Why are people so selfish?

“Things such as ‘How can God be real if he let this or that happen’ “

you’re obviously not a Christian. I once came across a Christian girl, who I thought to be a bit self-centered and snobbish, though she was very serious, who tried to “save me” because I’m an athiest(for obvious reasons). Among many things, She told me that God has a plan for everyone, God does what’s best for people, even if that means they’re worse of then other people. I refused to believe that. Didn’t she realize the problems in the world? An aside from that I believe that God should have nothing to do with the fate of people. I guess the idea of some stuck-up God who can’t handle the heat of his own problems, doesn’t appeal to me. I respect beliefs and keep mine to myself in life, but I don’t think that Christians should go around pushing God on people, that’s what turned me off the most.
I’m an athiest because I’m intrested in Science and I don’t believe in the Bible. I don’t consider myself to be selfish, infact some of the most religious people seem to be the most self-centered.

I somewhat agree but I do think that sometimes life is really unfair and god should help out for example third world countries. But I think he’s got a major plan and if not theres always karma

Well, jtom99, I wouldn’t express it the same way…

God doesn’t owe us anything. But He does give us things, not because we’ve earnt them, but because He loves us. This is why I believe Jesus taught His followers to call God ‘Father’ (a very radical idea back then) because God gives like a parent - He doesn’t wait for his kids to be perfect and then gives them the gift, He just gives a gift because He loves them.

What kind of gifts? Well, it is up to the parent. My sons have variously asked my for many expensive gifts, and I’ve given them a few, encouraged them to save up for others, and said ‘no way!’ to the rest.

My feeling would be that God’s involvement with us is like that parental one. The general gifts we all get are life, the sunshine, the world to live in etc.

The most expensive one for God is His forgiveness, because I believe Jesus died in order that we could be forgiven. It’s not one of the ‘gifts for everyone’ in the same way that ‘life’ is, but it is there for everyone, if only they choose to take it.

Other gifts are more specific, and, I see kamex’s point that it’s really up to God how they get given, just as it is up to me to decide on a number of factors (finances, kids’ best interests etc) before I agree to get my sons a Nintendo DS or whatever.

And does God know he’s cool? Certainly. He could be totally self-sufficient, as He is perfect. But therefore I think it’s all the more touching that He made humans capable of having a relationship with Him - He wants us, as much as or more than we want Him. I like that in my Parent!

Selfishness is simply a human condition…We’ve all known people who’ve overcome their self-interest…a person who’s a real listerner…a person who puts aside their own things, to help another…the “do one kind thing a day without recognition”…people who’ve died for others…To recognize one’s own self-centeredness, and aspire to become more for others, than for self…actually BRINGS more wonderful things to “self”…Christian, non-Christian, Athiest or Agnosic…Doing for others makes us better humans.

phrannie

MOrbid.. If you want no part of God, then tell me why you are on this board, called religion?

Christians on this board are not judging anyone. They are here to help answer questions, pertaining to God. They care about your soul, and where you will end up. If they did not, they would be elsewhere, doing other things. Do you think they enjoy being mocked by unbelievers? Does this seem like a fun thing to do, to spend many hours in a place, where they are not welcome, even if the topic says religion?

AS to the RESPECT part, I think you should look at your own post, to see who is respecting who. You would silence the message, of God altogether, calling it RESPECT…We would share the message, and leave it up to you, whether or not you obeyed it, This is what we call RESPECT.

Was this board created for a forum, to denigrad and destroy faith, and everything that pertains to it, or was it created with the intent to bring truth to the masses?

If a Christian can’t speak the truth, according to what the word says… then why call it freedom? If a Christian has to be silenced, how is America any better off or any different than a third world country, that hangs people when they mention God.

The powers that be, are trying to turn it into that, but, the word of God says that The gates of hell, will never never prevail against my church.

Why listen to anything you have to say? Why should we give you special treatment just because you proclaim that you know god, and how he thinks. It’s people like you that make me sick. People who blindly follow anything that’s told to them, and then have the nerve to judge other people.

People like you are the reason I’m Atheist. If God made humans in his image, and he’s using THIS one to tell me I’m wrong, then I’m sorry but I want no part of that relgion

Have some respect.

I made a point a bit like this a few days ago. Atheists tend to use an argument that goes along the lines of: ‘God did not do what I wanted/expected Him to do, therefore He does not exist’. In fact, I think that some of their other arguments are better. This is the most unconvincing one because it is so self-centred.

But Christians can get very self-centred too, so we need to be careful. ‘The Prosperity Gospel’ basically says: ‘God DID do what I wanted/expected Him to, therefore He DOES exist (and He maybe loves me more than you)’. We need to get beyond what humans demand of God, as you say yourself.

Overit, I do agree that life is unfair. I’d argue that it’s humans who are letting God down. He has every good thing available for the world - guess who’s stopping the poorest from getting what they need?

You guys are making some great points. I should point out though that any of us owes respect to anyone’s belief system. We should respect people and their rights - not their (sometimes) silly beliefs.

“God doesn’t owe us anything.”

I understand your analogy of God and parents. But if that’s a correct analogy, then God does indeed owe us quite a bit. Parents have a responsibility to look after their children, just as God would with his creation. God owes us what a parent owes their child. If God created us for his glorification, then he also must take responsibility for the sentient beings he made.

So the response from Christians at least seems to be, well God sent his son for us, what more he do? First of all, his track record in looking after the human race has been horrible. If we are to believe the Old Testament, he himself orchestrated war, famine, and destruction among people in the past, and may still do it today. At the very least, it continues to happen despite his apparent omnipotence. Second, the sacrifice of Jesus, if it is real, took the form of a historical event. And like all historical events, not every person in every culture is going to understand or even know the significance of that event, or necessarily believe it to be true. If Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead, and there were a few hundred witnesses, great. What about everyone else? Surely God must have known that a couple thousand years down the road, people might be a little skeptical that something like that ever really happened based on the complete lack of evidence. Heck, we even know many people back then were skeptical. One is even cited in the Bible…did it not occur to God that there could maybe be a few more million doubting Thomases out there? In the Bible Thomas is chastised for doubting the resurrection; but people miss the point. Jesus still apparently appeared to Thomas as proof. He has done no such thing with the rest of us.

To be frank, I’m tired of people saying that atheists, agnostics, and whatnot don’t believe in God or Jesus because they’re selfish, stubborn, or angry. Maybe we don’t believe because we’ve actually put some thought into it.

God doesn’t owe us sh*t. If he doesn’t want to step in, then that’s that.

However, the idea that we’re all supposed to devote our lives worshiping him is rather lame too. I don’t think he would have created us and everything just to sit around and go “God, you are so neat”. He’s God. He knows he’s cool. I think he wants us to do something with our lives rather than sit around and praise him 24/7.

Christians on this board are not judging anyone.

Wow… she actually said it… X-D

I mostly agree

I agree…but some parents raised der child like that example dey probably spoiled dem yoo know.

“God doesn’t owe us sh*t. If he doesn’t want to step in, then that’s that.”

“He’s God. He knows he’s cool.”

So to the other theists and religious folks on this board, do you share these same views about God?