The big picture

[retailguy]

So you're not good enough for him as he made you? Which Pakistani Muslim has the choice? Which tribal person in the middle of Africa has the choice? If god exists, he doesn't seem very nice.

No, not at all. He made us perfect in his own image. We botched that. So, this is our "plan B", I guess.

There is significant Christian mission work going on all over the world. Most of the populated world has heard of Jesus. The proportion of folks who have never heard of Jesus gets smaller every year. I recognize that there is significant "pressure" in the muslim world to remain muslim, and significant outside force to prevent the spread of non-muslim religions.

I don't know what God will do to the "little muslims" who were too scared to convert, I'll leave that to him. I believe that the God of Abraham has a plan for that, and I can trust him to handle that and don't have to "judge" the result before I see the outcome. (Not that I have a vote anyhow, but you get what I mean).

Maybe you should stop believing all the things you're "hearing" about God being not nice, and start learning about what he said and what he wrote. One of the biggest issues with criticism of God and the bible in general is that folks today don't understand Jewish custom at the time the bible was written and as such don't frame it in it's proper context. All that "strange" stuff you read isn't so strange if you lived at the time the bible was written. Scholars today devote their lives towards explaining Jewish custom at the time, and giving the meaning behind the events that took place.

The God I believe in is very nice - he sent his son to die on the cross for my sins. How much nicer does it get? In return, all I have to do is accept the grace that was offered me and strive to live the best life I can within the parameters he gives me. I don't even have to actually achieve success in living that life, I just have to sincerely try. Some days I do a great job, and some days I'm asking for lots of forgiveness and promising to try again tomorrow.

[retailguy]

I covet my neighbors female slave and his donkey so I'm probably screwed.....but I'm ok with that.

Me too. Thank God for grace. The new Mercedes donkey's are very nice, and too pricey for me but God knows I want one. And there are too many beautiful women in the world to even name one..... <sigh>

[MadScientist]

No, not at all. He made us perfect in his own image. We botched that. So, this is our "plan B", I guess.

So your god has useless nipples (he is a father, not a mother), easily detachable retinas and lower back troubles ? I guess your god evolved from animals that walked on four legs

Maybe you should stop believing all the things you're "hearing" about God being not nice, and start learning about what he said and what he wrote. One of the biggest issues with criticism of God and the bible in general is that folks today don't understand Jewish custom at the time the bible was written and as such don't frame it in it's proper context. All that "strange" stuff you read isn't so strange if you lived at the time the bible was written. Scholars today devote their lives towards explaining Jewish custom at the time, and giving the meaning behind the events that took place.

Right, all those strange but actually nice things like the complete annihilation of every person, animal and item of Jericho, and the cold blooded murder of captured women and male children of the Midianites (Numbers 31). Just a Jewish custom ordered by your god, but really very nice.

he God I believe in is very nice - he sent his son to die on the cross for my sins. How much nicer does it get?

Sounds cruel and idiotic to me. I mean this is supposed to be an all powerful god and he sends his son (by debauching an engaged virgin) to a small group of people with limited influence to be tortured and executed to show how nice he is. That takes some serious double-think to accept that. Do you have any idea just how crazy your arguments are to a non-believer? The stuff you are saying is every bit as wacky as Scientology.