/lit/ - Literature

>>20362963
>I would never say God is unjust for valuing some things above others, and I am sure there is a good explanation for why He places such importance on this issue.
>Christianity and Islam says God does something, so he must do it
Are you retarded? Of course the concept of faith is retarded and you won’t find any good literature on it because all the books will be written from the irrational perspective of a person who has assumed they are right with no evidence

>>20362974
The veracity of the Abrahamic religions is a given. I am asking to understand -why- God values faith so much, not -if- some random pagan deity cares about faith or not.

>>20362992
The Abrahamic religions evolved from polytheism and Yahweh is a warrior deity which is why the Old Testament is full of retarded shit about God being jealous and killing people constantly and allowing Israel to win battles and actually speaking to humans which is something a transcendent God could never do. It’s incoherent, illogical, insane, and blasphemous against the true God, except the true God doesn’t care if you say stupid shit about him because he isn’t a jealous anthropomorphic ruler of a single tribe in the middle east. Kill yourself

>>20362963
do disregard the other guy.
the thing is, faith brings all of those attributes, because when you trust God, you'll also be obedient.
It's not only about faith; (Luke 12:48)
God is not some tyrant who goes "follow the rules or suffer". He is just.
there's the idolatrous woman who helped Elijah, God would see her more favorably, as though she is in error, she is sincere. (Although that isn't an excuse, she was still in error).
the "rules" aim to do just that. Make you a sincere Christian. change your way of being to be in line with perfect good, which is God.
when you read what God orders you to do and be with sincerity, you'll see they're all good and even simple things. (Matthew 11:30)
to be more concise, because God wants you to put all your trust in Him; and you come to realize how good that is when you do start. (Isaiah 12:2, Proverbs 3:5, 1 Peter 5:7) along with many more verses about trusting (and having faith in) God.

idolaters are basically saying that God isn't enough, or that their lifeless idol is greater than the Almighty God.
lastly because that's an excuse to not change. for them to just keep on sinning because the little empty idol won't judge you.

>>20362963
>>20363139
try asking in the Bible thread also. someone might know a book on it.

>>20362963
faith is for hylics, become a mystic

>>20363139
"He is just" as in a fair judge. think i misused the word.

>>20362963
"Faith without works" is a Protestant heresy.

>>20362963
That shot is so good. It has everything. Everything that matters in life, anyway:

* trees
* fields
* sunsets
* Russian women sitting on fences

>>20362963
Just throwing this out there: various Eastern religions also place a large emphasis on faith. Bhakti is the most common mode of religious practice in Hinduism, and Pure Land is one of the most popular sects in Buddhism. Both emphasize faith over works (although, as in Christianity, faith remains important.) I'd also dispute the notion that Islam is more orthodoxic than orthopraxic. The most notable division in that religion (Sunni vs. Shiite) stems from political rather than (major) doctrinal conflicts. And most theological arguments in that religion revolve around proper behavior than, say, the nature of God.
So why are some religions orthodoxic while others are orthopraxic? I suspect it has to do with how these religions perceive the divine. In Christianity, we believe thst God became Man. God isn't just a personal being to us; we believe He's intimately involved in our lives. Therefore our personal dispositions towards Him are paramount. The God of Islam and the God of Judaism is more aloof, more king and judge than father and personal savior; therefore, your personal attitudes don't matter as much as your obedience. And the same is true of Eastern religions. Bhakti Hindus and Pure Land devotees perceive the objects of their devotions in far more personal terms than their counterparts (who tend to take a more communal, universal, or philosophical approach to their practices). This leads to a greater emphasis on faith.

>>20363341
I agree, this picture gives me deep feels I do not want to feel right now.

It's ruined by the dumb frog though.
Also the woman is smoking, which is disgusting.
Also I get more of a sunrise vibe than a sunset, though the fact that she's smoking might suggest sunset.

>>20362963
What if a hypothetical Good Samaritan (who does good deeds) had faith in an omnipotent deity (but -not- the one from the Bible)?

Let's say the Good Samaritan was cognitively impaired, or just illiterate. Or, his nation was illiterate.

What if he never heard, or never was taught to read the Bible? Would God punish him for all eternity, although he technically has faith and good deeds?

Is he classified as a pagan? Does he deserve to burn in hell?

Does that still make God benevolent and fair? Would God still be loving?

Why would he create a man, invent hypothetical ideals, and then torture a man for eternity? Due to no fault of his own.

Does the hypothetical Good Samaritan have free will in that case? Does he have any choice regarding his afterlife?

>>20362963
Here's a modern equivalent to this picture.

>>20364394
Luke 12:48
judged based on what he had.

if the samaritan has however heard the Gospel and shunned it, that is his fault.

>>20364475
He either goes to hell, or he doesn't go to hell. What's your answer?

>>20364414

It is not.

>>20364599
i'm not God.
let's turn it into said two sides.
Romans 2:12-15
and let's also quote Matthew 7:12 "so in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."
Was he a truly good man, who did unto others like he would like done to himself?
yes.
Was he not so, but instead a selfish and evil man?
no.

>>20364607
What about this?

>>20364631
>>20364414
I love these. Where is this from? What's the style called?

>>20364629
and that's assuming he never even heard of the Gospel.

>>20364634
I found the previous two on /lit/ actually, now in my precious jezebel folder.
As for the style, I'd call it
>tfw no gf

>>20364336
Smoke a cigarette once in your life

>>20364657
>once in your life
if i smoked only once i'd probably just choke on it due to not being used to smoking and not enjoy it at all in any way.

>>20364634
it's called "out of focus girl silhouette with background usually taken with film bc "grain has sovl" look at me mom i'm an artist".

>>20364629
See, that's precisely what I meant. The bible is reflexive in that it never addresses situations like this. You can pull any verse to negate what I said, then I could do the same thing back to you

This is part of "The problem of evil" by the way. There is no definitive answer either, not even by lifelong theologians

>>20364691
What if there's no film grain?

>>20364715
>no definitive answer
obviously not. how could us, as failed beings and sinners, say what is the perfect justice of God?
>never addresses situations like this
the woman who helped Elijah. God is showing him that even among idolaters there are good people to be saved.

i'm curious as to what verse you could quote.

>>20364715
and don't think i haven't seen you deflect my point. i answered your question directly.
those verses merely explain it. Matthew to say what the Law is, and Romans to show that not being directly under the Law(not knowing it), but following it naturally, still counts.

>>20364414
>>20364631
>>20364656
Dishonest photography

>>20364764
same, sin sovl.

>>20364838
What exactly is dishonest about those pictures, Anon? They're just girls that are outside. Do you hate attractive girls? Do you hate nature?

>>20362963
ooh, interesting OP, 30+ comments, this should be enlightening
>half the thread is jezebel discussion
i no longer know why i come to this board

>>20365264
Not him, but it's probably the impressions from social media and the online "influencer" culture. These kinds of images almost look archetypal in a modern sense

But I don't think I need to go into detail about how it's dishonest

>>20362963
>I would never say God is unjust for valuing some things above others, and I am sure there is a good explanation for why He places such importance on this issue.

I've really puzzled over this myself. I sometimes feel like an answer is sort of coming into focus, but I never quite get there. May I suggest you try reading a short but very fine book: Caussade, Abandonment to Divine Providence. It is the most profound book I have ever read.

>It would seem to me that honesty, patience, charity, and kindness would be more deserving of God's love and appreciation than simply correct faith.

Well, they are certainly very important, indeed salvation turns on them. Read Matthew 25. Read 1 Corinthians 13:

>If I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

If faith does not go hand-in-hand with love, it is of little value -- perhaps indeed of no value, as Paul seems to suggest here.

Another book I would suggest is Louis Bouyer, The Spirit and Forms of Protestantism. It discusses the divide between Protestantism and Catholicism over the issue of justification. The author was an ordained Lutheran minister who converted to Catholicism. A fascinating and eye-opening book.

>>20362963
>I would never say God is unjust for valuing some things above others, and I am sure there is a good explanation for why He places such importance on this issue. I just haven't come across any literature that goes in depth on this. Any suggestions?
Nietzsche and Pic related.

just believe bro

>>20368787
No