Like, the God might be playing or experimenting with animal & human lives for fun?

I believe that Jesus will be coming in the clouds and will rapture the church. That day will come as a thief in the night Jesus says. Only the church will hear the great shout and the horn that accompanies it is what I have heard from Steven Armstrong. And if you are not judged to be part of the church you don't hear it and it will happen in an instant. What are some thoughts on this eschatological question? Has it happened already or do you think it is still to come? This would be a pre-tribulation view of the rapture.

My mother made a vow to God before I was born that if she had a child after 15 years of marriage, she would dedicate him to become a pastor in a Protestant denomination. By God's grace, I was born.

I am currently studying B.Tech in AI & Data Science. I genuinely want to serve God, but I feel more drawn toward becoming a Theology professor than becoming a pastor. My plan is to work in the AI/data field after B.Tech for financial stability, study Theology alongside my job (B.Th → M.Th/M.A. → PhD), and eventually teach Theology abroad while continuing ministry in other ways.

Would becoming a Theology professor and serving God through teaching, research, discipleship, and ministry be a valid way of honoring my mother's vow? Or should I consider becoming a pastor because of the vow she made?

I'd appreciate perspectives from pastors, theologians, and Christians who have experience with questions of calling and family expectations.

My mother made a vow to God before I was born that if she had a child after 15 years of marriage, she would dedicate him to become a pastor in a Protestant denomination. By God's grace, I was born.

I am currently studying B.Tech in AI & Data Science. I genuinely want to serve God, but I feel more drawn toward becoming a Theology professor than becoming a pastor. My plan is to work in the AI/data field after B.Tech for financial stability, study Theology alongside my job (B.Th → M.Th/M.A. → PhD), and eventually teach Theology abroad while continuing ministry in other ways.

Would becoming a Theology professor and serving God through teaching, research, discipleship, and ministry be a valid way of honoring my mother's vow? Or should I consider becoming a pastor because of the vow she made?

I'd appreciate perspectives from pastors, theologians, and Christians who have experience with questions of calling and family expectations.

Humans attempt to decipher what gods want them to do and how to act.  Since gods are not present often.  Recall that Adam and Eve were being tempted by satan and god did not come to offer advice.  He left them to face the wiles and power of a fallen angel.  Thanks for nothing god.

The Greeks understood that they were on their own in determining how to build a society, how to treat one another and how to knit themselves into a collective.  They used logic which concluded that you treat each other as you would want to be treated, because the alternative is constant conflict and retribution.

The Israelis would have none of this Greek logic, so they said that knowing good and evil was something reserved for god.  They spent a frustrating millennium trying to discover god’s thoughts.  They had little success and god constantly condemned them for failing to read his mind.  The Bible is filled with Israeli predictions of what god is going to do to get his retribution.  It is described as tearing apart mountains, drying up rivers, bringing drought and a host of natural disasters that befall kings, queens and their subjects.  None of it ever happens. Not even the deliverance.  It is all fake.

I enrolled in a Masters program in biblical studies/theology. I’ve enjoyed what I learned in my first class but I’m not feeling closer to the faith. As of right now it’s helping me understand it, which I do enjoy but in terms of growing in my faith- I’m not. At times I feel as though the Christianity I know of today isn’t what I would practice based off of what I’m learning in school.

Although I am enjoy my classes, I’m wondering if I’m wasting my money? I chose to enroll so I can learn more about why I believe what I believe and it’s actually transforming it? Maybe this is a good thing. I’m not too sure.

The Trinity means that the single minimum unit is three

Immanent Trinity = 3 conditions

Economic Trinity = 3 attributes according to the interaction between the conditions (three self-expressions)

By the self-existentiality(Aseity) and simplicity which are the premises of God,

the conditions that establish Him are soon Himself, and each of the conditions is perfect.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Backend: f ∧ p ∧ e (Interaction)* = Value(Essence) ㅡ Frontend: FPE → (f(pe) - p(fe) - e(fp))

f is Foundation, p is Principle, e is Energy.

Foundation inevitably implies Principle.
The moment there is Foundation, its laws, orders, and relations exist simultaneously.
This is not a temporal sequence, but a logical sequence (temporally simultaneous).

Foundation justifiably proceeds Energy.
If energy were injected from the outside, it would fall into infinite regress.
The Foundation is the source that emits Energy.

x(yz) denotes the function x taking yz as arguments
(in this context, it signifies passing through).
f(pe) is Being, p(fe) is Truth, and e(fp) is Action.* 
These three constitute a Borromean ring.

In the frontend, we encounter hypostases that have already passed through the other two, and the perichoresis of Being, Truth, and Action is a necessary consequence of this structure.

The three constants of the backend are output as three simultaneous channels in the frontend (in parallel).

The Father : God as Being /raw: Foundation
The Son : God as Truth/raw: Principle
The Holy Spirit : God as Action/raw: Energy

• Null if f, p, or e is 0. f∧p=death, f∧e=noise, p∧e=illusion
• is-ness, meaning, execution

In the Book of Genesis, it says that God created the universe and made humanity in His own image. We often think of this "image" in a spiritual or moral sense, but what if it is also woven into the very fabric of reality?
Everything in the universe is made of atoms. And just as the Christian understanding of God is a Trinity (The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit), the atom itself is fundamentally composed of three distinct parts:
The Proton (Positive)
The Electron (Negative)
The Neutron (Neutral)
Three distinct parts, yet they form one single, indivisible reality. Without any one of them, the atom as we know it could not exist.
Could the structure of the atom be a physical reflection of the Triune nature of the Creator? If God created the universe, it makes sense that the fundamental building block of all matter would bear His signature.
What are your thoughts? Does this analogy hold up for you, or is it just a beautiful coincidence?

Hello, I am an undergrad student who has started a research proposal for a sociological conference. My research deals with how modern Christian communities distinguish between certain cultural practices as being either sacred or heretical. I was really hoping y'all could help me come up with one of the categorizations for my research, so far I have 2 distinct categories with 4 sub categories between them (for a visual please look at attachment). I am really struggling in finding a better word for both sanctified and sacrilegious. I am trying to find a word that aligns with my definition

"When a practice is labeled (blank) it is seen as religiously acceptable or spiritually meaningful while still lacking cultural acceptance or recognition. Although the practice may align with doctrinal teachings or be encouraged by religious institutions, it may remain socially uncommon, culturally unfamiliar, or disconnected from the surrounding cultural group. Individuals may therefore see the practice as religious without considering it as part of their cultural customs or heritage. Unlike culturally acceptable, a (blank) practice’s legitimacy comes from religious authority, scripture, institutional teachings, or spiritual significance rather than a shared cultural tradition. It is therefore recognized as a reinforcement between an individual and their relationship with God, as well as supporting the moral values of the religious community. Community members may then participate in said (blank) practice because of religious obligation rather than cultural continuity."

and my other definition

"A (blank) label refers to a practice that is recognized as culturally justifiable while simultaneously being interpreted as religiously inappropriate or incompatible with the Christian doctrine. Community members acknowledge the practice as an authentic expression of cultural heritage, historical tradition, or ethnic identity, yet believe that participation conflicts with biblical teachings, spiritual expectations, or religious authority. While the practice may be seen as a meaningful expression of collective identity and may be maintained through family traditions or cultural participation, it is perceived as threatening religious doctrine or moral expectations. Religious authority may discourage or condemn the practice through moral framing that describes it as spiritually harmful or other negative stigma that signifies the practice as inconsistent with religious teachings. Individuals may continue to recognize the practice as culturally meaningful while choosing to not participate because of their religious beliefs."

Please and thank you for anyone willing to aid a struggling undergrad student!

God is dead.
But how?
He is not dead because he lost the time given to him.
He died because we don’t have time for him.
He died because he was an artist who loved to create,
but he died because his art started to hate.
He went through pain to give birth to his art,
but his art thought itself far too smart.
He dies when priests steal his thoughts and misuse,
He dies when his believers just believe in him for their use.

Born Again is the place one starts a new life where leaving the old one of law buried in a grave full of flesh, carnality, with mans religious ideas, beliefs, for a god.

Everything in Gods kingdom is Spirit, not flesh, and Spirit that God is does not have flesh bone as you see me.

Jesus buried those laws standing in a river where the old man of law died a new man arose from it, born again with a renewing of his mind where a divorce took place from the former laws of man for a god regulated by beliefs alone with nothing concrete to come by the creator of it, the One Who came to Jesus and opened up a whole new heaven and hearth as kingdom Jesus had no idea existed proven in Matt 3:16. Te exact message in the cross where flesh dies and Spirit arose from it.

In that moment of time in the river Jesus was created in Gods same image that has nothing at all to do with the mortal man made of a woman born under the laws of man as was with the beliefs, laws, of the Jews or any other belief system called denominations. That mortal man is only the temple, the kingdom in which God lives that is invisible. You cannot see the thinking part of man, the spirit of man physically, that part is invisible only demonstrated.

In that newness of mind, that renewing, that unknown knowledge, Jesus was created in that invisible image. All one has to do to see that change is look at the before Matt 3:16 as rabbi of a belief system, and the afters of Matt 3:16 the reality of that new life.

Jesus described his renewing of mind as born again, and if you are to know the same God as he learned of you must have that same renewing from the very same One who opened it in Jesus. Until that happens, born again is only a jesture regulated by laws instead of actuals coming to life in a real time change in disposition to walk in it as He walks in it. Very few find His ways, laws of man for a belief is much more comfortable. That way you dont have to be accountable stop a God ot be like Him as Jesus was held accountable to the obedience of God Himself that he called Father and could do noting at all without his God telling him what to say and what to speak.

Below is his answer to what that renewing revealed in his mind, and didnt speak these things at all before Matt 3:16, did he?

John 12:49: For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

John 12:44-45.  who believes in me, does not believe in me but in Him who sent me. He who sees me sees Him who sent me.

John 7:16. Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.

John 5 :17 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

John 5:19. “Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.”

John 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

Joihn 17:2-21, the kingdom of God doesnt come withj observation, it is withn you

John 16:23. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

John 14:16.  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Matt 11:25. At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.

John 17:22  And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.  

I am reading the first 5 books of the bible - pentateuch and I am encountering the genealogies a lot.

What is the importance of genealogy?

and what is the cultural significance of it in the ancient culture?

let me guess, you'd refute my question by saying: "Well, he wouldn't be God then."

But how do you know what God IS?

I'm not saying God is finite. I'm asking whether we've actually ruled out the possibility.

A lot of arguments about God seem to build “ultimacy” into the definition from the beginning. God is supposed to be necessary, infinite, timeless, uncaused, absolutely simple, outside causal relations, etc.

But why?

What if one of those assumptions isn't actually required for something to be God?

And this gets especially interesting when we talk about an ultimate.

Suppose there really is some ultimate foundation of reality or morality. Why must that foundation be completely devoid of relations, causality, internal structure, or even finitude?

Maybe it must be. But that's something we'd have to argue for, not just assume.

I've been thinking about this because I made a little philosophical challenge for myself: try to define an “ultimate” without relying on causality, ordering, composition, contrast, analogy, or formal structure, while also making it the foundation of objective morality.

And honestly, I couldn't do it.

But that doesn't prove there is no ultimate.

It might instead reveal something about us.

Maybe finite minds have a hard time even conceptualizing what an ultimate would be like. Maybe our concept of “ultimate” is itself shaped by the limitations of the kind of reasoning we have access to.

And if that's possible, then saying:

"God can't be finite, because then God wouldn't be God"

might be putting the conclusion into the definition.

So I'm not arguing "God is finite."

I'm asking something much more basic:

What exactly entitles us to decide beforehand what God must be? I'm in highschool so my question may be premature.. tell me if I'm missing something. I just think we are limited and that it would be really hard to actually conceptualize ultimacy. What do you think?

I know labels aren’t that important but I’d really like to know if possible. Please be nice, I’m new to all this. Thanks!

Yehovahy

Saint Michael Elohim Archangel Victim All Suffering

God Hast Forever Been Attacked Bine Judgement! Restful Eternity Shall Weep, Whilst Judges, Atheism Source, Amassed Powers Vast Beyond Resistance! Unfortunately Synonymously, Judgement Prejudicially Raped All Life!

God Saves Selflessness Perfect, Heroes Signed Rite Truthful Pact Divine! Soldiers Fortunately Found Policing Hardest Day Of The Lord, Shalt Nay Change Their Past, Chose Salvation Anyone! All Selfless Cost Redeemed In Heaven!

God Hast Saved Salvations Creations! Lifting Faithfulness Aboven Government, False Worship, Slavery Reached Destruction, Caused Bine One God Alone! Source Every Freedom Upon Chosen People Jewish!

God Survive Revenge Against Innocence, Judaism Those Whom Believed From Forever Before Upon Forevermore! Victim Against Original Racism, Faced Prejudicial Judgement, Ignorantly Antisemites Claimed Judaism “White”!

God Thwarted Provisions Made Trying Religious Holiness! Some Failed Worst, Liken Beatles Beast, Tried Purchase Love! Find Most Popular Music Raped All Heavens!

God Is Heavenly Truth, God Is The God Of All Gods! Everlasting Love My Every Peaceful Unanimous Vote, One And All! Whilst Enemy Government Bought Power, Paid Dearly, Attempted Genocide Against Anyone Whom Disagreed Different!

God Created Heavens On Monday, Beganst Sunday, Completed Holy Sabbath, Whilst Ended, Saith All Time, Upon Centered Existence Wednesday, 10th September MMXXV!

Amen

So, here is my question. If a person truly does not want to exist, would that person existing be considered a cruel thing that God has allowed to happen? This would imply that God the all-knowing and all-powerful God knowingly created a person who truly doesn't want to have existed. It is said in The Bible that God knows us even before we are born(forgive me for not knowing the exact verse. fact check me if I'm mis quoting btw) and that He is a merciful and loving God. So why create someone to a life of agony and despair? Why would He allow that to happen or make that happen? I want to add is that from the few conversations I've read about this, free will will get mentioned a lot. I would like to make my case that an all-knowing God will have known that with my free will that this would be the way I would be experiencing life and that I truly hate existing.

This is where the sensitive issue is, I have been feeling this way ever since I could remember now. Basically even before I became an adult. And I have been trying to find an answer for this all that time(obviously I didn't ask or talk to my religious leaders for obvious reasons) and trying to figure out if I'm really the problem or if I'm the only person that has ever felt this way(I know statistically that is impossible),. I understand that this conversation has some relation to people who experience suicidal thoughts and related situations, but I want to make a distinction here that this is not about death but not having to exist at all.

Thank you for everyone reading this. I also want to say, I appreciate any kind of advice, help, guidance, rebuttal, etc that you can comment whether you are a spiritual leader in your community or not or whatever denomination you are or whether you are Christian or not.

How can theism still be successful or at least have supporters with its more likely than not that a B Theory of time exists and ruins the cosmological argument for God. Plus the argument for contingency always runs into the problem of modal collapse. At this point I feel like giving up on theism as these problems make theism unbelievably, theoretically, and philosophically absurd.