All Else Failed]

i think since a lot of it cant be prooven or disprooven, i cant help but say, hey, maybe most of its true, and theres just some myth

Some stories of the bible have been pretty much disproven, like the fact that there probably weren't even jews in Egypt at the time when the bible said there was.

 

[Keight]

There is no doubt in my mind that everyone has a little bit of evil in them, somewhere waiting to get out.
Some Flaunt it and openly admit that something happening to someone is something they enjoy where as others hide it and would never mention to anyone that they have had such thought in order to "fit into society" and its way of judging.
The difference, People who realize before the fact that it is wrong were probably the ones who had the openly bad thoughts to begin with, and some times end up not doing what they had originally set out to do.