If we hope to believe that God is good them, we must address the very word "good." Before we speak or believe in anything we must define the words we use. Good is much too relative of a word to be used without serious consideration, and if we wish to believe in a "Good God" we must be clear. If you are a criminal your definition of good may be a successful robbery, and if you are a General in a war, it may be killing more people than your opponent. If you are you, maybe "Good" is a nicer car, bigger house, or better-looking partner. On this channel you will find a playlist called Bible Story, this is a series that I recommend for you to watch so you may understand why our Judeo-Christian faith was created, and how it has affected western civilization. Please comment and subscribe, contact me so we may build a faith that will improve the communities we inhabit. Thank you. 325
Christianity believes God is Unknowable, yet the objective is to know God. How can you know something unknowable? There is a solution, but first can we agree on a definition: “There is only one God, God embodies goodness, perfection, and wisdom, and is the creator and ruler of the universe.” But the Old Testament says there are other Gods, and what about Satan. We could say there is just one God, and no Satan, but that would conflict with scripture. Perfection, would also conflict with the Old Testament definition of a Jealous God, since we know Jealousy is a fault and therefore would make God imperfect. As you can see God can be a difficult concept to sort out, but there is a solution, so visit this channel to view the current and upcoming videos that explain the nature of God as well as prescribe a better path forward. Please subscribe as that helps me continue these messages - Thank you and God Bless. 325
Isaiah 44:6 says "I am the first and the last," and Revelation 1:8 God declares "'I am the Alpha and the Omega" Lets consider this logically, The first would be Creation and the Last would indicate that there is an end time, If you accept that life evolves, then in a billion years we will be far different, maybe not at all like we are today, or replaced by some other form of evolution. Clearly we did not exist at creation, may not exist in a billion years, and much less at the end of time. Therefore the God we think of is a God different from the Alpha or Omega. My point is that God is not always what someone says it is. Creation starts today, God is for now, so do not wait for God, repair this world, Tikkun Olam, today. May I ask you to please subscribe. Thanks 430
These were the times of Christ. In 38 CE Caligula was the Roman Julian Emperor, and he regarded the Jews with suspicion, he felt they were the only people who opposed him. 40% of the population of Alexandria were Jews, and there were tensions between the Jews and the surrounding population. When Herod Agrippa I, the grandson of Herod the Great, traveled to Alexandria for a visit, the population was inflamed against the Jews. Philo writes " they slew them and thousands of others with all kinds of agony and tortures, and newly invented cruelties, for wherever they met with or caught sight of a Jew, they stoned him or beat him with sticks". There would also be riots in 40 and 66 CE - today the poor relation between Jews and the surrounding population continues and may lead us to a world war. 429
Proverbs 15:31, "Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise” Johanna Schopenhauer was the first German woman to publish books without a pseudonym, and was a popular author in Germany. She was also the mother of the German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer and said this about her son. "You are not an evil human; you are not without intellect and education; you have everything that could make you a credit to human society. Moreover, I am acquainted with your heart and know that few are better, but you are nevertheless irritating and unbearable, and I consider it most difficult to live with you." BE CRITICAL, although you may be disliked, you will improve the world. "Criticism can be avoided by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing." 425
Proverbs tells us to both criticize and be criticized: "Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise.” “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” And Matthew in the New Testament famously said: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. ... How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. It is important to accept and give critical advise, to improve ourselves and neighbor, but best to speak the truth gently. Visit my channel for complete videos, and may I ask you to please subscribe to help build this channel - thanks. 425
The denial of flesh, or the material world is an important Christian teaching. In Matthew 16:24 Christ says “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." Then in Galatians 5:24 “Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Much of our daily actions are driven by our bodily desires. The German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer argued that humans lack free will; our actions are entirely determined by external stimuli and causes, and we merely react to these motives. Schopenhauer believed that to achieve true freedom, we must abandon our passions and desires. Similarly, Christ teaches that to attain spiritual freedom, we must deny our flesh and follow Him. How, then, does any of this relate to prosperity? 400
In the first century, the Greek word ekklesia was used in a political context, referring to a group of people who were called out of the general population to serve as a civil body or executive arm. The word is a compound which literally means "to call out". In ancient Greece, the ekklesia was a group of selected individuals who would assemble regularly to deliberate and decide on matters of civil policy. The Church was intended to be a place of action, where the faithful would meet and decide what would be done the following week. God is secure and requires no praise, so let's stop going to Church for that, instead we could have an open transparent online Ekklesia that functions as a direct democracy that actually does some good for our community. 396
Many people think religion is unnecessary, yet a society needs a consistent belief that is functional, unifies us, gives us an honest explanation for creation, and a meaning for existence. "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father." John 14:12 Look at Gaza or the Ukraine, both of these dysfunctional societies are rooted in our Judeo-Christian religion, we need to produce a greater work, a religion that is not malicious, that will produce Justice for all. On this channel there is a playlist called "Bible Story" which deconstructs the Bible from Creation to Christ, please watch the series and comment so that we may "separate the wheat from the chaff," then we can distill a belief that is adequate to build a just society. 424
In a deterministic universe, every action arises from preceding causes. While the cosmos propels us with relentless precision, it is through our beliefs that we carve out a space for agency. Beliefs shape perceptions and guide our path in this material world, becoming the substance that allows us to steer the course of our lives. Belief is our tool in a universe where outcomes may seem preordained. It enables us to act with intention and forge connections that give life meaning. Even if our choices are the products of causality, the act of choosing what we believe influences all future actions. Through belief, we assert our individuality; without it, we are left only with our biology, driven by the mechanisms of inevitability. 418
