tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post7835789418919342056..comments2023-08-06T07:02:49.496-04:00Comments on Little Steps Home: B&W, W&O: Relating to God as a Person or a PowerAmberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09002997517784638068noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-59903574023823162242009-10-06T12:47:49.272-04:002009-10-06T12:47:49.272-04:00LK,
Well, I don't think the author was thinki...LK,<br /><br />Well, I don't think the author was thinking of any religion specifically, but rather a personal attitude that one might have towards God, and how we need to be able to relate to God as a person rather than a remote 'power' in order to have a full relationship with Him. Of course, I'm not finished with the chapter just yet, so we'll see how it all comes out at the end. :)<br /><br />That being said, when I read this section, I did think: 'That's Islam. That's the relationship a Muslim has with God.' He's not referring to 'power' simply in the sense of all-powerful, which is an attribute of God, but rather... God as a hurricane. Or an explosion. You can't reason with something like that. You can't talk to it. It's something that just happens to you, and you have to get out of its way. <br /><br />In Christianity and Judaism, people can question God. We feel free to sit there and go, 'Why?' and even, sometimes, argue with God. I've seen no evidence of that in Islam. People who question seem to get smacked down. <br /><br />I have an easier time with the idea of being a 'servant' of God, because 'servant' implies choice, whereas 'slave' does not. <br /><br />I'd quite happily refer to myself as a servant of God, along with His daughter and not have an issue. But 'slave'? Never. <br /><br />It actually goes to the heart of one of my problems with Islam: free will. It doesn't appear to exist in Islam. God predestines who will go to Heaven and who won't, and everything else in your life revolves around that. You've got no choice, no say, no chance if you're one of the unlucky ones who was created expressly to be damned. It's a Christian heresy that I see reflected in Islam. <br /><br />"We fear God much like that of a parent. We fear disappointing God and/or being punished. We want to serve God and please Him."<br /><br />But do you want to serve God and please Him because He's God and deserves nothing else, or because you 'fear' Him? I used to fear my father, and that's because he was an abusive jackass. I don't fear my stepfather. I respect him, I listen to and obey him, but it's out of love, not fear. I don't believe that children should fear their parents.<br /><br />I do understand why Muslims would want to avoid the 'child of God' phrase, given that they attach it to something they see as blasphemy.Amberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09002997517784638068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-72921414220874423492009-10-06T12:31:58.098-04:002009-10-06T12:31:58.098-04:00Susanne,
That was my thought too. :)
Islam seems...Susanne,<br /><br />That was my thought too. :)<br /><br />Islam seems to relate to God more as 'power' than anything else. You can't talk to Him, you can't see Him, He's some remote and unapproachable Being. That's not a God I'd want to worship, honestly.Amberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09002997517784638068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-12819522084633103642009-10-06T10:54:59.485-04:002009-10-06T10:54:59.485-04:00Oooo I still want this book.
I don't think a...Oooo I still want this book. <br /><br />I don't think any of the 3 Abrahamic religions regard God as only Power. Usually it is Powerful but merciful and all knowing. Mercy and knowledge tend to take precedence over power.<br /><br />Most of the muslims I know refer to the translation as servant of Allah which we all are. We serve God in our actions. Although God is not referred to directly as "father" God is treated often as a parental figure. We fear God much like that of a parent. We fear disappointing God and/or being punished. We want to serve God and please Him. I think this goes for all three religions.<br /><br />I'm not a fan of the term slave, I prefer the term servant. The main reason muslims do not say "child of God" is because they want to stay as far away from the fact that God could (biologically or directly) have children. Even though in this instance child of God is used symbolically not literally.LKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06170091976914539273noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-65007724267138708082009-10-06T08:57:55.008-04:002009-10-06T08:57:55.008-04:00This was great! Reminds me of when Jesus told his...This was great! Reminds me of when Jesus told his disciples, I no longer call you servants, but friends. <br /><br />I remember when my Muslim friend told me one time that being a "slave of Allah" was a higher honor than being a "son" (or "child") of God. I asked him on what planet is a slave treated better than a child? Or when is being a slave better than being in relationship with the Father? Of course they totally reject God as Father, but still. <br /><br />Islam prides itself on logic and I found NO logic in thinking a slave had more rights and better standing with God than a child of God.<br /><br />Anyway...great article! I'm glad you are sharing things from this book.Susannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03115294023069458287noreply@blogger.com