Fuzzy Bear 12 Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 Part of being a Scout(er) is to believe in some expression of God, which is derived from any one of a number of religions. I would like to pose three basic questions and ask each person to use their source book(s), a type of open book test, to answer them. The questions are considered easy because (most) all religions address the answers. I ask that you not make up an answer or explain your answer but simply quote from what readings that you find sacred. Why are we here? Why is there evil? What happens after we die? Thanks, FB Link to post Share on other sites
Trevorum 24 Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 Fuzzy, a very ineresting post and I look forward to the replies! However - merely as an aside - let me mention that your framing of the question presupposes that other faiths indeed have, "sacred readings". While this is true for the Abrahamic tradition (this is why Jews, Christians, Muslims are together called 'People of the Book'), the same is not true for all other faiths. Link to post Share on other sites
evmori 11 Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 Why are we here? Read Genesis. God created us because it pleased Him to do so. Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10 Link to post Share on other sites
GernBlansten 10 Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 Trevorum is correct. My faith doesn't follow a sacred scripture or any standardized documentation so I must refrain from answering FBs query as requested. Link to post Share on other sites
Rooster7 11 Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 I look forward to answering the questions. It will give me an opportunity/excuse to study my faith more. However, it seems me, this is a can of worms begging to be open. Link to post Share on other sites
acco40 95 Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 Let me know when you all find the answers. Many of us will be waiting on pins and needles for the response. P.S. Those needles sure get crowded with all those angels around. Link to post Share on other sites
firstpusk 10 Posted August 26, 2005 Share Posted August 26, 2005 acco40, here is where we part company. In my church angels are only allowed on the head of a pin. Link to post Share on other sites
Fuzzy Bear 12 Posted August 27, 2005 Author Share Posted August 27, 2005 Please forgive my errant request. I was not trying to close the door on any faith but was attempting to open as many doors as possible. If your belief has no sacred writings but God is linked to your faith, then share with us your answers to these fundamental questions that have been asked since people first began to think. FB Link to post Share on other sites
Fuzzy Bear 12 Posted August 27, 2005 Author Share Posted August 27, 2005 Ed, I followed your instruction to read Genesis. It doesn't say anything about God making man because it pleased him. I am unsure as to any reason being stated about why there is evil in the world in Genesis. I do not see anything with regard to what happens after death in Genesis. Could you be more specific? FB Link to post Share on other sites
Fuzzy Bear 12 Posted August 27, 2005 Author Share Posted August 27, 2005 Rooster, This should be easy for you. I am surprised by your reaction. I was under the illusion that in this forum, a can of worms was a feast savored by all. FB Link to post Share on other sites
Fuzzy Bear 12 Posted August 27, 2005 Author Share Posted August 27, 2005 acco and first, Though 3,000 angels have been known to sit on the head of a pin, few have been known to weather the other end. FB Link to post Share on other sites
NJCubScouter 1389 Posted August 27, 2005 Share Posted August 27, 2005 I was under the illusion that in this forum, a can of worms was a feast savored by all. Ewww. Can't you come up with a metaphor that is less, well, slimy? Link to post Share on other sites
berkshirescouter 11 Posted August 27, 2005 Share Posted August 27, 2005 Why are we here? Genesis 1.27 And G-d created man in His image, in the image of G-d He created him; male and female He created them Ref The Torah The Five Books of Moses A new translation of The Holy Scriptures according to the traditional Hebrew text Copyright 1962 Why is there evil? The Possibility of Evil - A World of Love: Part 7 by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan God may make it difficult for us to approach Him in order to increase our eventual reward. One of the fundamental principles of creation is free will, where man can choose good as a matter of his own choice. God's purpose in creation does not allow man to be a robot or a puppet. But if God's purpose does not allow man to be a robot, neither does it permit him to be a prisoner. Just as man must have free will, so must he have the opportunity to make use of it. A man locked up in a prison may have the same free will as anyone else, but there is little that he can do with it. If man is to do good as a matter of free choice, he must also have the possibility of doing that which is not good. For man to resemble his Creator to the greatest possible extent, he must exist in an arena where he has the maximum freedom of choice. The more that man resembles God in His omnipotence, the closer he can resemble Him in his free choice to do good. It is for this reason that God created the possibility of evil. God therefore told His prophet, "I form light and create darkness, I make peace and create evil. I am God, I do all these things" (Isaiah 45:7). In keeping himself from evil, man takes the first step toward good. Job thus said, "the fear of God is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding" (Job 28:28). God created evil in order that it may be conquered. If nothing but good were possible, it would produce no benefit. To use the Talmudic metaphor (Chulin 60b), it would be like carrying a lamp in broad daylight. The Zohar states, "The advantage of wisdom comes from foolishness, just as that of light would not be discernible, and would produce no benefit. Thus, it is written, 'God has made one thing opposite the other" (Ecclesiastes 7:14 Ref. http://www.aish.com/spirituality/philosophy/The_Possibility_of_Evil_-_A_World_of_Love_Part_7.asp What happens after we die? He (Rabbi Jacob) used to say: Better is one hour of repentance in this world than the whole life of the world to come. This implies that basic to Judaism is this life and what we do during our sojourn in this mortal world The Torah which commanded us to live a life of study and good deeds, applies to this earthly life. Our main emphasis, therefore, should be on living the good life, the devout life, the ethical life, the virtuous life here on earth, and we may be confident that the Hereafter will follow suit. Ref A Time To Be Born, A Time to Die By Rabbi Isaac Klein Copyright United Synagogue Youth 1976 page 63. Link to post Share on other sites
Fuzzy Bear 12 Posted August 27, 2005 Author Share Posted August 27, 2005 It Trail Day Thank you for your reply from the "If you were God" article by Rabbi Kaplan. The reasoning from the Bible, Rabbis, Teachers, Sages, the Zohar, Midrash, and The Talmud are impressive by any standard. I would like to summarize and reply to the article, if I have your permission. FB Link to post Share on other sites
evmori 11 Posted August 27, 2005 Share Posted August 27, 2005 FB, I don't remember the source for my quote. It's one I learned a long time ago that stuck with me. What it says to me is God didn't create man just to give Him something to do. He created man because He wanted to. Ed Mori Troop 1 1 Peter 4:10 Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now