The concept of a "triune" god kept me from accepting Jesus as the Son of God - even after seven decades of study. But, if I consider that God is a Spirit and he has an infinite (those who limit YHWH to three archtypes are limiting God's enormity and power) number of attributes and sides to His immortal personality. We can only believe in what we believe in. If I was brought up in Calcutta, I'd probably be Hindu.
I have spent a number of months in India. I asked someone ‘who is your God?’, a common question there. At least thirty years ago. She said ‘Ganesha. But, One God, many names’. She explained there were about 400 different languages at one time in India. I think there still were 100s with maybe 15-20 actively used in public. She said ‘400 languages, at least 400 names’! Like I was stupid to not realize this. Which I kind of was. But they have a different God or Goddess for different aspects of God, as you point out. For a while if someone asked me what my religion is I would say ‘I am a Hare Christian’.
However to be clear most Indians didn’t believe in different actual Gods. One God, but different aspects. They didn’t think Vishnu was separate from Lakshmi. But when you needed money you addressed God as Lakshmi.
I am not offended l can't get my head round the suffering part l have had enough suffering and l see evil prospering while innocent people and children are being killed and the evils are running this World 🌍 without consequence.l see no justice for people who abide within the law .l would have said l Believe in God but evil is prospering and my spirit is broken.🐦🐦🐦.
I have known a few evil people. Very few. They suffered constantly. Even if on the surface they did okay. But they were not happy people. They were living in hell already. Does Hillary strike you as someone who feels she has won? I have known lots of ‘bad guys’. They rarely prosper. From my experience. Everyone else, from the normal to the near Saintly, has constant ups and downs. I don’t believe this world was intended to make us happy. Certainly not to make us contented compliant middle class taxpayers. I think it was designed to push us to God. If we can create perfection in this world through our piety, hard work etc we will not seek God and Truth.
I think one aspect of the suffering is we tend to automatically assume if you are a poor scrawny and impoverished in India you are necessarily suffering. Not so.
The concept of a "triune" god kept me from accepting Jesus as the Son of God - even after seven decades of study. But, if I consider that God is a Spirit and he has an infinite (those who limit YHWH to three archtypes are limiting God's enormity and power) number of attributes and sides to His immortal personality. We can only believe in what we believe in. If I was brought up in Calcutta, I'd probably be Hindu.
I have spent a number of months in India. I asked someone ‘who is your God?’, a common question there. At least thirty years ago. She said ‘Ganesha. But, One God, many names’. She explained there were about 400 different languages at one time in India. I think there still were 100s with maybe 15-20 actively used in public. She said ‘400 languages, at least 400 names’! Like I was stupid to not realize this. Which I kind of was. But they have a different God or Goddess for different aspects of God, as you point out. For a while if someone asked me what my religion is I would say ‘I am a Hare Christian’.
However to be clear most Indians didn’t believe in different actual Gods. One God, but different aspects. They didn’t think Vishnu was separate from Lakshmi. But when you needed money you addressed God as Lakshmi.
I am not offended l can't get my head round the suffering part l have had enough suffering and l see evil prospering while innocent people and children are being killed and the evils are running this World 🌍 without consequence.l see no justice for people who abide within the law .l would have said l Believe in God but evil is prospering and my spirit is broken.🐦🐦🐦.
I have known a few evil people. Very few. They suffered constantly. Even if on the surface they did okay. But they were not happy people. They were living in hell already. Does Hillary strike you as someone who feels she has won? I have known lots of ‘bad guys’. They rarely prosper. From my experience. Everyone else, from the normal to the near Saintly, has constant ups and downs. I don’t believe this world was intended to make us happy. Certainly not to make us contented compliant middle class taxpayers. I think it was designed to push us to God. If we can create perfection in this world through our piety, hard work etc we will not seek God and Truth.
I think one aspect of the suffering is we tend to automatically assume if you are a poor scrawny and impoverished in India you are necessarily suffering. Not so.